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Thread: Ralph's 85 starfire upgrade

  1. #1
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Ralph's 85 starfire upgrade

    here's my original:

    Ralph's 55 to 85 starfire upgrade & build - Atlanta Reef Club Forums


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Ok, here's the deal.

    My 55 all glass tank has served me well. It took me a year to figure out how the siphoning thing works, so the wood floor needs replacing. We are going with travertine this time.

    Why only 85? It sits in my foyer, so space is limited. Plus, it keeps ME limited, and I feel I can maintain this one tank as finances & personal time fluctuate over time.

    So Chris (fishscales) came over this morning and moved my 55 on it's stand about twelve feet over to allow us to redo the floor, while he builds my tank, stand, & sump. The move was very easy for me (I watched), but these guys took only 50 minutes to slide the tank after I emptied maybe 25 gallons or so. I had bought some of those ez-move discs that worked very well.

    The tank is 4 years old, but needless to say, I, ummm, learned as I went, so to speak. Like a lot of you, I tried a lot of different techniques, experiments, and so forth. One of the worst & best things I did was carbon dosing. For a few years I used AZ-NO3 which worked great, but stunted my corals, so they are a few years behind in growth. Switching to Vodka this past April, wow! they love it!


    Tonight's the night! (July 29, 2009)

    Ok, so Chris shows up at 1:30 pm, and just left at 9:30 pm. You just can't get that quality & service anywhere. I am so glad that I went went Chris instead of glasscages. The tank & stand is just beautiful with 3 sides startfire and euro bracing. The stand is higher, stained in a red mahogany, crown molding,& 2 doors (large front access & one side). The tank has 2 drains, 1 return with 4 lock-lines, black acrylic case over glass overflow, black acrylic box on back of tank for cables, & a freakin's Bird netting top, to boot! WOW! bells & whistles! One snafu was that my gorgeous brittle-star took off and got between the 1/4 inch space in my aga overflow (between outer wall, and plastic outer part that has the holes. Well, Chris took some money off my cost and bought my old setup, but said, "I can always make a new overflow" and he cut it up to save that creature. 45 minutes later, chris puts it in tank.

    I'm still looking for my 3 pistol shrimp...hummm...............other than that, great! I dosed a 1/2 dose of prime, and I'll be using stability for a few days.

    Dual 400 Watt Hamilton's Reef star Pendent



    to be continued...................................
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    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
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    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Fish:
    2 False Percs
    Yasha Hase Gobi w pistol
    Pinkbar Gobi w Pistol
    Melanurus Wrasse
    Halichoeres Cosmetus Wrasse (Christmas Wrasse)
    MM Leopard Wrasse
    Paracheilinus rubricaudalis (Red Tailed Flasher Wrasse)
    Red Scooter Dragonet
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    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Our Brotha Down Unda
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    great shots. your getting better at this bud



    Vquilibrium Productions

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    Grand Master Reefer CarmieJo's Avatar
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    Very nice Ralph. The stand is beautiful!
    Carmie


    Only disasters happen fast!





    Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
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  5. #5
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Hey! Thanks!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    (I've been dosing Vodka/Carbon for years, and gfo, btw)
    just an update on vodka dosing, and success of eliminating dino.

    I do 20% water changes weekly or bi-weekly, have a decent skimmer (skim wet), have a fuge, good live rock, 2-3 inch live sand (kinda new, too), feed 4-5 cubes a day of a mixture of frozen PE mysis, Hakari Brine, Spirulina, Cyclopeeze, Squid, Selcon, etc.


    In July when I upgraded tank, I decided to try to start incrementally lower my vodka/vinegar dosing to 3 ml. Well, my trates got up to 10.0! no beau-no!
    I was fighting dino, poor colors on sps, etc.
    2 weeks ago, I gave up and decided to incrementally go to a "new dosage". Monday, my trates were at 5.0 (at 10ml Vodka/vinegar). Wed I went up to 13ml, and tonite my trates are back <1.0! Dino is almost gone, just small patches here and there.

    So about November 28, my tank is at the point where it should be. Now, let's see some ACRO growth! (all sps, lps are grwoing great! just need some ACRO growth!). Hopefully, soon.
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    Assistant Moderator rayme07's Avatar
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    Beautiful tank with some awesome colored fish. Its looking great.
    Ray or Raymond
    There is no elevator to success in marine tanks. You have to take the stairs.


