4 year old 120 Gallons mixed reef full of wrasse now with Radion G5 Blues

[Jstn]

So my corals have been growing great since adding GFO and removing my refugium. I will not run a refuguim on the new 120, too much detritus and no clear benefit in my system. Still fighting some cyano on the sand but after changing my RODI filters it seems to improved.

Made a bunch of progress on my stand

Got the bottom floor in

120 oak stand by J Bolton, on Flickr

 

[Jstn]

Supported the bottom

120 oak stand by J Bolton, on Flickr

Holes for cords to the electrical panel

120 oak stand by J Bolton, on Flickr

Tank on stand (its tall)

120 oak stand by J Bolton, on Flickr

Trim is almost done, I need a 1x2 for the top rail

120 oak stand by J Bolton, on Flickr

 

[Paul87]

Looks great. Nice work on the stand. I've had great results using GFO. The stuff works. I have also thought of doing away with my refugium. It's loaded with pods, bit has a nice layer of silt at the bottom. Probably not good to disturb.

 

[bknapp]

Looking good.

 

[Jstn]

Thanks guys,

Just ordered the Synergy shadow box perfect timing they were on pre order for 140 bucks

 

[bknapp]

Thanks guys,

Just ordered the Synergy shadow box perfect timing they were on pre order for 140 bucks

Nice! That thing makes me wish I was setting up another tank.

 

[Jstn]

Order a brunneus and Katherine fairy wrasse, should be in Tuesday

 

[bknapp]

More wrasses!!

 

[Paul87]

Order a brunneus and Katherine fairy wrasse, should be in Tuesday

Nice! I really like the way those brunneus look.

 

[Arkayology]

That's a great looking stand.

 

[Jstn]

That's a great looking stand.

thanks man, how was your trip? Still no tank?

The more I research into stains, I think I am going to dye my stand to get a better grain contrast, been leaning towards an grey/ reclaimed look. I know it would look great with a traditional stain but I feel the nice reds of a stain (cherry, mahogany ect) really clash with a nice reef tank. This is why consistently I have gone black with my stands, on the other hand oak has such a beautiful grain and since its solid oak I want to capture some of that detail while not distracting from the reef.

 

[bknapp]

I love the reclaimed wood look and plan on something similar once I get around to adding the doors on my stand.

 

[Arkayology]

thanks man, how was your trip? Still no tank?

I'm still down in Peru - won't be back in the US until December. I think any kind of fish tank is a long ways out though. I need to finish up the dissertation, find a job, and figure out my money situation with all the student loans I've racked up over this PhD process. I have plans to get a 120 eventually though, so for now I just get to watch great builds like your's. Thanks for asking.

 

[Jstn]

I know the feeling, the other sides better, I've been working on my loans, was able to buy a house so it gets better.

 

[Jstn]

Untitled by J Bolton, on Flickr


Untitled by J Bolton, on Flickr

Top trim is done, had to rip a 1x3, 1x2 was too small and 1x3 was too big.

My two wrasse arrive tomorrow, super stoked

 

[Jstn]

well my two new wrasse are in my acclamation box and seem to be fine, they are both hiding in PVC fittings so maybe I can get a nice shot later.

 

[justingraham]

Nice all around love the placement on ur corals and the colors

 

[Paul87]

well my two new wrasse are in my acclamation box and seem to be fine, they are both hiding in PVC fittings so maybe I can get a nice shot later.

Can't wait to see em man!

 

[Jstn]

Can't wait to see em man!

The Katherine is doing great, I will grab a pic hopefully soon, the brunneus on the other hand had a limp tail and barely was swimming. Found him this am being picked apart by my worms... ... Really wanted a brunneus

 

[Jstn]

Untitled by J Bolton, on Flickr

One coat of grey general finish oil based, maybe I will go black instead?