Bigfudge
See, what had happened was...
Hello all! BigFudge here!
Bear with me! This is going to be a significantly long post. Documenting my journey over the last 3 months!
I’ve been a long time lurker here on the forums for a number of years and have always had an interest in Reef Keeping.
A little bit about myself; I started with Planted Aquariums about 5 years ago as a form of my own “therapy” after hitting a pretty low spot in my life and got about as deep as you could get into it. CO2 injection, high lighting, automation. You name it, I had it, including MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome). Being that I knew I wanted to eventually at some point jump to the saltwater side of things, I had purchased four things that could form dual purpose and be used for reef keeping at a later time, IE an, RODI Unit with 40 Gallon reservoir tank, an Apex Aquarium Controller, an ATI Dimmable Sunpower (6 Bulb) and an Apogee Par Meter.
Flash forward to about four months ago. I had just got out of a pretty significant break up and decided that it was “now or never” to start into the Reef Keeping side of things. I’m in my mid 30’s, no kids, and a great career so I reasoned that before I got settled down and started having kids (If that ever actually happens), it would be in my best interest to spend the money now, so I wouldn’t have to spend it later.
I started perusing Craigslist and came across a used CADLights Artisan 100gallon. I had researched them before and already knew about their plumbing issues but I figured I could deal with it and make it work. I purchased the set up (the seller threw in a Bubble Magus Curve 5 Skimmer, Tunze ATO, Media Reactor, Jaebo return Pump and a Bubble Magus Doser as well).
I knew I wanted to set things up right, or at least try to, and started working an insane amount of overtime to purchase quality gear from the start. I also decided I wanted to go the full Triton method out the gate.
With that in mind, I purchased:
I also knew that I wanted to run a Herbie Drain and therefor I needed to drill another hole in the overflow. I knew it was going to be tight but wanted to give it a shot (risky I know!). With the help of my brother, and after measuring once, twice, three times, I found that if I used another larger bulkhead from CADlights, I could make it fit. Placed the order for the replacement Bulkheads (I went ahead and replaced all of them) and after I received them, I drilled the new hole. It was tight, but it fit!
I cut and dry fit all the plumbing together and quickly found that with the aquarium stand along with the Synergy Reef TS-34, space was at a premium and I wouldn’t be able to do it exactly how I wanted. I also found that with everything being so tight in the overflow area, fitting Unions right below them would be impossible. Furthermore I found that I couldn’t use the FMM Module since I didn’t have enough room to install the Flow Monitors. Being impatient and out of ideas, I plumbed everything the best I could. I knew my 3/4” return plumbing was going to significantly limit my return flow but wanted to see if I could make it work.
I purchased 100lbs of dry rock from the guy who sold me the tank, purchased a masonry bit, some hydro concrete mix, and some acrylic rod and took a week designing the aquascape. I ordered my sand ( a mix of MiniFlakes and MesoFlakes) as well.
About three days prior to my sand arriving, I started pre-mixing my Saltwater in Brute Trashcans. When the sand arrived, I setup the aquascape, put in the sand and filled her up.
I decided to do a fish-less cycle and already had ordered some Ammonium Chloride and Dr Tims Bacteria.
I kept the lights off, added what I thought was the correct amount of Ammonium Chloride and tested with my Salifert Ammonia Kit. When it didn’t register what I thought it should, I did what all newbs do…I added more Ammonium Chloride.
After testing it again, I had a sinking suspicion that my kit was bunk and I had probably made a grave mistake. I researched and found that the Salifert Ammonia Kits commonly have issues with Ammonium Chloride so I went and purchased an API Ammonia Test Kit. After testing it again, I found that my Ammonia was off the Charts!
Rather than doing a water change, I decided to try and wait it out. I tested daily and found that after about three weeks I was no longer showing any ammonia, or nitrite but my nitrate was sky high. I dosed up to 2ppm ammonia and within 24 hours it was completely gone with no Nitrite. Cycle Complete!
I setup my Spyglass reactor with a mix of GFO and Rox Carbon.
I went onto AlgaeBarn and put an order in for some Clean Chaeto, Red Ogo Macro Algae, Red Pom Pom Macro Algae,some Sea Lettuce and some PODs. After receiving it, I threw it all in the Fuge and turned on my Kessil H380. I kept the photo period short for a couple weeks then upped it. I monitored my Nitrate and noticed that it was lowering.
About this time I had decided on my color spectrum for my ATI Sunpower and had put in 4 Blue Plus Bulbs, 1 Coral Plus and 1 Purple Plus. I set my photoperiod at about 6 hours and decided that I was going to add my first coral to the tank. I went to a reputable reef shop here locally and purchased a red mushroom colony, a hippo tang and a pair of Gladiator Clowns. When I returned home I set up my Quarantine Tank, put in my newly acquired fish and started the quarantine process.
