Author Topic: Ashlar's 175g + 55g refugium (Read 14895 times)

Ashlar · « **on:** December 02, 2011, 12:53:57 »

I've been keeping marine tanks for about fifteen years, but until about six years ago, never anything more than 20-30g.

In September 2005, a friend of mine who lives in Waco, TX called me. He was on vacation in Las Vegas, and he was freaking out. Hurricane Rita was headed for the Texas coast, and they were predicting it would run through Waco. His problem? He had a 175g tank and he didn't want to cut his vacation short.

So he had me drive from Dallas to Waco and catch the two fish (spotted puffer and monodactylus that he'd acclimated to full SW) and a horseshoe crab he had in his mainly empty tank, and temporarily house them in my 20g qt tank. (Yes, two fish and a crab were the only things in the tank.)

Rita missed Waco, thankfully, but when he got home he realized he didn't miss the water changes and maintenance. He offered me the tank for free, on one condition. I had to leave the Texas flag he'd painted on the back of it. So I drove down again and we loaded up the tank. I got it home and took stock-

* 175g tank, not reef ready
* 4ft fluorescent shop light
* tiny wet/dry sump
* rio return pump
* laguna "powerhead"
* two MJ-1200s
* maybe 10 lbs of "live" rock - really lace rock
* maybe 2" of sand
- no skimmer
- no ATO

First thing I did was ordered 90 lbs of pre-cured fiji premium live rock from DrF&S. When it arrived, I also picked up an additional 100lbs of live sand from an LFS.

I put the sand in the tank and let the rock continue to cure, since we all know that pre-cured rarely is.

Here's a shot of the tank after the sandstorm cleared.

While the rock was cycling, a buddy of mine decided to get out of the hobby and offered me his 55g tank for a song. I couldn't resist. I decided to set it up as a display fuge, dumping into the same sump. It had 4 x 54w T5 lighting, which is fine. I dumped in 75lbs of pavestone crushed limestone sand, and set it up next to the main tank, but quickly realized the little wet/dry sump I was using could not handle that much volume. I snagged some chaeto and caulerpa sp from friends, and away it went.

I trawled the local message boards and picked up 3 250w MH lights (two PFO, one Hamilton).

A local guy who works with acrylic made me a nice sump to fit under the stand of the main tank. It's in two pieces because the stand openings are narrow but tall and the center divider doesn't come out, and I wanted as much volume as I could fit in there.

At the same time, I picked up an AquaC EV-240 skimmer, and a couple of mag pumps to feed the tanks.

I really had to shoehorn the sump in there, and I was fiddling with those bulkheads for days to get them lined up without leaking.

That's the basic set-up I've been using. Since that point, I've added a hacked up ebay ozone generator, a DIY ATO, a Neptune AC II (replaced by an AC3 Pro later), a DIY dosing rack for two-part (later replaced by a re-purposed medical dosing pump), a rack mount UPS for the return pumps, a chiller, and four vortec mp-40s + battery backup.

That's it for equipment..

Ashlar · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2011, 12:57:19 »

Most of my previous tanks had been softies / zoas, so those were the first things that got transferred to the big tank once it was finished cycling.

Xenia, GSP, shrooms, zoas, leathers..

Since I actually had the light to support it, and the dosing to keep the calcium up, I started adding LPSs-

About that same time, I got an anemone hitchhiker. Little did I know it would take over a large portion of the tank

(cont in next post)

Ashlar · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:00:35 »

Who knew that this..

becomes this..

Would become this..

Which leads to this!

We sold / gave away a LOT of anemones to local club members.

Eventually I wanted to get into SPS as well as everything else, so the last of the anemones was corralled and sold.

I'd had a few starter SPSs- monti caps, digitata, etc, but I picked up a few more..

Ashlar · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:05:20 »

Over the years, we've seen some really neat critters, and some have been intentional additions..

For a while, we had tiny ceriths reproducing in our fuge..

And we have some chitons reproducing in my qt..

Our tiger tail cuke came in as a hitchhiker (he splits about once a year and we give away or sell the new little one)..

This is a hitchhiker star from the caribbean-

We have four or five large brittle stars who mop up any leftover food, as well as one serpent star. The serpent star got a chunk taken out of him at one point, here's him regrowing a leg (you can't even tell which leg it was now)-

We have lots of asterinas..

And euplica sp snails reproducing everywhere..

We go through about 2 diadema urchins a year. We get them really small, and give them away / trade them in when they get massive-

And we have scutus sp. snails reproducing in the tank-

dee99gt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:07:17 »

Awesome pics. That's a huge anemone.

Ashlar · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:10:00 »

So yah, I'm a computer nerd, too. I love to DIY and combine tech with tank.

I made my own battery backup air pump that only turns on when the power is out..

I hacked up an ebay ozone generator to run via AC3..

Here's the ATO refill gadget that keeps my RO/DI from bouncing on and off..

These are just fun things that I did..

A 27" scrolling sign in my office shows the current time, temp, ph, orp, and conductivity of the tank..

I used to have a 5" screen next to the tank to show parameters, when the ACII was under the stand..

