DrHank's Tank's

[lcstorc]

Since the Doc has been around again lately, it makes sense to bring up his chronicle. Perhaps he will put up a new pic.

[DrHank]

OK, it's been a while and I've been working on my tank. Here is a FTS I took last night.



I wish I had a good super wide angle lens but unfortunately I don't. So lets take it in segments from right to left. Here's the right end of the tank.



Moving left this is the next area you see.



The toadstool extends to the sandbed and I built up rock around it. As we move left, this the next area we see.



As you can see, I've kept it a mixed reef. SPS, LPS, and Softies. I've been lucky so far that I haven't had any coral wars. Finally, we arrive at the other end.



Well, I hope that you have enjoyed the tour of my tank. I'm at the point that I'm not really adding much. I do frag once a quarter and take frags to our local reef club meetings.

[ReefLady]

Wow, sweet... that's a beautiful tank. How long have you had that Toadstool? I don't care what anyone says; there's nothing like the shimmer of MH.

The tank looks so natural and healthy. What a huge zoanthid colony in the middle. I think a lot of reefers today are so quick to frag anything that looks nice -- your tank looks like the corals have been able to grow for a while without being "bothered".

Very nice looking slimer too!!

[molsen187]

BEAUTIFUL tank what size tank is it and how long have you had it if you don't mind me asking.

[yungreefer2410]

its 8' or 96'' long. i forgot the width and height but i think its around 26'' and 30''

[molsen187]

i went back and caught up on this thread. that really is an amazing tank you can tell you've worked really hard on it.

[fishkisser]

Ya Know Doc, back in the day when I was a sometime working Jazz Musician Id either hear or play with such monsterly creative musicians that sometimes Id go home in the morning sworn to check out the want ads the next day and find a local pawn shop for my horn.
When I see some of the tanks on this web site like yours I get that same $&*#@%& feeling. Your tank rocks man......or, well actually no it doesn't man....it SWINGS!!! Great tank. Kudos!

Now lets see, where was it I saw that site to sell used equipment?

[DrHank]

Thanks folks. Yea, that tank is the culmination of a good bit of work and patience. The Toadstool was full grown when I got it about 3 1/2 years ago. All my zoas started out as frags of 5 to 10. The GSP rock was a 1" patch.

I got back into the hobby about 4 years ago with my 110 tall. When the fish farm tank became available (cheap) I had to have it. My family thought I was nuts. I rebuilt the tank and had it drilled, built the stand and top and have continued to work on it slowly since.

I do frag my overgrowth but not my main colonies. I leave them alone and you can see the results. I'm at the point that I just maintain what I have. I can't have a frag of everything I see so I'm content with what I have.

Yes, I'll pay the extra price of running 1,000w of MH. I have to have the shimmer. My chiller keeps things at a comfortable 79 degrees.

The tank dimensions are 96"X24"X20" tall. It is a perfect fit on the wall between my great room and kitchen. I like to think of it as my wall of water.

You can all have the tank of your dreams. It takes time and patience (and some money helps). Most of what I have started out as frags. Leave them alone, give them time, excellent water conditions, proper lighting & nutrition and they will grow for you.

[hma]

Glad to have you back Doc

Your tank looking wonderful and healthy, good work

[DrHank]

Thanks Heinz. It's a labor of love. The slower I go, the happier my tank gets. You know exactly what I mean.

[lcstorc]

Beautiful mature tank.
I love the mix of corals. A bit of everything all happy together.

[Paul B]

Thats the kind of tank I like to see.

I started with a slate bottom metal frame 20 gallon tank on a wrought iron stand which should bring back memories for a few of you. The rest will probably wonder what the heck I'm talking about.

If anyone is interested, The reason they originally put slate bottoms on tanks in the late 1800s was because there was no heat in homes and they would put oil lamps under the tank to heat it. Also, it was cheaper than glass.

Yes I am also old.

[Xenomorph25]

Hank, what detrivores do you have in that wonderful tank?

[DrHank]

Nassarius, ceriths, nerites, and two huge serpent stars are the primary ones. There are also two small conchs, a handfull of hermits, an emerald crab, and a coral banded Shrimp. Had a few turbos but they became hermit homes and I never replaced them, just added some more ceriths and nassarius.

I've also got a Purple Tang, a Kole Tang, A Foxface Lo, Lawnmower Blenny, and a Coral beauty that scrounge and pick all over the tank. My Clarki clown also seems to do his part at least twice a week by getting down to the bottom and creating a sand storm.

I'm a firm believer in Lazy. I use my Magfloat 350 with the blade scraper once a week and other than that let the critters at it. Seems the less I do the better the tank gets. I feed once a day and alternate between frozen mash and Nori. Everyone seems happy with the plan. Thanks for asking.

[Xenomorph25]

I've noticed that the biggest hermit in my tank decided he wanted to sport a Turbo shell as well...

Took me a second to realize why he was moving so fast (even for a Turbo), then I saw those little legs...

Took my fiance even longer to realize the hijacking! : )