View Full Version : XL Reef Aquarium(180g+) My 270
On the other reef board I am known as Mike (that is my name). I have taken my old sreen name here (Neo) since Mike was already taken. ANyway......
Here is my 270 gallon reef. It has gone through a few versions of itself. I now have less equipment running on it (in the form of OZone, UV, Ca reactors, Nitrate reactors, phosphate reactors) and instead rely on the RHF 3 part method for CA/ALK/MG and the brightwell aquatics NeoZeo method. I am currently using the MB7 and Bio-fuel. I dose these and other elements with my Profilux controller. The reef is dominated by Acropora.
This is an older picture and the aquascaping is ongoing but you get the point. I have added a sand bed as well to this tank.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/z122043.jpg
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speedstar
09-17-2009, 09:46 PM
I was just gonna ask what you were running now. Please get a current pic up when you have some time. Nice to see you here.
jimsflies
09-17-2009, 09:49 PM
Hi Mike! Great to have you here on CR.
I am also going with less equipment on the new setup. Having had it all hooked up, I don't think the extra maintenance and clutter is worth the hassle. I think the new cube I am working on will use Kent A/B for Ca/Alk. When I think back to my times of best success it was using the premade purchased stuff. I think there are some trace elements in that stuff that seemed to keep the algae from growing and the corals colors popping.
I am glad there is another place to gather. I love variety and I also like the chat feature. I will geta pic in a few days.
JIm I am finding that using the stuff from BRS on the dosers keeps the tank from drifting and I have tighter control on the alk and calcium that way. I never thought it would work (I kept the reactor around just in case) but It is.
jimsflies
09-17-2009, 09:53 PM
I'm thinking about turning my Ca reactor into a denitrifying reactor and then using the CO2 tank for a kegerator.
Once the site is completed, hopefully by next weekend, I will send out a message to the existing 2500 members of the former board and we should have more people to talk to (and trade with) here!
Jim,
I unhooked my De-nitrator as well. It was too efficient and my stuff was bleaching out. I am getting good results on the pro-biotic method (bacteria + carbon) without the bleaching issues.
The Kegerator is always a good idea though.
speedstar
09-17-2009, 10:06 PM
What skimmer are you running? Does it need to be oversized for the blooms you might get or don;t they happen like on vodka? It is kind of funny because 2 years ago everyone was saying the vodka method i was using would kill everything and now it pretty much accepted.
I am still using MY H&S A-250. The thing is rated for 700 gallons and pulls a ton of gunk daily. I thought about getting the alpha cone but it is hard to spend that kind of money when the skimmer I have is working and is a beast.
I also just fired up my Reeflo Blackfin. I had to change a bad seal on it but now I have it running along with the BArracuda.
AJ :)
09-23-2009, 06:20 AM
I too would like to see some upadated shots.
How are you keeping the sand in place? It seems like you had a ton of flow
going on in there.
AJ :)
The sand moves some. I have that Blackfin running and the Barracuda on the 4-way. I will get some shots in the near future. Things are pretty busy right now. Just had carpet installed yesterday and I am still cleaning up from that.
AJ :)
09-23-2009, 04:53 PM
Fair enough.
What do you think of the blackfin?
AJ :)
Decent pump for the price (I got in on the testing special). It is a little louder than the BArracuda but a lot quieter than the panworld was.
dejavu
09-23-2009, 08:00 PM
Mike your seal went out too. I'll be on my 3rd blackfin once they send out the next replacement. I'm a little disappointed.
Wow!!! I will have to watch this pump carefully if you have gone through 3.
schminksbro
09-28-2009, 05:52 PM
How about some updated pics?:)
Okies: The right side of the tank. I am puting in a few samll islands to attach these too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0402.jpg
NOt the best pic but this gives you an idea
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0403.jpg
spookey
09-29-2009, 03:21 AM
nice......................Mike
igot2gats
10-14-2009, 09:08 PM
Very nice unique 'scaping....
How's the carpet coming along? Not sure about you, but I like the smell of new carpet.
HAd the carpet installed in our bedroom :)
I was able to clean teh carpet in the basement after low tide and things are good
schminksbro
10-15-2009, 02:55 PM
Good to hear the "Operation Low Tide Test" was less of a catastrophie than it could have been.:)
Not nearly as bad as I thought it might have been after "Operation Low Tide". I started with the Vit C (BW) today at a rate of 5ml per day. The Alpha is a monster skimmer and is doing a great job as well. I will be watching things to see if the Vit C addition is making a difference. I bought the 500 ml bottle so at 5ml a day I have like 3months worth right now.
schminksbro
10-15-2009, 03:58 PM
Straight Vitamin C or a Multi Vitamin?