After securing the fish in QT, I dipped my mushroom in some CoralRX and put it in the tank. Soon after I realized that I had forgot to purchase food for my new friends so I went to another reef shop closer to my home and walked away with not only fish food, but a new Duncan Coral and a Tyree Green Toadstool as well. =).
Ended up back home, Dipped my new corals and further added them to the tank.
About two weeks later, the Corals looked healthy but I noticed I had an outbreak of Diatoms and Hair Algae. The Hair Algae wasn’t too bad and I noted that it appeared to have come in on the Mushroom colony.
I continually tested my parameters till I started noticing a drop in ALK (about a week ago) at which time I decided it was time to start dosing Triton. After messing with the Bubble Magus Doser, replacing a bad motherboard and still having issues, I ditched it and purchased two Neptune DOS units. I set up my Triton Dosing Regimen and started testing daily till my ALK was 8.2 where it currently sits.
I finished QT and put in my new friends into the aquarium and so far they’re loving life. The Hippo Tang has been eating the hair algae along with algae flake food that I’ve been feeding daily. Last week I purchased an order from ReefCleaners but it still hasn’t shipped so I’m hoping it’ll ship soon.
As of last night:
Things I’m not happy with and planning to fix:
Well that pretty much sums up my 1st post. I’ll update this hopefully soon with better pictures! Any comments, Suggestions, Tips are always welcome! I am new to this hobby and appreciate any help I can get!!!
Thanks everyone!
Bear with me! This is going to be a significantly long post. Documenting my journey over the last 3 months!
I’ve been a long time lurker here on the forums for a number of years and have always had an interest in Reef Keeping.
A little bit about myself; I started with Planted Aquariums about 5 years ago as a form of my own “therapy” after hitting a pretty low spot in my life and got about as deep as you could get into it. CO2 injection, high lighting, automation. You name it, I had it, including MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome). Being that I knew I wanted to eventually at some point jump to the saltwater side of things, I had purchased four things that could form dual purpose and be used for reef keeping at a later time, IE an, RODI Unit with 40 Gallon reservoir tank, an Apex Aquarium Controller, an ATI Dimmable Sunpower (6 Bulb) and an Apogee Par Meter.
Flash forward to about four months ago. I had just got out of a pretty significant break up and decided that it was “now or never” to start into the Reef Keeping side of things. I’m in my mid 30’s, no kids, and a great career so I reasoned that before I got settled down and started having kids (If that ever actually happens), it would be in my best interest to spend the money now, so I wouldn’t have to spend it later.
I started perusing Craigslist and came across a used CADLights Artisan 100gallon. I had researched them before and already knew about their plumbing issues but I figured I could deal with it and make it work. I purchased the set up (the seller threw in a Bubble Magus Curve 5 Skimmer, Tunze ATO, Media Reactor, Jaebo return Pump and a Bubble Magus Doser as well).
I knew I wanted to set things up right, or at least try to, and started working an insane amount of overtime to purchase quality gear from the start. I also decided I wanted to go the full Triton method out the gate.
With that in mind, I purchased:
- Synergy Reef TS-34 Triton Sump (Storm Cloud)
- Synergy Reef 5 gallon ATO Container (Storm Cloud)
- Kessil H380 LED Refugium Light
- 2 EcoTech Vortec MP40’s
- Neptune COR20 Return Pump
- Apex FMM Module
- Apex WXM Module
- Apex Breakout Box
- Second Apex EB8
- Avast Marine Spyglass Reactor
- A ton of Blue PVC, fittings, gate/ball valves, some unions and metric to standard adapters to go from the funky CADLights Plumbing to regular sizes.
I also knew that I wanted to run a Herbie Drain and therefor I needed to drill another hole in the overflow. I knew it was going to be tight but wanted to give it a shot (risky I know!). With the help of my brother, and after measuring once, twice, three times, I found that if I used another larger bulkhead from CADlights, I could make it fit. Placed the order for the replacement Bulkheads (I went ahead and replaced all of them) and after I received them, I drilled the new hole. It was tight, but it fit!
I cut and dry fit all the plumbing together and quickly found that with the aquarium stand along with the Synergy Reef TS-34, space was at a premium and I wouldn’t be able to do it exactly how I wanted. I also found that with everything being so tight in the overflow area, fitting Unions right below them would be impossible. Furthermore I found that I couldn’t use the FMM Module since I didn’t have enough room to install the Flow Monitors. Being impatient and out of ideas, I plumbed everything the best I could. I knew my 3/4” return plumbing was going to significantly limit my return flow but wanted to see if I could make it work.
I purchased 100lbs of dry rock from the guy who sold me the tank, purchased a masonry bit, some hydro concrete mix, and some acrylic rod and took a week designing the aquascape. I ordered my sand ( a mix of MiniFlakes and MesoFlakes) as well.
