aquariansaltwater

Sold the 46 bowfront thanks for looking. SOLD I also have two sumps for sale. one is a 24Lx24Wx15H (37.5 gallons) $150 obo.Has a filter sock holder in it and either a 1.5 or 2 inch bulkhead as well. SOLD I also have a 30Lx15Wx13H sump with two chambers for sale. Asking $125 obo. I don't have pics of the sumps. Both are acrylic. Tank is glass. Matt

I've got a 35 gallon tote full of stagnant saltwater and toxic sand to challange anyones dead snail smell...I think there may be a few putrid turbos in there too. It came from a 240 with about a six inch deep sand bed in it. My friend asked for some sand...I told him it was up to him to wash and retrieve it. He almost passed out in the bin in the garage...did I mention he was doing it in 95 degree weather in a garage that was well above 100 degrees? Yeah...his girlfriend wasn't too impressed with the sand action...he bought two new bags after that experience. =0) Matt

Well...had the next in a great line of scares this morning. I woke up to work on the tank and crawled down below to install the new closed loop pump...drip... DRIP...DRIP...DRIP!!! On the top of m y head!!! What the... The cross brace under the tank was full of water and dripping at an alarming rate. That's not good. Further investigation showed a weepy bulkhead directly over the cross brace on the top of the tank...dripping down below the plastic trim and directly on my head under the tank...A little twist with the pipe wrench and viola...no more leak. I added 50 pounds of rock and a couple corals along with 150 hermits this afternoon. I aquired a large Montipora colony that wasn't doing so well. It went in the tank under the lights. It seems to be slowly getting better. I also got a green slimer from the same guy...also in poor shape. It looks great already. 4 or 5 more days and it should look great. I managed to put enough viable sand from my other tanks and some kick starter stuff to avoid a cycle. I went straight to algae!!! lol. I just wish I had my main return pump so I could put my water through the sand filter and UV sterilizer. Give it a week or so...I'll be there. I have 140 pounds of live rock with corals on it living in two totes in my garage that are going in the tank in a few days...as soon as I get the pump kinks all worked out. I'll get a couple shots of the rock in the tank tomorrow or the next day. I also threw about 20 lbs in the sump. I have three slow flow chambers in the sump that have deep sand beds in them as well. I know I know...I'm a cheater. =0) Thanks for all the support and kind words. Matt

Well...I think someone is telling me not to put this tank up. I've gone through 3 pumps now. The main pump I originally aquired was a used Reeflo Snapper. It bit the dust. I had a PCX-30 for my closed loop. When I fired it up the water was spraying out the inlet and sucking into the Loc Line Returns?!? Turns out it was running in reverse. We tried to rewire it to no avail. I gave up today and purchased a PCX-40 that seems to be running a lot better. It also turns the correct direction. =0) When I was filling the tank I also went through a BRAND NEW PCX-70. When we opened up the impeller on it, there were blue plastic shavings all over in the housing...there's no blue plastic in the impeller housing for it to chew up??? the water I was pumping was RO out of a 5 gallon bucket that I made sure was clean before I started. So that pump got returned to the manufacturer as defective. I'm awaiting a replacement. Now I have a used Dolphin Brand 2100 Max pump. It runs really quietly and pumps close to what the Snapper did using about 1/3 the power. I can buy a replacement impeller for it for $40 to pump anywhere from the current 2100 GPH to 7200 GPH...includeing several steps in between. I'm starting out where it is at and if I need to do so will step it up a notch. Since I have no return pump and only my closed loop. I am running a Gen X 6000 submersible pump as a return right now. I have a small (underated might I add) hang on back skimmer in the sump for now since my ETSS will run off the return pump. I have several power heads dagling over the back of the tank for flow. It looks like a rat's nest right now. Hopefully tomorrow my Dolphin will be in place and I will have a fully functional tank up and running at last. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! In other news...I scored a really cool coral yesterday!!! I snagged a $30 Oregon Tort Colony!!! I'm totally excited. I have it housed temporarily in a trusted friends tank untill this one is up and stable for a while. =0) Thanks for all the positive feedback. Matt

