http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FTS-1.jpg
Full tank shot

Introduction


Well, to tell you the truth, I am not sure if it is an honor to be the ARC’s tank of the month this month or not. See, when Jin approached me I was very surprised. The conversation went a little something like this:

Jin: “Hey Brandon, I will be in Lawrenceville this month shooting the TOTM!”
Me: “Oh really?!? Whose tank you doing?!?”
Jin: “Yours!”
Me: “Ummmm, ok?!?”
Jin: “Ya we need a tank that is smaller, filled with softies and MacGyvered together!”

Well that about explains my tank. I still do not know if that is some sort of compliment or not! Regardless, I am truly honored to be the tank of the month for June.

To give a bit of background about me and my reef keeping, I have been in the hobby off and on for about 8 years. It all started on a cool fall day back in 2000 when I got my first 20 gal tank. At the time I only kept freshwater fish for the first few months but shortly there after I landed my eyes on my first Angelfish and Mandarin Goby. It was love at first sight. I bought my first saltwater tank and jumped right in. It was only a 40 gal tank but it felt like the ocean to me.

Back in those days we did not have Halide lights, a CRP skimmer was new on the market and the best thing you could get, soft corals was about all you could keep and we had to walk uphill both ways in the snow to get our fish. (Seriously, it was Michigan and it was dang cold!) We learned how to keep tanks without all the bells and whistles. There were not too many books around and websites such as the ARC and WetWebMedia were not around. If you wanted a tank, you better learn how and why things happened. We used theories such as the Berlin Method and Plenums that have been lost today. As you will see, in my tanks, I still implore some of these same methods.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sexyshrimp.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-evilcrab.jpg
Sexy shrimp on hammer coral - Sally lightfoot crab


So my first tank was a success by 2000 standards until I moved to Atlanta. The move killed most of everything that I had. Starting up the tank here proved to be a loosing battle. We did not use RO water in Michigan and really had no need to. I learned rather quickly how BAD Atlanta water is for your tank. So after much heartbreak, I took down the tank. It sat in corners of my apartments or in garages for the next 5 years, only being filled when I would come back from a scuba dive with too many oysters, clams, or lobsters and needed a spot to keep them alive for a few days. But I always wanted it to be set up again in all its glory.

In spring 2006 that old 40 gal would see water again as a freshwater tank for my son. I got the chance to teach him about all the things I had loved about keeping fish. Jen, Austin and me would sit looking at that dumb tank for hours. Then it bit me, I needed a saltwater tank again. I started to research all the things that had changed and my lord; there was a lot that had changed. SPS corals in a tank?!? We could only dream of that stuff 6 years prior. So I started planning out a tank. Jen was worried about how much time and money it would take. “Naw honey, I will do it for cheap and easy!” I repeated to her over and over again. That became the motto for the tank… Words I would have to eat on several occasions.

Starting the tank



http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FTSactinicscopy-1.jpg
Full tank shot under actinics only


So with my new motto in my mind, I went out searching for a tank. We are not poor by Haitian standards but we do not burn through money. I found a cheap used 55 gal tank that came with live sand, PC lights, some odds and ends and many scratches but it was cheap. I bought it and decided to make the best out of it. I started reading about these new things called sumps and halides and MacGyvered what I could together. Remember my motto! So I took an old 10 gal since that was all that could fit under my stand and connected it with a bulkhead to a wetdry filter that was given to me. Just add water and you have an instant refugium and sump.
It was about this time that I decided to reintroduce a bit of the old with the new. I constructed a Plenum under the deep sand bed in my refugium and made a crypto-fuge in my wetdry. Both of these things are not seen too much in tanks today but were pretty common back when I started. I recycled my old 75 lbs of liverock from my tank in 2000 and added about 70 lbs of new rock. The sand bed in both the display and the fuge were going to be deep sand beds. I chose a cheap used Turbofloter 1000 Multi as the skimmer that I bought from Mike Ufret. At that time, I was going to keep the PC lights.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-clownsrightside.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Rightsideview.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-jenya.jpg
Side view of the tank - zoomed side view - softie


