195 Gallon Custom Reef

[Gymnothorax]

The following is an aquarium owned by my customer Jim Cavicchioli. I can't take credit for the vision, installation, aquascaping, or maintenance of the aquarium as that was all done by Jim. I consulted on the build and sold him most of the equipment and animals including the aquarium which I also drilled. I would like to thank Jim for allowing me to share his aquarium with you.

60" x 30" x 25"H Custom Starfire (On both front panels)
System Volume: 332 gallons

Equipment

- 60" x 24" x 22"H Custom Acrylic Sump with Black Back and Frag Section
- Overflow : Two custom black acrylic boxes mounted through 4 - 1 3/4" holes drilled through each side of the aquarium.
- Main Pump : Blue Line 100HD
- Four 1" Returns 2 of which go through Sea Swirl 1" Rotaters
- Deltec Kalkwasser Stirrer
- MTC Pro Cal Calcium Reactor
-Kent Marine High S 100gpd RO unit
- Blueline 100HD main circulation pump
- Protein Skimmer: Aqua-C EV240 w/2 liter Aqua-C waste collector
-Top Off: Reef Filler 2000
-Chiller: Don't recall the brand or HP

Lighting

- Main tank: Maristar 48" 2 x 250wt HQI w/10k (13K) Aqualine Buschke and 2 x 54wt. ATI blue plus T5 HO
- Frag section of Refugium: Coralife Aqualight Pendant 150wt HQI w/10K (13K) Aqualine Buschke

Coral

Predominantly various specie of SPS (especially Acropora sp.) a few LPS and some Blue Actinodiscus sp. Mushrooms.
-One 8"-10" Ultra Maxima grown from approximately 2"


Fish - I'll list what I can remember for you
- Purple Tang
- African Blue Eye Gold Midas Blenny
- Flame Angel
-Starry Algae Blenny
-Pair of Breeding Kauderns (Bangaii) Cardinals
-Pair of clowns: 1- Irian Jaya True Percula and 1- Black Ocellaris
-Twin Spot Hogfish

Inverts

-Green Abalone (tank raised)
-Electric Blue Stripe Hermits
-Halloween Hermits
-Sea of Cortez Red leg Hermits
-Several Emerald Crabs

View from Kitchen/Family Room


View from Dining Room


As someone that takes care of many aquariums I appreciate the fact that this aquarium is designed to be "maintenance friendly" which is often not the case with aquariums built into the wall. Complete access to both sides of the aquarium as well as the top and bottom are available. Side doors are hinged from top to bottom on both doors and also on the seam so that they fold out of the way when open.



Aquarium is plumbed through the bottom of the cabinet into the basement.

Looking down to the refugium/frag tank.


1" flexible PVC for Drains and return lines.


Equipment room


RO/DI with Reef Filler 2000, make up water container, and sink with RO water on the bar spigot. Sink also has a garbage disposal for grinding up anything that might clog the sink.












Hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I did! (though as most setups pictures don't do it justice).

Ken

[Sir Patrick]

Very nice- looks like the whole project was done right!

[taziam10797]

Awesome, thank you for sharing.

[jimsflies]

I think Jim needs to sign up on CR and share some of his secrets... definitely Tank of the Month stuff here! Thanks for sharing.

[ReeferRob]

I love seeing "mad labs" like that, very inspiring!

[jimsflies]

By the way, what is that mounted on the tripod in this picture?



Is that phone hanging on the wall, the direct line to Pet Connection?

[handlevandal]

WoW! That's a fantasy tank for sure. One of the things I discovered after a couple of years of hauling and dragging and shoving and climbing is that the reefer's convenience makes up about 50% of the success of a tank. This one has that down pat. Absolutely beautiful!

[kgood1]

Great tank and awesome setup! I wonder what type of macro he uses in his fuge?

[igot2gats]

I'm speechless.....but I will say a few words...

I love the access you have of your in wall tank. The 'hidden doors' are perfect. You're right most in walls don't have that option.

Also, I love your 'scaping. Very unique. I'm always a big fan of all corals on the bed of the tank, simulating the actual environment.

A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++

[Gymnothorax]

Originally Posted by jimsflies

By the way, what is that mounted on the tripod in this picture?



Is that phone hanging on the wall, the direct line to Pet Connection?

It's a webcam. He travels out of the country for several weeks at a stretch for business and he uses this to keep tabs on his monitors and sump levels.