CONGRATS to CHARLIETHETUNA88 for being chosen as MR Tank Of The Season March 2014 for his stunning Marineland 300DD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What does being chosen as MR TOTS mean to you?
Being chosen as TOTS is an honor as there are so many beautiful tanks out there I am proud to get this title. Besides I always look forward to this thread and love to see and hear how these tanks are done and maintained. Now I get to share my tank with everyone else.
How did you get involved in fish/reef-keeping?
It all started at a very young age when my dad got me my first fresh water 29 gallon tank with Oscars and Jack Dempsey?s. I was addicted ever since. My salt water tank came as I got into my late teens and my passion for reef keeping grew once I got a job.
I recall you had a tank in your living room, what size was that one and why did you switch over to this current tank?
I upgraded from my 120 gallon tank system to my current 300 gallon set up Feb 24, 2013 when I finished my basement. I always wanted a larger tank and it was a good time for me to do it.
Tell us about the equipment that runs your tank?
My tank is a Marineland 300 Gallon DD which drains into 150 Gallon acrylic sump. I have a 29 gallon tank attached to my system which holds a few anemones and a pair of tomato clowns that I've had for years and couldn't part with. I also have a 20 gallon long frag tank. I have two Pan World external return pumps. One feeds the return to the tank and the other feeds the other 2 tanks and all my reactors.
As far as flow I have 2 MP60's on opposite sides of the tank. I have 3 Vertex reactors. One with carbon, one with GFO, one with bio-pellets.
Alk, calcium, Mag are provided by my Vertex Duo calcium reactor with an aquarium plant electronic regulator.
As for lighting I use 6 A 360W Kessils LEDs. I made the upgrade from 3 250W Radium metal halides 2 months after I set my tank up. I am very happy with my choice.
The skimmer is ASM-G4 modified out with an extra pump for recirculation. It works well but I will upgrade to a Vertex Alpha Cone 300 once they are available for purchase again. All this is controlled by my Apex system.
What?s your maintenance schedule ?
My weekly maintenance schedule includes a 20 gallon water change using ESV salt. I dose 15ml of vodka daily to my Aquapuri nitrate reactor. I add 10 ml iodine, strontium and amino acids once a week. The skimmer gets emptied 3 times each a week and filter socks are changed twice per week. The carbon and GFO get changed as necessary. As far as the regular parameters, I test once a week , except for Alk, which gets tested every other day.
Do you plan to change anything about your system in the future?
I want to add a Kalk-wasser reactor to my auto top off.
Your tank is so lively..fish everywhere, beautiful corals..what do you have in there?
I have over 50 fish mostly wrasses, tangs and anthais. As for corals I am a mixed reef guy...I have softies, LPS, SPS. I love chalices, favias and open brains and old school SPS corals.
Do you have a favorite coral or fish?
I don't have a favorite fish but I have a favorite species....which is the leopard and tamarin wrasse family . I have a pair of black leopard wrasses ,a potters wrasse, yellowtail tamarin, blue spot tamarin,..my favorite coral is my Oregon Tort, it?s a slow grower but still my favorite.
What is your least favorite part of hobby?
Acro eating flatworms which I dealt with in the past, and red bugs.
Do you name your fish?
Only the ones my wife buys. Lol
Did Hurricane Sandy affect your tank?
No, I got lucky with Sandy I never lost power ...I did buy a 9000watt Genarc gas generator and installed the transfer switch to an outlet outside my house so it?s ready to go .I also bought the conversion kit for it to get it to run with natural gas I just haven?t installed it yet and haven?t run the gas line outside yet .
What has Manhattan Reefs contributed to your enjoyment of the hobby?
I enjoy reading threads and learning from others as well as being able to share my advice and experiences with others. I have made great friends who enjoy the same addiction as I do.
Is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would to thank my father for introducing to this wonderful hobby. A few friends I've made on here...Duke62 and Fishman77 for always helping me out and going on midnight coral runs. I would like to also thank my wife for putting up with me and my craziness, and all the local LFS for providing us with great livestock.
..many thanks to Chuck & his beautiful wife Jaime (who also helped with the pictures!!) for their hospitality and patience in the creation of this thread..
