Full Version: Professor's 40 Breeder
Your hardcore Lani!
She pestered me too. 
I call it motivation.
QUOTE (Lalani @ Jun 22 2009, 01:54 PM) 
I call it motivation.
Way to word-smith it Lani!
I guess I need to go start cutting PVC. 
-Prof
Well I pretty much finished up my plumbing tonight. Just have a few more pieces to cement together than I can run a leak test. Came out looking pretty good I think except for I can't do PVC work without getting that damn purple primer all over the place. 
I may end up painting all the plumbing black with Krylon Fusion.
So far I am still tracking to have saltwater, sand and rock in this thing by the end of this weekend.
-Prof
I may end up painting all the plumbing black with Krylon Fusion. So far I am still tracking to have saltwater, sand and rock in this thing by the end of this weekend.
-Prof
Okay! Getting ready to leak test this bad boy. Will hopefully post pics of it wet in about an hour or two. I am so excited!
-Prof
-Prof
*waiting*
So it works! 
It works but it is louder than I like. Need to fiddle with it to see if I can quiet it down some.
-Prof
-Prof
Like many I lost some posts during the forum crash so I am going to give a brief summary and share some pics. I was not happy with my original sump design so I re-did the sump to this configuration
Here you can see the filter sock holder inside the bubbletower and the lid I turned from acrylic.
So after i got all that up and running and transfered all of my livestock I have this to show for it. I am pretty happy to finally have it set up and everything in. Things are still acclimating to the new T-5 lighting but I am already seeing great improvment in coloration. I got rid of a lot of stuff in this transfer and only kept my favorites. Nothing is permantly attached yet until I get all the BTA's I want to keep settled in.
Some stuff is still a little P.O.'d from the move and new lights but overall I think it looks pretty good. Let me know what you guys think!
-Prof
Here you can see the filter sock holder inside the bubbletower and the lid I turned from acrylic.
So after i got all that up and running and transfered all of my livestock I have this to show for it. I am pretty happy to finally have it set up and everything in. Things are still acclimating to the new T-5 lighting but I am already seeing great improvment in coloration. I got rid of a lot of stuff in this transfer and only kept my favorites. Nothing is permantly attached yet until I get all the BTA's I want to keep settled in.
Some stuff is still a little P.O.'d from the move and new lights but overall I think it looks pretty good. Let me know what you guys think!
-Prof
Looks great.
QUOTE (Lalani @ Jul 22 2009, 04:43 PM)
Looks great.
Thanks Lani. I told you I would get it done!!!!
A few more pictures because I am so excited.
Hope you like!
-Prof
Hope you like!
-Prof
Looks like a great start! What lights are you using? Is that a Sundial?
Looks awesome! One of my favorite tanks.
QUOTE (Paleoreef103 @ Jul 22 2009, 05:49 PM)
Looks like a great start! What lights are you using? Is that a Sundial?
Thanks! It is a Sundial. I have been really happy with it so far.
QUOTE (Clavius85 @ Jul 22 2009, 05:50 PM)
Looks awesome! One of my favorite tanks.
Wow! Thanks for the compliment. I am glad you like it. Wait till I fill it with BTA's!!!
I like!
Are you planning on having the BTA's the focus of this tank?
Are you using stock Sundial bulbs?
What kind of lighting did you everything under before?
What's your favorite color?
Do you like beer?
Dog person or cat person?
Are you planning on having the BTA's the focus of this tank?
Are you using stock Sundial bulbs?
What kind of lighting did you everything under before?
What's your favorite color?
Do you like beer?
Dog person or cat person?
QUOTE (Weetabix7 @ Jul 22 2009, 06:10 PM)
I like!
Are you planning on having the BTA's the focus of this tank?
Are you using stock Sundial bulbs?
What kind of lighting did you everything under before?
What's your favorite color?
Do you like beer?
Dog person or cat person?
Are you planning on having the BTA's the focus of this tank?
Are you using stock Sundial bulbs?
