My 300 gallon starphire SPS tank w/125 gallon macro/mangrove refugium

[aquavista99]

Very nice!

Thanks, Micki! So how is your 150g reef doing these days? Any new additions?

[micki]

Thanks, Micki! So how is your 150g reef doing these days? Any new additions?

My reef is a 125.  I added a goby and pistol and haven't seen either since.  Also added 3 cleaners and only have one left.  I can't figure out what is getting them. 

The 150 is a very neglected eel tank right now...  Not sure what direction I'm going to take with it just yet. I've considered a sting ray, but I doubt I do anything until after summer. 

[aquavista99]

My reef is a 125.  I added a goby and pistol and haven't seen either since.  Also added 3 cleaners and only have one left.  I can't figure out what is getting them. 

The 150 is a very neglected eel tank right now...  Not sure what direction I'm going to take with it just yet. I've considered a sting ray, but I doubt I do anything until after summer. 

I had a pistol shrimp for years....I would rarely see the shrimp, but would hear the clicking sound the pistol shrimp makes (sounds like a mantis shrimp). The cleaner shrimp should be out in the open. My cleaner shrimp are very active during the day. However, I added a group of Peppermint shrimp from Aquatic Specialists which only come out at night (for the most part). The peppermint shrimp are very nice additions to my reef tank. Thanks for the update. I always enjoyed seeing pictures of your 125 g reef. I recall the stand and canopy was custom made as well. Sure hope your goby is fine. I have a clown goby that spends most of the time hiding in corals.

[micki]

In the past my cleaner shrimp have been out in the open and active as well.  I added one and it was gone over night.  I thought my banded shrimp got it.  I moved the banded shrimp to the fuge and a while latter I added 2 more.  One was gone over night again!  The other has been hidding out in the caps in the middle of the tank.  Tonight with a flashlight, I see he is moving around the tank.  I'm not sure what's up.  I could see the pistol hidding out and I think I hear some clicking now, but the goby is no where to be seen and he was plenty large enough to easily see...  My diamond goby is always out and about though.  I may go to Aquatic Specialist tomorrow and get another cleaner shrimp or some peppermints.  I'm also noticing some HA starting.  I guess I need to work on that.      You are correct my Dad and a buddy of his custom made the stand and canopy.  I need to get some updated pictures or a video.       

[aquavista99]

In the past my cleaner shrimp have been out in the open and active as well.  I added one and it was gone over night.  I thought my banded shrimp got it.  I moved the banded shrimp to the fuge and a while latter I added 2 more.  One was gone over night again!  The other has been hidding out in the caps in the middle of the tank.  Tonight with a flashlight, I see he is moving around the tank.  I'm not sure what's up.  I could see the pistol hidding out and I think I hear some clicking now, but the goby is no where to be seen and he was plenty large enough to easily see...  My diamond goby is always out and about though.  I may go to Aquatic Specialist tomorrow and get another cleaner shrimp or some peppermints.  I'm also noticing some HA starting.  I guess I need to work on that.      You are correct my Dad and a buddy of his custom made the stand and canopy.  I need to get some updated pictures or a video.       

Looking forward to seeing updated pictures of your reef, Micki! Sorry to hear about your goby. I lost one of my peppermint shrimps  on the first night ...died in the vortech pump. I also had a few chromis die in QT after getting stuck in my pump. Aquatic Specialists has a very nice selection of livestock and great customer service.

[lazylivin]

I lost one of my peppermint shrimps  on the first night ...died in the vortech pump

Peppermint Shrimp.....Will it blend? 


If your not a youtuber you wont get it.

[aquavista99]

Peppermint Shrimp.....Will it blend? 


If your not a youtuber you wont get it.

I don't think they blend well. I am not a you tuber but I am aware of this you tube Peppermint Shrimp Eating Aiptasia video.

[micki]

WOW that's crazy!!! 

[lazylivin]

That was a really cool video. Thanks for sharing.

Peppermint Shrimp.....Will it blend? 


If your not a youtuber you wont get it.

That was a really cool video. Thanks for sharing.
Here is the Will it Blend Video's http://www.youtube.com/user/blendtec?blend=1&ob=4

[bigfalcon36]

Everything looks really good Tim!  Can't wait for some updates.  Shoot me a PM when you're going to start fragging/shipping frags.

[aquavista99]

Sometimes you take two steps back before going forward. I recently switched to a new 72 x 27 x 36, three sided starphire tank with just one center overflow. The new system is the same size as my old system, which was approx. 425 gallons (300 gallon display with 125g refugium). 

With the new tank and different design, I decided to go with a more natural, open look reef theme. I used a lot less rock this time around to allow more room for the corals to grow and fish to swim. Less rock also helps with my overall high flow design powered by four Ecotech Marine Vortech pumps as well. Any feedback is welcome. My new reef has been up and running for almost a month. Most of the SPS corals are starting to pop again with color.

[aquavista99]

[aquavista99]

[yinyang]

good choice on the center overflow!!tim
i heard center overflow works the best with the vortex pump u have ,zero dead spot
by the way everything looks very nice
hope one day i can get mine look like that

[jungliztkruger]

300 gallon... mind if i come over and go snorkeling sometime

beautiful tank

[aquavista99]

good choice on the center overflow!!tim
i heard center overflow works the best with the vortex pump u have ,zero dead spot
by the way everything looks very nice
hope one day i can get mine look like that

I spent several weeks working with the engineer to get the center overflow just the way I wanted it. The entire overflow box is less than 6 inches wide and takes up very little space inside my tank. I considered going with an external overflow, but figured it would be  more difficult to move the new tank to the basement with an external overflow attached.

[aquavista99]

300 gallon... mind if i come over and go snorkeling sometime

beautiful tank

You are more than welcome to stop by and see my new reef project in person. It is my best project to date. It will take another few months before the tank starts to mature but most of the corals already started to color up. BTW, I do rent snorkel gear. Ocean/reef tested of course!

[aquavista99]

Here is an updated list of some of the collector coral I have in my reef if you are interested in the limited edition corals.

Tyree Montipora Setosa
Tyree Blue Prostrata
Tyree Sunset Montipora
The Infamous Orgeon Blue Tort
ATL Cherry Bomb Ultra Millipora
ATL Original Apple Berry Montipora Palawenensis
ATL Nepam Bomb Millipora
Original Superman Montipora
GARF Purple Bonsai
Tyree Strawberry Patch Montipora Cap
Tyree Ponape Birdsnest
Mike Paletta's Purple Porites
Copp's Bonsai
Copps' Pink Table
Copps' Ultra Blue Millie
Copps' Yellow Tip Pink Prostrata
Copps' Blue Tenuis Acropora
Tyree 20,000 Leagues Lokani
ATL Raspberry Blueberry Tip Prostrata
Original Tyree Pink Lemonade
ORA Red Planet
ORA German Blue
ORA Chips
ORA Roscoe
YR Surf And Turf Acropora

[jungliztkruger]

nice

[JSLeedy]

Looking good.  I want to see when they all start to grow out and get big.

[aquavista99]

Just finished up my flow room power by EcoTech Marine Vortech controllers and Ice cap battery back up units.

[lazylivin]

Very nice and clean looking.

[aquavista99]

Thanks for the compliment, Lazylivin!

Very nice and clean looking.

[aquavista99]

New RO/DI unit c/o Russ at BFS

[lazylivin]

Almost 60PSI water pressure. Man wish I had that kind of pressure here. 43PSI at best