+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 So a year is coming up since I first purchased this tank and got it up and running so I figured I would finally contribute to the forum and document what I have accomplished so far. It has had its ups and downs, and been a ton of time and labor, but has been my pride and joy for the last three months, as I am finally getting happy to where it is at. I am still battling some phosphate issues and will be adding gfo as well as a calcium reactor to support the growth of my corals, but as of now a 10% water change every two weeks has been enough to keep my parameters in check. About the System 215 gallon DSA tank(I believe) 72"x24"x30" 3x250 watt metal halide lights with 20k plusrite bulbs and Lumatek ballasts. Also have (2)72" 96 watt Super Actinic lights and 2 48" BML lights 55 gallon 3 chamber sump (return with live rock -then skimmer with an area for macro algae in the middle section and then the return pumps in the last section. Return pumps Eheim 1262 and a Mag 18 I run the Eheim to my chiller with a ball valve and then to the right hand side of my tank and the Mag 18 to the left hand side of my tank. My chiller is a Teco 1/3 hp chiller I'm running a Bubble Magus Nac 9 Skimmer I'm using a Tunze 5017 ATO Jebao DP-4 Auto Dosing Pump I have a Tunze powerhead, four Jebao wp40's, and two large Koralias for additional flow in the display. I also have another 2 Koralias in my sump for my frag setup. The sump is lit by 2 AI Sol led units on a reverse photoperiod. I'm running a dual BRS reactor with carbon and GFO AquaC Calcium Reactor with Milwaukee PH Controller Everything is controlled by an Apex Gold I have around 250-300 pounds of live rock. Most was from other tanks and quite a bit was dead and cycled for a few weeks before putting in my tank, so I let it run for another 6 weeks before I put anything living inside. Here is a pic from after I got it filled and the rock put in and before I changed out the powerheads. Video 11/06/14 Current coral list: Updated 11/06 17 SPS still unidentified SPS: Superman Monti Jedi Mind Trick Monti Rainbow Monti Purple Haze Monti Flower Petal Monti Strawberry Fields Monti Sand Dollar Monti Tyree Sunset Monti Chili Pepper Monti Montipora Confusa ORA Yellow Lantana Monti Tyree Orange Setosa Monti Red Monti Cap Purple Monti Cap Green Monti Cap Spongodes Mint Pavona Ty's Green Digi German Blue Digi Forest Fire Digi Green Digi Red digi Pink digi Hyacinth Birdsnest Ponape Birdsnest Pink Birdsnest ORA Screaming Geen Birdsnest Sour Apple Seriatopora ORA Red Tip Pocillipora Harry Valentine Pocillipora Purple Bottlebrush Acro Green Efflo Cali Tort Oregon Tort Bali Green Acro Tim's Skittle Granulosa Rainbow Pocillipora Rainbow Stylo Purple Stylo Red Dragon Green Dragon Purple Dragon Garf Purple Bonsai Paletta Blue Stag Rainbow Nasuta Battle Corals Skinny Love Upscale Microclados Purple Freek Pro Corals Rainbow Acro Strawberry Millipora Peach Millipora Tequila Sunrise Millie Cherry Corals Watermelon Millie Blues Clues Acro Raspberry Delight Acro Raspberry Nasuta Flame tip Dragon Rainbow Nebula Rainbow Nasuta Miyagi Tort Pink Jade Acro ORA Red Planet Tyree Lime in The Sky Acro Shawn Bennett Yellow Tort Pikacu Acro DM Marauder Acro Tubbs Pink Jade FragFarmers Red Robin Stag Mint Julep Branching Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Blueberry Shortcake Acro Pink Lemonade Acro Aussie Passion Fruit Cherry Corals Pastel Shortcake Unique Corals Strawberry shortcake Strawberry Lemonade Acro Strawberry Limeade Acro Pacman Acro - Blue Stag Mike Paletta Turquoise Lovelli Purple Valida Tri color Valida AquaSD Dinosaur Egg Stag Purple Bonsai Purple Bottlebrush DFS Pink Panther Acro Aussie Green/Blue Hyacinthus Pink Acro with yellow polyps Flame Rose Milli Phoenix Milli Sunrise Milli Blueberry Milli Raspberry Milli Chaos Wave Acro Razzmatazz Acro Guardian Angel Acro Ultra Neon Lights Acro Ultimate Shortcake Acro Passion Fruit Acro Jamba Juice Acro Raikiri Acro Diamond Dust Acro Gila Monster Acro Burning Candle Acro Tierra Del Fuego Greg Hiller Aqua Delight Paletta Pink Tip Vivid Rainbow Avco AV Halloween Milli Knockout Sunset Milli DFS 3 Color Milli $500 Efflo Vu's Blue Abyss Extremely Tri Color Acro Plum Prostrata Shades of Fall Acro Purple Polyp Blue Milli Raspberry Sarmentosa Mighty Mouse Acro Rainbow Spatulata Cornbred's Rainbow Chalices: Shockfire Widowmaker Flamethrower Brian's hybrid watermelon Emerald Mummy Eye Jason Fox My Miami Tyree Golden Eye Miami Hurricane Hollywood Stunner Purple with Green Eye Leptoseris War Coral Bi Color War Coral Jason Fox Jack-I-Lantern Lepto Green Duncan's Superman Rhodactis Lots of Euphyllia Scuba Steve Frogspawn Neon Octospawn Blue wall hammer Green with purple tip frogspawn Green hammer Bi color hammer Toxic Hammer Purple with pink tip torch coral Green with white tip torch Toadstool Mushroom Blue Finger Leather Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone Sherman Rose Bubble Tip Anemone Rose Bubble Tip Anemone 3 Maxi Mini Carpet Anemones Rock Anemone 17 different acans Rainbow Acans Superman Acan Fire and Ice Acan Joker Acan Sunset Acan Blue Bowerbankai Acan Red and White Favia Ultra Maxima Clam 15" Maxima Clam Zoas: Utter Chaos