But eventually I picked up a touch screen and wrote a VB app to display status of devices, graphs of parameters, etc

The latest toy I set up was a camera. I've integrated the xml from my signature program as well. (The MH's are on from 2-10 CST for best viewing)
http://srv.rowelab.com/fish/camera

Ashlar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:14:36 »

Oops, forgot about the fish!

Almost all of them have been rescues. We have a Kole tang that had HLLE (hasn't gotten worse, but hasn't improved as much as I'd like.) We have a bunch of chromis that had ich, along with the regal tang. Six weeks of hypo later, all good. We picked up a foxface to deal with bubble algae in our coral qt tank, but he had such personality (and was growing so fast) we moved him to the main tank. We have a couple of ocellaris, one won at a local club raffle, one from DrF&S.

This was the tiny clown in hypo / qt-

Mama clown happy in a nem-

Our chromis are fat and happy- so much so that we have two who spawn regularly..

Ashlar · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:17:31 »

I also have a couple of microscopes that I use to check out things living in the tank..

Here are some interesting shots I've taken..

Diadema sp. spine

Ashlar · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2011, 13:18:34 »

I don't have a recent FTS, I'll take one today when the lights are on

Kenn · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2011, 15:09:15 »

VERY nice post Ashlar !

Reefpete · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2011, 15:22:22 »

Quote from: Kenn on December 02, 2011, 15:09:15

VERY nice post Ashlar !

+1

HUNGER · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2011, 16:37:09 »

wow great tank and great pics

lazylivin · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2011, 17:01:17 »

Ashlar · « **Reply #13 on:** December 02, 2011, 17:15:06 »

Quote from: Lazylivin on December 02, 2011, 17:01:17

.......

Add that to the file of "Things I wish I'd never seen.."

HUNGER · « **Reply #14 on:** December 02, 2011, 19:22:36 »

u had to put that pic on here way to go brian

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2011, 19:34:22 »

Very nice. Love the Microscope pictures

kattz · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2011, 21:48:04 »

Nice pics, nice setup. You have lots of talents! I have the same anemone, and it's definitely grown.

Ashlar · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2011, 21:52:59 »

Quote from: kattz on December 02, 2011, 21:48:04

Nice pics, nice setup. You have lots of talents! I have the same anemone, and it's definitely grown.

I've often thought about setting up a dedicated tank for them. They are lovely.

rancoo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 02, 2011, 22:18:47 »

awesome post

Ashlar · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2011, 15:44:17 »

I hadn't really been paying attention to this maze brain I got a while back, but I started looking through old pictures, and wow, it's taken off..

Here it was not long after I got it as a $5 frag at a LFS, in 2008 (wow, didn't realize I'd had it that long)..

In 2009..

October 2010.. (You can also see how I was being overrun w/ shrooms- thanks again, Paul!)

And here it is yesterday..

lazylivin · « **Reply #20 on:** December 03, 2011, 19:43:27 »

Man that is some crazy good growth.

HUNGER · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2011, 19:55:49 »

wow thats great

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2011, 09:21:58 »

looks nice. the first frag looks like it couldnt be more than 3 inches and now looks like its well over a foot. Can you get a mesurement? Interested to know as i have 3 brains im growing out as well.

Ashlar · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2011, 09:36:39 »

That first shot is a couple of months after I got it, too. It was maybe 2" x 3" at the start.

When the lights come on, I'll stick a ruler in the tank to measure it. It's also grown *over* the rock it started on, and is hanging over the edge of it. I'll see if I can't get a shot from below showing how much it's hanging over.

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2011, 09:50:34 »

Thats nice, its always neat to see photos from those who have taken periodic pictures of coral they have had for a long time and seeing how well it grew. Like a calm shell can show you a timeline of its growth.

The WuSue · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2011, 13:27:14 »

That's an amazing set up! Kudos.

Ashlar · « **Reply #26 on:** December 06, 2011, 14:05:47 »

Hard to get a ruler in there, but it's now about 6" x 4 ".

From below..

And from the side..

Interesting how it's shaded itself out down on that edge.

HUNGER · « **Reply #27 on:** December 06, 2011, 17:53:18 »

thats crazy

Sunny · « **Reply #28 on:** December 06, 2011, 23:05:15 »

Wow ... what a great post. Great shots too. Your tank is very cool.

Ashlar · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2011, 23:07:35 »

Quote from: Sunny on December 06, 2011, 23:05:15

Wow ... what a great post. Great shots too. Your tank is very cool.

Thanks! We enjoy it to no end.

Ashlar · « **Reply #30 on:** January 28, 2012, 23:55:23 »

Took some more microscope pics tonight..

This little snail was hard to catch in frame, he was motoring along quite fast.

A random piece of sand turns out to be a tooth..

And these pictures don't do this flatworm justice- it was a beautiful orange-red on the edges, fading to a solid magenta in the center. The small dots were iridescent.

lazylivin · « **Reply #31 on:** January 29, 2012, 01:21:17 »

wow you must have been surprised when you seen that tooth. very cool love your micro pics

HUNGER · « **Reply #32 on:** January 29, 2012, 11:22:34 »

those are cool pics

Ashlar · « **Reply #33 on:** February 22, 2012, 19:05:59 »

I got a new microscope and camera, so here are some quick shots..