Aquascaping the tank was my first BIG challenge. With a 55 gal tank, I only had 12” to work with and I would need to make the most of it. I liked arches and caves in my design but had always learned NEVER to put rock against the back wall. I got around this with the closed loop design as you will read below. All the rockwork is stacked. I tried to epoxy it but that did not go too well. It is set up in such a way as so I can take out most any piece with coral on it and make frags if needed or access the back sand bed. Thanks to the skill and teachings of Stevhan over at Fishy Business, I learned how to stack rock with the best of them.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-widebottomleft.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-widemid.jpg
Bottom left of tank - Middle top


So from here on out it was time to let the tank cycle and time for me to learn what the heck I was doing. I read anything and everything that I could on how to keep a tank. I borrowed and bought books from “Saltwater fish for dummies” all the way to scientific books by Noga on fish pathology. I am not a biology person by nature so I dug even deeper to learn the basics of not only what was going on but also how and why it was happening. Again, back in the day if you wanted to keep a tank, you better learn things for yourself because there was no one else to turn to.

Equipment



http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-reefkeeper2.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-skimmer.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-topoff.jpg
Reefkeeper 2 - Skimmer and Rubbermaid "sump" - Rubbermaid topoff


So this is where my plan for cheap came into full effect. Most of the equipment on my tank is used and recycled. The lighting has been upgraded from the original PC lights to a Ufret CUSTOM built Hamilton hood with 2 175W Halides running XM 10K bulbs and 2 54W T-5 lights with Actinic + and True Actinic bulbs. I have been through so many skimmers it is not even funny. That Turbofloter skimmer worked well but Cameron always talked me into “testing” out new skimmers for something better. I finally have an Aqua-C EV 120 skimmer in a Rubbermaid “sump” that Jen has been so nice to let me put in the coat/shoe closet. I splurged about two months ago on a used JBJ ATO system for the tank. My tank temperature is held in check with an $8 clip on fan from Wal-Mart over the fuge. My fuge light is a $5 clip on light from Home Depot with a 5500K PC flood light. All of this is held together by Cameron’s old Reef Keeper II unit that I bought off of him. There is no reactors, no chillers, no Uvs, etc. Remember, cheap and easy is my motto.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sumpandfuge-1.jpg
10 gallon sump - refugium and cryptic zone


For the flow, I decided to try my hand at a closed loop system. After poking and prodding around, I finally came up with a design. The CL runs around the rim of the tank with 5 x ½” outputs and 1 x ½” output in the back bottom of the tank running across the sand bed. At any time, I only have 4 of the upper outputs on at a time. The output in the back allows me to get water flow along the back of the tank and stack my rock over it without fear of waste rotting back there. The CL is powered by a Mag 18 pump. The only other flow in the tank is the return being pushed by a 500gph pump.

Maintenance


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-midbottom.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-wideright.jpg
bottom middle of tank - upper right of tank


My maintenance schedule is pretty lax to say the least. Remember my motto? I set up this tank with the foresight of not wanting to do much maintenance. The livestock that I have selected work together to keep the tank as clean as it is going to be. I try to do a water change about every two months or so. I try to remember to test the water for Alk, CA, Mag, NO3, etc at the same time that I do a water change. I have always tried to keep my NO3 at about 10ppm since I have a softie tank. Heck for about a 4 month period, I have not even been running a skimmer. Again, thanks to the livestock that I have, the plenum, and the strong fuges, maintenance is not that big of a deal.

My PH stays at about 7.8, CA is about 390, Alk is at 10dKh, and Mag is about 1300.

