Ike's 65

[Ike]

Thought it was about time I started a thread on my system.

It's a 65 gallon with a 60 gallon sump and 30 breeder prop tank

6x39w T5s from SLS with IC reflectors
Octopus NW-150 skimmer
Mag 9.5 return
2 x Seio 1100
120 lbs. Uaniva Live Rock
Basket w/ 2 different species of Chaeto in the sump

I've had salt water aquariums for over 20 years (since I was about 10) but have been out of it for a few years while I was an apartment dweller. This tank was started Sept. '06

It's in the basement so I went with the oversized sump.


Rock curing in the sump

The plan was to cure all the live rock in my sump and never hook it up to the tank, it didn't all fit with the skimmer in there...

The skimmer hooked up after moving some of the rock. It was working so well the foam was pushing the acrylic cover off...

THe sump after rock was cured and I changed all the water and before a little organizing and adding the xhaeto box

Tank after curing with some of the lights on

 

[MarvinsReef]

looking good...

 

[dc_909]

Love the scaping.

 

[Ike]

Notice the scratches in the last shot... Well, I got a really good deal on a used setup that turned out to not be quite as good a deal as I thought. So, I swapped out the tank for a new 65. So from here on out these shots should all be when with the new mega overflow 65.

My first "exotic" paly. AOGs, with the bonus of some Bryopsis!

Shot from today with no flash and my new Duncan in the backgroung. He just got moved to the display from the prop tank so it wasn't totally happy.

I had a little case of the pox and lost a some more common zoanthids, but for the most part it didn't kill all of the colony before the pox went away. I also had some problems with Amphipods attacking zoanthids. My tank really wasn't ready for him but enter the Pod Killer of DOOM!

My first SPS from earlier this year, I wanted to go slow... They're doing great and I will be adding a lot more in the coming months.

One of those recent additions, ORA Roscoe's added last week. Still aclimating so he's in a more shady area for now.

Pretty blue paly.

I just can't seem to get the color back on them and they look more like this now. I keep moving them up and down and just moved them down again tonight in a more shady spot.

My Blue Carpet. He was only in the display for about a week since it's jusr not a place for a carpet. The only reason I tried it is because it was claimed that it has been on that rock for almost a year. It never moved but I couldn't sleep so he's in my prop tank now... Growing very fast and doing well, I just got a clown tonight and I'm seriously considering a species tank for the Carpet.

 

[Ike]

My other pod predator. He has been with me for a while and I loved Springeri, I've almost always had one in my tanks.

I didn't intend on having any LPS... That was easier said than done

Some Aussie Lord frags will be arriving on Tues.

 

[Ike]

Random shots...

Fake AOGS, if anyone tries to tell you these are the same as AOG they absolutely are not. They're pretty regardless but have morphed a little since this shot.

Raspberry Limeaides and probably Eclipse Yellow

Older shot of my RADE

Common yellow palys

Random snail shot

New paly/zoanthid rock from last month. They're turning purple, but nothing bright... At least not yet...

 

[Ike]

A couple new additions that I got earlier today

New clam

New paly frag

New paly colony

Weird angle but it shows the clam colors a little better. Don't call the tang police he was a Petco rescue and will get a nice big tank soon enough. He's doing great thus far.

I've got a ton more things not represented in the photos but we'll end it with a FTS so I don't overwhelm people too much. Lots of frags on the bottom waiting to be glued to a rock as well.

I'll get some shots of the prop tank after I clean the glass and get some updated shots of the sump soon Also I'll put up what my Aussie frags look like later in the week. I got one today but the shot was out of focus.

 

[Kigs!]

beautiful collection Ike! those blues seem to be bleaching a bit. blues usually retain their color under less light.

 

[Ike]

beautiful collection Ike! those blues seem to be bleaching a bit. blues usually retain their color under less light.

They just don't seem to like my tank much. They're still pretty, but they were spectacular, and I keep moving them every month or so to try and recapture some of their previous beauty. Part of me wants to just put them in the back of the tank somewhere I can't see them and check them in a year, at least it'll keep me from messing with them... :hammer:

 

[Ike]

My anemone and his new buddy in the prop tank, the anemone is a little puffed out now that the clown is hosting He won't stand still so I haven't gotten a great shot yet.
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New Aussie Lord Frags I got today and my Platygyra in the background that never photographs well

New Clam in the prop tank, have two other new clams but photos didn't turn out...

 

[Ike]

New Duncans, they're big and look a heck of a lot like my DFS Duncan, both are still acclimating. Need to get to work on that bubble algae this weekend...

Random AOG and Roscoe's shot. The Roscoe's is incredible but I can't get a good shot of it

Still haven't taking any paly frag shots, prop tank shots, or sump shots. My camera is really old and so is the memory card, I get a whooping 35-40 shots before I'm out of memeory. That'll be taken care of soon I hope.

 

[JGoslee]

Sweet looking tank.

 

[Zoanuts]

Nice setup!

 

[Ike]

New palys added earlier today.

A few of the many frags sitting on the sand that I need to glue to the rockwork...

Clam moved up in the rockwork with a A Lupine Stag behind it

Random shot with a crocea that bleached in shipping, it has been a slow road back but it's looking better every week.

Another random shot

The Aussie Lords are looking a little better

As are the palys from earlier this week.

 

[Pazazz]

Super Tank!!! look awsome.

 

[Kigs!]

Wow...Ike, I just read your story and you've come a long way! It's amazing to hear that you are so passionate about the hobby and it's good to hear that you're finally back in with a new tank. Keep up the good work!

 

[Azurel]

Great stuff Ike.....Keep up the good work....

 

[Ike]

Hopefully I'll have a new camera soon and have some nice shots. I'm using a 5year old Nikon Coolpix 2500, which I must say has served me rather well.

In case anyone is wondering what Kigs is talking about here's to whole saga.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=895758&highlight=heavy+heart

 

[Ike]

Two of the clams I couldn't get decent shots of, the 3rd one seems to be a goner and has gone down hill since a couple days after I got it

Pseudochromis flavivertex to eat pods in my prop tank, he doesn't want to stay still for a photo

One of my Acan lords during feeding time

Really liking these new palys

A pretty drab paly that I bought to color up, getting deep purple with a green disk around the mouth

 

[THE BEAUT]

Very Nice