Long Overdue for Joining GIRS Forums

Hey everybody, many of you know me from Iowa City Petland over the last 6 years. Yesterday was my final day as an employee at Petland, although I maintain close ties with staff there, and I will probably fill in a shift or two over the course of the next year, maybe even make a comeback when I'm finished with the next couple semesters at the U of I.
For the past year I've been working at the U of I hospital in the pathology department, and my presence at Petland has come ever more scarce. Finally reef keeping has become an enjoyable hobby again, rather than a close reminder of work. For the first time in a long time I'm longing to share my tank and discussions with fellow reef keepers.
Presently I am at work and have restricted access to many of the engines that host my tank images (Facebook, Flickr) however, I will shortly begin posting the belated chronicals of my 120 SPS/LPS reef tank.
Stay tuned!
Andy Long

 

Taking a look at the pictures I have hosted to numerous web sites, I suddenly realize that I hardly have any updated pictures. There is an updated video at youtube.com
I have a few specimen pictures I would like to share, and a full tank shot from a couple of months ago. I'll get updated shots as well as system equipment shots up soon. The chronicles of the tank are long and drawn out, I migrated into this 120 in February 2010 from my previous 75 gallon tank. I've upgraded to 400 watt metal halides in Lumenarc Mini reflectors, they've made such an incredible difference in everything!!!! The 75 was rocking two 175 watt halides and 4x 110watt VHO's. Not only did it improve my corals growth and coloration, but I'm also using only 10 more watts of light.
Since this is my 3rd tank, I was able to really plan for the things I wish I would have done in past tanks. First I eliminated all (but one) pumps from inside the water, eliminating heat pollution, and placed the chiller out of the living room where it can't be seen or heard. I also left the Ca RXR and equipment with the chiller in the adjacent utility closet and left space to access the regularly serviceable components beneath the tank; Kalk RXR, Skimmer, PO4 Rxr, and wet/dry trickle filter.
Two MP40's and a Tunze 6060 keeps things moving up top, and a Gen X Mak4 external sump pump keeps the system fed with outputs to the skimmer, chiller, ca rxr, po4 rxr, refugium, and return. Besides the recirculating pump inside the skimmer, there are no other pumps in this tank, and it's over all energy usage is 180 watts less than it was when I had the 75.
Without further ado, I will introduce some of my favorite/most photogenic specimens;


And a few tank shots.

More to follow, including equipment, updated livestock and full tank shots, and a discussion about my battle with dinoflagellates.
Cya guys,
Andy

 

Yeah, well I certainly am well overdue!!! Hope we get some time to hook up before too long, I want to get on a regional tank tour soon, but this Sept 1st isn't going to work out for me. Soon though. It's unbelievable how every week it seems like I need to take new pictures, things are just growing like mad, like I've never seen before in the last 8 years. Where is your thread up in here Bill?
Later Bill!
Andy
Oh yea, did I mention that my RBTA either split into some really tiny fragments or sexually spawned? There are 5 nickle size RBTA's in my tank now! And the large RBTA is preparing to split again. Unreal!

 

Okay as promised I have a few new pix to unveil shot today!

And the control center:

A couple of specimen close ups:


I didn't really screw with the exposures much when shooting, I was in kind of a rush, so some of the colors look washed out due to over exposure. I'll monolog some of the history of this system and some of these specimens a little later when I'm at work. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif
Cya guys,
Andy