Pics of my 280 reef

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:08 PM

Thought I'd post a few pics of my 6 month old Inter-American 280 gallon reef tank. Most of the livestock was housed in a 125 gallon reef prior to the upgrade.

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:09 PM

Right side

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:11 PM

Pan 1

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:12 PM

Pan 2

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:14 PM

Pan 3

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 01:15 PM

Pan 4

**Northman_with_reef** · 04-28-2002, 01:45 PM

Sweet!

Give me all the specs and don't save ANYTHING!!!

Kick ass!!!

**Ninong** · 04-28-2002, 01:47 PM

It looks very nice!

**mridley** · 04-28-2002, 01:52 PM

Wow looks very nice and mature for a tank thats only 6 months old.

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 03:44 PM

Thanks guys. The tank is 72" X 30" X 30" with perimeter, Eurostyle bracing. Lighting consists of six 5' VHO fluorescents and one 4' NO actinic for early morning and late night viewing. I use 2 Gen-X Mak4 pumps for my return plus 4 Maxijet powerheads for additional circulation. I have a DAS BX-2 in-sump skimmer and a Precision Marine calcium reactor. Ice-Cap fans keep the hood cool but result in 2-3 gallons of evaporation per day. I use a Reef-Filler dosing pump for make-up water. I have a few hundred pounds of Fiji, Tonga branch and plate and Great Barrier Reef live rock. Sand bed consists of 3-4" of CaribSea Aragamax Select grade sand. Fish consists of 5 flame anthias, 1 royal gramma, 1 cleaner wrasse and 1 powder blue tang. All are completely reef safe and cohabitate well. Corals and inverts were all purchased in Canada (mainly Ontario).

Andy

**organicreefer** · 04-28-2002, 04:42 PM

very nice,im especially impressed with the coloration of youre corals,considering youre "lower" light level.
beautiful

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 04:55 PM

Interesting point Organicreefer. I have another smaller reef with MH lighting and I find the coralline algaes and corals are much lighter in that tank. I've had excellent success with VHO. I do prefer the sparkle of MH lighting however. My SPS growth rates may suffer under the VHO but I'm in no rush to upgrade to a larger tank for a while.

**Iron Crab** · 04-28-2002, 05:14 PM

Very nice!! It gives me something to aim for!!

I'm running VHO, also ( five 5 footers) and was wondering what type and make of bulbs that you went with??

**organicreefer** · 04-28-2002, 05:36 PM

higher light levels= lower concentrations of zooxanthelea(sp?)
lower light levels = more.
ive had the same exp with my torch.most of the corals you have probably come from lower light levels than are actually in youre tank.

**Northern** · 04-28-2002, 05:50 PM

Ironcrab
I'm using URI VHO fluorescents (3 actinic and 3 actinic white) powered by IceCap 660 ballasts.
Organicreefer
You're probably right with respect to the LPS and softies. I also have a number of SPS. I have a couple of colonies of purple Montipora that originated from a single parent colony. One is under MH and the other under VHO. The colony under VHO is a darker purply colour and the colony under MH is a light mauvy pink. I like them both. They both are doing very well. I've recently transferred the colony from the MH tank to the VHO tank. I'll be closely monitoring its change in colour.

**Reefland** · 04-29-2002, 12:47 AM

Your reef looks great!

How long have you had the Powder Blue Tang? What other fish do you have in the system?

Keep up the great work,
Scott Z.

**Northern** · 04-29-2002, 05:27 PM

Scott

I've only had the Powder Blue Tang for about 1 month. It eats well (flake, mysis, brine, nori). No stressors in the tank. I also have a Royal Gramma, a cleaner wrasse and five flame anthias. I may add a Purple Firefish, a Scotts Fairy Wrasse and a Blue-spotted jawfish. I'm taking it slow with the fish.

Andy

**acropora** · 04-30-2002, 11:43 PM

Nice job.The tank looks great and the extra width is a plus.Are you pleased with the Inter-american tank. Anthony

**Northern** · 05-01-2002, 02:41 PM

Anthony
I am very pleased with the tank. I got a real good deal on it cus shipping was covered by Mitch. He had a tractor trailor load of tanks coming to Ontario from Alberta so mine hitched a ride. If I had to do it again, I would have had 4 more holes drilled into the back for recirculation loops. He builds excellent sumps and stands too. You can see more pics here http://reefmania.homestead.com/New_Tank.html
Andy

**acropora** · 05-01-2002, 03:29 PM

Andy,I just checked out the tank pics on your link above.It really is a beautiful tank. I like the black background and the 2" B.H. You said the returns are able to be changed to 1"BH,and that is what I would do.I agree with you about drilling extra holes for a closed loop sysyem.I had to go over the top with the closed loop I have on my220 ,and it is not as clean looking as Iwould like.The tank is over ten years old,so on my next one,I will pre-drill for closed loops and huge B.H. fittings.Looks great,Good luck Anthony

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