Jan. 2004 Update: The DSB has been completely removed. The tank is now being run bare-bottom with only the LR and skimmer being used for filtration. I have decided to go this route because with 4 eductors going the sand would by always on the move. I had 2 large rock slides due to undermining before removing the DSB. I have found the tank is much clearer without the sand. So far maintenance is a breeze. Just a little siphoning when detritus builds up under some of the LR. Most of the detritus gets caught by the CLS pumps, which get cleaned at least once a week.

I have replaced the plastic brace across the tank with an acrylic one. I did this so I can add a third Metal Halide directly above it without adding a huge black shadow in the tank. It is 3 pieces of acrylic bolted and glued on the ends. I used Weld-On 16 to cement the acrylic to the plastic that is around the aquarium itself.

The Critters (so far):
 Kole Tang
 2 Turbo Snails
 3 Bumblebee Snails
 15" Black Brittle Star
 Pencil Urchin

Jan. 2004 Update: Check the specs page for a current list of critters.

The entire setup is controlled by an Aquacontroller II microprocessor. This is a great piece of equipment, and a real time saver. The ballasts for my lights are in the crawlspace below my house, and the Aquacontroller II allows me to control the lights without ever going down there. The microprocessor keeps its own time, so when the power goes out, you do not have to reset all of those wall timers again. It runs on the X10 technology.

I know the tank seems kinda weak for someone who has supposedly been doing this for over ten years; here is my excuse: during our Christmas vacation of 2002 the heater on my 55G saltwater aquarium was unplugged (I still have no idea how). I lost nearly everything in the 55 when the temperature in the tank fell to 55F. The only things that survived are the tang, the urchin, and the star. All of the corals in the tank died off, including an insane amount of encrusting gorgonia. Luckily for me, I had already started setting up the 125G tank when this happened. The 125 had been running for just over two months. When we got home and discovered the tragedy, I slowly heated the 55 back up to its normal temperature (78F). I then moved all of the survivors into the 125, and left the rest to either die off or come back. I have a cup coral trying real hard to come back, so I moved it to the 125. One thing I have learned about this hobby - you must take it slow or bad things happen.

Jan. 2004 Update: The cup coral was fraged into 2 tiny 1" pieces. These two pieces are doing remarkable. I am seeing new growth on them, well as much as you can expect from such a slow growing coral.