Wow, tank looks absolutely incredible!!!
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Thanks!Amazing build! Your acro growth and progression is top tier!
I'm excited to see how your tank turns out!Current status Feb2024:
Oct 2022:
This built in 100g reef was constructed in 2003 when we did a major whole house renovation. It was placed inside the landing of the stairs as that really was the only location for a built in aquarium that didn’t require the construction of an additional wall/room/area. To have the tank at eye level when sitting, the top of the tank had to be very close to the floor joist in which the metal halides were to be placed. This imposed design challenges for lighting, temperature control and tank access. The area below the stair landing was developed into a cramped aquarium room. It has a sink, tiled shower pan with drain, 6 outlets on 2 different circuits, and a ventilation fan with an in line supplemental fan that is constantly on. It is accessed through the coat closet.
I had decent success although suffered 3 major crashes. I replaced the display tank in December 2019.
This build thread will concentrate on the development of the replacement tank.
Display tank: 2019 custom acrylic with no center brace 40”X24”HX26”D with exterior overflow box.
Sump: 55g stock acrylic tank (Tenocor 2003) with 4 drilled holes (1”? I can’t recall the exact size) for external pumps. I only use 2, 1 for return pump and 1 for skimmer
Return pump: Iwaki MD-40XRT
Skimmer: external Aqua-C EV-240 driven by Iwaki MD-40RT
Lights:
2 400w MH (20K) —Hamilton Lighting fixture built into floor joist of stair landing.
2 Reefbrite XHO 50/50 36” strips that just rest on top of the tank without mountings.
Circulation pumps:
2 MP-40 Vortech
1 4K maxspect gyre
Calcium reactor:
Korallin C-1502
Chiller: Arctica 1/3 hp
Details of the build to follow!
Those are purple stylophoras. They did well and grew large and hosted a couple of trapezia crabs. Unfortunately they have both faded away (and a third one in the back of the tank) as they got shaded by their neighboring corals. I actually lost a green stylophora and an ORA stellar stylophora as well. And similarly I lost a pink, green, and ORA Bird of Paradise Seriatopora. All these corals were towards the bottom of the reef as they preferred lower light and did great until they got too shaded.I've seen your posts before, and surprised that some others haven't. Yes, what you built is unique, spectacular, and something to truly be proud of. But, what I want to know is...
Very nice, thanks. Any advice as to how you got them to grow tall and tight instead of a ball?Those are purple stylophoras. They did well and grew large and hosted a couple of trapezia crabs. Unfortunately they have both faded away (and a third one in the back of the tank) as they got shaded by their neighboring corals. I actually lost a green stylophora and an ORA stellar stylophora as well. And similarly I lost a pink, green, and ORA Bird of Paradise Seriatopora. All these corals were towards the bottom of the reef as they preferred lower light and did great until they got too shaded.
I didn’t do anything special. I placed three different specimens in three different areas with relatively moderate light (16-18” from 400w metal halides) with moderate flow. They initially turned pinkish. But then developed into the deep purple with white tips. Maybe it’s the lower light.Very nice, thanks. Any advice as to how you got them to grow tall and tight instead of a ball?