Jason Fox Bloodshot White Velvet Rasta Gobstoppers Candy Apple Red Candy Apple Orange JKR Rainbow Kazoo Purple Delight Eye of Sauron Time Machines Highlighters God of War Army of God Yodas Super Saiyan Tutti Frutti Pink Zippers Fire and Ice Fruit Loops Chong Bongs King Midas Orange Oxides Gorilla Nipples Bam Bams Tubbs Blue Fairy Dust Blowpops Whammin Watermelons Radioactive Dragon eye Green People Eaters Green Bay Packers Mint green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 I got super busy at work right after getting the tank, so it really didn't get much attention, well really it pretty much just sat running with a small cleanup crew until the beginning of this year. I finally got a few fish from a friend who was shutting down his tank. I got a sailfin tang a yellow tang and 4 percula (I think) clownfish but what I was really waiting for is the stability for some corals! I had a friend getting rid of a few pieces for cheap so I picked up a maxi mini carpet anemone, a green torch coral, a piece of as Scuba Steve frogspawn and some zoas and a few small sps frags. ORA Red tip pocillipora Pink Birdsnest Scuba Steve Frogspawn Maxi mini carpet anemone Dragon's eye and whammin watermelon zoas Unknown name zoas Bleached green torch coral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 As soon as these frags started to show some growth and gain in color I decided it was time to start stocking the tank properly. Peppermint acan ORA Red Planet Miyagi Tort Sand Dollar Monti Purple Haze Monti Frag pack! Blue Bowerbankai Acan Purple with green eye Leptoseris A few different kinds of Euphyllia Rainbow Acan Orange Montipora Setosa War Coral Another acan Purple Stylo and Tim's Skittle Granulosa Montipora Confusa Tyree Golden Eye Chalice Red on red acan Rainbow bubble tip day 1 Blue finger leather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiddyORION Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Aw man that tanks gonna be a stunna' I hope those SPS don't give you a hard time like they are giving me lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Aw man that tanks gonna be a stunna' I hope those SPS don't give you a hard time like they are giving me lol. Thanks, so far I have had decent luck. Everything has been keeping its color and growing so far. I'm hoping as long as I can get my phosphate levels back down soon everything should be stay healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 215. The Official ARC Tank Size. Coming along nicely! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 About time Bigsby! Haha. Tank is looking good sir. How about a FTS with all the corals in there? Sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 About time Bigsby! Haha. Tank is looking good sir. How about a FTS with all the corals in there? Sent via Tapatalk I know! I have been meaning to post something up for a while, especially now that I have the 65 gallon rimless frag tank budget build I have been meaning to post about as well!! This fts is from a few weeks ago. I have moved a few things around and moved a few things around. Here is a shot of the left hand side of my tank where most of my anemones and Euphyllia are. One more fts from the right hand side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 215. The Official ARC Tank Size. Coming along nicely! Thanks man! It's been a ton of work and I've had a lot of real estate to fill but I've been working on getting it stocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 More corals!! Maxi mini carepet nem #2 Rock anemone Fire and ice acan Toadstool mushroom Zoas Sherman rbta Red Monti cap Decorator crab on my acan with my zoas on him Pink digitata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I like your acro island at the top! Good lookin' naso creepin' in that one picture... he's got his eye on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 I like your acro island at the top! Good lookin' naso creepin' in that one picture... he's got his eye on you. Thanks! We call it Fraggle Rock. Lol. It's an old dead piece of coral with 10 holes drilled for placing frags. And the Naso has definitely claimed that cave as his. This evening I picked up a Cali Tort, a two tone Aussie Tort, a Rainbow Nasuta, a mini colony of Hyacinth Birdsnest as well as a rainbow acan and two other nice acan frags to add to my collection. I also got a small colony of Bam Bam Zoas and a small colony of the Rasta zoas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makena95GT Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Gotta post the video of the clown laying eggs while I was there! ; D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 You're got some spectacular pieces. Love the light too. What kind of life are you getting out of those plusrites. They look fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Gotta post the video of the clown laying eggs while I was there! ; D I tried but it said it was too big to post directly to here. I've never posted a video on here so I'm not exactly sure how to honestly. I'll put it up on YouTube and post a link here soon when I get some more time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 You're got some spectacular pieces. Love