pandora32 215g

[pandora32]

I set the tank up in the spring of 2011. April of 2012 i had to break it down and moved across town. Lost a bunch of fish and only a couple of smaller corals. Where i messed up was thinking i could break it down, move it, get it set back up and livestock back in before the temp dropped to much. I managed to get everything into coolers and saved around 180g of water. But, like usual, my plans didnt go the way i thought. Lesson learned. When moving, use heater packs! Water got down to 68°! Then after that, bad cycle lasting almost 3 months and i dont even remember how many skimmer overflows (my skimmer overhangs the sump). I do remember the largest spill was about 25 or 30 gallons. Really not a good thing to happen in a rental. Now the tank is set up, looking good (to me), running since april, now i want to move it to a different wall. After 9 months going. This is one of the negatives of a large-AND HEAVY-tank. Not as easy as drain and move and setup. Boy i miss my lil 55 at times!!!....lol

 

[pandora32]

Looks amazing buddy.

Thank you! Mentioned the heater packs cuz i saw you were movin also:rain:

 

[vlangel]

Wow, your coral looks beautiful. Moving big tanks is not fun and very stressful. I've never had anything larger than a 90 gallon. I set it up in the living room near the front door. That door sticks in the summer due to humidity and the tank must have been ever so slightly shimmying on its stand. That's not suppose to happen if the tank is level but it did. One day I noticed that it had shimmied half way off of where it was supposed to be. My husband and I broke the whole thing down that night, put braces on the outside of the stand to prevent it from happening again and set it back up. I'm glad I've kept an old 20 L for just such occasions. Anyway I sympathize with you having multiple moves. Your tank looks well recovered now.

 

[pandora32]

Thank you. Ive never had a tank shimmy on me. That would scare the crap outta me!

 

[pandora32]

Took out one of my standpipes. Going to raise them. I think they are to low in the overflow, think they can be quieter. Thought i would share a part of my natural cuc.

 

[sedrostyle]

Seriously saving 180 gallons. Omg.
I'd almost rather have someone house all my stuff. Move, set it up and then get everything back.

The tank looks beautiful, makes me wonder about getting a big tank.
May want to hold off until we buy a house.

How big was that scroll coral on the very left of your tank, when you first got it. How old is it ??

 

[pandora32]

I saved that much water cuz i didnt know any better. Next time I move, i wont be moving that much water! Maybe only half of system volume. Im positive thats what caused my big, long cycle. I transfered everything, including my dsb, without rinsing. Then about a month later, i added about 90# of dry sand all at once...oops. As for the scoll on the left side?, I have a hydnophora there. On the right side, i have a scroll. It hasnt grown too awful much.
I dont have a picture yet, but i added another blue hippo tang to the tank today. Just a little bit smaller than the established one. Bot are about 5". They are swimming together, comfortably, fins down. Pretty cool. I was worried.

 

[vlangel]

Looks like you had a 'few' tube dwellers on it! LOL

 

[pandora32]

2 or 3:clap2:...haha

 

[sedrostyle]

pandora you forgot the x's
2xxxxxxx or 3xxxxx

 

[pandora32]

I mentioned the other day i added another blue hippo to my tank. Just took a picture, thought id share.

 

[sedrostyle]

TWO!!! I want two

Or two purple tangs. ))))1

 

[pandora32]

Id love to have a pair of purple tangs!! Heck, id love to have one!! Or a blue tang.

 

[sedrostyle]

I agree. I love mine. Im probably in need to upgrade it for him but for now he's happy.
I got him from a friend. They are beautiful fish.
How big are your hippos?

 

[pandora32]

Smaller one is about 4" and the bigger one is about 5". The 5" one is the original. Theyre easy to tell apart. The bigger ones black stripe doesnt touch the black stripe going to the top. Ive always wanted a purple. My daughter wanted to suprise me with one this last fathers day. The lfs owner was going to order it, but i shook my head to him over her. Shes only 8 and i dont want her to spend her money on my hobby. So she got me a nemo card instead!...lol

 

[pandora32]

Thought id share my new stick with you all. Should look real nice once it starts growing. Just got it today.

 

[sedrostyle]

What lighting do you have again. I love the color pop. Should grow pretty good for ya

 

[pandora32]

Thanks. Wait till it gets "situated". It has a whiteish stalk with neon green mouths. Bright lil coral. Im ashamed to say, i have a 72" oddysea light fixture with 3x 250w mh, t-5 actinic, moonlights. One of my ballasts isnt working for whatever reason. So i have the 2 outer mh on and the center one is off. It hasnt worked since november. As for the bulbs, thats what im ashamed about. Really need to get better ones. Theyre a cheap (as in $20 each) no name in 20k. Theyre as old as the fixture. Over a year. I really want some 20k radions! I like the more blueish color than the white color i have now.

 

[pandora32]

Looky what the wife let me pick out today with the money shes been saving!! She says im on my own for the lights, but im still stoked!

 

[zachrabbit15]

Wow great looking pieces to Tonga branch......I think. Awsome shapes!!!