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Dr. Felicia's Predator Paradise - Retired


Felicia

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Marine Depot Feature Video!

 

 

 

On the cover of Reef Hobbyist Magazine!

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Video podcasting with Gary and Christine from Reef Threads at MACNA!

I start at 28:40.

 

 

I was a guest on Reef Threads Podcast #282!

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Mentioned in Reef Threads Podcast #281!

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FTS 9/25/16

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Fu Manchu Lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) - Mushu

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Dwarf Zebra Lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) - Draco

Draco passed away in September 2016. He was a wonderful fish and will be missed!

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Antennata Lionfish (Pterois antennata) - Seraphina

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Snowflake Eel (Echidna nebulosa) - Falkor

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Specifications

Tank

  • 40g Breeder Tetra glass aquarium (36"W x 18"D x 17"H)
  • Drilled 700 gph Glass Holes overflow kit and 3/4" return kit
  • Aqueon black pine stand

Rock and Sand

  • 28 lbs of KPA cured live rock
  • 10 lbs Real Reef rock
  • 40 lbs of CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand

Lighting

  • Maxspect R420R (Razor) 27" 160 watt 16k

Flow

  • 2 Vortech MP10's

Filtration

  • Sump - 20g long Tetra aquarium (30"W x 12"D x 12"H); Jebao DC-3000 return pump
  • 4" Felt Filter Sock
  • Phosban 150 Media Reactor with TLF NPX Biopellets
  • Reef Octopus NWB110 skimmer
  • Refugium with chaetomorphia, rubble rock, and Maxspect Razor Nano 10K light

Heating

  • Finnex Deluxe Titanium Heating Tube, 300 Watts
  • Finnex Max-300 Digital Aquarium Heater Controller

Auto Top-Off

  • JBJ ATO Water Level Controller
  • Tom Aqua Lifter Vacuum Pump

Dosing

  • Jebao DP-4
    • Channel 1: Acropower
    • Channel 2: B-Ionic Mg
    • Channel 3: B-Ionic Ca
    • Channel 4: B-Ionic Alk

RO/DI System

  • BRS 5 Stage RO/DI System
  • Purtrex 5 micron sediment filter
  • Catalytic carbon
  • ChlorPlus 10 carbon block
  • 75 GPD Dow Filmtec membrane
  • DI resin (color-changing)

 

Livestock

 

Fish

  • Fu Manchu Lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) - Mushu
  • Dwarf Zebra Lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) - Draco Passed away September 2016
  • Antennata Lionfish (Pterois antennata)
  • Snowflake Eel (Echidna nebulosa) - Falkor
  • Darwin Ocellaris Clownfish (male) (Amphiprion ocellaris)
  • Standard Ocellaris Clownfish (female) (Amphiprion ocellaris)
  • Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
  • Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

Inverts

  • Squamosa Clam (from Gena May 27, 2015)
  • Squamosa Clam (purchased Oct. 2013)
  • Tiger Derasa Clam (purchased March 2014) Died due to unknown causes August 2016
  • Turbo snails
  • Ruby red mithrax crab
  • Serpent starfish
  • Scarlet and blue leg hermit crabs
  • Tuxedo urchin and purple and white pincushion urchin

Sump Design

 

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History

7/8/16

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6/15/16

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3/12/16

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2/25/16

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11/22/15

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8/12/15

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7/16/15

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7/5/15

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6/23/15

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5/28/15

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3/22/15

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2/19/15
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  • Like 27
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Thanks, Christina :) Btw, are you the one answering the Baja Reef messages so quickly? haha

Lol yes that's me! I'm multitasking haha

 

So can we get a hint about the new tank?

  • Like 1
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Lol yes that's me! I'm multitasking haha

 

So can we get a hint about the new tank?

I'm working on a post right now. Had to take a break from drilling because my drill battery died. :( I don't think I charged it long enough. I'll let it charge overnight and finish up the drilling in the morning. My overflow hole is almost all the way through and then I'll have to do the return hole.

 

Thanks for answering my questions! I was thinking about a dwarf angel and was thinking yesterday that a flameback might be a nice one. Then you guys got one! Not sure if I could get it yet though because it would have to go in my 30 gallon for now. That might be a bit crowded and the wrasses already have territory in there.

  • Like 1
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This post is going to be so long! So much to say! Well let's see if I can condense a bit...

 

  • First off, I'm back! :lol: Sorry for being MIA for so long. I've missed you all! I've just been so busy, which is no excuse to not pop in for a few minutes, but I'm so bad at being on NR for just a few moments. Research/school and some family stuff has really gotten crazy lately, and I have been slacking on taking care of the tanks. Also, I blame Eddie (Zia) for being distracting :wub: I just haven't had the time/energy to devote to the hobby, but I don't want to leave, so I'm trying to get back into it. That means some changes!
  • Ok, so like I said, I've been neglecting my tanks. I need to figure out a way to make maintenance take less time so that I can keep up with the tanks and still have time to enjoy them, photograph them, and post on NR.
  • First thing I decided was that I really can't have multiple tanks. The seahorse tank has to go. I have it halfway taken down. The remaining seahorse went to a friend locally and is living in a big fuge filled with tons of macro algae and two bangaii cardinals. I sold off the coral and moved a few things into my other tank. I just need to rehome the coris wrasse and then take everything down and clean it up.
  • Ok, so now I'll just have the main 30 gallon tank, but I've had some issues with that tank. I've been very slowly losing corals over the last couple months and I'm not sure what was going on. Probably partially due to me neglecting the tank. Then I had a crash just a couple weeks ago. Eddie and I decided to move a bunch of stuff from the seahorse tank over into the main tank. We dipped everything in flatworm exit, which apparently stressed out the gorgs. During the night after the transfer, the gorgs started melting and apparently the tank just couldn't handle all the excess nutrients and it crashed. I have a few nice corals left, but I mostly just need to start over again :(
  • I debated taking that tank down as well and just taking a break from the hobby for a while, but decided I just couldn't do it. I'd miss it too much. I decided what I needed to do was to build a new system from the ground up and do it right this time.
  • With the 30 gallon I've just kind of added on equipment over time and never did it right from the beginning. I didn't know what I was doing when I originally started that tank since I'd only been in the hobby a few months. I've never taken the time to really just start over from scratch. The HOB overflow is a pain that gets clogged/loses siphon all the time. The return and overflow tubing are growing algae everywhere. The sump is only a 5 gallon, so the equipment is soooo cramped and its like a puzzle getting things in and out for maintenance. Its just such a mess that I never want to mess with it. Unfortunately, my stand is so narrow (since the tank is only 13" deep), that I cant fit a bigger sump.
  • So, I decided I need a deeper stand. If I'm going to start all over and get a new stand and everything, I figured I needed a new tank too! Gotta get a bit of an upgrade out of all this work! I didn't want to go much bigger because I'm on the second floor of an old apartment building, so weight worries me. After much debate, I decided a 40 breeder would be a perfect upgrade. It gives me an extra 5" of depth without being much bigger, so now I can get a normal sized sump in the stand.
  • Like 8
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A few photos of me starting the drilling tonight.

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2627.jpg.html'>IMG_2627.jpg

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2630.jpg.html'>IMG_2630.jpg

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2633.jpg.html'>IMG_2633.jpg

 

And this showed up today! I got a bunch of reef packages in the mail today which is always fun! I got sand, airline tubing, and filter pads for the sump from Drs. Foster and Smith. And, I got specialty plumbing fittings from BRS. And then the Glass Holes kits arrived.

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2636.jpg.html'>IMG_2636.jpg

 

Here's the stand I ordered. This is the same one that is set up in one of my LFS.

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2615.jpg.html'>IMG_2615.jpg

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2617.jpg.html'>IMG_2617.jpg

  • Like 5
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Oh, and since I'm calling this Diver's Paradise again, how about some new dive photos?

 

I went diving down in Monterey last weekend. The visibility was awesome, which made for some really nice macro photography.

 

I think this is my favorite from the day. The kelp forests are so serene and look like something from a fairy tale.

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Hopkin's rose nudibranch

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Mouth of a sea cucumber

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Decorator crabs

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First time seeing a sunfish. Unfortunately this one was dying. Apparently the sea lions eat only their fins and then leave them to die :( Wish I could have seen a healthy one!

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And let's end with me taking a goofy underwater selfie.

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There are a ton more photos on Facebook if you want to check them out.

https://www.facebook.com/felicia.svedlund/media_set?set=a.10106348846946641.1073741853.2060152&type=1&pnref=story

 

Oh, and Lily says hi!

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2587.jpg.html'>IMG_2587.jpg

  • Like 20
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OMG....how exciting! Sorry for your losses, but this new beginning will be fun :). There's always a bright side in this hobby.

