Ok, since my RBTA MikeMar retro came down due to aiptasia outbreak I didn't want to deal with, I added this little piece of joy to my SPS system, Arnolds Swiss-cheese Sump (ASS!). Now even those all the holes in the ASS were covered, some of them did leak, so I had to redo around the seams on some of them. The ASS is thick walled too, and I left one divider in there, its clear acrylic and I think it is confusing some of the fish in it.
Well after carefully making sure no aiptasia were on anything going into this tank, I got my ASS in gear and online!
For lighting I simply reused the lumenarc-mini that was over the 80g tank, its about as wide as the tank, so where it's hanging it keeps the floor illuminated... there's no room for actinic lights (I don't care at this point), so the T5s I had over the old tank I sitting pretty in a closet. I wanted to do a 150W DE bulb, since the thin profile yet somewhat long reflector might be perfect, however I didn't have one handy, so this will do.
Here's a front shot of the tank, rock o' roses on the right (that's not one huge one, that's about 8 or so smaller ones). Fred is on the right the large toadstool which was given to me by a BAR member back at the first frag swap because it outgrew her tank, I'd like to "pass this on" as well, however I think the wife is quite attached to it... *sigh* (I feel your pain Bryan!), so much so I also was requested to get a mini-punk rock Fred (green hair!
). The upside is this also will double as my refugium since I got a big honkin light over the tank. Fish include 2 colorful random damsels, a chromis and Tom.. my first fish ever, a Tomato Clown (which I've also been told I can't get rid of because it was my first fish!)
Here's the back side of the tank, many people have thought that was just one big anemone (which would be cool if it was) but nope its many, and I keep getting more (see around Fred?)
Now to anyone who sees a super bright colored BTA online and MUST have it, here's a bit of advice, when they're small they very often will be in full bubbly goodness, also because those tentacles aren't stretched out they colors are really vibrant, however as soon as they big the bubbles most likely will go away, and the super bright colors will turn into more of darker color.
Don't be fooled!! Here's one such tiny guy $150 anyone??
Now I didn't want to drill into the existing sump and connect these via pipe, as that would make the water level in this tank be the height of that in the sump (skimmer compartment) which is a bit low, so I got creative and I built this ramp, angled it so it didn't drip back towards the tank, and all was sitting pretty... until I tried it out. It worked great, however the water level in the tank was literally within a quarter inch of the top, and I could just see some snail or anemone covering it up slightly and then SPLOOSH water on the floor. So I drilled for a 1.5" bulkhead as a secondary/primary overflow. Put some plastic grating over it to keep things in this side, however this morning I saw I need to redesign, make it a bit further away, as there's a bit too much pressure from the flowing water right next to it... one anemone managed to squeeze through the tiny holes... and I pulled a Jason and saw the other half next to the skimmer (although it already re-attached!.. I swear I'm going to have a couple dozen of these bastards by the end of the week!).
The PVC pipe is from the tank overflow, figured all the food that makes it there can hopefully get snatched by the RBTAs here (plus it's added flow in the tank... I do got a vortech in there too
), but it was from pieces I had laying around so don't judge
Here's a side shot, practical? probably not.. but who else has a waterfall on their reef tank! Yeah I didn't think so! WHOOP WHOOP!!!
