Jimroth's Big Ol' Tank

[jimroth]

Jim

I am talking to Glass Cages and they seem a Little vague on the overflow. Was the horizontal overflow a standard option, or did you spec that for them?

After running your tank a little while now, would you have changed the hole configuration at all?

Also, I see your tank is euro braced, but no center brace, did they mention any limitations on height or width with the euro bracing? I have a feeling they let you go witout a center brace as your 25" in height

I am hoping to go 48 x 32 x 30 with euro bracing and horizontal overflow and would like to avoid a center brace if it'll work, but I'd take 28" tall if I had too to forego the CB, if I am stuck with the CB, I am going the full 30".

Bax:
I drew Glasscages a simple 2-D sketch on the computer of what I wanted, and they inflicted reality on it! They called it a "Califlow" overflow, say that and they will know what you mean. They will do whatever you want, as long as they don't have a rule against it. Mr. Glasscages made a point of telling me that my design wouldn't work, because there wasn't enough drop! I specified eurobraced, tehy understood, and they complied. No bracing is needed in the back because of the overflow. There is additional bracing on the floor of the tank. I really wanted to find out if they could do rimless for me, I heard about that late in the process, but once I had a quote they acted like they didn't know wht that was. :
I am very happy with the design of my tank! What I would change if I could:
--I wish I had the holes drilled where the pipes needed to go into the wall! I was in a personal funk, and placing the order was a challenge in my low mental state. If I did it today I would be more meticulous.
--I saved chump change by having ONLY TWO SIDES be low iron glass. He raised the prices from my first quote, and I was peeved. I should have gritted my teeth and ponied up the extra $100. Nobody but me looks through that side, it's next to the bathroom.
--Yes, I wish I had three drains, although the two drains design is working fine.
--Wish I specified a taller stand.
--I asked them to put some holes in the eurobracing for probes, Tunzes, etc, they said they couldn't do it. Other people have gotten those holes, just not from them.

That's it. I am a picky Virgo Monday-morning-quarterbacking kind of guy, so there's always regret, but overall I feel pretty smug about my custom tank!

Bax, any time you want to come by and check out the details, you are welcome. I'll PM you some info.

 

[jimroth]

• Shortened the skimmer outlet today, hoping that cuts down on the micro-bubbles.
• Making a lot of progress on my home made kalk reactor, I'll upload some pix once it's finished. It's beautiful.
• The Vortechs work very strangely. They are wireless, but with no display, who knows if they're talking when one is slaved? I have noticed wild fluctuations in performance when they are supposed to be linked. I still like 'em a lot.
• My Dart pump was leaking from the main seal and now it stopped. Score another one for procrastination.
• Added a medium naso tang and a tiny royal gramma. Both are doing great.
  

 

[Baxreefs]

Thanks Jim I'd definity like to see it.

 

[Hawkeye]

you can't slip in a line like "added naso tang and royal gramma" without associated pictures!

We should revoke your membership! ;D ;D ;D

just joking!

 

[jimroth]

Ha ha, no offense taken.

The gramma is so small, and the tank is so big, that any photo will be blown up so much it looks like a picture of purple-and-yellow bigfoot.

The tang was bought at Honest Al's Discount Fish (We buy second best and pass the savings on to you!) , and he's a little scratched up on one flank. IME this heals completely in a couple weeks, so there will definitely be pictures after that time!

 

[JRWOHLER]

you can't slip in a line like "added naso tang and royal gramma" without associated pictures!

We should revoke your membership! ;D ;D ;D

just joking!

No he is not ... where are the pictures . All kidding aside would love to see a few closer partial tank pictures.

 

[Hawkeye]

The gramma is so small, and the tank is so big, that any photo will be blown up so much it looks like a picture of purple-and-yellow bigfoot.

Then you should have taken pics when they were in QT....

speaking of which - did you QT them or did you just ask the LFS to hold them?

 

[jimroth]

Dumped their butts in the tank.

There were no other fish in there to make sick, both fish were living in the same system, and further holding at the LFS in question would not be a health-enhancing experience!

 

[Hawkeye]

lol...fair enough. I won't lecture you on the benefits of QTing...everyone does things differently. I shall just say that nothing is going into my display without QTing.

 

[jimroth]

Re: Jimroth's Big Ol' Tank PHOTOS

Here's the gramma. Was shy at first, now not so much!

Naso action shot. If she's not a blonde, is she a brunette?

Other side, showing some scratches.

Center tank shot. It's kind of like a castle now:

Pavona maldivensis frag

Leftish side:

Elkhorn acro, showing amazing amounts of growth:

(Brown) Purple Plana

(Brown) Purple nana, my meeting raffle treasure, showing great growth.

(Brown) Green Table, actually looks quite green from above, tips are going purple.

ORA Brownberrry, The tips are very purple, lots of growth since MACNA:

Rightish end of the tank:

Alleged Pink Millie from Dr. Mac, great polyp extension, growth is noticible, it's gonna be huge.

 

[jimroth]

lol...fair enough. I won't lecture you on the benefits of QTing...everyone does things differently. I shall just say that nothing is going into my display without QTing.

My Q-tank is all set up...I just didn't use it.
I HAD A 200G TANK WITHOUT A SINGLE FISH IN IT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHH!

 

[Hawkeye]

Great pics! the fish look really much happier and healthy. If the naso is damaged in some way it's hardly noticeable.

Sorry if i offended on the QT post - not intended at all. I will leave it at that.

 

[jimroth]

Great pics! the fish look really much happier and healthy. If the naso is damaged in some way it's hardly noticeable.

Sorry if i offended on the QT post - not intended at all. I will leave it at that.

Oh stop, no offense taken.

 

[Hawkeye]

8) ;D

btw it doesn't appear like you have any microbubbles - so did the mod work on the skimmer or is it that I can't tell from the pics?

 

[jimroth]

btw it doesn't appear like you have any microbubbles - so did the mod work on the skimmer or is it that I can't tell from the pics?

It really helped. When I got the skimmer the output was a long piece of PVC hose. The way I had it positioned, it was blasting water right against the first baffle in my bubble trap. It was basically forcing the micro bubble-laden water through the trap. Now I have it terminated with a shorter hunk of PVC pipe and a 90 deg. elbow, outputting below the waterline.

When I feed oily stuff, the skimmer stops skimming, and more microbubbles are produced.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Jim, I LOVE your aquascaping and all the pictures. So so nice. I did crack up though when I read your descriptions of some of your corals, lol.

Keep those pictures coming. I'm loving it.

 

[blange3]

Looks good Jim!

Grammas are one of my favorites. I haven't seen mine in months so I guess he is no more. : The purple tang decided he wasn't allowed to eat.

I'm sure all the brown is just to set the mood for fall and spring will bring bright shinning colors all around. ;D

 

[jimroth]

The Elkhorn Acro, Before:

After:

 

[reefsandrotts]

Hey Jim
Nice fish,did they come from our "dirty water friend"?

 

[jimroth]

They were signing "THANK YOU!" through the glass when I put them in the tank.