So I filled the tank tonight...then I drained it. I found a couple weepers...not a surprise considering my vast lack of plumbing experience and the complicated manifold we built for the thing. Funny thing is...the leaks are in the bulkheads...not the plumbing. =0) All except for the one fitting I missed gluing. =0Þ Tomorrow I will pull it away from the wall and run over it again one last time...seal it all up and then fill it for the last time. I'll post pics asap. I love setting tanks up...Especially now that my tool collection supports it. I have hole saws for glass and acrylic. and good pipe cutters. It makes life a lot easier. I have 5 tanks I am currently working on. all the way from a 35 gallon oceanic cube up to the 155 bowfront...oooh...wait. I take that back...I have 6. =0) I'll put small build threads up for each one at some point. Matt

So...I thought I would share the "Blooper Reel" as it were. When we first plumbed the tank we installed the ETSS skimmer backward. Then I knocked the Skimmer over and snapped the vertical tube off...TWICE. The second time we glued bracing in. When we first installed the overflow tubing Brandon fron West Side Aquariums informed me of my overlooking the fact that two of the return lines were 2/3 of the way down the tank...effectively draining 100 gallons or so into my 40 gallon sump. Then night before last when I was supposed to be posting pictures...I was up all night mopping and shop vac'ing water from my exploding RO unit. =0) So it's not all fun and games...but the build is done now...on to the fun part. Matt

last pic posting...for now... this is the last set for now. I will put some up in a few days after it is full and ahs rock and inhabitants. The first one is where the tank actually sits now. The second is with two of the three lights on...The shop only had two of the three Elos bulbs I needed. I have to go back Tuesday to get another. The last pic is of the tank the day I got it...all empty and soul less. It's alive and kicking now though. Stay tuned for more. I will post pics as I stock it as well. Thanks for checking it out. Matt

more pictures still... a few more pictures...check out the plumbing on the backside...my girlfriend says it looks like the old "pipes" window's screen saver...I think she's right...all except the color. =0) More pics in next post still...

more pics... more equipment...

I have a Fluval Edge I am putting together for a pico tank. I want to do a 3 gallon bowfront too...but I want one of the glass ones. I can't find one. I'm going to build a micro skimmer and a micro sump for it with a half gallon capacity or so. I'm using LED lighting for it that plugs directly into the stock fixture (halogen) and puts out more light with less heat. I'm going to try to get an oregon or cali tort and a clam for it. I'm going to line the sump with pulsing zenia like the germans...we'll see how it goes. Right now I have a 15 gallon nano with a crap load of corals in it. I have three blue hippos in it. When you come over you'll have to check it out. Matt

I apologize for the slow picture posting. I had a disaster last night trying to fill the tank. My brand new 5 stage RO unit came to me with a broken apart. We epoxied it with industrial epoxy. It held for the first hour...then...not so much. However after the first hour of checking on it every 5 minutes I decided it was good to go. Then a couple hours later I went back to the tank and noticed the ro water drip was super slow...then discovered about 40 gallons of water on my laundry room/kitchen and hallway floors...not so bac in the kitchen and laundry where there is linoleum...however in the hallway it is carpeted. I finally got to sleep this morning at about 6:30. Then I spent all day helping a friend get his tank ready to go. I promise I will get the pictures up tomorrow. Please check back. Thank you for your patience. Matt

Guess I should have perused the entire thread before telling you to add flow@ =0) Looks way cool man. I'll show you the one I am setting up when you come with the Mata. It's pretty cool. You may get a kick out of it. Matt

I don't think you need the heater, but you do need some flow...you can get a nano koralia and aim it at the surface to agitate the water...this will oxygenate the water and keep the rock and sand healthy. Then you can add a fish...you could do something cool like a catalina goby...they are cold water and small...I think they top out at .75-1". They are on the opposite end of the scale from your Mata Tang. =0) Without the water flow the rock and sand won't get enough oxygen and the bacteria will just die...in a few days it will smell like a really nasty sewer main break in 100 degree weather. The thing about Bettas is that they came out of 'still' water...puddles and estuaries with low oxygen. They are made for that type of life. Nemo isn't. Just my 2 cents worth. Matt

