taking a new direction

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eric b 125

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/389056/taking-a-new-direction/160#post_3445653
I didn't know you serviced aquariums!
Yeah, I did a real quick thread on a system my friend and I designed and installed for a customer earlier this year. It's a two page thread and the pics suck, but you get the idea...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/389312/400-gallon-system
The dude in the pics is my buddy Klaus. He's almost twice my age, but he's one of my best friends.
Also, we had to go fix up our buddies tank while he's away in Ireland visiting his family for the holidays. We are hoping that in return for our hard work he will agree to drive and flip the gas bill for next months frag swap. Last year he drove but we split the gas bill on his F-350. It wasn't too bad splitting it three ways, but if he wants to split the gas then we can take my Grand Cherokee or better yet, my GTI and sit his 6'2" frame in the back seat for the 9 hour round trip
Here's a few "before" shots of his tank:
3 X FTS, couldn't decide which I liked best since they all suck (I wasn't intending on posting them)

Here's the first 16" of his Tessy, there's another 26" somewhere under the rocks

I bequeathed a lot of my nuisance softies to him. Here's some sinularia
 
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eric b 125

Guest
I have more pictures, but for some reason it's taking forever to upload them to the site. I know he really shouldn't have that eel, or the panther grouper, along with the mineatus grouper in his tank (150 gallon pseudo-octagon) but he won't listen. The eel kept knocking the rocks over which is what you see in the FTS's so Klaus and I zip-tied some of the smaller rocks together and to a length of 4" pvc for the eel. I will post 'after' pics next time I go over to his house to make sure the rocks are still standing. Was going to go tomorrow, but I'm going to hit up the slopes for the maiden snowboard trip of the season instead.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah man, that's awesome. I really like eels, but my wife doesn't... she banned me from having one in the house. lol
Can't wait to see the after pics of that tank.
Is that an ASM skimmer I see???
And you are also right - that is a lot of fish in a 150g tank. lol
 
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eric b 125

Guest
For a 75 gallon, a G2 would be good. I have a G2 on my 125 w/ 40 gallon sump and the only complaint I've had is that it took a while to break-in. Most people on this site would say that it's too small but it skims true to it's setting and I empty/clean the cup once a week. It's just right for my system, me thinks. They are super simple skimmers, very easy to service, and although I haven't had to call customer service yet, I've heard that it's a strong point of their business.
Speaking of customer service... I finally got through to Pacific Coast Imports. I called the main number once, and the personal number once which is the line that I left a (borderline rude) message on. I tried calling from my buddies cell phone, too, thinking that maybe they were screening my number, but got no response. Oddly enough, it was my friends phone that got a return call even though did I not leave a message from his phone or leave his number as one that I could be reached on. So I answer his phone and tell the dude on the other line I will call him right back since we were just leaving the resort at that time (we were snowboarding). I called him back and ALAS (!) my call got answered. Steve said he would send me a replacement part at no charge, which is super cool if it actually gets sent. I won't get my hopes up and honestly I'm not even going to expect to get the part b/c of how this has gone so far. I cannot believe how a company can survive with customer service like that.
Here's what I have invested in this replacement part so far:
-Two unauthorized charges to my debit card, both in little excess of $300. Not saying this was definitely Pacific Coast Imports but judging by the lax way they take care of customers who have purchased expensive equipment from them, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it was.
-Hours of driving this piece of equipment around Pgh trying to find a replacement part. I can't even begin to calculate the actual hours or fuel costs.
-$4.95 for the charge to get one of those ghetto pre-paid Visa cards, plus the $25 I put on it so that I could pay for the replacement part X 2... Now I have to go about using that $ and canceling the card b/c on January 27 or 28 they're going to start charging me a monthly fee and I'm assuming if I don't cancel the card they will find some way to damage my credit score.
I'm really hoping that the part is actually coming in, that I'm not getting fleeced again. Once the part comes in, if it does, then I will order a pH controller and get this thing ready for some more serious SPS action.
 
