.Marshall's Saltwater Experience (75g Display + 37g Frag) (1 Viewer)

[.Marshall]

Imlove the water change station! Do you think the barels would be good In a garage? Or will it freez in the winter?

Depends, is your garage heated? I really don't think it would be a good idea. Especially in Minnesota, you'd be wasting a lot of electricity trying to heat that water throughout most of the year.

 

[ConnorG]

That is a very good point thank you. And no heated garage

 

[Bowser]

Just thought I'd say congrats on getting the most popular picture on BRS
Any updates on this tank? ^^

 

[.Marshall]

Just thought I'd say congrats on getting the most popular picture on BRS
Any updates on this tank? ^^

Ha Thank you.. I have diligent family

I took some pictures last night, just have to adjust the white balance and resize them and I will have an update ready! Looking at Friday!

 

[Taklu]

Imlove the water change station! Do you think the barels would be good In a garage? Or will it freez in the winter?

You could buy some insulation and build a tight box around it, maybe 3" thick layered... should keep the water from freezing on the colder winter days. heat it only when making fresh SW and change water quickly. I'd consider if space was a constraint inside the home.

This thread always wants me to start another build just to feel not left behind lol Marshall! good going

 

[vandy10]

As a newbie I love checking out these build threads, but I get overwhelmed at the amount of plumbing and carpentry that go into it

 

[.Marshall]

This thread always wants me to start another build just to feel not left behind lol Marshall! good going

Haha i'm truly sorry Taklu!! Lol! Thank you though

As a newbie I love checking out these build threads, but I get overwhelmed at the amount of plumbing and carpentry that go into it

I love build threads as well, that is why I try to update mine as much as possible! Not to much going on right now, just maintaining the tank so I am sorry if update have been a little spread out lately.

As for all the work that goes into the build, that is how you learn! Believe me I made many mistakes when I first started this build, I learned from them and now I am very happy where I am right now! If you look at the first couple pictures of the whole setup to now, you can tell that EVERYTHING but the 75g tank, and the stand has changed! All the plumbing, sump, light fixtures, skimmer, return pump, powerheads, dosing, etc. Everything! Start a tank up and give it the attention it deserves and you will love what you will have created!

 

[.Marshall]

Actinic Photo Update

Actinic Much?
Tank update!

Broke out the T3i last night to give an update on the tank, not to much going on, just corals growing out! I finished the water rack, it is now all plumbed together. As you will see I am able to drain RO/DI water straight from the top tank via the spigot and hose on the right side. As well as directly draining water into the lower tank to mix saltwater. It works very well and makes water changes a breeze!!

I also have a good place to store salt buckets (on the bottom shelf) I recently switched to Tropic Marin Bio-Actif salt because it has a lower alkalinity and many beneficial properties to my livestock.

I also picked up a Tail Spot Blenny from SWE about a week ago, I have been looking for this fish for quite sometime and I am extremely happy to have found one! Great personality!!


On with the show!
The pictures are all taken with 2x Blue+ bulbs on, so everything is pretty blue, I wanted to test it out and see how I like it but I think I will stick to taking pictures with all the bulbs on.

Enjoy!

Water Rack Plumbed

Tierra De Fuego encrusting nicely.

PC Rainbow Acro growing like crazy.

Reeftech Starburst Cap

Strawberry Shortcake

Tail Spot Blenny in his favorite spot, right over the top of the Sunset Monti!

CC Sunset Millie

Red Dragon growing like a weed.

Shot of the Left Side.

Right side.

 

[lr9788]

Tank looks great as always!

 

[Bodegus]

Have you got the macro to grow in your sump? I am planning some very similar but see lots of people try and not really get much nutrient export with something that small... I would much rather go with a macro like this, but I feel like an algea scrubber gives you 20x the return for precious sump real estate.

 

[.Marshall]

Tank looks great as always!

Thanks man!

Have you got the macro to grow in your sump? I am planning some very similar but see lots of people try and not really get much nutrient export with something that small... I would much rather go with a macro like this, but I feel like an algea scrubber gives you 20x the return for precious sump real estate.

My Chaeto is growing like crazy. I also have medium sized rocks below the Chaeto for live rock filtration, so not all space is lost to Macro algae growth, only the top 1/3 of that channel

 

[vandy10]

I love following this thread. Your tank is amazing. It makes me wish I was able to build one

 

[.Marshall]

FTS Update

New Full Tank Shot
Bonsai!


Figured if I took the camera out for the new AR, I might as well keep it out and take a couple shots of the tank!

Not to much to see here just a new FTS and some growth My favorite coral in the tank has got to be the GARF Bonsai, so enjoyable to see it grow!

Frag Tank is still under construction and should be on its way VERY soon! The custom sump is being fabricated as we speak, and the stand is getting some final touches before adding the doors before it moves into its resting place!

18 March 2013 FTS

GARF Bonsai

Red Dragon getting good growth now.

 

[InfiniteReef]

Dang You tank looks bomb!

 

[eschulist]

That Garf Bonsai is looking really sweet. What is the Orangest piece in your tank - the sunset monti or the jack-o-lantern lepto?

 

[.Marshall]

Dang You tank looks bomb!

Thanks dude!

That Garf Bonsai is looking really sweet. What is the Orangest piece in your tank - the sunset monti or the jack-o-lantern lepto?

What side of the tank? I'm guessing your looking at the sunset monti, the Jack O' Lantern Lepto lost some color because I had it shaded because it is technically an LPS, but I have since moved it up and into direct light and it is really gaining the color back now. My advice with this color is treat it as a low-light SPS.

 

[.Marshall]

It's Sunday evening and I am too hungover for a water change..

Fish Nook 2.0
..going to have to change my thread name

To start it off I believe I will have to change my thread name soon, because hopefully within the next two weeks I will officially setup my second tank!

Most of this weekend was spent far away from the tank, me and some buddies went down to the WCHA FINAL Final Five on Friday to cheer on our St. Cloud State Huskies. They lost to Wisconsin 4-1 on Friday which was a bummer but just being down there for the last Final Five series was a treat in itself. It was my first Final Five and I am very sad to see all the teams go separate ways next year! The hockey atmosphere down around the Xcel energy center during the Final Five cannot be described, it truly is an experience seeing all the fans from all the schools flooding downtown St. Paul. Lots of hockey, lots of fun, and lots of beer!!

On to the saltwater business..

I finished the stand for the frag tank last week and moved it into its resting place on Friday. It turned out perfectly, and completes my "Fish Nook". Still waiting on the tank from Reef Savvy, but at this point I can't complain. Though it is about 2 months overdue on its completion and delivery Felix at Reef Savvy hooked me up! He upgraded the tank from front starphire to 3 sides starphire, free hybrid overflow upgrade with custom cover, and free black vinyl on back and bottom.

Flounder is also helping me out big time by building a custom acrylic sump for me, can't wait to pick both pieces up soon! Big Thanks to Carl for coming through in the clutch.

That's it for me, my brain can't handle any more sentences.. I need rest and water to nurse this hangover.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[.Marshall]

If anyone is interested as to why I always have a little green stick in the middle of my tank its because my Green Slimmer never wants to grow vertically. But, after many months of encrusting it has FINALLY shown vertical growth..!!

oh.em.gee.

 

[.Marshall]

Photo Update

Photo Update!
Corals doing the talking..

Pokerstar Monti

CC Sunset Milli

Colonies

New FTS (as of; 02 April 2013)

 

[.Marshall]

These pictures look so much better against a dark background in my editor, I need to learn to lighten them up a bit so they look better against the white background here on TCMAS!