Next tank...

[Dadstank]

Well, after having my 76G cracking I finally have the new set-up running and has been for a while now. I was going to try a 55G on top and on bottom but due to issues with space on the bottom I went with a 30G long.
I'll get some more close-up pics when I can but here is what I have for now.

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I was looking at having the tank drilled but local places wanted about $30 a hole and they couldn't do anything over a 1" hole. The overflow box that I have is in need of a 2 3/8" hole....
I would have to get 2 holes drilled for about $60 and then another $70 or so for two overflow boxes.... I went with the Weir overflow style($41 with shipping).... Here's a pic.


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I also incorporated a "durso stand pipe" (the PVC you see above) type system to it so it didn't have the constant flushing and loud noise. Now the silence of it is great and the only noise you hear is a slight hum from the pump and skimmer.
I did numerous "tests" on the overflow by turning the pump off until all had settled and then back on to make sure that if the power goes out and comes back on the tank doesn't overflow.... that has always been my concern with this type of overflow.... It has been running solid for about two weeks and so far so good.
Also we hired two peppermint shrimp to work on getting rid of aptasia... in no time they had rid the tank of ALL the aptasia, but they don't touch the mini pink tip majanos...

[IDunnoWhy]

That's a nice looking tank, I like the aquascaping & color, nice work! I would add some type of a background, maybe plain blue or black?, to bad there is not some way to close off the back of the stand to hide the plumbing also.

[Dadstank]

Yup, I agree with a backer. My plans are to make a shroud for the front that will go from the bottom of the top tank to the floor with a window to show just the refugium.(with a 1 year old roaming around it is needed) As for the background... I will be getting one of those plastic rolls with one side that is blue and the other with the fake ocean picture... of course I will use the solid color side.

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Sorry not the greatest for clarity but there is the new star polyps we got about a week before the old tank cracked.



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I had upgraded the lighting with 36" retros that fit very nicely into the old hood. Everything seems to react very accepting to the brighter lighting with stronger coralline growth and just plain better colors especially when it is just actinic.

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Oh yeah.... after moving everything and all the substrate getting stirred up, the red slime has come back in a few small patches....

[Dadstank]

[Lotus]

Looking nice!

How did the transition to a new tank go for you?

The branchy piece on the left island looks a little unstable/hanging in space.

[Dadstank]

Scutus, P. Shrimp, Goby.


Thanks LOTUS.
Well the transition was stressfull to say the least. The previous tank was established and balanced very nicely especially with the new RODI which made things much easier.
For the meantime I had the first refugium and the side tank still running with the corals, star polyps and zoo's, as to keep the nitrates down. That was my main concern for the 55G that I had to transfer everything into which didn't have a skimmer going or a fuge till I got the overflow box and lower tank set-up.

Now I find myself having to deal with red slime again after the substrate in the old refugium was dug up and transferred to the new fuge.

You asked "The branchy piece on the left island looks a little unstable/hanging in space." I assume you are asking about the larger piece on the left of the right structure??? My wife said the same thing... Yes it does have that "look" but I have a few pieces of LR in the old side tank with the psuedochromis but I will be moving the rest later today to hide the "gaps". I will be putting the chromis in the fuge so he doesn't make lunch out of the pep shrimp and add some more color.

I will keep adding pics as I see good opportunities. The best time is feeding time when everything comes out. I still haven't got the moon lights installed back into the light hood after the retrofit, but plan on doing that tonight after "lights out". Some of my favorite pics are with the moonlights on full/ full moon.

[Dadstank]

More pics... All rock and livestock have been transferred (found some hermits )
Here is the refugium again. I made a somewhat wall to help change the current. Without anything there the water just flows across the top and to the other end and didn't really cause any lower flowage.




And just for LOTUS, here is the rockwork fully done in the main tank without that "unstable/hanging space"

[Dadstank]

[Dadstank]

[CAPSLOCK]

The shot of the clown in the blue lights is kinda trippy...

I like the two rock pile type aquascaping, it gives lots of hidey holes and lots of open swimming space.