What kind of lighting did you everything under before?
What's your favorite color?
Do you like beer?
Dog person or cat person?
Thanks!
1) BTA's and clowns are the primary focus.
2) Stock Sundial Bulbs for now. When it is time to change I plan to put better bulbs in.
3) Previously everything was under PC's. My monti browned overtime but continued to grow. It is already starting to color up under the T-5s. Hopefully it will regain it's bright green color. The GBTA I have did so-so but split right before the move so they are kinda puny now while they are recovering. My RBTA pictured earlier in the thread I lost due to a malfunctioning heater.
The GBTA survived though.4) Favorite color is green
5) I love beer
6) Cat person
-Prof
Prof - just read through - great build! Did you say what type of wood you used for the stand? Where did you pick it up? I'm in NYC and unfortunately my lumber supply choices are limited.
QUOTE (DHaut @ Jul 26 2009, 10:32 AM)
Prof - just read through - great build! Did you say what type of wood you used for the stand? Where did you pick it up? I'm in NYC and unfortunately my lumber supply choices are limited.
Thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate it. The lumber was nothing exotic. I used Red Oak that I got from Lowes. My bride wanted something that looked like rosewood and Red Oak has a similiar grain. It took me forever to get the color to match rosewood though. It took 6 applications of three different stains over the course of a week!
You should be able to find some oak in the NYC area. I personally don't like working with oak but it fit the bill for this project pretty well. BTW, I picked up a new RBTA this week. Pics to follow later!!!!
-Prof
I finally have my Vortech installed into the tank. That thing is simple amazing. Still need to do some cable management and mount the controller though. I am starting off on Lagoon mode at about 50% power and will slowly move the power up.
On another note my new RBTA is settling in well and the GBTA from my other tank that split right before the move is doing great too, although one of the splits doesn't seem to be healing quite as fast as the other. When it split it wasn't 50/50, it was more like 70/30 and the more puny split is taking a longer time to heal.
I will post up new pics later once the lights come on.
-Prof
On another note my new RBTA is settling in well and the GBTA from my other tank that split right before the move is doing great too, although one of the splits doesn't seem to be healing quite as fast as the other. When it split it wasn't 50/50, it was more like 70/30 and the more puny split is taking a longer time to heal.
I will post up new pics later once the lights come on.
-Prof
Just did a water change and snapped a couple top down shots of a few pieces plus some pics of my new RBTA and a new FTS. I need to seriously start thinking about where I am going to permantly mount the Monti at. I would like it lower in the tank - Anyone have any suggestions?
Anyway, on to the pics:
Top down GSP:
Top down zoas:
Some shrooms:
New RBTA with clowns feeling some love:
New FTS sporting the Vortech!
Unfortunately I am not a real good photographer and am challenged with using a camera so I never seem to capture the great colors that are really present in my tank. I need to read the directions I guess
.
Hope you enjoy!
-Prof
Anyway, on to the pics:
Top down GSP:
Top down zoas:
Some shrooms:
New RBTA with clowns feeling some love:
New FTS sporting the Vortech!
Unfortunately I am not a real good photographer and am challenged with using a camera so I never seem to capture the great colors that are really present in my tank. I need to read the directions I guess
. Hope you enjoy!
-Prof
I got bored this weekend and my bride was working a 12 at the hospital so I packed up my kids and went on a reefin' roadtrip. I live in the boonies and I only have 1 LFS that carries saltwater. His stuff is usually healthy and reasonably priced but he does not have a lot of variety. So I rolled up to Glen Burnie to House of Tropicals and was wicked disappointed in that store. Livestock variety was so/so, prices were large and all the fish looked on the verge of death. Disappointed but not discouraged I loaded my grubs back up in the car and rolled to a place called Roozens that I had been to once before. The place is a bit weird and funky, and smells to high heaven but they had awesome stuff. It is actually a nursery that is also a SW fish and invert importer. My kids especially liked the pond in the green house that had emporer angels and naso tangs swimming in it. So I ended up picking up some Pep Shrimp for my sump to eat aipstasia off of a couple frags I have down from the old tank, a pair of Skunk cleaners for the Display and a new Purple Tipped GBTA that is still acclimating towards the bottom of the display. So it took 6 hours on the road, a trip to McDonalds, three movies and 4 pee stops, and I burned up a whole prehistoric forest in my big-azz truck, but it was worth it. Kids and I had a great day and got some cool stuff for the tank (kids picked the Skunks and named them - Stinky and Smelly).
