My return to Reefing!

[RedfordReefer]

It's been about two years since I sold my 90 gallon. I learned a lot from that tank and decided that 90 wasn't enough. An opportunity presented itself that I could acquire a 180 gallon (6'X2'X2') tank, for only the cost of moving it. I jumped on it.

Currently:
AGA 180 gallon with dual overflows.
Iwaki MD30RXLT return pump
SWC 300 skimmer with Bubble Blaster HY3000 pump
(2) Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40's in Reef crest mode (Async)
Custom LED lighting designed, implemented, and programmed by me.
Microprocessor controller for LED cycles. (GHI electronics. A company here, in Troy)
Sure electronics PWM dimmers that also do DC-to-DC converting.
Bulk Reef Supply Dual reactor running GFO and Carbon

90 gallon sump chambered into drain, refugium, return.


There are a few nice corals in there, still in growout mode.

Fish:
4 Blue/green reef chromis
1 Devil damsel
1 Foxface rabbitfish
1 Yellow tail damsel
1 Yellow tang
1 Clown Goby
1 ORA Blenny
1 Psudochromis of some kind
1 Atlantic blue tang
1 Vlamingi Tang
2 Clowns
1 Pink spot watchman goby
3 Cleaner shrimp
9 Peppermint shrimp
8 Emerald crabs
Snails/Hermits

The lights are 300 watts TOTAL. There are three arrays over the tank. Each Array has two 20W whites, two 10 watt 460nm blues, and four white/blue mix. Preliminary PAR measurements are decent, but not where I'd like to be. Running the lights at 50% I was at 270 or so just 6-8 inches under the water. Didn't get a chance to turn the lights up, as I fried the power supply and had to install my backup. I do have a Squamosa clam on the sandbed who seems to have snuggled in nicely. He is open without being agape. Seems to be happy.


I will be posting more pictures as I take them. I am still getting my Canon DSLR figured out. Blue light and CMOS sensors just do not agree with each other. I plan on buying an Canon 7D in the spring. Right now I have a Rebel Xs and only a 18-55 F5.6 lens.



This is one of my Favorites.

[larryandlaura]

Glad your back in sounds like you got a deal.

[Tom Toro]

Nice buy there thunderchicken! I have a 135g with the same dimensions except only 18" wide. I always wanted it deeper like your's. Nice fish list too. Keep posting updates.

[RedfordReefer]

More Pictures.





This is a shot when the tank first went in. Lights were just on a flat, 50%.


I have since added more rock, and upgraded to MP40WES powerheads. The lights are dialed-in and everything is happy. I did melt a purple digi. I just put it too high in the tank without acclimating it to my lighting. Completely my fault.

I have a Canon DSLR and it does not pick up the blue. The leds I use are true 460nm blues, and pure light. Cameras do not do well with this wavelength for some reason. These are un-touched photographs.

I have;
4 Reef chromis
1 Yellow tank
1 Vlamingi tang
1 Atlantic blue tang
2 Perc clowns
1 blenny of some sort
1 unknown fish (Came from DIVERDOWN)
1 Flasher Wrasse
2 big starfish (brittle)
2 white-leg hermits
Some snails and such
2 Florida fighting conch
9 pepperming shrimp
3 big cleaner shrimp
8 emerald crabs (One of which is so large, he literally could be sold to red lobster)

Pictures of my Vlamingi Tang.




Future plans:
I intend on switching the tank over to an automated system. Using a microprocessor, touch-screen, Wi-Fi, and solid state relays. I really want the most consistent tank that I can have. I owe it to the inhabitants to give them the best experience I can outside of the ocean. I am being selfish enough by keeping them in a tank in my living room, so I try to make their lives as stress-free as possible.