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September Tank of the Month
Eric Davis
Check out the PowerPoint presentation on
Eric's tank by clicking here!
Can you say TANG? I was amazed at the number of tangs
sharing Eric Davis’ 210 gallon aquarium. He even has one in the sump!
The rock work is positioned on the back wall, providing plenty of swimming
room for the fish. But fish aren’t the only attraction. The plating
montiporas in this tank are gorgeous! The pictures simply do not do
justice to the colors of the sps and lps corals thriving under Eric’s
care. This tank is a must see for tang lovers and coral lovers alike.
If you ask nicely he might even let you ride his mini bullet bike! Many
thanks to Eric for taking time out of his busy schedule to showcase
his tank.
1) Your name, location and occupation. Include how long you have been
an aquarist, how long you have been a WMAS member and how you heard
of our club.
Name: Eric Davis
Location: Sandy, Utah
Occupation: Aquarium store Owner (Marine Aquatics)
How long have you been in the hobby? Too long to remember
How long have you been a member of the club? 4 Years
How did you hear about the WMAS? Friends
2) Describe your tank. Acrylic or glass? Size in dimensions and gallons.
How long has it been set up?
Acrylic / Glass:
Glass
Size in gallons: 210
Dimensions:72x24x30
Age (how long has the system been running): It has been up for 8 months.
3) Describe your lighting system, including your photo-period. Add what
you would change if you could.
I am running 3 of the new Marine Aquatics Inc. 400 watt 14K mogul bulbs
with Blue Line electronic ballasts (soon to be switched to our ballast)
No actinic supplement.
4) Describe your filtration system. Include: How deep is your sand bed,
plenum, your skimmer size and model and how long you run it, your circulation
pumps (how many and their size in gallons per hour), your sump/refugium
including Reverse Daylight, biowheels and skilters, HOT systems, clean
up crew.
My sump was made by me out of acrylic. It is 100 gal; about 70gal refug
and 30 sump with a skimmer I made that stands 36” tall and 8” around.
The skimmer uses a MagDrive 5.
I run a MagDrive 36 for the return. I run reverse daylight being controlled
by a Neptune computer.
I also use a fan that speeds up and slows down to simulate wind.
5) What are your maintenance techniques? Include water change schedule.
I don’t do water changes like I should - just too darn busy! Other than
that I count on my clean up crew of over 200 hermits and 50 snails.
6) What additives do you use? Kalkwasser, Strontium, Molybdenum, Iodine,
Magnesium, Other
I use a calcium reactor that I built. No need for the other additives
7) Describe your feeding philosophy. Include your schedule, and what
you prefer to feed your system?
When I feed I don’t turn off pumps or skimmer I figure what they don’t
eat will get filtered out and system cleaned up.
8) DIY ie, Calcium reactor, stand / hood, skimmer, sump, ect. Any Do-it-yourself
items of interest? Web-sites that you may have referenced?
I built my skimmer and my calcium reactor and my Neptune controller
module.
9) Stand and Canopy
Wood: Pine stained like cherry
Color: Cherry
Special Characteristics: Its just nice and tall
10) Items of interest: Favorite or unusual Fish, coral, or invertebrate
Favorite Fish: clown tang,
Favorite Coral: plating montipora
11) Can you include a table showing your elemental levels of Ca+, alkalinity,
S.G., temperature, pH and other interesting testables?
pH is stable at 8.2
Calcium is at 440 ppm
Magnesium is at 1300 ppm
Alkalinity is 1340
Temperature 78
12) What experiences and challenges have you had with the tank? Any
lessons learned? Is there anything you do differently than others (or
differently than previously)? If so, why?
I have learned many, many lessons. I’d have to say the biggest one is
to take things slowly.
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