Pics to follow shortly.
-Prof
Pics to follow shortly.
-Prof
Tank is looking good, Prof!
QUOTE (Lalani @ Aug 10 2009, 03:50 PM)
Tank is looking good, Prof!
Thanks Lani. I need to roam over to your thread. I haven't checked yours out in a while.
So I just went and tried to snap a few pics and my battery is dead in my camera
. Will have to try again later. -Prof
Pics
Stinky and Smelly
New GBTA with purple tips in the foreground. The deformed one in the background is my other BTA that is recovering from a split.
Anemone Cove:
Updated FTS:
Stinky and Smelly
New GBTA with purple tips in the foreground. The deformed one in the background is my other BTA that is recovering from a split.
Anemone Cove:
Updated FTS:
Those clowns look happy. 
QUOTE (Professor @ Aug 10 2009, 03:43 PM)
I got bored this weekend and my bride was working a 12 at the hospital so I packed up my kids and went on a reefin' roadtrip. I live in the boonies and I only have 1 LFS that carries saltwater. His stuff is usually healthy and reasonably priced but he does not have a lot of variety. So I rolled up to Glen Burnie to House of Tropicals and was wicked disappointed in that store. Livestock variety was so/so, prices were large and all the fish looked on the verge of death. Disappointed but not discouraged I loaded my grubs back up in the car and rolled to a place called Roozens that I had been to once before. The place is a bit weird and funky, and smells to high heaven but they had awesome stuff. It is actually a nursery that is also a SW fish and invert importer. My kids especially liked the pond in the green house that had emporer angels and naso tangs swimming in it. So I ended up picking up some Pep Shrimp for my sump to eat aipstasia off of a couple frags I have down from the old tank, a pair of Skunk cleaners for the Display and a new Purple Tipped GBTA that is still acclimating towards the bottom of the display. So it took 6 hours on the road, a trip to McDonalds, three movies and 4 pee stops, and I burned up a whole prehistoric forest in my big-azz truck, but it was worth it. Kids and I had a great day and got some cool stuff for the tank (kids picked the Skunks and named them - Stinky and Smelly).
This sounds awesome!!!
How old are your kids?
Pics to follow shortly.
-Prof
This sounds awesome!!!
How old are your kids?
Pics to follow shortly.
-Prof
QUOTE (Lalani @ Aug 10 2009, 06:15 PM)
Those clowns look happy.
They are my spoiled little babies. Had them several years now. Too bad they are nuttier than squirrel poo. Clownfish are just wierd
Weetie,
My grubs are 8 and 13. I try to keep them interested in the reef and my passion for undersea life. Sometimes they dig it and other times they look at me like I just grew another belly-button out of my forehead!
When I was younger I had the opportunity to live in Saudi Arabia (early 80's) and we went diving and snorkeling in the Red Sea often. It was pristine back then and not a soul around. We would just roll up out of the desert, pitch camp on the beach above the high tide line and spend 3-4 days on the reef. I have been hooked on the sea and coral reefs in particular ever since. I hope to share an experience like that one day with my kids.....
-Prof
Finally caught up on this thread Prof.
Outstanding work on this build!
Must be an awesome feeling knowing how much you did yourself.
And the reef looks beautiful, love the nems.
Great stuff!
Outstanding work on this build!
Must be an awesome feeling knowing how much you did yourself.
And the reef looks beautiful, love the nems.
Great stuff!
