SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I had several tanks in college while I was a undergrad at UT. Was a good break from studying and the industry was still in it's early stages in the mid-80's. The days of bed filters, bubbles and fake coral. Fast forward to today I have an old house and wanted to put something in the 2 foot thick window opening in my basement. House was built in 1894 so the wall was stout. I measured and bought a custom tank in Tennessee and had it shipped to Austin. Then the hard part started. Had to get it in the house, pay some weight lifters to lift the 500 lb glass tank onto the metal stand. Well eight months later it is finally starting to look good. Fun hobby there is so much to learn now and so much more livestock available. I have a 30 gallon sump with BioBalls and carbon that seems to work very well. I clean it out every other month. I use a CPR protein skimmer since it's the only one that will fit on the side of the tank. It has that blue plastic media and an output that I put a sock on to catch leftovers. I use a UV light pump combo with three BuildMYLED lights from Randy's factory. I use a 36" strip and two 24" strips with 30 degree angles to focus light on the live rock where the corals are. I use dimmers to ramp up the light in the morning and dim it down toward dusk time. We do regular water changes at 20 percent once a month. Look forward to your next meeting. Cheers, Stockbauer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Very unique. The brick mantle frames/showcases your tank. Very nice effect. Enjoy the hobby. For some of us, it is addicting. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on. You have a basement ?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Welcome. Love the tank. Everyone here is very helpful and answeres lots of questions. But since you are a pro, you should be helpful and answer questions too. You know, so you can fit in. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Glad to see someone else down south welcome to the club! I didn't know houses round here had basements lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on. You have a basement ?! yeah, i had to double check that he was really in austin. still not totally convinced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 I'm no pro. Every enclosed system is always on the brink of total collapse. I just do all I can to mediate the problems. If my wife would let me use the office on the otherside I would have it packed with the right equipment. It's basically a giant NANO. I would like to buy coral frags if anyone has some. Cheers, Stockbauer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I'm no pro. Every enclosed system is always on the brink of total collapse. I just do all I can to mediate the problems. If my wife would let me use the office on the otherside I would have it packed with the right equipment. It's basically a giant NANO. I would like to buy coral frags if anyone has some. Cheers, Stockbauer sorry, don't mind me. i'm just a smart alleck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Okay... So that is beautiful! Welcome to ARC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardlaw Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Welcome. Nice tank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dustin Blevins Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Your tank is awesome! It is very well showcased! Welcome to the group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Welcome to the club! Nice tank setup... and is that really a basement? -Ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 SWEEEEET!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Welcome to the club, beautiful tank! Where do you have the sump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 AWE!! Sweet! A basement! Oh, and the tank look awesome too! Welcome to the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Welcome to the club, beautiful tank! Where do you have the sump? two cubic feet of BioBalls and three or four bags of carbon in the return chamber. I also have some seaweed in the return chamber with an LED light. I use carbon impregnated foam in the filter slats and well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 AWE!! Sweet! A basement! Oh, and the tank look awesome too! Welcome to the club. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXJayhawk Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 AWE!! Sweet! A basement! Oh, and the tank look awesome too! Welcome to the club. Thanks! Thank you so much I love this hobby and keeps me off the streets when I'm not at my bar. I want to get some real colorful corals is there anyone in the club that sells super colorful coral at a reasonable price.? I ordered some at www.reefs2go.com and I want predicatbly disappointed when these tiny things came in for $20 each. What a rip off. Please send me the link. Thanks Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Here's what you do. Take $100. Go to RichardL, Mitch, rchavez, or fishypet's house. Walk away with bag of corals 2x as nice for 1/2 the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Here's what you do. Take $100. Go to RichardL, Mitch, rchavez, or fishypet's house. Walk away with bag of corals 2x as nice for 1/2 the price. I've only been to rchavez, but +1 based on that, and what I've seen posted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHAUSTINREEF Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Welcome to the club, beautiful tank! Where do you have the sump? Sump is on a steel stand under the tank. I had it made at a shop on 183 to fit under the stand. Some like one big open sump, but I like to separate the bioballs from the intake pump where I hold the bags of carbon the plants with the LED. I think they do take out some nitrites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibnzmonkey Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Basement? Not sure if in Austin or....I WISH I had a basement to devote to a sweet reef tank. I may one day fulfill my dream of building a basement bar with a showcase reef. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.