Older reef aquariums

[fish farmer]

I have rock in my system from 2000 and brown button polyps and green striped mushrooms which survived a major heat wave crash in 2003. I recycled everything, adding new rock along the way, upgrading and downgrading tank size.

Life does get in the way, some corals die, some corals become invasive, algae grows, algae dies.

This is my current system running since 2010, I had some die off due to heat issues and/or lack of care around 2014.

I wouldn't call it a tank of the month and things have changed since this picture. Most softies I've had for 9 years or longer. The hammer has grown out for the past couple of years from a frag the size of my pinky. The clown fish are 12 years old.

 

[Oldsalt]

After the initial few months, I never had a tank crash or had to start over. :D

It started i here in 1971.

Here is my tank thread from 2011 on here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-birthday-47-years.55423/

You're a legend Paul. Looks like we're from the same neck of the woods and almost the same age. Though I was young enough to miss Vietnam, my older brother went and I later joined the air wing of the US Navy. Travelled the world and got into a few scuffs with other countries (all about oil) our carrier group visited Australia and I met my wife to be. When I finished my tours I immigrated here (Perth). It's then when I fell in love with saltwater tanks. I grew up with freshies so I knew the basics, but saltwater grabbed me. That was 1986. UG filters using small shells from Shell Beach of northern WA checking only nitrates and pH and collecting my own water using a 12V bilge pump. I'm becoming more convinced that using Indian ocean water, beach and estuary sands/rocks/pods/macroalgae is key to healthy aquariums. My inhabitant deaths were due to their age and my stupidity (putting an eel in took the cake).
The things I miss most about NYC - pizza at any hour and snow during winter.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They’re out there. Over the years, tanks with trim and frame has evolved into rimless and eurobraced design.

 

[o2manyfish]

I'm not sure exactly what the original poster is looking for? My 400g was installed in 2004, which was upgraded from a 360g in 2002, which was upgraded from a 125 from 1989. I have rock, shrooms and polyps from the original late 80's tank.

The current 400g tank has had water in it for 15 years. It's also had it's share of ups / downs.

18 months ago we lost 130 fish in a power outage, but all the corals survived. 6 years ago sufferred a big loss to Kalk overdose.

I have a live webcam on my tank - so you can watch it anytime you want... Tomorrow it's going to be another day older than today -- not sure if you will notice a difference. www.o2manyfish.com/webcam


And if you really wanted to see some older tanks that are still running look in the big tank forums for the threads with huge view numbers. Some of us old timers have build threads that go back years and years.

If you want to see my tank maturing over time you can read my build thread in the large tank forum and there are some additional videos on youtube under o2manyfish.


Dave B

 

[Oldsalt]

I'm not sure exactly what the original poster is looking for..


Dave B

I believe that he is seeing many YouTube and other info sites showing new tanks and shiny new technology and is wondering where "we" are. Judging by the responses, I think he found us. :)

 

[Land Shark]

Like o2manyfish said, how you are defining an old tank? Lighting, skimmers and pumps only last so long. Do you really mean "same glass tank"?

 

[Paul B]

Old Salt. Nice to meet you. I did my R&R in Australia. Loved the place, but as you said, a little far for NY Pizza. :D

 

[Oldsalt]

Old Salt. Nice to meet you. I did my R&R in Australia. Loved the place, but as you said, a little far for NY Pizza. :D

Nice to meet you too Paul. Yes it's a nice country alright! Still get called "Seppo" (Septic tank rhymes with yank) as a term of endearment. Aussie sense of humour. I can't get my Queens accent to change after 30 odd years. I'd (almost) kill for a slice of pizza right now.

 

[Nailqueencat]

My current 5x2x2 650l tank has been running since 2007 with some rock (and sand palys!) and a few softie corals from my original 3x2x2 tank started in 2005. Lfs said they would look after my stock during a house move as they were building the new tank, but they killed everything apart from the rock and palys . They did credit me however. I obviously overpaid for the new tank! Laziness set in so I rescaped and changed the sand about 6yrs ago and all is good. I do spend a lot of time tinkering with it. I’ve done pretty well with equipment - only on my second return pump and changed out big clunky tunze powerheads for a 1st gen gyre (altho that has had every single part exchanged courtesy of BCUK!) and still going, also a newer ATO and better skimmer. Not bad in 12 yrs. Sadly don’t have any photos from the beginning.

 

[Oldsalt]

Beautiful aquarium @Nailqueencat

 

[tony'stank]

I set up my first fish only with live rock 55 Gal in 1985. That tank was set up for 2 years until I moved to a new house. I then set up a 125 Gal acrylic mixed reef in 1987. It had all DIY equipment ( homemade bulkheads, bioball wet dry filter and home made MH lights. That tank was setup until 2004 when I moved to AZ. I set up and Oceanic 90 Gal bow front as a mixed reef in 2004. That tank lasted until 2013 when I moved to MI. I set up the same tank in 2014. It lasted until 2016 when it started leaking from a seal. In 2016 I set up a RSR 450 mixed reef that is still running. In 34 years I have had two tank crashes. One from a power failure and one from a poorly done re- aquascapping.
I have tried unsuccessfully to post phots of my tanks

 

[tony'stank]

Actually my avatar is from my 2004 tank

 

[Waynerock]

I'm not sure exactly what the original poster is looking for? My 400g was installed in 2004, which was upgraded from a 360g in 2002, which was upgraded from a 125 from 1989. I have rock, shrooms and polyps from the original late 80's tank.

The current 400g tank has had water in it for 15 years. It's also had it's share of ups / downs.

18 months ago we lost 130 fish in a power outage, but all the corals survived. 6 years ago sufferred a big loss to Kalk overdose.

I have a live webcam on my tank - so you can watch it anytime you want... Tomorrow it's going to be another day older than today -- not sure if you will notice a difference. www.o2manyfish.com/webcam


And if you really wanted to see some older tanks that are still running look in the big tank forums for the threads with huge view numbers. Some of us old timers have build threads that go back years and years.

If you want to see my tank maturing over time you can read my build thread in the large tank forum and there are some additional videos on youtube under o2manyfish.


Dave B

Just saw the web cam, very cool. What is that on the glass, does it show you flow? Like a reef tank wind sock?

 

[BryanD]

This tank has been set-up since Summer 2004. Its been moved twice, but just across the street and back. The Pajama Cardinal was purchased in 2004, the Yellow tang in 2007, Clownfish and Royal dottyback in 2013. Lawnmower is the newest fish member, I got him in 2016.

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