First ever pics of my tank and my corals, enjoy.

[Brad Villeggiante]

So for being a college kid on a budget I think my corals and tank setup is pretty nifty if I do say so myself. Well, the zeo helps too, I just love this stuff.

Here is an overall view of my 40 gallon tank in my room


Here is my lighting


And yet more lighting


My DIY zeoreactor and my seaclone skimmer(yes, I know it's a seaclone but I did some mods and it works pretty well, just look at the foam. And after all it is on a 40 gallon tank so give me a little bit of a break)


Another shot of my DIY reactor


Monti Frag


Stag Frag


?Frag


Mili Frag


?Frag


Possible tri-color frag


Chips Acro Frag


Red Digi Frag


Purple Cap


?Frag


?Frag


Stylo Frag


Sexy Clam


Anthia


Some Zoo's


Brain


Purple Gorgonia(this stuff has grown like crazy since using zeo)


I have more pics but I think that's good for now. Hope you liked some of them. Later.

[CurvBall]

Nice one Brad. It is tough when you're on a tight budget but I reckon you've done an awesome job! Well done. I hope to convert my 20g soon to zeo

How about some system specs and details please. (lighting, circulation, flow through your zeoreactor etc) Thanks.

[Brad Villeggiante]

40 gallon tank

Skimmer:

Seaclone, like I said above I know it sucks but I did some mods and it works ok for the size tank I have. It pulls out a lot of crap in part thanks to zeo

Lighting:

Cooltouch Lighting Canopy with 1x250watt 10K Ushio Bulb, 2x96 watt 10K Vho's
2x96 watt Actinic Vho's.

Zeo reactor:
A DIY reactor with approx. 50gph going through it(at least thats what I tend to remember, I know it is correct with whatever the zeoguide emphasis's)

Water Movement:
1x1100 Rio powerhead
1x600 Rio powerhead
Sump return tube

As of right now I run the 4 basic zeo's along with AAHC's. I started zeo on 12/12/04, and when month 3 rolls around I will be starting zeospur2 along with other undecided zeo supplements.

My tank is pretty basic but it looks good from where I am sitting and thats really all that matters. Cheers, and thanks for taking a look

[fkadir]

Excellent, its full of potential and will be a beauty once the frags grow out. BTW, does having a reef tank help with the chicks?

[Brad Villeggiante]

I can't wait for my frags to grow out, it will be great.

Well I can't really tell you if it helps with the chicks or not because I have been dating the same girl for a little over 4 years. She likes it exept when she sleeps over and can't fall asleep because of the pumps(so I bought her earplugs). I on the other hand have gotten very used to the noise and it no longer affects me. She does think it is beautiful though so yeah I guess it does help with the chicks.

[CurvBall]

Hey Brad,

"Purple Gorgonia(this stuff has grown like crazy since using zeo)"

Those look like star polyps which could explain their ever increasing growth rate.

About the girls... my fiance pretty much hates my fishtank but she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to marry me We just don't talk 'fish' and she calls a 'fishfreak'. I'm just trying to convince her that my big tank would take up as much time as my 20g....

[Brad Villeggiante]

I am pretty sure that it is a purple gorgonia and not star polyps. I know LiveAquaria.com sells the same thing and they call it a gorgonia. I do agree though that it does look like star polyps, but up close they are slightly different.

[Heinz]

nice, brad if you got more pictures, keep em coming

[Brad Villeggiante]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/IMG_7094.jpg



Thats it, these ones aren't as great but I sure do love my fish. I also have a mandarin who is very healthy but he didn't feel like coming out at the time I was taking the pictures.

[CosmoKramer]

Brad,absoloutly beautiful,i love the Anthia.Great job on the DIY zeo reactor.I'd be intrested in some details on the skimmer upgrade if you don't mind.Keep up the great work

[scottw]

looking good

[Brad Villeggiante]

Well to honest with you Cosmo I have only made one upgrade. I noticed that my seaclone had a bad problem with sucking in unwanted air because the tubes that went from the pump to the skimmer where crappy. I siliconed all of my tubes on the skimmer creating an air tight seal. After doing that my seaclone worked %100 better. I am in the process right now of saving up for a Euroreef but like I have said before, being a college kid dosen't help too much in the funds department, it's going to be awhile.

[Diesel3443]

Tanks coming along nicely I feel your pain Brad Im in the same boat. Just think of the tank you can have when you graduate As for Skimmer you might want to look at the ASM skimmers--same design and pump as Euroreef but made from diff material to save in cost. I am on a budget and decided to go with an ASM and love it.

[Brad Villeggiante]

Thanks Sean, I am going to look into those ASM skimmers right now.

I know I can't wait until I graduate and hopefully land a well paying job, why, to buy a bigger and better tank of course!!!. It will be nice some day to be able to do things the way the big guns do it.