Thanks Gerber.

Hey Dave, yeah everything is doing great once again. Took a little while to get through the ich and algea battle, but I'm thrilled with how the tank is doing once again! Now I just need some time to get to work on the new canopy and a couple upgrades. With Christmas sneaking up on me, I hope I can find some moolah.

how many weeks/months apart were the photos taken, thats some awesome growth and coloration!

I think it's time for a video update .

Excellent growth!

Almost 5 months. I had red bugs for 3 of those, so the SPS growth on some of those was slowed. As soon as the red bugs were killed, they have exploded with growth! I'm debating on target feeding... I haven't target fed anything, they just get light and poop, so I'm not sure if it's needed.



I agree Glenn! I'll see what I can put together in the next week.



Thanks!

Great pics! I like those acropora before/afters. Have fun with the Randall's shrimp goby; they like to raise and lower their dorsal fins like a signal.

that growth is awesome, love this tank and everything about it, if you have time can we get a FTS?

My first post on this forum... what to say besides job well done. I'll be hitting you up soon for some frags.

CJI

always amazing calvin....

Thanks! Yeah, he's a cute little guy!



Thanks! Yeah, I'll get some FTS's as soon as I have the new canopy going. I'm hoping to get the lumber purchased this weekend.



LOL! Thanks!



Welcome to N-R! Thanks!



Thanks bro! I appreciate it!

Well bad news... Still no new canopy, so no new pics...

The reason? I spent the canopy budget on new fish.

Today I added 2 Hippo Tangs, 1 Clown Tang, and 1 Copperbanded Butterfly, and ordered 1 Helfrichi Firefish, 1 Yasha, 1 Blonde Naso, along with a few other small gobies... Order ETA is Friday.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Now those are some awesome additions!!!

I should say that it was really irresponsible of you to spend the money elsewhere ... but those fish rock!

you gonna quarantine them right...
would want your beautiful tank to undergo med.

QT tank is being built, but not going to be done in time... I'm relying on my 5 cleaner shrimp and 2 blood shrimp to keep everyone healthy.

what one is this one!

Forgive me for reviving this thread. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I was just in awe of your work and wondering if you'd provide an updated video/pictures. For a long time I've wanted to set up a reef tank. Before I signed up for this forum and began reading posts, I'd have never guessed how complicated this all is. I have F.W. tanks and they are unbelievably simple compared to this. Every time I'd read one of your posts completely amazed, I'd look at your avatar picture, and your sons face made complete scene to me. =)

I must have spent 3 or 4 hours reading over this when i was supposed to be writing a paper for school and it was worth every minute. Thank you for documenting this amazing build for us all to enjoy (especially a SW newbie like myself.)!

Thanks!
--Mike

That's okay. I still want eric to tell me what that acro is - or send me a frag!

Sorry guys, been way too busy with my lastest venture to do anything other than maintenance on the tank. poidog, I have no idea what that coral is... I picked it out, not knowing what it is, I even asked the guy I got it from and he didn't know what it is. For now, I'm going to call it my Incredible Hulk. If anyone has an actual name for it, let me know.

hey man! just wanted to let u know that the frags you sent me are doing great! most of them are super duper encrusted to their base already!
thanks man i love em

I want a frag when it's ready!

also, what lens are you using on your pics?

Excellent! Glad to hear it!



Going to be a while, it's still pretty small. I'm using a Nikon Coolpix 8800 on the macro setting, only has 1 lense.

Hey Calvin,

I must say your build is utterly amazing. I came across this thread about 2 months ago and read up to page 30 something. Since then I forgot about it so it took me a long time to catch up, around 3 hours, during which my cat was sick, then my dog ate the sick and then sicked all the sick back up! A very interesting albeit gross 3 hours I must say.

Its been a very good read and very interesting to say the least. I've been following this from across the pond in the UK. I'm thinking of employing you to make me a build, this one though perhaps 12'1"?

Any Updates?

Nice A. Vermiculata!

The other piece above looks like and A. Austera

This has got to be one of my favorite tanks of ALL TIME!

Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooooooo!?!?!!!!!!!! I was just wondering what was going on with your tank these days. I've been following this one for about a year. I'm a big fan. Maybe some FTS pics? Thanks!

so want to see some recent pix of this tank....it's one of the all time greats, I think

I'm with quick on this!!!

yes more pics... i love the size on this tank!

LOL! That must be one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard. Thanks for tagging along.



