My visit to Austin, Texas

September 1, 2007: I decided to drive down to Austin to visit some of the gorgeous reef tanks I've only seen online. With the help of the Austin Reef Club, we were able to make it a Tank Tour for the day. Fortunately the weather cooperated.

Dallis & Marcus' 600g tank

Marcus is GMFett on ReefCentral.com

Two reefers share this tank, and are both going to college studying to be lawyers. Dividing the costs between themselves, they've created a beautiful piece of the ocean. The tank is lit with three 400w 12,000K Reeflux bulbs in Luminarc III reflectors. Two Tunze Waveboxe and motion, while several Stream pumps create in-tank flow. The tank is acrylic, with several cross braces, and the huge canopy is secured to the ceiling, barely floating above the top of the tank. All kinds of Deltec gear keep the water clean, and a closed loop helps move all the water around as well.

Here are a few full tank shots, since it can be viewed from 3 sides.

Blastomussa

Blue sponge

This clown was pretty friendly in the Gigas clam

A few pretty acropora sp.

All these are Echinophyllia

A stunning Efflo, with hosting Clown Goby (not my idea!)

Gigas Clam

Acropora humilis (perhaps)

Speaking of acropora, I want to dwell on this next Acropora yongei, aka Bali Green Slimer. t is such a huge stunning and beautiful piece. FYI, if Marcus and Dallis had to break down this tank, they would need a large trashcan to hold this coral as one piece. Yes, it is THAT big! Try looking around the images for something to compare for a sense of scale.