- Background -
Well, here we are... I finally succumb to a much needed tank upgrade... I purchased a system from a local reefer last Sunday (06-14-09)... I have been thinking about the tank upgrade for more than a year... I'm glad I finally did... Pls join me on this journey...

- Tank Specs -
Tank: 110g Tank (48" x 24" x 22") with custom made stand and canopy; 34g sump in the stand
Lighting: (6) 48" T5 Retros... middle 4 bulbs are overdriven w/ IceCap ballast; 2 outside bulbs are normal output
Skimmer: CS 200 cone skimmer by Royal Reef Aquarium
Pump/Powerhead: Mag 9.5 for return & Vortech MP40 (from 28g JBJ)
Controller: Reef Keeper Elite
Top Off: Tunze Osmolator (from 28g JBJ)
Birthday: 06-14-09

Fish List: to be determined... but the tank will be Fairy Wrasse dominated...
Coral List: favorite 25 z's & p's, chalices... it'll be a mixed reef tank but z's & p's dominated...


Current FTS: 01-04-2010, only 2 Blue + bulbs are on...


FTS: 06-23-09




Coral Highlights

FlameThrower chalice



Raging Rivers chalice



Wellso's





Aussie Scollies

Woo! Marvin! Welcome to large reefs
I am def following this thread

nice canopy and stand!

Maria

This is going to get good

Thanks Maria...

it's definitely a different world... after years of running nano's, this big tank is somewhat intimidating but then again, I'm looking forward to the challenge... it'll be a slow but fun journey... I plan on having this tank for a few years so no sense in hurrying up... I have a few nice sized colonies that I'll be moving from the 28g JBJ... at least that's a start...



Thank you... I hope it'll be a nice one as it progresses...

looks like a winner.

your 28g looks tiny!

Well it's about time

nice set up,marv!!now you could put some nice wrasses in that tank!!and chalices...

Pfff, wrong reef tank forum dude.

jk, should be a sweet setup one day.

yeah, it does... the HI Flame can't wait to go in the bigger tank... he's been staring at it the past two days... LoLz...


yup, it was about time...


yeah, looking forward to having a nice collection of fairy wrasses... oh, and chalices...


Thanks man...

Welcome to the large section. I'll be following along!

This is going to be sweet to follow bro! Looks amazing already!!!

I don't think all your corals can make the move into the new tank. Lucky for you because I'm a nice guy and I'll take some off your hands for you.

More Pink Boobies!

Pffft! OK POOKSTREET!



hahahah j/k Im jealous.

very nice. Keep those pictures coming.

Thanks guys...


LoLz...


believe it or not, I don't plan of stuffing the tank with a lot chalices... only the handful I have now and possibly a few that I really really like... I don't want this tank to be littered with frags, like my other tanks... LoLz...


LoLz.. me and Kenny have somewhat had the same taste with corals and fishes... he has way better corals than I do though.. maybe someday my collection will be half as good...

I know man, I love wrasse and chalice. You should get some sick anthia in there first

yeah... I was thinking 3-4 Borbonius...

Those guys are so ill.. pictures dont do them justice.

if I find a decent price on them when the tank is ready, I might just do it...

Where are you located I might be able to help

48124... MI...


well, I cleaned the coralline off the back glass last night... much better!!!

Before


After




close up of the scape... I'll be moving stuff around so I thought I might as well document this...

Left island


Right island

oh yeah, here's a pic of the skimmer doing its thing...

Wow! looks nice and clean..I like
the skimmer is kicking butt and there is nothing in there

another soon to be great tank!!

great work so far!!

Thank you... I do like it all scraped too... much cleaner looking... can't wait to add corals and fishies...


Thanks... looking forward to the challenge... hopefully, it'll be a much cleaner and more automated set up than my previous tanks...

looking good so far.I am in the proces of gathering everything for a 90 gallon oceanic tech tank. I decided to ditch the rsm 250 and go for the gusto!

good deal man...

Thanks for stopping by...

Beautiful Marvin !!

Thanks for stopping by Duane...


some updates... I re-arranged the rockwork a little... added a few other rock so have a little more room for corals to grow into... I'm looking forward to getting the livestock in there in the next coming weeks... I was also able to clean the inside of the skimmer but I'll post a pic of that a little later... it's already skimming too....

anyway, I like the scape much better now.... hope you guys like it as well...

Looking good, looking good!

Thanks...

When are we going to see that insane collection in the 110? The live rock looks like its missing coral!

yeah, I know... hopefully I can incorporate the corals in the scape nicely so it looks clean...

tagging along
&&&&&&&
that aquascape is sexy
sugarfine would look good in tha tank
but im just a whore for sugarfine

Thank you...

