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Dejavu's Angelic Reef


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  1. #1
    dejavu - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Grand Rapids MI
    Posts
    196
    First Name
    Brian
    Awards Tank of the Month - April 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default Dejavu's Angelic Reef

    Introduction
    I would like to start by thanking my wife Tracy, my two daughters Nadia and Anya, Captive Reefs and the online reefing communities that have allowed me to share my dedication to the hobby that we all share a passion for. There have been so many tanks and hobbyists that have inspired me to reach where I am today.

    My name is Brian Vu; most of you will recognize me as Dejavu from the online boards. I live in Hudsonville, MI, which is a small suburb outside of Grand Rapids, MI. I have always been grateful to live in an area where there has been such a great network of reefers. Every day I am grateful to have met and made friends with so my great people who share this same passion.


    The Beginning
    As a young child I can always remember having an aquarium in my house. I mostly kept tropical fish or native fish that I would spend my summer collecting. It wasn't until 1998 that my interest in saltwater aquariums began. I can remember spending hours studying my good friend Dave's tank, amazed at the fish and corals that he had housed in his tank. The complexity of life in such a closed environment was what sent me over the edge.

    It wasn't long before Dave helped me setup a 40 gallon reef tank of my own. After a few different setups over a few years I moved onto a 90 gallon SPS setup, where my first struggle in reefing began. It wasn't long after that that I joined my first online community searching for answers.



    Current Setup
    As my passion for SPS grew, so did my need for space. My 90 gallon tank could no longer hold my desire for collecting corals. About the same time my tank was out grown, so was the house that my wife and I lived in. Our search for a new house also began the planning of my "dream setup". Due to a slow housing market, I was had 2 years for planning and saving.

    Finding the right house that fit my family and tank needs was a bit of a challenge. Once we found the house that we wanted, the final touches to my setup could be put in place. I ordered a 270 gallon tank from Miracles in Glass. The tank is viewable through Starphire glass on three sides, and I selected a center overflow due to my space limitations.

    Since there wasn't an ideal place for an in-wall setup and fish room, it was very important to have a stand that could house all my equipment and at the same time be appealing to the eye. I had a few goals that had to be
    met with the stand and canopy as it played a major part in the setup. Function and durability were at the top of this list.
    Functionality was important because I wanted to keep things easy to work on. The stand can be accessed from all four sides of the tank though double sided doors. At the same time if the doors aren't big enough the whole cover of the stand can be removed to access in the event of a major problem. The canopy has access from all four sides too. The reflectors for the lights are mounted on a track at the top of the canopy. The reflectors can be removed from the end of the tank for cleaning.

    Durability was also important because I wanted a facing that would withstand water, but still look new years down the road. From past tanks I knew that wood finished stain can't take the consistent water spill and still look new. I decided on facing the stand and canopy with black counter-top laminate, as it is easy to clean and holds up to water well. The inside of the stand and canopy were painted white with oil-base (4 coats) paint, the SPAR urethane (6-7 coats) for the outside of the stand frame, to prevent any water rot.

    Filtration
    As we all know water quality is very important. Throughout my time in this hobby, I have used a few different skimmers. I have yet to have one that I have been happier with than the current one I have. The tank is filtered with a Bubble King DeLuxe 250 internal. Besides skimming, I also use GFO in a PM SR45 media reactor and carbon in a TLF PhosBan Reactor. All drains have filter socks on them to aid with detritus removal.

    Water Circulation and Flow
    Currently the flow in my tank is provided by three Tunze 6105's. They are controlled by a Neptune Apex controller. I have plans to add more flow down the road as the corals grow, but for now this is enough. The return flow is managed by a Sequence Dart. Off the return line is a manifold that runs my calcium reactor, PM SR45 media reactor and the TLF PhosBan Reactor. I do plan to replace the return pump, but have not yet decided on a replacement.

    Lighting
    When it comes to light, there are so many choose available, in the end it's a personal choice. For me that choice is metal halides. It might be a little old school, but I have had very good success with this choice and many of the tanks that inspire me have used the same.

    When I first planed the lighting for the tank, the plan was to use VHO's for supplement with three 400w metal halides running Radiums bulbs with Lumarc Reflectors. After seeing the Radiums in action, I didn't see a need for supplement lighting. To be honest I probably would be fine with three 250w metal halides, but for now I'm happy with the current setup.



    Maintenance, Supplements and Feeding
    Everyone has a goal of having beautiful corals. In my opinion it starts with a good and steadily maintenance program. Weekly maintenance is done with 50 gallon water changes, cleaning of the skimmer cup and testing for alkalinity, phosphates and salinity. Monthly, or as needed maintenance
    includes cleaning all pumps in vinegar, changing media, and cleaning the sump.