Cyanobacteria..

Dinoflagellate..

Probably a spicule from a soft coral..

And an interesting skeleton..

micki · « **Reply #34 on:** February 23, 2012, 09:20:05 »

These are too cool!!!

Ashlar · « **Reply #35 on:** February 23, 2012, 10:40:15 »

And here's a short video.. apologies for the focus issues..

HUNGER · « **Reply #36 on:** February 23, 2012, 13:22:38 »

The WuSue · « **Reply #37 on:** February 23, 2012, 14:30:57 »

I had a dream like that once, had the pixies in the background.....or was that movie...

lazylivin · « **Reply #38 on:** February 23, 2012, 23:22:29 »

That is really cool, what microscope did you get?

Ashlar · « **Reply #39 on:** February 24, 2012, 00:15:20 »

It's a serious student / entry lab scope- http://www.amazon.com/40x-2000x-Trinocular-Biological-Compound-Microscope/dp/B004QEFO1Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1318042599&sr=1-1

It's more than enough scope for me, and assuming it's reliable, it's likely to be the one I keep for a loooooong time.

micki · « **Reply #40 on:** February 24, 2012, 07:58:10 »

That's wild! Thanks for sharing!

HUNGER · « **Reply #41 on:** February 24, 2012, 08:14:57 »

if u buy it now u save 1500

Dozo · « **Reply #42 on:** March 03, 2012, 10:58:49 »

Ashlar your setup really is inspiring. It makes what I'm going to attempt to do with a microcontroller, a few sensors and lcd look like a toy! I hope to one day have a setup just like this, with the website and diy aquarium computer. For now though, I'm gonna try my best to work with what I have!

Ashlar · « **Reply #43 on:** March 03, 2012, 20:16:51 »

Well, you might want to look into the reef angel controller- it's a bit more DIY, but not so DIY that you have to write your own ph monitoring routine in assembly.

Ashlar · « **Reply #44 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:32:11 »

Here's another video I took, chasing an ostracode in some sand.

lazylivin · « **Reply #45 on:** April 24, 2012, 23:56:04 »

Man that thing was on the move.

Boonjob · « **Reply #46 on:** April 25, 2012, 00:09:25 »

Great vids, makes me want to pick up a scope.

HUNGER · « **Reply #47 on:** April 25, 2012, 21:25:24 »

that was cool

Ashlar · « **Reply #48 on:** April 27, 2012, 20:54:15 »

Took another video today, a longer look at the life in a pinch of algae..

Twizted1 · « **Reply #49 on:** April 27, 2012, 21:19:16 »

It is amazing the amount of life in a tank.

Ashlar · « **Reply #50 on:** April 27, 2012, 21:50:57 »

Quote from: twizted1 on April 27, 2012, 21:19:16

It is amazing the amount of life in a tank.

Yup, even in a random drop of water, I've found for or five different bacteria, some dinoflagellates, and paramecia.

lazylivin · « **Reply #51 on:** April 27, 2012, 22:43:11 »

I said it once and I will say it again.

Ashlar · « **Reply #52 on:** May 20, 2012, 20:49:34 »

Took some new shots today..

http://rowelab.com/fish/microscopy_5_20/

Click on the thumbnails for a larger view, but beware, these are LARGE pictures.

micki · « **Reply #53 on:** May 21, 2012, 08:39:32 »

Very cool! They don't even look real more like a painting or something!

Ashlar · « **Reply #54 on:** May 21, 2012, 08:49:00 »

Quote from: micki on May 21, 2012, 08:39:32

Very cool! They don't even look real more like a painting or something!

*nod* I may resize them and make them my desktop wallpaper.

550jim · « **Reply #55 on:** May 27, 2012, 20:43:14 »

Really cool pictures

Ashlar · « **Reply #56 on:** October 22, 2012, 13:05:51 »

Well, this tank was up for 6 years, 9 months, and 12 days.

In June, we found out that we had to move due to a zoning change that would have skyrocketed the taxes on our house (it went from being zoned as a single family residential lot to 8 townhomes).

We set a land speed record for finding a new house, getting financing, closing, tearing the tank down, and moving. Just over 45 days from notice to move.

Some of the choice corals and fish from this tank are on an extended vacation with a friend who has a fish store, so they'll be back.

I'll start a new thread with the built-out in the new house.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #57 on:** October 22, 2012, 13:23:55 »

Wondered what happened to you. Looking forward to your updates.

Boonjob · « **Reply #58 on:** October 22, 2012, 14:01:53 »

Very cool, Glad to have you back aswell.

Twizted1 · « **Reply #59 on:** October 22, 2012, 14:42:57 »

Glad everything worked out so well.

lazylivin · « **Reply #60 on:** October 22, 2012, 21:24:12 »

Good to hear from you Ashlar. I bet your new system is going to be over the top. Hope you do a build thread on here.