dude i would jsut run it in the sump with the neck off wide open and well you know you going to be around tonight i will talk to you later still at work.

ok, i have it running without the neck and will check it later tonight as I will be at work.

I will be around tomorrow night if you wanted to call.

well here is the aquascaping. I wanted to go with something abit more open than the last build.

I used acrylic rods and epoxy to hold the live rock together.

hit up Rona today and got the extenison cords and some black eggcrate from red coral, so I think within the next few days I should have all the loose ends tied up.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4076-1.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4079-1.jpg

That is definitely very open! I love it! But.. There is a powerhead in your tank John.. What's up with that??

Are you planning to put all of your coral back in? - From the pictures of the tank shut down, there was a lot. Just wondering if there will be enough space?

How did you attach the rocks with acrylic rods? - Did you drill holes in the rock first?

Anyway - the tank looks great.

LOL, I had stuck that one in there for the time being to kick up the silt abit more for the socks to take it out.

Hey Brad

I still have alot of coral to go back in, and this was most of my previous live rock, there was very little left.

I think there should be enough room for the corals to all fit in again, I will be stocking it with more stylos and poccis, than any other corals, I would like to have a more natural look, fewer corals but larger in size.

yes, the rock was predrilled then washed in a seperate saltwater bath, then epoxy, then the rod, then started skewering the rock, it was alot easier than I expected.

so still playing with the skimmer today, its not as bad as yesterday so i think its going to calm down within a day or two. Thanks for the help Mike.

got one more thing crossed of the list today, it was to cut the eggcrate for the bottom two holes of the vortech wall.

started with this

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4081-1.jpg

ended with this

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4083-1.jpg

and in the tank

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4087-1.jpg

FTS

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4089-1.jpg

wow john that looks awesome. and yes it is very open. are you going to be running three mp40s on that thing?

Very creative John. I'm curious whether they will perform as well within that wall. Obviously their undertow characteristics will change etc...you'll have to let us know if you see and changes in how they function.

Aquascape is nice and low...hope you grow out some massive colonies.

And where on earth did you get those cutters?!

Thanks Terry, yes I am planning to use three for now, but it could go to four, I am very undecided.

well they are preforming pretty well, just ask the sand bed, lol.

in my previous tank, i had 3 vortechs on full gas 24/7

this time around with the open areas of the tank, i turned them to be on sync and anti sync reef crest mode, i have found this way I am still getting the flow I need and the sand is not blowing a storm.

I do think that when I start to stock thing up with coral, I could return the setting to full gas as the flow will be reduced with all the colonies.

and I got the cutters from a green house in the Bowness area about a year ago. Support the cause.

I am sure Doug knows the name of it, as thats his neck of the woods.

that tank looks awesome man, i need to do tha with my rock and putty too. along with the rods.

They are just tree/shrub prunning sheers. Can find them anywhere that sells gardening suppies , unless its the color you're after :mrgreen:

John looks awsume so far. So open & neat. Whats the time frame before adding the stock ? Maybe some fish first ?

I can add the first fish on tuesday, and a few non sensitive SPS.

the cycle has started slowly, only today there is signs of diatoms.

The skimmer also came into check today, and its already pulling out thick foam.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4096-1.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4092-1.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_4099-1.jpg

rumor has it this is in an apartment...

yes that rumor is true.

my girl friend and myself had the pleasure of seeing this amazing set up in person today and i will say daaaaaamnnnn extremly clean set up and i am very excited to see it when all the coral is back in and what john does with this. good job buddy.

p.s tks for the rock

With all that white sand, id consider a sandsifter goby for your 1st fish.

well the first fish was not a sand sifter, it was two clowns that orginally came from Cory (alberta reefer) they had been at Teatro for the past while and i had recently caught them to bring them home.

I have since added a few SPS, a zoa frag and a toad stool leather frag.

and my two fungia plates.

all seem to be doing well, polyp extenison is great, color is still a bit bland after all the moves which was totally expected as well the algae bloom, haha.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/IMG_4152.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/IMG_4150.jpg

Nice fishys, let me know when you would like your 6 line back.
He likes my smaller tank, but he would love to be back in yours.

no doubt, pm'd

tried out my new underwater camera tonight, heres some pics.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...00/150zeo4.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...00/150zeo3.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...00/150zeo2.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...000/150zeo.jpg

hey everyone, how has everyone been ? I have been out of contact for while, back and ready to roll now.

tank progress has been abit slower, due to work and schedules.