redsea

redsea

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///t/389056/taking-a-new-direction/180#post_3445660
Yeah, I did a real quick thread on a system my friend and I designed and installed for a customer earlier this year. It's a two page thread and the pics suck, but you get the idea...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/389312/400-gallon-system
The dude in the pics is my buddy Klaus. He's almost twice my age, but he's one of my best friends.
Also, we had to go fix up our buddies tank while he's away in Ireland visiting his family for the holidays. We are hoping that in return for our hard work he will agree to drive and flip the gas bill for next months frag swap. Last year he drove but we split the gas bill on his F-350. It wasn't too bad splitting it three ways, but if he wants to split the gas then we can take my Grand Cherokee or better yet, my GTI and sit his 6'2" frame in the back seat for the 9 hour round trip
Here's a few "before" shots of his tank:
3 X FTS, couldn't decide which I liked best since they all suck (I wasn't intending on posting them)

Here's the first 16" of his Tessy, there's another 26" somewhere under the rocks

I bequeathed a lot of my nuisance softies to him. Here's some sinularia

He has a nice tank. What kind of eel is Tessy? Thanks!
 
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eric b 125

Guest
Here's the other two 'before' pics from my buddies tank
More finger leathers

Some GSP from my tank

He also has a bunch of mushrooms, a ton of sinularia, some green zoa's, and some red zoas from my tank
 
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eric b 125

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by redsea http:///t/389056/taking-a-new-direction/180#post_3445948
He has a nice tank. What kind of eel is Tessy? Thanks!
Tessy is just a nickname for tesselata (the kind of eel it is), not the name of the eel. These things get massive, and as you can see from the pictures, will knock all types of rocks around the tank b/c of their size. IMO, they should not be available in the aquarium trade b/c most hobbyists cannot provide adequate arrangements for them.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
That sucks! I hope they get it resolved soon! Thanks for the skimmer recommendation! Also looking forward to what serious SPS corals you are looking at. Strawberry shortcake montipora?
 
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eric b 125

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/389056/taking-a-new-direction/180#post_3445962
That sucks! I hope they get it resolved soon! Thanks for the skimmer recommendation! Also looking forward to what serious SPS corals you are looking at. Strawberry shortcake montipora?
I saw a 1" X 1" frag of this offered for $15 and was considering reserving it. I haven't reserved anything yet. I need to sit down and go through everything a few times and pick out some must-have pieces. My goal is to limit my pre-orders to around $150 so somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-10 pieces. I'll budget myself at another $100 for frags at the swap. Most of the pre-order frags are going for $15-$25 with a majority at the former. So, if I do good and stick to my plan, I can come out of January with 15+ new frags. That's if I stick to my guns, so we'll see. Klaus is also pre-ordering things so we have to make sure we aren't doubling up on anything so that in 6 months time, we can frag things for one another and even further our varieties.
Tomorrow I will be taking all of Klaus's frags out of my tank and over to his place. We are going to totally re-vamp his system and make some space for new stuff from the upcoming swap. He was almost totally stocked in his 75 gallon until something happened and all his monti's started to poop the bed. He let his system go too long w/o any maintenance and it got the best of some of his colonies. I think some are salvageable, but we shall see tomorrow.
Once I make a list I will post it here and see what everyones thoughts are on it.
 
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eric b 125

Guest
I just tossed the reactor and co2 bottle in my stand to see what kind of room I'll be working with and there's plenty of space:

also, I was looking at my tank, trying to decide on what colors are lacking and I need more blues and reds. When I get back from Klaus's I will make a list of possible pre-order corals and see what you guys think.
 
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eric b 125

Guest
I'm just getting back from Klaus's now. We snapped a few branches off of his corals so I got some frags to epoxy to rubble rock tomorrow. I'm exhausted so I'm not going to bother with frag swapper tonight. It took us 8 hours to work on his tank.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I know how tank work can be... lol... it sure is tiring...
BUT.... that is no excuse for pics! Lol... you don't have to do 'em tonight 'cuz you're tired... but.. in the next few days!
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/389056/taking-a-new-direction/180#post_3446236
I know how tank work can be... lol... it sure is tiring...
BUT.... that is no excuse for pics! Lol... you don't have to do 'em tonight 'cuz you're tired... but.. in the next few days!
Here, here!
Don't forget you have more than a few lurkers who follow the thread even though we don't talk much! (ahem....me!)
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
I'm still lurking here too. I am now starting to get into sps. I just got a purple tabling acro, blue tort, blue stag, and a pink pocillopora.
 
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