Iowa City Tank Tour (Pix & Report)

Hey everybody,
This last weekend we had the Iowa City tank tour on Saturday the 16th. Everybody gathered at Petland near Sycamore mall and we hung out and took a look at their aquariums, and talked amongst eachother. Everybody has new gadgets to talk about, and new methods they're working on for maintaining parameters.
Bill and I talked about some new Warner Marine Bak stuff he's trying, says it's really working well to keep his NO3 down. I should probably try some of the same.
Petland recently replaced the halides on their 180 gallon display tank and it really shows! This tank looks great!

There are many species of corals doing well. Many fish in there too, as well as the coveted ORA Picasso Clowns.

Petland has always had a pretty nice selection of SPS and softies, and more recently some nice LPS frags have become available.
I set up their systems there 4 or 5 years ago when I converted a freshwater section into their 800 gallon commercial salt system. Since then they have made many changes, and Adam has currently been working on eliminating detritus sources, changing over to sock filters from bio balls. The results are fantastic everything is looking great!

Moving on to home tanks, our first stop of the afternoon was Alek's place, where he has a fantastic 75 gallon tank with many collector SPS corals:

I was quite envious of his colors and a certain individual specimen that I've always adored;

This little damsel was on his best behavior while we were there, but I think we all know better Here he is hovering just above a really nicely shaped montipora cap colony, I wish I would have got a better shot of these caps near the center:


Alec also keeps a couple of side project tanks going, including his old 55 gallon reef tank with various frags, and a biocube for softies and a pair of clowns;

Next stop was my place. I've been neglecting my tank for a few weeks now that class is in session so it wasn't at it's best. I think everybody enjoyed it and was impressed with my mechanical set up anyways;

I have a number of specimens of my own that the group was (some always have been) enamored with:


After that we went to Adam's place and saw his 65 gallon master piece. I love his collection of corals, but I'm even more impressed with his stand and canopy, especially since mine is so crappy;

And while Adam has a great collection of coveted zoanthids and some rather nice cap colonies;

It's always been the LPS and oddities that he keeps that impresses me;


Adam also has a number of side projects going....because he has nothing better to do with his time....lol and the crowd didn't even peek in his bedroom to see his freshwater and reptile stuff! I did....
In the living room there is a little side project, rimless clown/lps/anemone tank;

There were two other stops following these on the tour, unfortunately I had to leave to go to work /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/sad.gif
I would love to see pictures from Joe's place and Kylie's tank to see how they're coming along! Anybody who's got pix POST EM!!!!!!
Cya guys,
Andy Long

 

Thanks Troy!

I was most surprised by Alek's tank. I've been dealing with him for the last couple of years as a customer, and acquaintance (aqua-intance) and I've offered a lot of advice to him in his journey to a full blown reef keeper. I was pleased to see that he had taken much of my advice and what's more, accessed the resources like GIRS and RC to help him get helpful ideas.

I tell customers all the time, if you want to get serious about reef keeping....I mean I'll sell stuff to anybody I feel is capable of keeping things alive...but if you want to get really serioius about reef keeping and build a stellar tank, visit the forums!!!!! and get some books!!!!

Glad you all had a good time!