 

Did you get the rest of the drilling done? You are so handy!!!!!!

  • Like 1
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OMG....how exciting! Sorry for your losses, but this new beginning will be fun :). There's always a bright side in this hobby.

 

Did you get the rest of the drilling done? You are so handy!!!!!!

Yeah, I'm moving past the tank issues and getting excited again. I was definitely in a funk about the tanks for a while and I'm so over it. Just needed a project so I could get back into it. I think the DIY portion is my favorite!

 

I'm about to start the drilling now. Slept in later than I intended and then got sucked into my computer for a bit. Wish me luck! I really don't want to have to go searching for another 40B today haha.

  • Like 5
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Yeah, I'm moving past the tank issues and getting excited again. I was definitely in a funk about the tanks for a while and I'm so over it. Just needed a project so I could get back into it. I think the DIY portion is my favorite!

 

I'm about to start the drilling now. Slept in later than I intended and then got sucked into my computer for a bit. Wish me luck! I really don't want to have to go searching for another 40B today haha.

Good luck!!!!! :)

 

Tell Eddie he needs to post a FTS. I got glimpses of his scape and it looks amazing. Unless he posted one recently and I missed it????

  • Like 3
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Good luck!!!!! :)

 

Tell Eddie he needs to post a FTS. I got glimpses of his scape and it looks amazing. Unless he posted one recently and I missed it????

Thanks! I don't think he's posted one. His new scape is amazing but I think he's waiting to have professional photos taken to reveal the FTS. Not sure though.

  • Like 2
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Glad you're not leaving the hobby and getting psyched up for an upgrade. Multiple tanks definitely makes for inconvenient maintenance; especially when you're looking to streamline the maintenance process.

 

Beautiful dive pics!

  • Like 2
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Glad you're not leaving the hobby and getting psyched up for an upgrade. Multiple tanks definitely makes for inconvenient maintenance; especially when you're looking to streamline the maintenance process.

 

Beautiful dive pics!

Yeah, I'm glad I decided to stay in the hobby and just start from scratch. Much more fun this way :) Two tanks is definitely not fun on the maintenance front. This hobby is just so addictive that its hard not to want more tanks. I've just learned that no matter how much I think I want another one, I will regret it later. Just one tank for me!

 

Thank you! I was thrilled with how these turned out. Sometimes its just too murky to get decent shots, but the water conditions were amazing!

 

Alright, the first hole is done! The tank isn't cracked!!! Now I just have to make it through another hole. I took a break to eat some lunch and now I need to figure out where I want the return and get started on drilling that. Hopefully it will go as smoothly. Drilling is making me so nervous.

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2641.jpg.html'>IMG_2641.jpg

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/user/alatarie/media/IMG_2644.jpg.html'>IMG_2644.jpg

  • Like 7
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Many years ago I learned that I couldn't keep up multiple tanks. Too much testing and too many different water change schedules. So now I have 3 tanks hooked into 1 sump for about 75 gallons total. It was tricky since 1 tank is a seahorse tank and of course you know all about their special needs but the LPS didn't mind the cool temps or the slightly dirtier water so it's working out well. BTW, your seahorse tank and Zia's inspired me a year ago to set one up. Mine isn't near as beautiful as either of yours but it's maintenance friendly and for me that was necessary. So thank you so much for the inspiration. Right now I am raising baby seahorses and that has been quite an experience.

  • Like 1
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Looking good. From my experience with the DC return pumps I would go with the next size bigger. They seem to lose a lot of oompf from head pressure, especially if you are splitting the return.

  • Like 1
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Many years ago I learned that I couldn't keep up multiple tanks. Too much testing and too many different water change schedules. So now I have 3 tanks hooked into 1 sump for about 75 gallons total. It was tricky since 1 tank is a seahorse tank and of course you know all about their special needs but the LPS didn't mind the cool temps or the slightly dirtier water so it's working out well. BTW, your seahorse tank and Zia's inspired me a year ago to set one up. Mine isn't near as beautiful as either of yours but it's maintenance friendly and for me that was necessary. So thank you so much for the inspiration. Right now I am raising baby seahorses and that has been quite an experience.

Multiples hooked into one sump is the way to go. That's how Eddie's (Zia) tanks are set up. I wish I could have done mine that way, but one was in my living room and one in the bedroom, so that wouldn't work. There just isn't space in my living room for two tanks next to each other. I'm glad to hear your seahorse tank is doing so well! Babies has to be a lot of work but tons of fun. They're so adorable!