When I do dose, I mainly use Seachem products unless I am dosing something that I can pick up at the store like Epsom salt or lime. The lime is added to my top off water and I add a bit of Epsom when needed to keep the mag up there. Nothing is exact and nothing is scientific. Don’t get me wrong, it all used to be measured down to the gram and added on a daily schedule. Then I figured out that it took up too much time and strayed away from my motto! Other products I used when I see fit: Reef trace and reef plus, Reef Builder and Reef Advantage Calcium, and lately I have been testing out the Prodibio products.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FPclowncute-1.jpg
False percular clownfish peaking through some Xenia


My feeding is just about as lax as the rest of my tank. I make my own food for the most part. The recipe changes to whatever I have on hand. This last batch went something like this:

1 fillet of Mahi
1 lb of shrimp, oysters, mussels, clams, squid and octopus
1/2 Pack of Nori
1 pack Cyclops
1 pack enriched Brine
1/2 a pack of PE Mysis
1/4 jar of each Formula one pellets, Formula two flake and Prime Reef flake
1/4 jar of freeze dried Mysis
1/2 jar of Spectra Vital pellets
1/2 jar for freeze dried Cyclops
1 jar of Zoo-plankton
1/5 a bottle of Garlic extract
1/2 jar of Reef Chili
1/2 bottle of Rotofers
1/2 bottle of Zoe
Some amino-acids and some vitamins

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-flameangel-1.jpg
Flame Angel feeding on brine


I feed that frozen mix about three times a week. In between the frozen food I feed a mixture of Formula Two flakes and Prime Reef flakes everyday when I am too lazy to thaw out food. My theory behind the homemade food is that each fish and coral can get what they want to eat. I feed a good amount when I do feed. People are often surprised to see my tank after a feeding and wonder why I do not have an algae problem. Again, I point back to the Plenum, the livestock that works together to clean stuff up and the fuges. Also, as I stated before, I always like to keep my NO3 a bit on the high side.

The only other thing that makes my tank a success is the QTing of everything that hits my tank. I had a battle with Ich and nudis and other nasty bugs before and never again. Every fish goes through a Formalin dip and QT period as soon as it come trough the door. Ever coral gets dipped and put to the microscope to check for bugs. That is the one thing that I am not lazy about since it saves me so much time in avoiding problems.

Remember, cheap and easy is my motto.

I love softie tanks just for that reason! Looks great Brandon.

Congratulations Brandon! Looks great and nice write up too!

Livestock



http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Clowneggs-1.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FPclown.jpg
False percula eggs close to hatching - False percula clowns peaking through Xenia


Ok, if you made it this far then you are just getting into the good stuff. First I would like to have a moment of silence for my two fallen cleaner shrimp. “Grandpa” was the ripe old age of 8 years old in captivity and was about 4” in body length (not including his antenna). His mate was about two year in captivity. Both died in the past month within a few days of each other. Some call me crazy but I believe once Grandpa died, his mate just could not go on. They had a track record of spawning every 15 days for almost the past year and were a great pair.


Fish


When I chose my fish, I wanted a good mixture of color and personality. I think I have achieved that to some extent. My Tang is the clown of the tank, my gobies are full personality, my Angel adds a splash of color and my clowns are just mean. To the clown’s defense, they have been laying eggs every 15 days for a few months now so the female has been on extra guard and ready to draw blood from me at the first sight of my hand!


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Neongoby.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-yellowtang.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/RoyalGramma.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-acroandgoby.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-flameangel.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FPclownpair-1.jpg



·Yellow Tang
·Flame Angel
·Neon Goby
·Green Clown Goby
·Mated Pair of False Clowns
·Royal Gramma


Inverts


I love my inverts. I think too many people overlook the value and wow factor of a good list of inverts. As I stated before, my “clean up crew” is made up of more then the pre-boxes special at some discount livestock seller. I have picked each of my inverts to do a job in the tank and they do it well. Besides all that, sometimes they are the best thing to look at in the tank!


