Here's my Big Office System

Hawkeye · Mar 20, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

hey it was my first time there...i just know it was a 400w MH on top of a shallow frag tank. The rail definitely moved left to right / right to left. Again I didn't look at it carefully because I couldn't stop staring at all the frags. I will be back sunday with the missus so I will be sure to ask him about it and maybe he can comment on this thread.

Baxreefs · Mar 20, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Last time I was there, I was pretty He gave me a huge chunk of green mille to replace the one I'd lost. It's doing real well too! 8)

Baxreefs · Mar 21, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Still running the 120 with little change to the system. And, of course, there's more uncertanty about the sale of the building. Seems the buyer having trouble getting a mortguage. So I am a bit stumped as to what to do, I may just set up the frag tank and sit tight. The beast won't go anywhere while I wait and cash is tight right now anyway.

Here's some pics feed the pic hounds ...

Here's an unknown stag looking piece I picked upat OG II about 2 months ago, starting to sprout

Here's an unknown piece I got at Stan's about 5 weeks ago also starting to strout growth buds

I just got this Gomezi from OG II about two weeks ago,awesome blue color. That's a hawkins next to it from the swap doing well too

A bottle brush (looks better in person) and a teal stag I just got from Stan too

And an artsy shot of my RBTA

Baxreefs · Mar 21, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

So I am still haveing trouble with bleaching and STNing corals. I seem to be having the most trouble with pinks and greens. My blue and purple corals are as beautiful if not more so then ever. I did just loose my huge pink & purple mille colony but the operative word is pink. The only param that is out of line is Alk running at 12-14 dkh.

My valida has completly bounced back from a full light cycle under the glare of the MHs during a return pump failure in the midst of all these issues

My nana is going crazy!

I moved my Miami Orchid away from my RBTA and it has just started sprawling!

This tort has never been bluer

My blue milli/prostrata is actually blue sometimes!

But, my poker star, once beautiful, is completely bleached and will not turn around, I do have one frag that looks good still

The birds nests are starting to improve slowly

jimroth · Mar 21, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Nice pictures, Bax. Did you take those with the the underwater camera?
That shot of your RBTA could be in the MOMA, it's a science fiction nightmare/hallucination!
The valida is growing great for me but the nana is barely hanging on. I don't get it. Any time you want a frag back of your pokerstar, just ask, it's doing great.
That Gomezi is cool but, it looks like a couple of years till you see what shape it's gonna be. Wowsers, The blue tort is awsome as usual, I'm hoping I can grow mine to that size.
I'm liking OGII these days, I picked up some nice stuff there today.

Baxreefs · Mar 21, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

The coral shots are underwater, the RBTA was thru the glass. It's a pretty freay image isn't it! I have quite a few from that series that are really cool!

OG is back on my list, kudos for thier 180, I had stopped going there fro a while.

I can't frag the nana because it grows too fast! LMK if you need another frag.

The gomezi is a slooooooow grower, but so is that tort, I've had that piece for nearly five years. Well worth the effort.

Kendall · Mar 22, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bax, I'd love a frag of that Nana!!! I have some stuff to trade if your interested.

Hawkeye · Mar 22, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

spoke to stan today - while he likes the rail for his frag tank - he doesn't recommend it for a full blown display. But hopefully he will chime in.

btw those pics are amazing.

Baxreefs · Mar 22, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Kendall said:
Bax, I'd love a frag of that Nana!!! I have some stuff to trade if your interested.

Cool! I'll start a couple of pieces.

Baxreefs · Mar 22, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Hawkeye said:
spoke to stan today - while he likes the rail for his frag tank - he doesn't recommend it for a full blown display. But hopefully he will chime in.

btw those pics are amazing.

Thanks Phil, I need to see one in operation, I really want to keep a lid on heat added to the system and the amount of chilling and ambient AC I have to run.

momof6kids · Mar 23, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Baxreefs said:
Hey Erna!

So pleased you are able to stop by again! And I hope that's a sign all is good with you and Maddie!

Well this monster build would move along faster if cash flow wasn't so terribly abysmal. But what can you do? Things are slowly moving along though and sooner or later we'll have a big tank to ogle.

Say, how's my bad boy of rabbit fish doing? My zoas are still trying to recover from his last foray into the zoa patch! ;D

Hey Bax, I put an update in the open water forum on Maddie. Now that Linda's mom is allowed back in (with the MRSA she was not), it should be a little easier for me. I was spending 4 days and 1 night a week at the hospital, since Linda and Andy had to go back to work.

That rabbitfish is one friendly fish. He has made friends with the 3 wrasses that I have in the tank and they all fight to see who can make it to the glass first to say hello to me.

I hear you on the cash flow.

My tanks have gone to pot while I have been busy elsewhere. Hopefully this week I will have some spare time to get back to them.