I'll be posting in a bit...



Actually it's an A. Yongi (Slimer), not sure the other piece in question...



Thanks!



No new pics, but soon...



Thanks, no new pics, but some updates coming up...



lol



Thanks!

UPDATE:
Well, I've been fighting with my lights for the last 6 months, the 3' section continues to pop bulbs due to the heat from being overdriven by my IC 660's. After replacing a bulb, 2 weeks later another would pop. This has been my routing for the last 3 months, popping bulbs, ordering bulbs, waiting for shipping, replacing said bulb, repeat. After dropping all this coin on 3' bulbs, one if my 4' sections just blew the ballast... Needless to say, I'm done with T-5's, they just get too hot on these ballasts. They are just not meant to handle that kind of heat. Sure fans could help, but what a pain trying to retro fans into this mess. So, here is my plan, and I'll have pics once it is transformed.

I will be changing the entire tank over to LED's. Yep, all 12 feet covered by 5 banks of 120w LED's. No more bulb replacement, no more crazy electricity, no more heat issues, no more sections without light. I hope to order the new lights either this weekend, or next week. Stay tunes for pics, of the tank, and my empty wallet.

Thanks for following, and I apologize for the lack of updates...
I'll post more growth shots soon as well.
-Eric

I think a narrow, shallow tank like this is a perfect candidate for LEDs. Can't wait to see it come together! Good luck Eric!

Oh man... This is going to be good!!! Sorry about the bad luck with the T-5's...

WOW!!! What an amazing tank you have Calvin! I just got through with skimming all 67 pages and your build is incredible! I don't think I would have the confidence to build something like that from scratch. Nicely done.

Can't wait to see more photos!!!!

Thanks everyone! Here's a link to the LED fixtures I'm looking at. Can't beat this price for the PAR and spread! If you order one as well, be sure to tell them I sent you, they will take good care of you.

http://www.steelcitycorals.com/product_inf...348fda8598b9cef

This should be great! I almost bought that fixture but I couldn't hang it!

Why couldn't you hang it?

They are using 1w LED's not 3w? What PAR are they reporting? I'd be suspicious since most of the 1w fixtures I have seen don't produce much PAR.

There are 119 1w LED's

2" depth - 1537 Par 12" depth - 423 Par 24" depth - 182 Par

Saw it in person this weekend, and this baby is freakin bright!!!

Get one and run a PAR meter under it before you sink a ton into the rest. I got a chance to see one at Reefstock this weekend and the quick PAR measurement I took wasn't as promissing as they claimed. There could be extenuating circumstances for the low reading, but better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks bud, you were at ReefStock? Did you fly out? Darn would have love to meet ya.

-E

I was out in Denver for the weekend, but I was at the show all day Saturday. We were in the back corner next to Ecoxotic. I was the dude with the long hair

Well, I got a pair of Par 38's in the mail yesterday, and while I love the shimmer, it's just not bright enough IMO. They are still very cool, and my hat is off to Evil and his work they are a sweet little light! I also had a pair of the original fixture I posted from Steel City Corals and compared it to my T5's and I think it may even be brighter, and wow do the colors pop!!! I still plan to use the smaller version of the Par 38's to spot light certain corals, but the original fixture was just too cheap to pass up. I have 5 on the way, should be here by Friday next week. I'll post pics as soon as they get here; I'm stoked!!!!

Those LED units are made by a company in China named BSled (Baishang Semiconductor), and are able to be purchased directly from the manufacturer with the modifications you require. Most of the reefers here that've tested them have given them the thumbs up in terms of growth and colour, and have reported PAR comparable to a lot of 250W setups. From memory they are able to push around the 140 mark at the bed on a 22" deep tank, slightly higher (~5-10%) if you spec them with 40 3W LEDs instead.

There's a heavy discussion of it over on the RTAW forums if you want to have a look, mate.

This is the most awesome tank ever

Thanks for the link, not sure how they are getting them that cheap... ???



LOL! Thanks for the kind words.

Direct contact with the company and not going through the resellers in the US there's an email contact about 14 pages in... either Happen or Candy I think most were using.

Thanks bro. I went ahead and ordered them through my friend for now, I know him, and know I'll get my order. Being told I should have them by Friday, so fingers crossed! I can't wait to see them!

Look forward to seeing them up, man! I'm still in two minds about 'em myself... whether to go that way or build my own. Hmmmmms.

What version did you end up getting?