QUOTE (Needreefunds @ Aug 10 2009, 07:57 PM)
Finally caught up on this thread Prof.
Outstanding work on this build!
Must be an awesome feeling knowing how much you did yourself.
And the reef looks beautiful, love the nems.
Great stuff!
Outstanding work on this build!
Must be an awesome feeling knowing how much you did yourself.
And the reef looks beautiful, love the nems.
Great stuff!
Thanks NRF. I enjoy working with my hands so it was very satisfying doing this build.
However, I still need to get off my fanny and build the matching canopy! I want to re-arrange and get my corals mounted and do something with that big-azz monti up in the corner, but honestly I am just enjoying it like it is right now. I will probably do that some time this weekend and get the new GBTA in what I hope to be it's final home. Then it will be time to lay back and watch it fill in. I am on the look-out for 3 juvenile clowns to add to the tank so my big female can pimp it up in there.
But I am not too pressed to do that right now. -Prof
Nice! love the new nems!
QUOTE (DHaut @ Aug 10 2009, 08:38 PM)
Nice! love the new nems!
Thanks D!
Down the road I would like to have enough nems so that my clowns can dominate a couple and still have some room for a anemone crab or some pederson's shrimp or something like that. Right now my clowns would kill or drive off anything like that. Bahstads!
that's why I don't keep clowns
QUOTE (DHaut @ Aug 10 2009, 09:03 PM)
that's why I don't keep clowns
Smart man. I have never seen a clownfish that wasn't a bit of a tard!
Decided it was time to update the thread since I have made some changes to the tank. First I fragged that big monti cap and rearranged it on the rock work so it can grow in and have a more natural look. Hopefully it will do well.
I was also at the LFS this weekend and saw a Royal Gramma that was beautiful. I always wanted one and had some store credit from some frags I just brought in so he came home with me. He is still pretty shy. My wife loves him.
We also went out and got some nice rattan/wicker furniture to go in the room with the tank. It is really turning into a great place to chill. All that is in there is some plants, the tank, chairs and a radio. It is my favorite room in the house.
On to the pics:
New resident:
Fragged Monti - hoping it will regain it's bright green color over time:
Bunch o' Nems:
3/4 shot:
FTS:
Enjoy!
-Prof
I was also at the LFS this weekend and saw a Royal Gramma that was beautiful. I always wanted one and had some store credit from some frags I just brought in so he came home with me. He is still pretty shy. My wife loves him.
We also went out and got some nice rattan/wicker furniture to go in the room with the tank. It is really turning into a great place to chill. All that is in there is some plants, the tank, chairs and a radio. It is my favorite room in the house.
On to the pics:
New resident:
Fragged Monti - hoping it will regain it's bright green color over time:
Bunch o' Nems:
3/4 shot:
FTS:
Enjoy!
-Prof
Tank looks awesome! So your kids aren't that interested in the tank huh? I've kept tanks since I was 6, sw from whenever my dad taught me to catch tropicals, and reefs since I was 11. My dad always had a sw tank in the house and I think that really made me get into keeping aquariums. Plus I've lived in florida my whole life so I've always been around the water, fishing, snorkeling, catching lobsters, catching fish for my tank or to sell which I found out is illegal since I don't have a commercial fishing liscence. So no more going out and catching my limit of angels and going to the LFS with a bucket full of fish and leaveing with a bunch of frags. I'm now 15 and addicted to reefing, all my freinds that don't keep tanks think I'm crazy. By little brother tried keeping softies til' he found out how demanding this hobby is and gave up and now calls me a fish nerd and a reef geek. So i know how you feel when they look at you wiered. at least my mom kept a nano until the cost just got to be too much so only my brother thinks I'm crazy.
Lookin' good!
Tank is looking great prof! I love those nems all in a line!