Not nearly as bad as I thought it might have been after "Operation Low Tide". I started with the Vit C (BW) today at a rate of 5ml per day. The Alpha is a monster skimmer and is doing a great job as well. I will be watching things to see if the Vit C addition is making a difference. I bought the 500 ml bottle so at 5ml a day I have like 3months worth right now.
I ordered the strait Vit C. I thought I put the other in the cart but apparently I did not. I am going to srat Aminos next month so I can get it then.
Fishgeek88
11-01-2009, 10:01 PM
Any updates?
Soon :)
Waiting on a few new additions
Been working on the tank to get things situated. Still have some work to do (scraping the acrylic stinks) but here are a few pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0626.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0628.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0629.jpg
Fishgeek88
01-19-2010, 02:03 PM
Looks great!
igot2gats
01-19-2010, 06:36 PM
Wow, Mike! Your tank has come a long way....looking good.
It's nice to see some substrate in there.
I am going to put a little more substrate in to cover the acrylic plates the rocks are mounted on. I added more rocks because I have such a high fish load in the tank. It helps keep the aggression down.
stunreefer
01-20-2010, 09:55 AM
Woo-hoo! AWESOME fish Mike, very, very nice :big_grin:
Thanks,
Been scraping the coraline off the back wall. Want to get it all cleaned off.
Sir Patrick
01-20-2010, 03:22 PM
Sweet tank mike!
ReeferRob
02-17-2010, 08:46 AM
Looking good "skippy" LOL Any pics of that rock work you were working on a few weeks back.
Mike was taken on the other forums LOL.....
The rock is in place. Low aquascape with lots of empty space underneath and overhangs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0677.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0674.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0675.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0679.jpg
A few more
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0680.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0683.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0685.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0690.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0691.jpg
Once it grows up it has potential :)
I am just looking forward to growing out second and third generation pieces from the colonies in this tank. Andy is building me a frag rack that will hold over 600 frags. I plan on filling it up over time and growing the frags to mini colonies.
iyachtuxivm
02-18-2010, 04:45 AM
Wow that looks great!
Thanks :)
Here is a different perspective.
End Shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0693.jpg
FTS(s)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0694.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0696.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0700.jpg
Sir Patrick
02-18-2010, 02:30 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!
ReeferRob
02-18-2010, 06:04 PM
Whats the fish list up too on this beaut?
Any equipment shots?
Fish:
3 Pyramid Butterflies
3 Burgess Butterflies
1 Goldflake Angel
2 Multicolored Angels
1 Sixline Wrasse
1 Mystery Wrasse
1 Picasso CLown
1 Purple Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Yellow Belly Hippo
6 Dispar Anthias
6 Bartlette's Anthias
ReeferRob
02-18-2010, 07:49 PM
Impressive!
I am thinking of adding a female Bellus to the mix
I will get some equipment pics up soon.
Here is the Alpha 300 Skimmer
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/DSCN0435.jpg
This is the sump and frag tank shot (which is now the refugium for another week)
and closed loop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/skippyreef/z122009.jpg
ReeferRob
02-18-2010, 08:17 PM
Bellus are beautiful. Nice clean set up.
Thanks :)
I am going to tear down the refugium tank and clean it next week.
Somedays I like the fish more and other days I like the corals more LOL :)
schwim
03-05-2010, 11:29 PM
That's awesome, Mike. Ever go snorkeling in there?
kgood1
03-06-2010, 11:13 AM
Awesome setup Mike!
almost fell in cleaning it the acrylic last week....does that count :)
igot2gats
03-11-2010, 12:33 PM
Truely an amazing tank. I really wish I still lived on the east side to come & see it.
I've never seen a real life reef like this - where all the corals are sitting on the bottom of the tank.
Excellent, excellent job.
Thanks for the kind words. I like the open space on the top for the fish to swim around. I also wanted to do something simple and not prone to rock avalanches :)
Sir Patrick
05-13-2010, 12:18 AM
Dude!!! Its update time!
I am feenin for some more pics!
Bella127
05-15-2010, 08:06 PM
ditto what he said:ipod:
once I get the LEDS on I will post lots of pics
ReefPeddler
05-26-2010, 06:53 AM
Awesome setup Mike,
I really love those fish! and I also like the brightwell combo. Polyp extension and coloration have improved in my tanks since I started using them about a year ago.
I too would love to see the new pics, LED's are going to make everything pop even more!
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