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-crab.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sexyshrimp.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Featherduster-1.jpg



·Fire Shrimp
·Mated Pair of Peppermint Shrimp
·Sexy Shrimp
·Pom-Pom Crab
·Porcelain Crab
·Conch
·Blue Lankia Starfish
·Mysid Shrimp Colony
·Coco Worm
·3 Hawaiian Feather Dusters
·Sally Lightfoot Crab
·Assorted hermits and snails
·And my famous Mysid Shrimp Colony


Corals


I have always loved the way that soft corals move in the tank. There are very few things in a tank that can bring that “Awww” factor in a tank like a good list of soft corals. Sure they are not the hardest to keep (unless you talk to Lee), sure they are cheap in most cases, but they are needed in my opinion for a well balanced tank. I have started making the switch over to SPS here lately. I will never switch over totally, but when the 40gal tank that I am still setting up gets in full swing, it will be my SPS tank.


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-GSP.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-BlueMilli-1.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Galaxia.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-GreenToadstool.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-LPS.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-NPS.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Toadstool.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-acroandgoby.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-bubble.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-frogspawn.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-favia.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-favia2.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-mushroom.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-palysandyellowpolyps.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-fragrackactinics.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-ric.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sponge.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-shrooms.jpg

Soft Corals
·Anthelia (Anthelia sp.)
·Xenia (Xenia elongata)
·Green Star Polyp (Pachyclavularia violacea)
·Yellow Polyps (Parazoanthus sp.)
·Green Button Polyps (Protopalythoa vestitus)
·Brown Acrozoanthus (Acrozoanthus sp.)
·ORA Green Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·Long Polyped Brown Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·White Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·Brown Mat Zoos (Palythoa caesia)
·Green Encrusting Zoos (Zoanthus sociatus)
·Various Community Zoos (Fire and Ice, Blue Tubs, PPE, Lord of the Rings, Candy Apples, Cotton Candy, Orange-cicles, Etc) (Zoanthus pulchellus)
·Green Nephthea (Nephthea spp.)
·Pink Carnation Coral (Scleronephthya sp.)
·Various Mushrooms (Actinodiscus sp.)


LPS Corals
·Galaxia (Galaxea fascicularis)
·Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescense)
·Branching Hammer Coral (Euphyllia parancora)
·Frogspwan (Euphyllia paradivisa)
·Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa)
·White Favia (Savia speciosa)
·Green Favia (Savia speciosa)
·Red/Green Favia (Savia speciosa)


SPS Corals
·Mystery Acro (Acropora valida)
·6 different colors of Millis (Pink, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Green, and Red)

Acknowledgements


There are so many people that I have to thank for my tank. First and foremost, I could not have done this tank or been president of this club without the love and support of Jen. I know I lied to you when I said that this tank would be cheap and easy but you have embraced it through the good times and supported me through the bad times. Thank you for all that you do! Special thanks goes out to all the club members that have given me cheap or free corals: Doug, Rit, Darren, Jamie, Cameron and so many more, I could not have built this tank without you guys. Special thanks go out to Cameron and my Kangaroo loving friend Jeremy, I know we started off bashing each other out on the boards but our respect for each other has out lasted our differences in husbandry and theory. Cameron, you have been my equipment man in this hobby for the past year and a half. Thanks for all the cheap “junk” that you ordered and did not need. I miss my partner in crime in this hobby! Jeremy, you still do not know what you are talking about when it comes to anything having to do with reef tanks but you are a great friend none the less. J Finally, to all the members of the ARC: Thank you for all you have done to educate me in the past and giving me a chance to pass information on to others. I am truly honored to be the president of this fine club.

Jin’s Note:
This tank has come a long way. I saw it about a year and a half ago when Brandon was just getting super involved in ARC. It didn’t have a lot going on but what a difference a year makes! In particular , I like the movement, contrast in colors, and overall balance of this tank. These days the focus for most experienced reefers is SPS or expensive LPS or pricey zoas or a combination of the above. It s refreshing though to see an established primarily softie tank done in a very old school manner. This tank has a “classic” feel to it and I especially enjoy the cost saving techniques that Brandon employed.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Cat-1.jpg
Gigantor the Destroyer


Finally, this particular ToTM would not be complete without a picture of the LARGEST domestic cat in the world. I put the pen in the picture to provide a sense of scale. No the pen is not for midgets… This cat is really that HUGE. I'm not sure what Brandon feeds this beast but I'm sure it's illegal. :)

Ha ha! That is my kitty! Yes, we still have one more that size. :yay:

Wow, thanks Jin for posting the pics... I might update with some Pics after Gary gets into town and takes some more. I wanted to have the new bulbs in place before you came but there just was not enough time. I never noticed the difference that a bulb can make but the new Iwasaki 15K bulbs make the tank look MUCH better then those XM 10Ks.