So here is the new tank. It's an Oceanic 155 gallon Bowfront. I have spent several weeks in preparation for the tank to get here. I put a huge stockpile of equipment together. There is a list below of all the equipment. Tank and Equipment: -Oceanic 155 Bowfront, stand and matching canopy (used) -40 gallon acrylic sump (used) -Reeflo Snapper Return pump (used) -PCX-30 closed loop pump (used) -ETSS Reef Devil Skimmer (used) -3 Sun Systems Galaxy switchable Halide Ballasts (new) -1 Lumen Max large reflector (new) -2 Lumen Max Elite small reflectors (new) -3 Elos 250 watt bulbs (new) -2 8" coolmaster cooling fans 110cfm (new) -Current USA Gamma UV sterilizer (new) -Lifeguard Fluidized Sand Filter (new) -Knop Calcium reactor and CO2 tank (used) -Various bulkheads, ball valves, unions etc to make every part of the plumbing removable. Plumbing fittings filled two and a half 5 gallon buckets. Approximately $350 -Apex tank Controller (new) -90 lbs #1 sand (new) -20 lbs Live sand from West Side Aquarium -140 lbs established live rock with corals -100 lbs base rock -Livestock from my other tanks...Purple tang, Yellow Belly Blue Hippo, Regular Blue Hippo, mated pair black ocelaris clownfish, royal gramma, pajama cardinal, Auriga Butterfly, Four Blue Head Yellow Bodied Chromis...and a Mata tang I am getting from Gill this weekend. I will post pictures of the equipment and build over the next couple days. Check back...I will get them downloaded and resized this evening. I will start posting them tonight if I get done early enough. Matt

I think that the R2R rules hit on a good idea, but there are still shortfalls in the rule lineup. The feedback forum could be setup so unrelated banter is removed like prohibited posts on Craigslist...enough people poke the flag button and your comment gets removed or put up for review by a Mod. Removing the negative feedback like eBay or completely makes the feedback useless. Negative feedback shouldn't be a beating post for airing your dirty laundry, but should be posed in a constructive way to inform the sponsor/member of the err in his/her ways. So they have a chance to contest/defend the mistake/behavior. Personal issues with the vendor or member you have should not be part of the feedback...'I don't like Bob, he's stupid'...or 'Paul's shop sucks,' are both useless things to say. We need to post up pertinent information. 'The issue I have with Bob is he sold me a leaky tank and wouldn't refund the money.' "Paul's shop is understaffed. When I go in there are never enough people to help me and I get tired of waiting and leave.' Those two statements can be used constructively by the owner/member If you want a rant and rave section for the public...I don't like so and so's...put one in. Make it the topic. Leave it out of the feedback area. Just my humble opinion.

PM'd you and emailed you through craigslist...Interested in the whole setup...please get back to me. Matt

I have several tanks...I have a 110 Envision with matching stand and canopy that needs a little TLC. Some buffing and a paint job. Has a black back on it. 110 gallons center overflow and all the loc line. Has a light mounted under the stand as well. I also have a custom 110 glass tank that is 8 foot long with matching oak stand and canopy. I'm in the process of refinishing this tank. I also have a 150 acrylic brand new still in box/plastic/paper. It is 48longx24deepx30tall. 1/2" thick all around. Dark Blue Back. Overflows built in. Overflow plumbing included. I sent you a PM with my #...give me a call. Matt

Can you put up a pic under normal light...I don't use pure actinic on my tank...ever.

Looking for a 72 or 90 gallon Oceanic Bow Front aquarium...I need tank only. I have everything else for it. Let me know if you have anything that will work for me. Matt

Looking for tank only. I don't need a stand lights or anything else. I need black trim. Prefer oceanic, but all glass will work as well. Matt

I'd like 150 gallons of RO/DI, skimmed water with calcium enrichment, magnesium...the works man...you gonna cut me a deal? $725 final offer!!!

Where is Garrett's shop? LMK please!!! Matt

My Girlfriend was the reason we started reefing...We have a little apartment and 5 tanks up and running in it. I'm getting ready to break my 46 bowfront down so I can make room for the new 155 bowfront. I'm in the process of getting all the equipment for the 155 together. So far I have the tank, stand, canopy, sump, a sand filter, a 5 stage RO, a Calcium Reactor and related equipment, and heaters. I also have the live rock in tups under halides in the garage. The only thing I want for it are 3 magnetic ballasts for the lighting...I'm doing a pair of 250w in each end and a 400w in the center. Finally I need a large pump...1900-2400 GPH...I'm leaning toward Reeflo. Good luck guys...I'll keep watching your build...Maybe my girlfriend and I whould get matching 155 bowfronts and do the same?!? HMMM...

How much do you have for sale? How much for all of it? PM SENT> Matt

Crap...guess I was too slow. Matt