Nice upgrade. Now you have me think, cuz I could possible fit this size tank it the space I have.

1. do you think the T5's will be enough for SPS with that deep of a tank?

2. Curious if this tank is setup above a basement. Cuz weight would be my biggest issue.

1. do you think the T5's will be enough for SPS with that deep of a tank?
yup... the guy I bought it for was a SPS guy... he had great colors and very good growth...

2. Curious if this tank is setup above a basement. Cuz weight would be my biggest issue.
I'm not really sure about that... my tank is currently in the basement...

anyway, good luck with your upgrade...


UPDATE:
pics aren't as nice as the last batch but another week has gone.. yay!!! I moved some corals a few days ago and everything is doing well... some of the z's and p's that were closed are actually opening up... I think they're enjoying the extra light and more water volume... the montis also seem to have perked up a little more... I'm yet to move any LPS but I will by this weekend... I see diatoms also so I'm looking into getting a nice clean up crew... lights are on about 4 hrs a day the past few days...

well... since we had a little boo boo with the site, I thought I'd update with pics and other stuff that has been going on with the tank the past weeks....

my current FTS... still need to clean up the sand bed... just getting them acclimated...






sideview



new addition to the family.. Golden Rhomboid fairy wrasse... shots are taken w/ flash...






and here's a few vids for your enjoyment...

Rhomboid fairy wrasse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFMKtI0xbCY

HI Flame fairy wrasse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDJqKraEBl0

Fish group shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4wlWvZKGyg

Full Tank vid as of 07-10-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4wlWvZKGyg

Woo! That's a beautiful sea of red! Lets see some Macros!

won't be able to get do macros for a few weeks... corals are still adjusting to their new lights...

Thanks for stopping by...

couple of things that went well tonight...

- Golden Rhomboid wasn't crazy tonight (although his lips aren't looking too good atm), still eating like a pig though so I'm hoping he'll recuperate quickly...

- Skimmer seems like it wants to skim now (raised the water level in the sump to about 12"), raising the water level also means less bubbles coming from the return...

- I was able to install the Tunze Osmolator so no more manual top off... yay!!! Junior gave me a 29g tank for top off... so far it has 11g of water... I plan on having at least 15g in there... that should last me about a week of top off... I also plan on having a small powerhead in there once the wiring clean up is complete...

- Temporarily, I'm using my old Aqua Controller to control the lights instead of turning them on manually... I'm gonna read up a little more on the RKE so I can attempt to get it going soon...

so overall, it was a great night... I plan on doing my first water change in a week or so... I plan on doing a 15% water change... corals and fishes are acclimating well... I'll re-arrange some of the corals in the next few days to have more sand bed space... it should look cleaner after the re-arrangement...

Sounds like a pretty productive day. Congrats.

Thanks...

now, just need to get the RKE in the mix so I can clean up the wiring and watch this thing take off, hopefully...

well, just past 5 weeks and doing alright... first water change to be done this weekend...





some coral pics that turned out okay... I will definitely need someone with macro lens come by to get good pics of the corals... it's much harder to take good pics with a bigger tank... yikes!!!

Mohawks


Blastos


RSC Rainbow... has grown a little...

here's one of the best video I've taken of my HI Flame wrasse flashing... my only complain was I wished the daylights were on... I dunno how to post the actual youtube vid but here's the link... enjoy!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iXfiDyt8tU

UPDATE: 07-24-09

I think I might've gotten a breakthrough on the MSX 200 skimmer... for about a month, I've been trying to get the maximum performance out of this skimmer but can't seem to get it to work right... with the help of some of the guys here and some trial and error, I might've gotten it to finally work... so here is the list of stuff I did to improve the performance... also did the first water change... I was only able to do about 16g though so I'm gonna follow up with another 15g-20g either this week or next week...

elevated the water height to about 11"; used to be around 8"...


turned the dial down very close to being CLOSED; used to be in the middle...


here's a quick pic...


here's a quick vid too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rasUXzesoeM...player_embedded

Lovin the tank so far. Beautiful fish, aquascaping and of course corals. looking forward to seeing this develop!

Thank you...

so far, all I've been excited about is completing the fish collection... it'll be a while til I really have something to show for in the coral department... most of my frags are hidden behind the rockwork to keep the viewing area clean..

trying out the cheap-o Underwater digicam my wife bought...

FujiFilm FinePix Z33WP... camera doesn't really take the best pics but it'll do for now... we're just looking to get a camera that will be okay to use while Evin is young... it's waterproof, sandproof, and dustproof so we can use it everywhere Evin plays outdoor...

btw, most of the corals are still acclimating to the new system... I'm hoping they'll color up even more in the next few weeks...

Orig ME


Hell's Kitchen


Pink Boobies


RSC Rainbow




NiCE favia