What does being chosen as MR TOTS mean to you?
Being chosen as TOTS is an honor as there are so many beautiful tanks out there I am proud to get this title. Besides I always look forward to this thread and love to see and hear how these tanks are done and maintained. Now I get to share my tank with everyone else.
How did you get involved in fish/reef-keeping?
It all started at a very young age when my dad got me my first fresh water 29 gallon tank with Oscars and Jack Dempsey?s. I was addicted ever since. My salt water tank came as I got into my late teens and my passion for reef keeping grew once I got a job.
I recall you had a tank in your living room, what size was that one and why did you switch over to this current tank?
I upgraded from my 120 gallon tank system to my current 300 gallon set up Feb 24, 2013 when I finished my basement. I always wanted a larger tank and it was a good time for me to do it.
Tell us about the equipment that runs your tank?
My tank is a Marineland 300 Gallon DD which drains into 150 Gallon acrylic sump. I have a 29 gallon tank attached to my system which holds a few anemones and a pair of tomato clowns that I've had for years and couldn't part with. I also have a 20 gallon long frag tank. I have two Pan World external return pumps. One feeds the return to the tank and the other feeds the other 2 tanks and all my reactors.
As far as flow I have 2 MP60's on opposite sides of the tank. I have 3 Vertex reactors. One with carbon, one with GFO, one with bio-pellets.
Alk, calcium, Mag are provided by my Vertex Duo calcium reactor with an aquarium plant electronic regulator.
As for lighting I use 6 A 360W Kessils LEDs. I made the upgrade from 3 250W Radium metal halides 2 months after I set my tank up. I am very happy with my choice.
The skimmer is ASM-G4 modified out with an extra pump for recirculation. It works well but I will upgrade to a Vertex Alpha Cone 300 once they are available for purchase again. All this is controlled by my Apex system.
What?s your maintenance schedule ?
My weekly maintenance schedule includes a 20 gallon water change using ESV salt. I dose 15ml of vodka daily to my Aquapuri nitrate reactor. I add 10 ml iodine, strontium and amino acids once a week. The skimmer gets emptied 3 times each a week and filter socks are changed twice per week. The carbon and GFO get changed as necessary. As far as the regular parameters, I test once a week , except for Alk, which gets tested every other day.
Do you plan to change anything about your system in the future?
I want to add a Kalk-wasser reactor to my auto top off.
Your tank is so lively..fish everywhere, beautiful corals..what do you have in there?
I have over 50 fish mostly wrasses, tangs and anthais. As for corals I am a mixed reef guy...I have softies, LPS, SPS. I love chalices, favias and open brains and old school SPS corals.
Do you have a favorite coral or fish?
I don't have a favorite fish but I have a favorite species....which is the leopard and tamarin wrasse family . I have a pair of black leopard wrasses ,a potters wrasse, yellowtail tamarin, blue spot tamarin,..my favorite coral is my Oregon Tort, it?s a slow grower but still my favorite.
What is your least favorite part of hobby?
Acro eating flatworms which I dealt with in the past, and red bugs.
Do you name your fish?
Only the ones my wife buys. Lol
Did Hurricane Sandy affect your tank?
No, I got lucky with Sandy I never lost power ...I did buy a 9000watt Genarc gas generator and installed the transfer switch to an outlet outside my house so it?s ready to go .I also bought the conversion kit for it to get it to run with natural gas I just haven?t installed it yet and haven?t run the gas line outside yet .
What has Manhattan Reefs contributed to your enjoyment of the hobby?
I enjoy reading threads and learning from others as well as being able to share my advice and experiences with others. I have made great friends who enjoy the same addiction as I do.
Is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would to thank my father for introducing to this wonderful hobby. A few friends I've made on here...Duke62 and Fishman77 for always helping me out and going on midnight coral runs. I would like to also thank my wife for putting up with me and my craziness, and all the local LFS for providing us with great livestock.
..many thanks to Chuck & his beautiful wife Jaime (who also helped with the pictures!!) for their hospitality and patience in the creation of this thread..
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Good job Charlie