Erna

Baxreefs · Mar 23, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Erna

I hope so too! Please, if you have the time, post a pick of the rabbit here. It doesn't surprise me at all that he's hooked up with some gang'o rebel rousers in your tank, ... that's his MO, look good and act friendly!

Baxreefs · Apr 4, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Things are moving slowly with the 375 swap. I am determined to complete all stands, both display and sump/frag/fuge stands before doing anything else of any real measure. My lease renewal is, again, up in the air as well, so I am looking for a new space, just in case. Given the economy, a smaller less costly space may be a good idea anyway. so I am taking my time and building and modifying the stand the way I want it.

So I had picked up a tenetti tang and it been through QT so I added it to the display. What an awesome fish!

He's much smaller than the other fish including the largest, a fox face, a FAT yellow tang, a boisterous heniocus butterfly, and a absolutely nutty coral beauty. These guys can be known to give new comers the business for a day or two, but not the tenetti! Other fish include, a pair of o. clowns, a trio of BG chromis, a azure damsel and an orchid dottyback.

The tenetti really holds his own. He actually will rip nori right out of the yellow's mouth!

And an FTS ...

8)

Lord Viper · Apr 4, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bax, if you need any help PM me ill be there. nice tenetti, Still love the clam though. Bobb

Baxreefs · Apr 4, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Thanks Bobb.

Like I said, I am taking my time and trying to get all the modifications to the stand and canopy done and done right. Once! My wife's biggest complaint about past tanks is that I haven't always finished the stands and canopies. She's right!

If you look back, the stand interior was raw & bare It has now been sealed with Kilz and a heavy porch paint.

These holes will be covered with a peices of 1/4 ply and siliconed to seal it, then painted to match the floor.

The square hole on the end was a exhausting vent fan. I plan to push air into the canopy here and exhaust on the other end.

This is the back. Eventually this will be closed in to allow the venting to function effectively. Humidity is an issue in my office with my current tank so I want all evap headed out the vent. The top of the canopy will be either mirrored or reflective Millar, haven't chosen yet.

These PFO SE 400 watt pendants & ballasts came with the system, but I'll not be using them. I have Lumenarc IIIs and minis to use as reflectors and I am looking at either Coral View, Galaxy or Ice Cap ballasts, maybe a light rail using only two reflectors. I don't know yet, still pondering the possibilities. But heat from my 400s has been an issue in my current system.

This is the frag tank & sump in the stand. I still have to skin it for strength.

This is the current outlet on the frag tank. It holds the tank too far off the wall so it's gatto go!

In this tiny overflow are two 1" drains I'll use instead. I may expand the overflow, IDK yet.

This is the left end of the sump which will feed the return pump and manifold that will feed the DT,Frag, Fuge(es), and UV/GFO/GAC circut.

The right end will serve as the drain. There will be filter socks, a feed pump for the MRC MR4 skimmer. I am considering running that only when the MHs are off to minimize heat. If I do, the center section of the sump would hold an ASM G4X with dual mesh modded Sicci pumps to run 24/7

Baxreefs · Apr 5, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

BTW, I can't say enough about how easy building stands is when you use a pocket hole jig. I bought a double hole jig, single hole jig, and the fancy clamp all for less than $100 at Lowes. DON'T BUILD YOUR STAND WITHOUT ONE! I'll be using it on some cabinetry at home too.

This is the jig clamped to a piece of wood. An adjustable bit sets the hole depth using a basic hand drill.

I cranked out the pocket holes in over 21 work pieces, both ends, in just about 45 minutes. And I am no woodworker!

Once they are drilled, you just screw the stand together with specifically sized screws. I assembled it in about another 30-40 minutes. The joint created is very strong. I jumped on top of this and it is very sturdy. Although it is probably fine as is, once skinned this will be bullet proof! 8)

Lord Viper · Apr 5, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

You know what they say "HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE" It's nice to use the right tools it makes all the difference doesn't it. Looking good so far. Hey when is the garage sale LOL. Im so there. still don't know about those 2x3's with that HUGE tank. That would keep me up nights.

Baxreefs · Apr 5, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

Bobb

This puppy is rock solid. I am confident in the structure of both the stands.

Probably by the end of the month, I'll start parting out some of the excess. I have sooooo much extra equipment ... It's a sickness :

rgarofalo · Apr 5, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

with you pocket holes you should also use wood glue on the joints and make sure the top rails are resting on the uprights.

(I wasn't sure of your experience with woodworking and don't want you to have problems with the construction) ;D

Baxreefs · Apr 6, 2009

Re: Here's my now 375 (was 120) by Bax

rgarofalo

Thanks for reminding me! I'll do that. I didn't sink the screws as I was considering pulling it apart to paint it before using it. I actually have the wood glue here, but I guess I was so excited as to how quickly and easily it was going together that I just forgot to smutz it in the joints for assembling the pieces.

.... No one ever said I was smart :