About three days prior to my sand arriving, I started pre-mixing my Saltwater in Brute Trashcans. When the sand arrived, I setup the aquascape, put in the sand and filled her up.
I decided to do a fish-less cycle and already had ordered some Ammonium Chloride and Dr Tims Bacteria.
I kept the lights off, added what I thought was the correct amount of Ammonium Chloride and tested with my Salifert Ammonia Kit. When it didn’t register what I thought it should, I did what all newbs do…I added more Ammonium Chloride.
After testing it again, I had a sinking suspicion that my kit was bunk and I had probably made a grave mistake. I researched and found that the Salifert Ammonia Kits commonly have issues with Ammonium Chloride so I went and purchased an API Ammonia Test Kit. After testing it again, I found that my Ammonia was off the Charts!
Rather than doing a water change, I decided to try and wait it out. I tested daily and found that after about three weeks I was no longer showing any ammonia, or nitrite but my nitrate was sky high. I dosed up to 2ppm ammonia and within 24 hours it was completely gone with no Nitrite. Cycle Complete!
I setup my Spyglass reactor with a mix of GFO and Rox Carbon.
I went onto AlgaeBarn and put an order in for some Clean Chaeto, Red Ogo Macro Algae, Red Pom Pom Macro Algae,some Sea Lettuce and some PODs. After receiving it, I threw it all in the Fuge and turned on my Kessil H380. I kept the photo period short for a couple weeks then upped it. I monitored my Nitrate and noticed that it was lowering.
About this time I had decided on my color spectrum for my ATI Sunpower and had put in 4 Blue Plus Bulbs, 1 Coral Plus and 1 Purple Plus. I set my photoperiod at about 6 hours and decided that I was going to add my first coral to the tank. I went to a reputable reef shop here locally and purchased a red mushroom colony, a hippo tang and a pair of Gladiator Clowns. When I returned home I set up my Quarantine Tank, put in my newly acquired fish and started the quarantine process.
After securing the fish in QT, I dipped my mushroom in some CoralRX and put it in the tank. Soon after I realized that I had forgot to purchase food for my new friends so I went to another reef shop closer to my home and walked away with not only fish food, but a new Duncan Coral and a Tyree Green Toadstool as well. =).
Ended up back home, Dipped my new corals and further added them to the tank.
About two weeks later, the Corals looked healthy but I noticed I had an outbreak of Diatoms and Hair Algae. The Hair Algae wasn’t too bad and I noted that it appeared to have come in on the Mushroom colony.
I continually tested my parameters till I started noticing a drop in ALK (about a week ago) at which time I decided it was time to start dosing Triton. After messing with the Bubble Magus Doser, replacing a bad motherboard and still having issues, I ditched it and purchased two Neptune DOS units. I set up my Triton Dosing Regimen and started testing daily till my ALK was 8.2 where it currently sits.
I finished QT and put in my new friends into the aquarium and so far they’re loving life. The Hippo Tang has been eating the hair algae along with algae flake food that I’ve been feeding daily. Last week I purchased an order from ReefCleaners but it still hasn’t shipped so I’m hoping it’ll ship soon.
As of last night:
Things I’m not happy with and planning to fix:
- Return Flow Rate and overall turn over through the sump is low - my algae bed does not turn and there doesn’t appear to be much flow through the Fuge, even after adding a powerhead. My plan is to order a 1” SeaSwirl and re-plumb my return from the pump at 1 1/4” PVC to 1” at the FMM Flow Module. This should give me the ability to open up my 1 1/4” Herbie drain and tune it for more flow through the sump to reach the 10x turn over volume. I will also be re-purposing the old return line as a “quasi-drain” line. Or just capping it off. I’m not sure just yet.
- Things are too tight underneath the stand and I’m pretty OCD about wiring. Initially I had made a panel on the right side to mount all my aquarium controller modules and misc. electrical stuff but it’s a dang mess and I can’t access any of it. I’m currently in the process of building an APEX Cabinet that will be next to my aquarium to mount and house my APEX, Modules, and anything Electrical. I will re-wire everything once that is complete and mount my DOS pumps either in the Cabinet, or under the aquarium, I’m not sure yet.
- Adding lighting in the stand that automatically turns on when I open the door. I have all the required equipment, I just need to wire it up when I get space. I also am planning on buying an APEX 1Link to free up some outlets. The 1link should power both DOS’s and my COR20.
- This Hair Algae is starting to tick me off. It not out of control but I need to sit down and figure out what the problem is. My Hanna Ultra Low Phos Reader says I have .02ppm PO4. I might just try my CUC and see if it returns after they clean it up.
Well that pretty much sums up my 1st post. I’ll update this hopefully soon with better pictures! Any comments, Suggestions, Tips are always welcome! I am new to this hobby and appreciate any help I can get!!!
Thanks everyone!
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