hey Dez that is great i think im going to try that for my tank with a 30 gal tank once i get out of hell town here in NB after this course that im on...

Well, with the recent addition of the 75 gallons of water, it has really decreased my temp fluctuation. In the morning today temp was 79, now it's 80.4. It was 29 degrees outside today and we do not have AC. Previous to that temp would go to 82 degrees on hot days. I'm quite pleased with this. I have more water volume in the basement now than on my main display. Here is a full tank shot from the living room. I really need tips on how to take pictures. It is really tough cause I can't seem to take head on shots cause the tank is viewable from both sides so there is so much reflection.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/IMG_3189.jpg

And from the den side:

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/IMG_3190.jpg

Not much has changed. Just trying to learn how to take pictures. I don't get how you guys get such clear pictures of your frags and corals. Out of 30 pictures I took today only a few came out clear. Here's one. This frag was from Saltynuts, it was all brown when I got it and now it's got blue/aqua with red.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/IMG_3194.jpg

And this one is a neat picture cause the fish happened to be in the background.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/IMG_3199.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Oh btw, I've got my first speck of coraline algae showing up on the glass now. Brings a smile to my face.

Be careful what you wish for there ,DEZ coraline is going to build and the next thing you are having problems keeping up with the CAL and ALK. JK man love your tank front

we need more pic's of the fish room man

Mike,

My fish room is boring. All the pictures that I've posted already is what it is. My fish room is so small that I don't have a wide enough angled lens to capture what it looks like. You'll just have to visit one day when you're in Edmonton to see it for yourself.

Anyway, here are some updated pictures just for you Mike:

Full tank shot - living room side:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254881847

Purple Acro - it actually looks a lot darker in person - I think you can see it near the bottom right in the fts:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254881999

Small Squamosa clam:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882066

Small Blue Maxima:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882107

Here is the start of my forrest of monit caps:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882136

An unknown acro - sorry, I'm not technical into sps names yet. I should get a book one day. This was quite brown when I got it, it is pinking up at the tips, kind of purply:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882187

Another sps. This was dark brown when I got it, it is lightening up and the tips are going whiter:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882269

This is one of my favourites. I believe it's a montipora danae:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882312

Another full tank shot, from the Den side this time:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882355

Another favourite - got it from another canreef member, some acro?
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882408

This stag has had a lot of growth since its introduction. This one is from Saltynuts. It was completely brown when I got it. All those tips going up is completely new growth:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882459

This green acro of some sort has done well on the bottom, it has shown some growth:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882486

And the start of my monti digi 2 colour forrest - from another canreef member:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882576

Another squamosa on the other side of the tank:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882621

One of the brightest corals in my tank - green hammer:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882685

That's my little update for now. I suck at taking pictures. Any tips from all of you other people whose every shot is superbly in focus? Thanks for looking.

Des

Another favourite - frag from Marine Aquaria - only had 3 branches when I got it. I like the Montipora Danae behind it as well:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1254882727

Last post only let me put 15 images in. This is the last of this update :)

Really starting to take shape Dez. Very nice build. I can't wait to see that Cap forest when grown in.

Thanks for the nice comments Lance. That cap forrest should be interesting. 4 different frags of it. I'm interested to see how the red and green digi's grow together too. All I can do is wait at this point though......ahhh....patience....

It's not very often that you can just tell the person has a plan that includes color, growth etc in the long term. I'm feeling it and can tell alreay this is going to rock when it grows in more. If it were my tank I might snatch one or two rocks out of the middle to expose some sand and make a path between the piles but that's minor and just me.

That purple danae looks awesome!

Ahh, yes Brett. I've only given you the "straight on" view from both sides. There is actually about a 6" path of sand running at an angle down the middle. I planned that even before drilling my holes for the closed loop. I'll take an angle shot sometime, or you can just visit one day and see for yourself :). I did the path at an angle to give a perception of greater depth. If the path was straight, I don't think that the tank would look as deep. It's hard to plan stuff long term cause I don't know enough about the other sps to know what corals sting what. I know that the caps usually grow well together and the digi's grow well together, other than that, I'll have to move corals as I see what kind of growth patterns they have. I would love a table acro at some point to put near the bottom plating out. Get your tank up and we can start trading stuff!

Looking really good there Dez....not sure the purple monti is a Danae....danaes encrust and your monti looks like its growing up, not out.Possibly confusa? I found a tripod did wonders for my shaky picture taking....I also fiddle with my white balance and exposure...

So your saying my monti is confused? ha ha. All those pictures taken were with a tripod. I'll have to ask my wife about the white balance and exposure (it's her camera) when she gets back from Vegas. Thanks Doug.

Did another 75 Gallon water change today, time flies so quickly. I came back from a 4 day weekend during thanksgiving to 2 of my fish having ich.... hopefully it'll bet better. I usually feed with garlic and vitamin soaked foods, but didn't feed for 4 days while I was away.

Anyway, I never did post pictures of my water change contraption. I posted previously of how I do my 15 minute 75 gallon water change and here is where it begins - draining the 75 gallon tank. This is simple, but it works:

The siphon tube:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255579820

And here is where it ends up :)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255579866

Thanks for looking.