QUOTE (Nick's Reef @ Aug 19 2009, 05:29 PM)
Tank looks awesome! So your kids aren't that interested in the tank huh? I've kept tanks since I was 6, sw from whenever my dad taught me to catch tropicals, and reefs since I was 11. My dad always had a sw tank in the house and I think that really made me get into keeping aquariums. Plus I've lived in florida my whole life so I've always been around the water, fishing, snorkeling, catching lobsters, catching fish for my tank or to sell which I found out is illegal since I don't have a commercial fishing liscence. So no more going out and catching my limit of angels and going to the LFS with a bucket full of fish and leaveing with a bunch of frags. I'm now 15 and addicted to reefing, all my freinds that don't keep tanks think I'm crazy. By little brother tried keeping softies til' he found out how demanding this hobby is and gave up and now calls me a fish nerd and a reef geek. So i know how you feel when they look at you wiered. at least my mom kept a nano until the cost just got to be too much so only my brother thinks I'm crazy.
That's great. I got inot the hobby pretty young too, although that was quite a few years ago
. And don't feel bad, I get called a fish nerd too.QUOTE (Clavius85 @ Aug 19 2009, 05:37 PM)
Lookin' good!
Thanks for the compliment! BTW - great David Gilmore avatar!
QUOTE (capsfan @ Aug 19 2009, 05:41 PM)
Tank is looking great prof! I love those nems all in a line!
Thanks! I love my nems although probably not as much as my clownfish! Let's go CAPS!!!
-Prof
QUOTE (Professor @ Aug 19 2009, 06:18 PM)
Thanks for the compliment! BTW - great David Gilmore avatar!
-Prof
-Prof
+1
was rather surprised by that one.Very underrated artist IMO.
Gilmour's- "Murder" is one of my favs.
Sorry about straying off topic here Prof.
So,
Sweet tank shots Prof!
Beautiful reef Professor!!
QUOTE (Needreefunds @ Aug 19 2009, 09:01 PM)
+1 was rather surprised by that one.
Very underrated artist IMO.
Gilmour's- "Murder" is one of my favs.
Sorry about straying off topic here Prof.
So,
Sweet tank shots Prof!
was rather surprised by that one.Very underrated artist IMO.
Gilmour's- "Murder" is one of my favs.
Sorry about straying off topic here Prof.
So,
Sweet tank shots Prof!
Thanks NRF. I need to work with my camera so I can get my colors accurate and then try some macro shots. No problem about straying off topic. Music is one of my other passions!
QUOTE (got2envy @ Aug 19 2009, 09:49 PM)
Beautiful reef Professor!!
I'm glad you think so.
I was sorry to hear you are taking down your rock wall. I need to stop being lazy and get caught up on your tank threads. Of course you have more tanks than Carter has liver pills so it will probably take me a while to get caught up! -Prof
I now only have 2.5 tanks...not too shabby
QUOTE (got2envy @ Aug 19 2009, 10:11 PM)
I now only have 2.5 tanks...not too shabby
2.5 Tanks? As in "two and a half"
How the hell did you pull off half a tank? Or did you mean 25? -Prof
looking really good
QUOTE (plainrt @ Aug 19 2009, 10:28 PM)
looking really good
Thanks, I really appreciate that. I sometimes wish I went with the 30BR like you did though. I love the shallow look.
-Prof
wow! fantastic! everythin came out very nicely!! the stand is stunning! i also have handy hands...lol... ive been building stands and canopies for a while now, and i love it! im gonna start a new thread about my 40breeder disaster and the re-make sooooo. stay tuned! cant wait to see more progress on your tank, im positive it will be nuthing short of awesome!
QUOTE (jerzsky @ Aug 19 2009, 11:24 PM)
wow! fantastic! everythin came out very nicely!! the stand is stunning! i also have handy hands...lol... ive been building stands and canopies for a while now, and i love it! im gonna start a new thread about my 40breeder disaster and the re-make sooooo. stay tuned! cant wait to see more progress on your tank, im positive it will be nuthing short of awesome!
Wow! Thanks!
I am looking forward to seeing your 40BR re-make. Good Luck!-Prof
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