the light too. What kind of life are you getting out of those plusrites. They look fantastic Thank you, I appreciate that. I have been searching for pretty specific corals and have had some pretty decent luck. I have accumulated right about 120 different corals since the beginning of the year. There are quite a few I haven't listed or taken a photo of but I have really been meaning to. I'm starting to think this tank is pretty close to stocked and time for grow out with the exception of a few small additions here and there. I'm thinking any new frags I get from here on out will go in my frag tank for grow out until I move some of my other corals into another tank. Most of my softies will likely be moved either somewhere else in the tank or to another tank. In the last week I picked up a My Miami frag and I also picked up a Rainbow Millie, Tequila Sunrise Millie, Real Deal Millie, Strawberry Pie Millie, Peach Millie, Green Efflo, Blues Clues Acro, and Blue Rainbow Acro. I couldn't get decent pics where I put them to acclimate but hopefully here soon I can snap some decent pics. As far as the plusrite I really should replace them as I have been running two of them for an entire year now this week. But I didn't start using the third until February/March when I started to really add corals. I'm going to go ahead and replace them all. I've really enjoyed them and the color they give me even without the super actinics. I have been debating switching over to LEDs though. I picked up 3 AI Sols because it was too good of a deal to pass up. I'm thinking if I can get one or two more I might make the switch. I absolutely love the color they provide and my corals in my frag tank really popped when I set 2 of them up temporarily on my rimless 65 gallon but I have not decided what I want to do and the frag tank build is on a pretty strict budget and even one or two of those lights would eat that budget up real quick so as of now they sit in a box in bag. Hopefully they will get some use soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Unfortunately, I'm not the best photographer and it's difficult trying to get a full tank shot on my Iphone. But here is another for now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 **** fine setup ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Thanks! I appreciate that a lot. **** fine setup ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Why not run both the ai sols and the halides? Maybe pick up some 10k bulbs instead and run them a few hours a day while you're not home to provide that growing power and color development, and run the ai sols as your primary viewing light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 I thought about that and I am still considering that as well. I am really wanting to cut down on heat. Right now even though the tank remains pretty constant temperature the room the tank is in gets considerably warmer and I really just want to eliminate the heat source. It's close enough to my thermostat that it causes the ac to run more often than it should and cools down the rest of the house more than it needs to causing my electric bill to go up substantially. When I was only running two of the lights it was a drastic difference so I may consider running three sold and the 2 halides. I have the Lumatek 250/400 dimmable ballast and could always go up to 400 watts but I think that would make the heat issue worse. But you do have a good idea cutting the photoperiod down from the current 7.5hrs to only 3 or so with some 10k bulbs. That would probably make a significant difference in the heat build up under the canopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 At 200+ gallons Bigsby, you might want to look into exhausting the air above your tank outside. It'll remove the heat and the moisture. I've already seen humidity related issues in my house from the 125g over the years so I couldn't imagine what my 215g will do. Once I can finally get an open weekend, I'll install that exhaust vent above the tank and use the full canopy to funnel the hot air and humidity out of the house. While I'm at it, run a line down for my skimmer to get fresh air and add some carbon in case there is anything nasty in the air. Sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 That is definitely something I have considered but I hate to cut holes in the celing. I am really trying to have to avoid doing that. Luckily this house is pretty open and I haven't seen any issues arise as of yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bigsby Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Here are a few more recent pictures Rasta zoas Bam Bam zoas Mixed zoa rock with Watermelon zoas, Green Bay Packers and Radioactive Dragon Eyes. Rainbow Acan Green dragon Acro Purple Nana Acro Neon Green Efflo Peach Millipora Right center side of tank Older shot of most of the acans together Jason Fox My Miami Left center side of tank Right side of tank 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Looking good Bigsby! Almost looks like you're feeding your anemone the My Miami chalice in that one pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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