Fyrefysh's aquarium

[fyrefysh]

Hey all,

Here is my continually updated aquarium specs. page. There are ALOT of pictures, so persons with low bandwidth, I apologize in advance.

Okay, I have been attempting to keep a reef aquarium since about the winter of 2000 and after a couple of failures (moves, power outages), I think my new setup might just work out.

So, here's what I've got:

Hardware:
- 50 gallon AGA [edited 3/16/06] Was 40 gallon acrylic
- 36" Coralife Aqualight Pro with HQI 150W 14,000K (Phoenix) MH, 1 10,000K/7,100K 96W PC, 1 10,000K/6,800K 96W PC, 2 blue moonlights [modded 03/06]
- CPR BAKPAK 2R skimmer
- CPR 18" Aquafuge with 4"~5" DSB
- Aquarium Systems "Natural Wave" wavemaker
- APC UPS backup battery
- Plenty of Maxijet 400 and 900 pumps
- Visitherm heater
- Korallin BIO-Denitrator [Added 4/23/06]
- Homemade stand (actually came out looking quite nice )

Residents:

FISH:
- 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (added 02/06)
- 1 Nemateleotris magnifica (added 03/06)
- 1 Salarias fasciatus (added 03/06)
- 2 Gobiodon atrangulatus (added 04/06)
- 1 Gramma loreto (added 04/06)
- 1 Synchiropus splendidus (added 04/06)

INVERTS:
- 1 green clinging crab (added 01/06) [currenty MIA]
- 1 mated pair of Lysamata wundermani (added 01/06)
- ~18 misc species of hermit crabs
- 8 Misc. snails
- ~24 micro brittle starfish (added 03/06)
- ~10 Asterina sp. starfish (added 03/06)
- 1 Limulus polyphemus (added 04/06)

CORALS:
- 4 frags of Sarcophyton sp. (added 03/06)
- ~6 different colors of Actinodiscus sp. (added 02/06)
- 1 Zoanthid polyp that showed up on live rock
- 1 colony of GSP (added 03/06)
- 2 colonies Xenia sp. (added 03/06)
- 1 Euphyllia glabrescens (added 04/06)
- 1 Montipora capricornis (added 04/06)


40LBs granulated aragonite sand
~60LBs (so far) of Fiji live rock

Hope you enjoy!

- Fyrefysh

 

[Meloco14]

Welcome to the forums! Your setup up there sounds pretty nice. What do you plan on stocking it with?

 

[fyrefysh]

Well, let's see . . . It's going to be a really slow process. I would like to get a mated pair of Ocellaris Clowns, a Flame Angel and, of course, a couple of Firefish. As for inverts, I'd like to try some soft corals to start with. Maybe some Pulsing Xenia and some Green Star Polyps. I guess we'll see, being in Montana my choices are limited unless I try some mail-ordering which is usually pretty pricy after shipping. I sure do love these forums, there is SO MUCH content. Hey, do any of you use canister filters on your reef setups? If so, what kind is recommended?

 

[fyrefysh]

Here's a picture, hope it displays properly!

 

[FLIPbmw]

Yo, really nice. I want to know more about the fixture and the setup! hope to hear fro myou soon!!!!!

 

[fyrefysh]

Updated, I got sick of my acrylic tank and went to a 50 gallon AGA. Oh, and also a friend has given me some leather corals, below is a picture of one of the happy fellows.

 

[FLIPbmw]

Really nice! How do you feel about the coralife hqi? Does it light up the tank well? Any annoying dark spots?

I'm going to put a 24" suspended coralife over a 40BR (36"x18"x16"h), I wont have anyproblems with centerbrace (theres none).
I'm going for the 24" because its a lot cheaper for:
1) same output from MH (150w)
2) Same output from actinic (65wx2 21" long)
3) 2 moonlight same location on 24" as 36"

The only diff is the length, the actinics would strech over the length of the tank while the 24" fixture, the actinics would leave a 7" dark area on each end (I think that the light dispersion would make it at least a 3" dark spot on each end, no biggie).

Im going full suspended b/c it looks sleeker!
Can you give a mini review of the light? Mostly interested in the details about fan noise, ballast noise and any problems u encounter!

Very nice setup, I love the fixture and your comments are helping a lot!!!!!

 

[fyrefysh]

The only diff is the length, the actinics would strech over the length of the tank while the 24" fixture, the actinics would leave a 7" dark area on each end (I think that the light dispersion would make it at least a 3" dark spot on each end, no biggie).

Actually I think that you will be quite disappointed if you leave that much space on the edges that is unlit. That is the exact reason that I modded for two 96w bulbs. I think that I would spend the extra ~ $100 and get the 36" model.

I think that it's great that you are going to try the suspension method, I would try it, but I like having the lighting close to the water surface.

And yes, the metal halide is great! I have not had one issue with it, other than the fan being (just a little) noisy - that will be my next mod. I would really like to try a 20,000k bulb though, I think that the blue glow would make the corals stand out a little more like that of a real reef. HTH

 

[fyrefysh]

Here's some new images of my fish, including my new Algae Blenny!

 

[fyrefysh]

More pics.

 

[fyrefysh]

One more, you can see the Blenny more clearly now. This guy is ANIMATED and quite entertaining to watch. :lol:

 

[fyrefysh]

More Pics

 

[fyrefysh]

More Pics

 

[fyrefysh]

My best pic yet! Please wait while it loads, it's quite large . . .

 

[fyrefysh]

More pics

 

[fyrefysh]

One more, my first hard coral!!

 

[bleedingthought]

How has your madarin been doing? And the rest of the tank itself?

Let's see some more pictures!

 

[fyrefysh]

Well, I've been MIA from this sight for awhile, much has happened since the last post that I made. My wife and I moved from Montana to Denver, CO in the last year and currently I have no aquarium! After buying a house, I've been spending much of my time (and money) on buying guns instead of aquarium stuff, I feel it's necessary until the next election. I may end up setting up a smaller aquarium (20 gallons or so) just to keep a couple of small fish and 'shrooms or something. I'll keep ya posted.

Don't worry, NONE of the stuff that was in my aquarium was thrown away or killed, EVERYTHING went to a happy home in a much larger aquarium. (I REALLY miss my aquarium)

 

[fyrefysh]

Well, looks like I'll be setting up another 50 . . . still have my bio-denitrator and just bought a tank, hood and another bak pak 2r. I went with a generic (hommby - ebay purchase) hood with a 250w HQI halide, 2 96w PC bulbs , so I'll have MORE light this time, I couldn't handle spending $500+ on the name-brand hood with comparable lighting. I'll take some pictures soon.

 

[fyrefysh]

New aquarium specs are as follows:

50G Glass cages 36"x18"x17"
1 250W Metal Halide HQI w/ 14,000K bulb
2 Actinic 03 96W PC bulbs
Moon Lights x4
100GPD RO/DI
2x Koralia 3 pumps
CPR Bak Pak 2R+ Skimmer
CPR 24" Aquafuge 2 with 18W 6500K PC
Korallin S1504 Bio Denitrator
250W Stealth Heater
Same homemade stand

Quarantine:
10G from Walmart
Homemade hood with 2 40W PC bulbs
Cheap Rio skimmer (mainly for circulation & aeration)
50W Stealth heater

Both tanks should be up and running by next weekend.