LOL, Yes, My two cats are JUMBO sized... Laying down they are about 36" when streached out and weight about 25 lbs each! They will eat your dogs Jin!

Well my photo skills are still evolving as I've only had this camera for a few weeks now :). Hopefully, Gary can show me what I'm supposed to do. Truth be told most of the good pics were all done by Soo.

All of them look great Jin... thanks so much for putting out pictures of what we believe to be a beautiful softie tank :)

You liking the Iwasakis Brandon?

It is a huge difference, I didn't really see it until he put them side by side. The bulbs we had were much yellower! Thanks for the eye opener!

Looks good!

Lookin good bro!

It is a huge difference, I didn't really see it until he put them side by side. The bulbs we had were much yellower! Thanks for the eye opener!

And those bulbs you guys picked up from me have some use on them....brand new, they are really pretty!

very nice!

Where's the love? :sad:

anyone have a sump for sale? i need a 29 gls, if anyone wanna sell one ... let me know.:D

can you please send me your plans for the rubber maid sump???

Livestock



http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Clowneggs-1.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FPclown.jpg
False percula eggs close to hatching - False percula clowns peaking through Xenia


Ok, if you made it this far then you are just getting into the good stuff. First I would like to have a moment of silence for my two fallen cleaner shrimp. “Grandpa” was the ripe old age of 8 years old in captivity and was about 4” in body length (not including his antenna). His mate was about two year in captivity. Both died in the past month within a few days of each other. Some call me crazy but I believe once Grandpa died, his mate just could not go on. They had a track record of spawning every 15 days for almost the past year and were a great pair.


Fish


When I chose my fish, I wanted a good mixture of color and personality. I think I have achieved that to some extent. My Tang is the clown of the tank, my gobies are full personality, my Angel adds a splash of color and my clowns are just mean. To the clown’s defense, they have been laying eggs every 15 days for a few months now so the female has been on extra guard and ready to draw blood from me at the first sight of my hand!


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Neongoby.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-yellowtang.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/RoyalGramma.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-acroandgoby.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-flameangel.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-FPclownpair-1.jpg



·Yellow Tang
·Flame Angel
·Neon Goby
·Green Clown Goby
·Mated Pair of False Clowns
·Royal Gramma


Inverts


I love my inverts. I think too many people overlook the value and wow factor of a good list of inverts. As I stated before, my “clean up crew” is made up of more then the pre-boxes special at some discount livestock seller. I have picked each of my inverts to do a job in the tank and they do it well. Besides all that, sometimes they are the best thing to look at in the tank!


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-crab.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sexyshrimp.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Featherduster-1.jpg



·Fire Shrimp
·Mated Pair of Peppermint Shrimp
·Sexy Shrimp
·Pom-Pom Crab
·Porcelain Crab
·Conch
·Blue Lankia Starfish
·Mysid Shrimp Colony
·Coco Worm
·3 Hawaiian Feather Dusters
·Sally Lightfoot Crab
·Assorted hermits and snails
·And my famous Mysid Shrimp Colony


Corals


I have always loved the way that soft corals move in the tank. There are very few things in a tank that can bring that “Awww” factor in a tank like a good list of soft corals. Sure they are not the hardest to keep (unless you talk to Lee), sure they are cheap in most cases, but they are needed in my opinion for a well balanced tank. I have started making the switch over to SPS here lately. I will never switch over totally, but when the 40gal tank that I am still setting up gets in full swing, it will be my SPS tank.