The 14 day zeovit cycle has finished, still some hair algae but no biggie.

I am waiting on some Hawaiian yellow tangs to take care of this,they will be added to the stocking list which consists of blue green chromis, 2 occi clowns, I would have added an orange spot sand goby, but only after 24hrs he was to cool for the tank and bailed to the carpet.

coral stocking consists of a few mixed frags, all are doing great and even showing some signs of growth this early in the game, and I am super stoked at the coloration I am getting already, some real hot pinks and purple are coming out on some browned out SPS.

I think the starphire glass gives more true coloration as its so clear, it was really worth the xtra coin, the fish look like they are just hanging in mid air. Too cool.

Here is an updated photo.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...000/zeo150.jpg

To me that scape looks so natural. This is going to look stunning bro.

wicked, thats the look I am trying to hit, its going to mean less coral varity and fish varity, but I am pushing for the end goal. I hope I hit it. :razz:

:jaw: It has been worth the wait... absolutely breath taking! :mrgreen: It is so clean, no powerheads and so, so, so very open. Wow! Wow! Wow! :biggrin1:
I love how you have done this one. :thumb: This is my dream tank. :wink:

Forgot to add.... this is one SEXY tank by the way! (added with Brett in mind) :biggrin:

wow, thanks for the comps, made my day. :biggrin:

+1, Very excited to see how this turns out. Love the hidden Vortek's, I'm sure that open look will disapear nice and quick considering how fast coral grows for you!

wow, that looks awesome! Although, there appears to be more than stylos and poccis in there! What's up with that?!? :biggrin:

Thanks guys,

yes, i am addicted to stylos, I did meet up with 24 storm today (huge thanks to him for holding onto my stuff till i was ready, the tank would look quite bare with Keiths help) and added a few poccis back to the mix.

everything is quite browned out after the move, tottally expected, so now the waiting game, coloration.

heres a quick pic.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r.../150zeovit.jpg

This tank is looking just great! You've done an amazing job!!

dude i love the new way your going with your tank

Looking Good John.

Colin

Wow I give up, after seeing this tank I think I should just pack it in :wink:

Nice John!! I wish I had the space to do that, but I would only be able to fit like 3 corals in my 90. LOL I have been thinking of re'scaping something like what you have going on, and thus selling off a bunch of corals. You may be inspiring me...dangit. :p

Thanks for the comps everyone.

I did my first change of the zeolites lastnight, the water is abit more clear today, but I did only see it for a minute.
The hair algae is still living, but not thriving. Coral coloration is coming slowly, except for these two stylos I have, they are getting their bright on.
I got two pics one with the t5 lighting and the other after the lights were off.
And last is a FTS.

also anyone have a good idea for sand cleaner ? or sifter ?

I have quite abit of open sandbed and some maintance keepers would be a great next addition.

anyways here are a few pics from the past two days.

The skimmer is certainly working very well, Thanks BOB.

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/skimmer1.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/skimmer2.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/stylo1-1.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/skimmer3.jpg

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/r...000/stlyo2.jpg

I sound like a broken record but you really have something with that aquascape! Don't mind my drool on your thread. Not that anyone has the self-control but imagine not adding more corals and letting the current lineup mature into massive colonies. I'd love to see that.

Dont tell the local fishshops, but thats my plan, just sticking with the current corals, there is an austrea in the back that may get removed later, but it will be replaced with a stlyo or pocci, so Only a few more fish will be added which I kinda have picked out already, just waiting for them to be avaible all at the same time.

wow, love the new tank John. My favorite sand cleaner is the conch. I have a couple different kinds and they do a great job, and don't stir any sand up into the water. Plus I think they are a really cool looking animal. Mine last a lot longer than the snails do too.

Agreed. I bought 10 about 10 months ago and still have all of them. They are really cool looking and I haven't touched my sandbed since day one. I have some nassarius snails as well. You don't see those guys until you feed or when the lights are out.