 

Looking good. From my experience with the DC return pumps I would go with the next size bigger. They seem to lose a lot of oompf from head pressure, especially if you are splitting the return.

Oh, that's not good to hear. Unfortunately, I already ordered the DC3000. I only want 400 gph of flow to have 10 x turnover for the tank, so I didn't think it could possibly lose more than 50% to head pressure. I'm not splitting the return and I'm going to try to go as vertical as possible with minimal turns. I'm using 45 degree elbow instead of 90 degrees to minimize head loss. Hopefully it will be enough for the one return to flow at about 400 gph.

 

Nice shots of the Kelp! I got to go to a marine reserve when there was a king tide, found a small Octopus chilling out in the pools.

Thanks! The clear water was making for some really nice kelp shots. Another group of divers saw an octopus that day, but we didn't see any. They're pretty elusive.

  • Like 3
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Multiples hooked into one sump is the way to go. That's how Eddie's (Zia) tanks are set up. I wish I could have done mine that way, but one was in my living room and one in the bedroom, so that wouldn't work. There just isn't space in my living room for two tanks next to each other. I'm glad to hear your seahorse tank is doing so well! Babies has to be a lot of work but tons of fun. They're so adorable!

 

 

Oh, that's not good to hear. Unfortunately, I already ordered the DC3000. I only want 400 gph of flow to have 10 x turnover for the tank, so I didn't think it could possibly lose more than 50% to head pressure. I'm not splitting the return and I'm going to try to go as vertical as possible with minimal turns. I'm using 45 degree elbow instead of 90 degrees to minimize head loss. Hopefully it will be enough for the one return to flow at about 400 gph.

 

 

Thanks! The clear water was making for some really nice kelp shots. Another group of divers saw an octopus that day, but we didn't see any. They're pretty elusive.

 

Babies were not part of my plans and are a ton of work, so much so I may never do it again. I ordered 2 females but recieved a male and female and they mated in less than 2 weeks of me aquiring them! They are over 3 months old now and weaned onto frozen Hikari mysis so it's a lot easier. I still do a 5g WC every day on the baby tank, so actually right now I do have 2 separate marine systems going. I hope to sell the babies in a month when they are down to 2 feedings a day. They are really adorable at this age so I plan to totally enjoy them.

  • Like 2
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Babies were not part of my plans and are a ton of work, so much so I may never do it again. I ordered 2 females but recieved a male and female and they mated in less than 2 weeks of me aquiring them! They are over 3 months old now and weaned onto frozen Hikari mysis so it's a lot easier. I still do a 5g WC every day on the baby tank, so actually right now I do have 2 separate marine systems going. I hope to sell the babies in a month when they are down to 2 feedings a day. They are really adorable at this age so I plan to totally enjoy them.

Wow! That sounds like a ton of work. I'm impressed that you have them at 3 months old now and eating frozen. How many made it to that age? That has to be super rewarding!

  • Like 1
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Wow! That sounds like a ton of work. I'm impressed that you have them at 3 months old now and eating frozen. How many made it to that age? That has to be super rewarding!

When they were born I posted on a local forum that aquarists could have some for free. I gave 12 away and I meant to keep 12, but they were so tiny I actually kept 22 not knowing at first. I lost about 3-4 in one week to bacteria in the gut from enriching the baby brine shrimp with selcon. When I switched to all Dan's feed they began to improve and thrive. I have 15 still. It has been very rewarding and it'll be kind of sad to sell them or re-home them. I do plan to keep 1. Here's a pic: http://s36.photobucket.com/user/vlangelbike/media/101_0461_zpskduulbgf.jpg.html'>101_0461_zpskduulbgf.jpg

  • Like 7
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Excellent Job drilling the tank Felicia can't wait to see what you do with this tank! Are you planning on doing a mixed tank or dominate it with something?? And fish, what fish come on now I need details :) lol

  • Like 2
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jedimasterben

For that kind of tank volume and turnover (10x is too much IMHO, I like to be around 5-6x), I would recommend stepping up to a larger skimmer. I used the SCA-301 on my 55g and 20g sump (about 60g total volume) and while it worked, it was not great. I'm currently using an SCA-303 on my 80g + Trigger 30 sump, and it's a bauss, but I also have an algae scrubber to handle part of my bioload (which borders on extreme). I'd recommend stepping up to the 303 to give you some leeway with bioload.

  • Like 1
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