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-GSP.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-BlueMilli-1.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Galaxia.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-GreenToadstool.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-LPS.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-NPS.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Toadstool.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-acroandgoby.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-bubble.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-frogspawn.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-favia.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-favia2.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-mushroom.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-palysandyellowpolyps.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-fragrackactinics.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-ric.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-sponge.jpg http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-shrooms.jpg

Soft Corals
·Anthelia (Anthelia sp.)
·Xenia (Xenia elongata)
·Green Star Polyp (Pachyclavularia violacea)
·Yellow Polyps (Parazoanthus sp.)
·Green Button Polyps (Protopalythoa vestitus)
·Brown Acrozoanthus (Acrozoanthus sp.)
·ORA Green Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·Long Polyped Brown Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·White Toadstool (Sarcophyton sp.)
·Brown Mat Zoos (Palythoa caesia)
·Green Encrusting Zoos (Zoanthus sociatus)
·Various Community Zoos (Fire and Ice, Blue Tubs, PPE, Lord of the Rings, Candy Apples, Cotton Candy, Orange-cicles, Etc) (Zoanthus pulchellus)
·Green Nephthea (Nephthea spp.)
·Pink Carnation Coral (Scleronephthya sp.)
·Various Mushrooms (Actinodiscus sp.)


LPS Corals
·Galaxia (Galaxea fascicularis)
·Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescense)
·Branching Hammer Coral (Euphyllia parancora)
·Frogspwan (Euphyllia paradivisa)
·Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa)
·White Favia (Savia speciosa)
·Green Favia (Savia speciosa)
·Red/Green Favia (Savia speciosa)


SPS Corals
·Mystery Acro (Acropora valida)
·6 different colors of Millis (Pink, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Green, and Red)

Acknowledgements


There are so many people that I have to thank for my tank. First and foremost, I could not have done this tank or been president of this club without the love and support of Jen. I know I lied to you when I said that this tank would be cheap and easy but you have embraced it through the good times and supported me through the bad times. Thank you for all that you do! Special thanks goes out to all the club members that have given me cheap or free corals: Doug, Rit, Darren, Jamie, Cameron and so many more, I could not have built this tank without you guys. Special thanks go out to Cameron and my Kangaroo loving friend Jeremy, I know we started off bashing each other out on the boards but our respect for each other has out lasted our differences in husbandry and theory. Cameron, you have been my equipment man in this hobby for the past year and a half. Thanks for all the cheap “junk” that you ordered and did not need. I miss my partner in crime in this hobby! Jeremy, you still do not know what you are talking about when it comes to anything having to do with reef tanks but you are a great friend none the less. J Finally, to all the members of the ARC: Thank you for all you have done to educate me in the past and giving me a chance to pass information on to others. I am truly honored to be the president of this fine club.

Jin’s Note:
This tank has come a long way. I saw it about a year and a half ago when Brandon was just getting super involved in ARC. It didn’t have a lot going on but what a difference a year makes! In particular , I like the movement, contrast in colors, and overall balance of this tank. These days the focus for most experienced reefers is SPS or expensive LPS or pricey zoas or a combination of the above. It s refreshing though to see an established primarily softie tank done in a very old school manner. This tank has a “classic” feel to it and I especially enjoy the cost saving techniques that Brandon employed.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/FutureInterest/Brandon-Cat-1.jpg
Gigantor the Destroyer


Finally, this particular ToTM would not be complete without a picture of the LARGEST domestic cat in the world. I put the pen in the picture to provide a sense of scale. No the pen is not for midgets… This cat is really that HUGE. I'm not sure what Brandon feeds this beast but I'm sure it's illegal. :)


can you please send me your plans for the rubber maid sump???

There really are no plans... Rubbermade container with a bulkhead in it and an additional hole above the bulkhead (because it is not under the tank the water enters and exits from the same side.) It is all gravity fed so the water flows from the tank into the container through the top hole and from the container to the fuge through the bottom bulkhead. Not much of a design to it.