AstroReefer's 425XL build

[CDavmd]

Oh I appreciate the interest, but I learned from my other hobby (sports car modification) that build threads aren't really my thing; I just never keep up with them.

Here's a picture of mine though. Reef Octopus skimmer, carbon reactor, 2x AI Hydra 26. Top of rocks average 350 PAR.

Nice! Lots of sticks- will look amazing when they grow out.

 

[CDavmd]

Brought up a few more frags from the frag system after dipping and putting on new plugs.

Burning Banana Stylo

Rasta's and some name I can't remember

Blue Stag

Budman's Wolverine

Jedi Mind Trick Monti

PC Rainbow

SlimeBall

Vivid's Rainbow and PC Rainbow

Walt Disney

John Deer Lept and a Ultra Rock Flower Anemone

 

[AngryMike2016]

Wait, green slimer with purple polyps? Nice!

 

[CDavmd]

Wait, green slimer with purple polyps? Nice!

oops....meant slimeball LOL...really can't keep up with all these crazy names!

 

[CDavmd]

Here's a full tank shot showing current status.

I've moved most all my LPS/Zoa's and the few brown out SPS from my old system. All that's left are some rocks and 3 fish. Thus far the SPS frags I've moved over are alive and a couple are showing some early recovery green. I'm going to see how things go but for now and ensuing months my good colored SPS will stay safe in the frag system. I've been able to kick up the flow on the WAV's now that there is more in the tank and getting almost no sand blowing and I'm cranking 60-70X Turnover.

My rock flower anemone's that had never to my knowledge spawned in the old system decided to have babies a couple weeks ago. Most have blown to somewhere in the tank and I can't find them but these two have stayed on the rock with Mom and are starting to gain size. Love the color inheritance patterns!

 

[CDavmd]

My juvenile clowns completed their QT this week. I introduced them to the tank on Monday and kept them in an acclimation box.

All good so tonight i used the tube technique to introduce them to my Rose Bubble tip. It took about 10 minutes to get the first one into the BTA but afterwards all the rest seemed to know what to do.

Here’s a quick video-

 

[CDavmd]

RIP
2006-2019

The end of my old system- finished moving all the corals and livestock over to the new reef these past couple months.

Took out the rock and sand and cleaned her up a bit. Big water change and she’s ready to quarantine a few fish over the next few months before I shut her down completely.

New system continues to mature. Great coralline coverage in just 4 months. Frags and corals doing well.

 

[MikeYasin]

RIP
2006-2019

The end of my old system- finished moving all the corals and livestock over to the new reef these past couple months.

Took out the rock and sand and cleaned her up a bit. Big water change and she’s ready to quarantine a few fish over the next few months before I shut her down completely.

New system continues to mature. Great coralline coverage in just 4 months. Frags and corals doing well.

That is a gorgeous tank! Love the T5 fixture idea! Depending on how my final looks, I may borrow the idea. I’d have to tank mount it, tho. My wife will kill me if I drill into her ceilings after the remod.

 

[MikeYasin]

RIP
2006-2019

The end of my old system- finished moving all the corals and livestock over to the new reef these past couple months.

Took out the rock and sand and cleaned her up a bit. Big water change and she’s ready to quarantine a few fish over the next few months before I shut her down completely.

New system continues to mature. Great coralline coverage in just 4 months. Frags and corals doing well.

Did you go with the 36” T5 fixture?

 

[CDavmd]

Did you go with the 36” T5 fixture?

Thanks...yes its the 36 inch Giesemann Stellar with the shorter side brackets and two Radion G4 Pro, and 2 ATI Blue +, 2 ATI Actinic T5 bulbs

 

[CDavmd]

A few random shots with the iPhone.

 

[CDavmd]

 

[Filthybum]

Gorgeous tank love the way your controller is mounted. I have no room in my stand but would love a similar idea on the side of my tank. I just have a small cabinet with my controller right now, but I’m going to try to build something for it when I have time.

 

[CDavmd]

Gorgeous tank love the way your controller is mounted. I have no room in my stand but would love a similar idea on the side of my tank. I just have a small cabinet with my controller right now, but I’m going to try to build something for it when I have time.

Thanks! Do you have a build thread?

 

[Filthybum]

Yes just put it up today

 

[Crabby48]

Found your thread. I can’t wait to get time and start reading. I glanced at the first post and now I’m drooling a bit

 

[CDavmd]

Thanks!! I don’t get much traffic on my build thread. Always happy to have someone check it out.

Cheers!

 

[SuncrestReef]

Sometimes when I see tanks like yours I wish I put less rock in mine. Yours seems so much more open and spacious. Looking good!

Here's my 425XL for comparison:

 

[CDavmd]

Sometimes when I see tanks like yours I wish I put less rock in mine. Yours seems so much more open and spacious. Looking good!

Here's my 425XL for comparison:

Your tank looks great....I've followed your build from the beginning way back when....we both started roughly at the same time...mine just took forever to get to the point of water. Your scape is really cool, I remember when you first put it together....what happens is as the corals fill in we start to feel things get crowded. I've been at this game for quite a long time...my old builds use to follow the 1-2 pounds per gallon rule and honestly were simply piles of rock. Over the years I realized that the scapes were great at first and if it was a fish only system they would be perfect but later as the corals grew in and of course I continued to overstock with that " one more frag" lol- it would seem crowded. I made it a point with this build to keep my rock work low and minimal. I wanted negative space and open areas- even with all that planning I'm starting to feel crowded lol....I still have a lot of SPS frags to mount on the scape

 

[SuncrestReef]

Your tank looks great....I've followed your build from the beginning way back when....we both started roughly at the same time...mine just took forever to get to the point of water. Your scape is really cool, I remember when you first put it together....what happens is as the corals fill in we start to feel things get crowded. I've been at this game for quite a long time...my old builds use to follow the 1-2 pounds per gallon rule and honestly were simply piles of rock. Over the years I realized that the scapes were great at first and if it was a fish only system they would be perfect but later as the corals grew in and of course I continued to overstock with that " one more frag" lol- it would seem crowded. I made it a point with this build to keep my rock work low and minimal. I wanted negative space and open areas- even with all that planning I'm starting to feel crowded lol....I still have a lot of SPS frags to mount on the scape

Yes, I remember you tagging along on my build!

I think on my next tank I will compromise between the extensive rock work I did and the more minimal design you have on yours. I am definitely thinking my corals are getting crowded and I'm starting to be concerned about the rocks and larger coral colonies starting to limit the water flow from my powerheads.

I really like the look of yours. Nice job.