    Raymond's 30 gallon tank
    Raymond's 60 gallon tank


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    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Thanks! appreciate the comments!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    SPS Reefer / TR Admin lReef lKeeper's Avatar
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    very nice Ralph !!

    can i get your take on the Leapord Wrasse ?? have you had any issues with it ?? whats your key to keeping them ??
    lReef lKeeper (Bobby) Admin and Reefer

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    Equipment ...
    6x54w HO T5 fixture, 300+g rated Frankenskimmer, ATO, 3 Media Reactors (1 p04, 1 N03, 1 Carbon)

    www.lmas.org





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    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper View Post
    very nice Ralph !!

    can i get your take on the Leapord Wrasse ?? have you had any issues with it ?? whats your key to keeping them ??
    sorry for the delay...................lol. missed it!

    1) healthy stock & shipping
    2) eating or getting to eat. start with gut packed (selcon and cyclopeeze) brine shrimp
    3) sugar fine sand bed
    4) no acclimation
    5) 3 treatments of prazi
    6) pray

    that's about it!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

  11. #11
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    How about a video update!


    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Awesome looking tank and leopard wrasse!! Thanks for the vid.
    Ray or Raymond
    There is no elevator to success in marine tanks. You have to take the stairs.


    Raymond's 30 gallon tank
    Raymond's 60 gallon tank


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    Grand Master Reefer CarmieJo's Avatar
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    Your tank is beautiful! I love all the colors!
    Carmie


    Only disasters happen fast!





    Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
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  14. The Following User Says Thank You to CarmieJo For This Useful Post:

    mysterybox (05-12-2010)

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    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Thanks! appreciate it!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Our Brotha Down Unda
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    Arrrrr mystery my old friend, that was indeed a delight.
    Im impressed bud, you seem to have struck the right balance. The animals even though in proximity, dont seem phased by the combination or boundaries , your rockwork is positioned well with plenty of clearance, youve gone the extra mile for some styling, so some extra kudos coming your way. Sand was alittle thin in some shots, then presto, covered again. Your rocks looked clean (in a sea movement kinda way) & your animals from where im standing looked healthy. I especially liked that fact you found my bubble gum storage spot, yet didn't scrap them off the glass, It took me 3 weeks to chew enough to cover that corner..lol
    Nice choice on the song to bud, in fact, im going to watch that again. Great job.



    Vquilibrium Productions

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    mysterybox (05-12-2010)

  18. #16
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    Hey you!
    How ya been? Thanks for compliments, trying to make this work, lol............
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Our Brotha Down Unda
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    Yeah cant complain, there's only a few people that will listen anyways...it might have something to do with gaining their attention by quoting lock stock & 2 smoking barrels.



    Vquilibrium Productions

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    SPS Reefer / TR Admin lReef lKeeper's Avatar
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    coming along nice Ralph ... i got a surprise for you !!

    i added him to my tank about a month ago ...
    lReef lKeeper (Bobby) Admin and Reefer

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    www.lmas.org





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  21. #19
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    sweet wrasse Bobby! nice pic, too!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    SPS Reefer / TR Admin lReef lKeeper's Avatar
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    let me know when you are ready for the Golden Rhomboid ... my price is pretty sweet !!

    i have a wrasse question for you ...

    what would you think if i upgraded to a 4'x2'x12" tank and kept the wrasses ?? this tank has a euro brace around the entire top, and if i am not mistaken ... when a wrasse jumps, does it not follow the glass straight up ?? if i am right, if one gets spooked it will dart away and to the glass ... where it will go straight up and hit the eurobrace, correct ??
    lReef lKeeper (Bobby) Admin and Reefer

    Water ...
    Custom 4x2x1 60 gallon, 40B sump

    Equipment ...
    6x54w HO T5 fixture, 300+g rated Frankenskimmer, ATO, 3 Media Reactors (1 p04, 1 N03, 1 Carbon)

    www.lmas.org





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  23. #21
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    12 inches......hummmm...........not so sure.

    however, here's a solution for top:

    http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forum...ad.php?t=34002
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

  24. #22
    Curious Reefer
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    nice! no troubles with the wrasses? each other and the clam ect.? i was researching them and most sounded like it was quite possible they would fight. anyways, i pretty much decided on trying to keep a pair of melanarus. not THEE prettiest of the wrasses but still pretty, and usefull,lol. i am in the middle of setting up an 80g 36" x 30" and transfered my tang, occie and cleaner wrasse over last night. the bta will come when i see the effects of moving so much rock and when the new tank catches up with the new fish in it.

  25. #23
    Insightful Reefer mysterybox's Avatar
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    no fights! just a little pushing and shoving here and there! They are great!
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
    Lou Holtz

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    Grand Master Reefer CarmieJo's Avatar
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    I'd worry about your tang stressing out in a 36" tank. That isn't much swimming room.
    Carmie


    Only disasters happen fast!





    Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
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