LOL.. that's a sweet WC rig... :lol:

Now that's the **** ROLMAO:biggrin:

After seeing the pictures finally I STILL don't understand why you don't hard-plumb that in once and for all? Wife might not even notice the change in attack angle on the throne it's so subtle =)

Ok another question that NEEDS answering. I don't see a pump on that rig. Do you start siphon with your LIPS? Fish crap is one thing but...

:lol:

I'm kind of wondering similar things actually. Like how come a siphon and not just say a bulkhead where you could just open the valve? Or is that too risky with the wee ones maybe. Hmmmm I wonder if I just answered my own question. You have to be careful when you talk to yourself in other people's thread. Hey, how am I doing! I haven't seen me for a while. I'm doing good, good.. I'm just workin. And me? Yep I'm fine, I'm just working too, although I'm taking a small break right now...

Okay okay, I didn't want to drill the 75 gallon tank cause there is no room under the tank due to the frag tank being so close to it (I needed the room for lighting the frag tank. I do start the siphon with my lips, but NOT on the PVC that goes into the toilet. I pull the black hose off, start the siphon, then plug it into the contraption that hooks on the toilet.

BELIEVE ME, I THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE MY LIPS GO TOO...

you guys are funny!

Hope the fish clear up soon! Fish crap is yum... is what they are saying, huh! I wasn't aware of that.

FIY with about 15' of hose, no water touches my mouth :)....

That said, never tried fish crap.... ha ha

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the 75 gallon tank had a sticker that said "Do not drill, Tempered glass." I think that's the main reason I didn't drill. I was tempted to drill the side though, but didn't want to risk it.

Oh... Well the sides would have been OK in most likelihood but you wouldn't be able to drain it down as much. So there ya go anyhow.

Here are some growth shots from about 5 - 6 weeks of growth. Sorry the pictures are bad. My wife was out with the camera, so the after pictures are with a cell phone:

Sorry, I'm not great with latin names or technical names of the sps:

Some sort of stag
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255904651
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255904893

Yellow cup coral:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255904929
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255904967

Pink Birdsnest:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905027
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905063

Purple Acro:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905106
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905134

Blue tipped Milli:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905224
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905261

Monti Confusa? The base has grown lots and it's coloured up nicely:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905287
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905339

Hairy Acro:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905390
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905417

Yellow Acro:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905451
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255905483

alot of nice loooking stuff in there. the coral you say is Montipora Confusa is actually a pokerstar from the looks of it. Nice piece btw

You sure have been busy collecting corals, what a collection :mrgreen:

Not sure what this is, got is as a brown "garbage piece" from someone :)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255906992
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255907212

Looks like you really one with that one, nice! What is the yellow fish at the top of the picture?

Opps, won not one! :redface:

That fish at the top is a twin spot hogfish. I would recommend it for any reef tank. Had one years ago and was one of my favourite fish. Yeah, with that coral, I couldn't believe when it started turning red, and then the tips got blue :).

Keep in mind I know nothing about white balance, aperture etc....so the colours are off and it's tough because the tank is viewable from both sides so it's hard to take pictures.

FTS - from living room:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912034

Right Side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912088

Left Side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912113

FTS from the den:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912183

Right side:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912206

Left Side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912233

Hawkfish
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912262

Yellow Tang
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255912289

love the tank Dez its looking really good man ,keep it up and WELCOME Back to the land of SALT :mrgreen:. how are the wrasses doing are they jumpers \. I want to get a couple of yellows in my tank.

My tank is pretty good for jumpers, there is only one real spot on the wavy sea nozzle side of the tank where they could sneak out....I was thinking about sealing it off, but haven't gotten around to it. I have 4 wrasses and it's quite a peaceful community, so no real stress. I love wrasses. I wouldn't mind finding one a different colour.

I'm excited to be back in the land of salt (but I'm not sure my wife is). I'm constantly getting more frags and trading frags that she want to limit me one dedicated day a week where I can have people over or go to someone's house to trade frags.

I love watching them grow man. Or looking at pictures a month ago and saying "wow, I didn't even think that grew, but I got 1/2" of growth!"

PS, did you like the skimmer pictures I posted in your thread?

go to michales or someplace and buy enough heavy black fabric to cover one side. makes a world of differance and black also enhances your colors more.

Steve

Thanks for the ID :). I'm really bad with technical names. I really want to get one of those stony coral books with pictures. Christmas is coming soon, so maybe I'll be lucky. Do you know the latin name of the pokerstar? Is it a Danae?

Another suggestion for better pics would be, wait until it is dark outside before you start your shoot....ambient daylight seems to ruin the true colors of the tank.

Wow.....I was looking through the date stamp on my pictures and I can't believe that this was only 26 days of growth:

Sept 22
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255969133

Oct 18
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1255969183

Must say you still have the touch Dez, the set-up is looking awesome.

Thanks for the comments. I don't know if it's the touch or good advice from local reefers and from this forum. It took a little bit of readjusting to the newer technology like waveboxes and stuff :)

Things look great, you have some awesome growth on your corals already!