Had I known a mere 180mile round trip would have had gotten me the pleasure of visiting one of the best tanks ever seen, I would have made the trip... even with my van, much earlier.
It's not the plate sized named zoanthids, its not all the fancy equipment, nor the list of things that came from SWE (OK that helps
). Its not the starphire tank or the ATI lights or Deltec skimmer. What it was.... is... I just don't know how to put it in words.
You probably guessed it. I finally got the moto trips started with Jim ... and from what it sounds like we might as well call it Jim and Quinton's tank.
The whole presentation of the 120 is amazing. All the equipment is hidden in a closet or under the tank. Its a look I think is important. There is just the right amount of corals and enough room around them to fill out. The tank is in what I would call the beginning phases of being mature. There are two medium sized tangs, fat and healthy. Lots of LPS. Duncans, Acans, Frogspawn and Octo, candy cane... polyp heaven. Some frags, but many colonies. It doesn't look like a chop shop at all. Really the large toadstool from Peggy crowns the tank though. Ya, its not Tyree; no it doesn't look like a rainbow of fruit flavor.. It does have a little movement in its corner... but most of all it looks old and screams of healthy life. Most of us have seen this specimen before. it makes the 120 look like a 75. If I thought I could guilt Jim into a 300 for it I would... I can't, can I?
Jim's attention to detail and humble crediting of his sources are more apparent in his aquarium then he things (its obvious because he will tell you over and over when you visit, as if these things were lost on you the first time over). The rock work is minimal and amazing.
I have seen lots of SPS BB tanks with properly organized corals. I have seen plenty of DSBs filled to the brim with a million interesting hitchikers. Jim's tank is impossibly some where in between. There are none of the tell tale unsightly sand trapped gunk pockets, yet the tank is far from sterile. The aquarium is full of showpieces yet somehow doesn't feel packed or colectorish (know what I mean?). Most mature tanks look natural to the point of being uninteresting, or unnatural to the point of gaudy and contrived. The New Ulm 120 takes you in and you never question the placement of anything, as if everything fits as if the whole thing were sliced out of the reef and buggied in by Amish with hemp underwear (just to attest how natural they are).
I think a huge part of Jim's success is hand feeding (tweezers feeding rather). I'm a broadcast feeder in my LPS tanks. I'm a starver in my SPS tanks (thats why my sps are pastel compaired to Li's). Jim feeds each polyp directly. How much time does that take, Jim?
I hope I get free enough to dedicate myself to a single tank as much as Jim has on his. I take off my hat (helmet) to the wonder in new Ulm. It is well worth your time to make a trip to see this inspirational reef-aquarium!
Thank you so much for having us over!
...................................................................................................
My Suggestions:
one: Pull the xenia. In a tank like the 180 at work it could be trimmed, but with all the overhangs and tight structures the xenia could get out of hand and become a nightmare.
Two: The LEDs are cute, but the velcro looks goofie, perhaps some black acrylic taped to the eurobracing or screens once you get them? (minor detail).
Three: Get a movement fish... Sunset fairy wrasse perhaps? Didn't you get some sharknose gobies? I didn't notice them.
It's not the plate sized named zoanthids, its not all the fancy equipment, nor the list of things that came from SWE (OK that helps
). Its not the starphire tank or the ATI lights or Deltec skimmer. What it was.... is... I just don't know how to put it in words.You probably guessed it. I finally got the moto trips started with Jim ... and from what it sounds like we might as well call it Jim and Quinton's tank.
The whole presentation of the 120 is amazing. All the equipment is hidden in a closet or under the tank. Its a look I think is important. There is just the right amount of corals and enough room around them to fill out. The tank is in what I would call the beginning phases of being mature. There are two medium sized tangs, fat and healthy. Lots of LPS. Duncans, Acans, Frogspawn and Octo, candy cane... polyp heaven. Some frags, but many colonies. It doesn't look like a chop shop at all. Really the large toadstool from Peggy crowns the tank though. Ya, its not Tyree; no it doesn't look like a rainbow of fruit flavor.. It does have a little movement in its corner... but most of all it looks old and screams of healthy life. Most of us have seen this specimen before. it makes the 120 look like a 75. If I thought I could guilt Jim into a 300 for it I would... I can't, can I?
Jim's attention to detail and humble crediting of his sources are more apparent in his aquarium then he things (its obvious because he will tell you over and over when you visit, as if these things were lost on you the first time over). The rock work is minimal and amazing.
I have seen lots of SPS BB tanks with properly organized corals. I have seen plenty of DSBs filled to the brim with a million interesting hitchikers. Jim's tank is impossibly some where in between. There are none of the tell tale unsightly sand trapped gunk pockets, yet the tank is far from sterile. The aquarium is full of showpieces yet somehow doesn't feel packed or colectorish (know what I mean?). Most mature tanks look natural to the point of being uninteresting, or unnatural to the point of gaudy and contrived. The New Ulm 120 takes you in and you never question the placement of anything, as if everything fits as if the whole thing were sliced out of the reef and buggied in by Amish with hemp underwear (just to attest how natural they are).
I think a huge part of Jim's success is hand feeding (tweezers feeding rather). I'm a broadcast feeder in my LPS tanks. I'm a starver in my SPS tanks (thats why my sps are pastel compaired to Li's). Jim feeds each polyp directly. How much time does that take, Jim?
I hope I get free enough to dedicate myself to a single tank as much as Jim has on his. I take off my hat (helmet) to the wonder in new Ulm. It is well worth your time to make a trip to see this inspirational reef-aquarium!
Thank you so much for having us over!
...................................................................................................
My Suggestions:
one: Pull the xenia. In a tank like the 180 at work it could be trimmed, but with all the overhangs and tight structures the xenia could get out of hand and become a nightmare.
Two: The LEDs are cute, but the velcro looks goofie, perhaps some black acrylic taped to the eurobracing or screens once you get them? (minor detail).
Three: Get a movement fish... Sunset fairy wrasse perhaps? Didn't you get some sharknose gobies? I didn't notice them.
Last edited:
