[jvharding]

Thanks for posting the pictures you have awesome systems. How long have you had your Achilles? I use the Blue line pumps as well they are small but run very hot. I have noticed that it is good to take it apart occasionally to clean the impeller system you would be surprised what you will find in there!
when I cleaned mine a very noticeable output change.

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by jvharding

Thanks for posting the pictures you have awesome systems. How long have you had your Achilles? I use the Blue line pumps as well they are small but run very hot. I have noticed that it is good to take it apart occasionally to clean the impeller system you would be surprised what you will find in there!
when I cleaned mine a very noticeable output change.

I've had this Achilles a litte more than a year. I have never taken apart the pumps to check them. Sounds like something I should do one of these days and see what they do look like. I run 6 Bluelines on the 600 gallon tank. It's getting them primed that's always a big problem for me.

[jvharding]

True, that is what prompted me to take them apart I have 4 of them and what I have found is that the impeller is quite unique in the fact that it is very hard to describe but the holes seem to fill up with sand and gravel I had to physically pry some of the crap out of it. Believe it or not I found hair in there. No worrys about taking these apart they have a great gasket system and comes apart easily and does not leak when reassembled!

[lynnvangsnes]

Tell me something, Chuck; Why acrylic? is it the weight?

[e_baer]

well, i know im not chuck, but i beleive acrylic is a bit stronger than glass. it also weighs a lot less.

and when you have that amount ofmoney into something that nice, it would be a bummer to bump the wall just a little too hard.

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by lynnvangsnes

Tell me something, Chuck; Why acrylic? is it the weight?

Weight had some to do with the decision, but the biggest reason I chose acrylic was that the manufacture of the tank and stand was 200 miles from my home. I visited the factory before my purchase and was amazed at their work. I left the factory that day with the sump/refugium in these pictures in my truck, and placed an order for them to build canopies for my 210 AGA and 150 AGA tanks. After I got home and having seen some of the big tanks they were building in their shop, I wanted one. A couple of weeks later, I placed my order for the 470 tank & stand. Another factor in my decision was the carity of an acrylic tank vrs. a standard glass tank. 5 of my 9 tanks are acrylic and if I were to do another it would be acrylic. They require a little more care in cleaning, but you can't beat the view when compared to glass.

[bri74]

I think I speak for all of us here when I say "holy#@$@!" that is amazing. No really that is beautiful you have done a terrific job on this.

[ElizabethPou]

You have an impressive tank and I really like the lobster. This tank looks like a lot of work. Do you maintain it yourself and is to time consuming to maintain?

[lynnvangsnes]

Yeah ebayer...acrylic is stronger, and it more expensive, and gets scratched by just lookin' at it. I was curious about Chuck. He obviously has like 12 tanks, he must have a specific reason...well whaddayasay Chuck?

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by ElizabethPou

You have an impressive tank and I really like the lobster. This tank looks like a lot of work. Do you maintain it yourself and is to time consuming to maintain?

I have a friend from the LFS that stops by once a week to give me a hand in maintaining the tanks and equipment. Tuesdays are normally the day I check water parameters, do filter and water changes in the tanks. Generally takes about 5 hours to complete. It's not that bad when you consider the total water volume and number of tanks involved.

[tanked001]

wow nice tanks!!!!

In time I hope to move up to larger tank..

[jimw369]

OK. Im impressed. Awesome tank!

[WILLIAM1]

The clarity is super in your tank, any suggestions for other reefers. UV added filters????

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by WILLIAM1

The clarity is super in your tank, any suggestions for other reefers. UV added filters????

I belive that filtration is the key to both a successful, clear and clean tank. I think that the most important part would be the skimmer, followed by mechanical (filter socks or canisters), and chemical (carbon, phos ban). UV helps, but the other three are more important IMO.

[waynedejno24]

chuck just wondering where you got he tank from? been looking for a bigger tankand having problems

[ladydragon55]

WOW!!! That is stunning! The clarity, the life, the fish, everything. Now do you sell tickets to the kids in the area to come into the aquarium? Your tank looks better than most of the ones we pay to go see. Great job! Wonderful pictures!!!

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by waynedejno24

chuck just wondering where you got he tank from? been looking for a bigger tankand having problems

My acrylic tanks were made by the Aquarium Company in Winthrop, MN.

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by ladydragon55

WOW!!! That is stunning! The clarity, the life, the fish, everything. Now do you sell tickets to the kids in the area to come into the aquarium? Your tank looks better than most of the ones we pay to go see. Great job! Wonderful pictures!!!

Thank you! I was getting so many kids from the neighborhood stopping wanting to look at the tanks, I had to start limiting it to one weekend a month. Last winter, I would get kids offering to shovel the walks and drive if I would show them the tanks. Better than charging admission... Kids favorite...Marcus the Octopus.

[gimmito]

Chuck, Awesome tank !! I'm hoping to upgrade to a 180-280 in-wall in the future. I was thinking of doing a glass tank with a starfire front, but I might check out acrylic. I'm leaning towards a deltec skimmer and korallin calcium reactor. Any suggestions when I upgrade ?

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by gimmito

Chuck, Awesome tank !! I'm hoping to upgrade to a 180-280 in-wall in the future. I was thinking of doing a glass tank with a starfire front, but I might check out acrylic. I'm leaning towards a deltec skimmer and korallin calcium reactor. Any suggestions when I upgrade ?

That should make for a nice size tank. My glass tanks are made by AGA which does not use starfire. I have never seen a starfire glass tank in person, but I understand them to be very nice. The AGA tank have a tint of green to them, which I really didn't notice until I got my first acrylic tank.

Maintenance is the biggest difference IMO. Glass tanks are much easier to clean and maintain. They are much harder to scratch. Acrylic require a lot more time and care. They do scratch easily. Acrylic tanks are lighter and have been told that they are stronger. Larger acrylic tanks are probably going to be less money compared to a starfire glass tank.

Deltec makes a super skimmer. I've had my share of skimmers and they are by far the best that I have used. If they weren't so exspensive, I would say not to look at any thing else. My personal experience make me believe that the skimmer is the most important part of your system. Which ever brand you choose, don't skimp on the size. If you get a 210 gal tank, and the skimmer is rated up to 220, go to the next size skimmer.

I am not familiar with korallin reactors but I have read that they are very good. On my big tanks, I use Reef-Mania and have been happy with their performace.

[Dustin1300]

Tank looks great!!! I wish I could afford something gigantic...

[mmedley]

if your filtration set for all of your tanks or just the 600g? what's your estimated set up cost if you don't mind me asking......i want to get up around the 200g tanks some where in the next year or two....

[Goodwin9]

Originally Posted by jvharding

Thanks for posting the pictures you have awesome systems. How long have you had your Achilles? I use the Blue line pumps as well they are small but run very hot. I have noticed that it is good to take it apart occasionally to clean the impeller system you would be surprised what you will find in there!
when I cleaned mine a very noticeable output change.

I took apart my oldest Blueline pump last weeked. There was a lot of junk in it. I was surprised at how easy it was to do. Thanks for the suggestion!

[jvharding]

No problem want to see those tanks healthy! Beautiful systems, Just a FYI those pumps seem to last forever I have one 7 years old!

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Goodwin9

I've had this Achilles a litte more than a year. I have never taken apart the pumps to check them. Sounds like something I should do one of these days and see what they do look like. I run 6 Bluelines on the 600 gallon tank. It's getting them primed that's always a big problem for me.

Are they starting easier for you now that you cleaned it?