    I'm a strong believer in not adding anything to your tank that you do not test for. In following that belief I don't add many supplements other then magnesium on the occasion it is low. Alkalinity and calcium are held in check via a GEO 624 calcium reactor.

    I feed a mixture of frozen food a few times a day. I guess you could say I'm a heavy feeder, but I manage feeding a lot by feeding small amounts more frequently. I'm not a big fan of feeding reef tanks flake or pellet foods as they are normally higher in phosphates. It's not to say I don't use them, I do, but only in for fish quarantine.


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    Livestock

    Livestock, this is why we are all in the hobby. For me this is the best part. As you might have seen I'm addicted to SPS corals. As long as I can remember SPS corals have excited me. To this day that excitement is still here. I would say 90% of my corals in my tank are SPS, from "collector/designer" corals to your everyday "common" SPS. In the end whatever catches my eye ends up in the tank.

    Keeping fish has been a growing interest as my time in this hobby has grown. I find myself spending as much time looking for the next fish to add to my system, as I do looking for that next coral. Currently angels and butterfly fish have my attention. Over the next few years I plan to expand my current fish list with a few select choices, but for now here is my current fish stock.

    Centropyge acanthops (African Flameback Angelfish)
    2x Centropyge multicolor (Multicolor Angelfish)
    2x Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus (Singapore Angelfish)
    Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis (Blue Line Angelfish)
    2x Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Yellow Pyramid Butterfly)
    Acreichthys tomentosus (Matted Filefish)
    Ctenochaetus tominiensis (Bristletooth Tomini Tang)
    Zebrasoma flavescens (Yellow Tang)
    3x Cirrhilabrus jordani (Flame Wrasse)
    Halichoeres iridis (Radiant Wrasse)

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    Acknowledgements
    Once again I would like to thank my wife and two daughters, without their support I would have never reached this point. I would also like to give thanks to GRMAS and the supporting members, all the friends that I have made while being in this hobby, and CR and all the other online communities that allow us to share this hobby that we all enjoy so much. Lastly, a big thanks to all the LFS in my area, without them many of us would never have thought about starting this hobby.

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    Last edited by jimsflies; 06-08-2012 at 10:21 AM.

  2. #2
    jimsflies - Reefkeeper
    Admin/Founder

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    11,467
    First Name
    Jim

    Default

    Awesome reef Brian! Also nice job on the photos and write up!

  3. #3
    Sir Patrick - Reefkeeper A2 Club Coordinator
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    UofM territory
    Posts
    7,838
    First Name
    Chris
    Awards Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Congrats on the well desearved tank of the month!!!

  4. #4
    CalmSeasQuest - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Brighton, MI
    Posts
    892
    First Name
    Thomas
    Awards Nano Contest Winner - Winner of 2012 Nano Contest

    Default

    Beautiful tank and write-up (Love your organized sump) - Congratulations Brian!
    The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw

  5. #5
    Rabidgoose - Reefkeeper Moderator

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Thumb MI
    Posts
    2,211
    Awards Yugo Award Photo of the Month

    Default

    Very nice.....congrats

  6. #6
    dejavu - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Grand Rapids MI
    Posts
    196
    First Name
    Brian
    Awards Tank of the Month - April 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    Thanks everyone! This is truly an honor. Thanks to all the CR staff that made this possible for me.

  7. #7
    estanoche - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Posts
    52
    First Name
    Joanne
    Awards Tank of the Month - March 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    +1 Great tank!! You put mine to shame hahahaha
    SAY NO TO FISH STICKS - Put screened and vented lids on your tanks, and save your wrasse

    Current tank: 80 Gal XXL Reef & 25 Gal Cube QT

    Friend me up on FB too!
    50201061558882069332143 - Dejavu's Angelic Reef

  8. #8
    CR Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Jenison, MI
    Posts
    34

    Default

    Congratulations Brian!!! You deserve Tank of the Month for your dedication and commitment to your tank and the reefing community at large. Your tank truly is a work of art!

  9. #9
    CR Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Columbiaville
    Posts
    224
    First Name
    John

    Default

    Beautiful Brian grats! Absolutely sweet!

  10. #10
    dejavu - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Grand Rapids MI
    Posts
    196
    First Name
    Brian
    Awards Tank of the Month - April 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by estanoche View Post
    +1 Great tank!! You put mine to shame hahahaha
    Quote Originally Posted by BWsReef View Post
    Congratulations Brian!!! You deserve Tank of the Month for your dedication and commitment to your tank and the reefing community at large. Your tank truly is a work of art!
    Quote Originally Posted by purerebel View Post
    Beautiful Brian grats! Absolutely sweet!
    Thanks Everyone!!!

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