My 4x2x2 Reef

[Seashell]

Hi All,
I upgraded to a 4x2x2 with a sump back in June. The tank is coming along nicely, so I thought I'd post some pice one here as I know how we all love pics :hehe: It’s setup with a sump for filtration. Most of the stock comes from a smaller tank I had since Jan 07. The aquarium stands on a metal frame which is covered with decorated ply wood. It also has a hood which houses the lights.
Tank specs:
Dimensions
48" x 24" x 24"/122 x 61 x 61 cm
Steel frame boarded up with pine & hood housing the lights
Volume
453 l./100 gal./120 US gal.
Fish
Yellow Tang, Fox Face, Mandarin, 2 x Clarks Clown Fish, 6 Green Chromis, Purple Firefish
Invertebrates
Peppermint Shrimp, Hermit Crabs, Snails, Mushrooms, Gorgonians, Zenia, Star Polyps, Frogspawn, Leather, Pink Hysterix, Plating Monti, Various Soft Corals
Filtration
Deltec AP600 Skimmer, Phosphate reactor, Live rock
Lighting
Fauna Marin Ultra Solaris Lights


Getting all the bits sorted - the tank in the garage:

Sump:

Filling with pre mixed salt water:

Everyone is in:

After about a month:

Algae Bloom:

I thought that I'd go for a 'natural' look - letting the back glass pane get covered with algae:

 

[Seashell]

But then talking with some people about improving the look of my tank, I decided to change the sandbed & clean the back glass.

Here I'm removing the sand.

New sand in:

Settling nicely:

Next day:

And the tank now

 

[Seashell]

Some close ups of my gorgonians:

Taken at night time (lights off):

 

[Seashell]

More pics:

 

[Seashell]

And more Bored yet?

 

[Seashell]

Final few for now

 

[sunburst]

Wow. Thats hot. Some more please. Why did you upgrade your sandbed

 

[sunburst]

Damn thats hot. Your pics are true candy

 

[Mike]

Wonderful Heline, you should be really proud of your tank, it shows loads of tlc

 

[Seashell]

Wow. Thats hot. Some more please. Why did you upgrade your sandbed

The old sandbed looked grey and was just not 'right'.

 

[millepora]

Absolutely love the Gorg’s.
Wow those macro shots are incredibly, lovely tank well done.

 

[Kanga]

Very very very nice Seashell, Something to be proud of

 

[Shaun]

Wow, love the gorgonians.
What do yo feed them?

 

[joe]

What a lovely tank , congratulations Seashell!!

 

[jacquesb]

WOW! Heline! Your tank has REALLY improved A LOT since I last saw the pics! I too just LOVE the gorgonians! How's things otherwise on the top end of the pond? ;-)

BTW: Heline - I just LOVE your photo-taking skills! FANTASTIC!

 

[sandersc]

Hi Heline

You Should be taking pics of reeftanks for a living girl! Love It.

Cheers

 

[Hill]

Nice pics. Really lovely tank. Wait till Viper see those gorgonians.

 

[Tom]

Fantastic pic fest!! Thanks! Very nice.

 

[humz]

stunning pics...i love those gorgonians
beautiful

 

[Mike]

Wow, love the gorgonians.
What do yo feed them?

As i understand it Heline feeds "supergreen" from our local LFS it is a mixture of phyto and othe micro organisms which the gorgs love - apparently - well they eat it anyway and look at the proof, non-photosynthetic corals are not easy to keep at the best of times but those ones look fantastic.