★★★ Project " GENESIS (II) 2020 " ★ [ Re-Engineered / REBOOT ] ★ SPS 110G ★★★

[WallyB]

Welcome to my New TANK Thread.

110G Tank Photo (Current) November 2022

This was 110G SPS TANK PHOTO (2020-07-12) But A heat Spike (House AC Failure while away)
** wiped out many of the frags **

TANK (2021-03-16)

Chronologically The Thread continues.....BELOW from the start of the build.


​

What's this TANK THREAD about?

Exactly two years ago after a "House" Plumbing Flood in Basement, I rebuilt my Basement Home Office with a New Larger 110G Tank (from 15 year old 65G).

End result was this New Basement Office Setup

I learned a lot over the 2 years for (SPS Tank Maintenance), and there were brief moments of success (Stability, Coral Growth & Coloration)
However due to many things like Common Accidents, bad habits, etc.....things didn't work out.

Here is the past 2 years.... PROJECT GENESIS (I) Thread

Over last 6 Months, I embarked on one of my Most Complex DIY Projects (a DIY ALK Monitor). TankMate AquaMon Thread

That project got me distracted and kept my Tinkering Hands out of my Tank.....and the Tank improved (but prior SPS Frag damage was done. Few survivors.)

The Alk Monitor completes my Arsenal of DIY Automation, which includes a few other controllers.

Complimenting my Integrated APex Classic, DIY Hybrid T5/LED Lighting and a DIY Sump with Algae Scrubber).

I need these bits of automation to avoid the failures of past, to keep me on top of things, also simplify what I consider painful maintenance (and to avoid/catch issues)

However Nothing is as important as Best Practices.
To me the most important thing is Keeping my Tinkering Hands out of my Tank, and being Patient which equates to (STABILITY).

As important if not more important is NOT doing those lucrative ADDITIVES that may give short term improvements, but in the long run are nothing but trouble.

After 6 months of Stability ( and some fine tune adjustments ) the tank is looking promising...
No Algae, NO CYANO! , Handled the Aptasia Problem...Stable Parameters, Nutrient Import/Export, etc.

The surviving SPS are all perking up. My Damaged Yellow Turbinaria has self Healed.

So Last Night, I scraped off the Worst Damaged Frags and put in some Classic SPS Replacements for a FRESH NEW START.

The JOURNEY BEGINS.....Hoping this time things will go Better!

 

[Fudsey]

Following along Wally ! !

 

[crusso1993]

Like @Fudsey , I'm following along too!

Where did you get the tank? (And don't go saying from the tank store.)

 

[WallyB]

Like @Fudsey , I'm following along too!

Where did you get the tank? (And don't go saying from the tank store.)

It's a "Miracles's Aquarium" Tank (Custom Made to Order) https://miraclesaquariums.com/

 

[crusso1993]

It's a "Miracles's Aquarium" Tank (Custom Made to Order) https://miraclesaquariums.com/

That's what I thought. @JoshH and @FARMBOYREEF have Miracles too.

 

[WallyB]

That's what I thought. @JoshH and @FARMBOYREEF have Miracles too.

I highly recommend Miracles Aquariums.
Great Service, nice people, with attention to Detail/Quality/Perfection.
They are a 45 minutes drive away from my place.
I personally visited the Factory and inspected, adjusted my Tank Design as it was being built.

They made the Custom Overflow, the Custom EuroTrim, including holes (for Cords, Plumbing)
Bracing on inside bottom. I got quality with Starphire Glass, but saved money doing only on 2 viewing sides. My Tank is actually 46" not 48" wide (to fit my Desk, but also kept Glass thinner)
I was surprised by the Black Film they put on bottom and Non-Viewing Overflow sides. At first I didn't want it. Now I love it.

The toughest Design Choice I lost sleep over was Black or Clear Silicone.
I read that black looks slick and doesn't go yellow like clear.
I ended up with Black BUT the one Front RIght side corner is clear (The viewing side, you can see in my office photo).
That to this day is the best thing about the tank. That corner is sparkling clear, seamless and light shines thru....It hasn't tarnished at all in 2 years (mostly because Miracles take extra time to properly trim away excess silicone, and insist on the wait for proper Curing)
Clear Silicone certainly worked better for an In Wall Tank with One corner exposed.

One 2nd last visit I took this Photo at Miracles Factory (TO SCARE MY WIFE).
This is a Massive Dream Tank (that wouldn't fit into any room in our house).
Forget getting it into basement. The 110G was tough/heavy.

 

[MERKEY]

Really cool, thanks for sharing!!

 

[ScottR]

This is going to be good @WallyB. If you can top that last build, I’ll be shocked. You put so much time and effort into it and documented it well

 

[WallyB]

BASELINE ( Water Parameters ) WOW!! NO3/PO4 like never EVER before

New TANK REBOOT needs a Baseline, and I'll admit I did 100 tests on Alk since I was Building the Alk Monitor.
But the Rest, I have tested in weeks. Some Months.

All Tests By Hand and Test Kits (since Alk Monitor isn't yet installed....Working on Stand/Cover)

These to me are Perfect Parameters
( Salinity a bit high, but happens with 2 Part Dosing)
(PH could be higher, but I'll take it VS Lower)​

I was shocked at PO4/NO3. I have Never reached those Target Lows (0.05/5.0) Ever.
The Lowest I ever got P04 was ( 0.10 ) and usually my NO3 was ( around 25, rarely close to 10 )

This is real and here is proof. ( I could tell before tests were done, since colors came up light)

No wonder the Tank is doing better, I kept hands away from Amino Bottles, Reef Roid powder, etc.
I also did small GFO changes EXACTLY EVERY 2 weeks (as recommend by one SPS Guru)

THERE YOU GO (No Additives, and Regular GFO) WORKS for (N&P) for me !!
Well works for Water, but will Corals do well? We'll see. Too soon to say.

NO NEED FOR NoPOX, Vinegar, or Vodka Dosing, or Nitrate Reactor (at least for now)

Great News, since I do have some more fish coming for this DT.

A Labout's Wrasse in Home QT, and Two Fathead Anthias in Paid QT

I'm excited about the Fathead Anthias PAIR, since I loved the one I had, and then (he vanished few months ago).
The PAIR Graduate from QT in next Day or Two. ( I HAVE TO PICK THEM UP) Totally FORGOT!!

 

[WallyB]

This is going to be good @WallyB. If you can top that last build, I’ll be shocked. You put so much time and effort into it and documented it well

Thanks @ScottR ,

IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS NEW THREAD (NEED FEEDBACK)

I want your HONEST Feedback, and anyone else can comment too.

I want this thread better organized. I am thinking for these few improvements.

-> This Thread is more of a Home, and I'll get into general progress/discussion/projects.
--------> The HOME THREAD will have Links to Sister Threads ( [INDEX] ON FIRST POST OF THIS THREAD)
-> For Full Tank Shots, I'll do a Sister-Thread so the Photo's show progress (side by side)
-> Same for the Coral Close up Photos Sister-Thread (Side-by-side for timelines, growth, color changes)
-> As broader topics come up (I'll move off to separate threads, keeping the Master Thread clean)

-> I will keep the way I layout the Posts (with Headings and Color Highlights).
-> PLENTY OF PHOTO's Diagrams with Clear Labeling.

I'm open to other ideas, or skip it.....Pack it all into THIS one thread?

Also do I write (too many words)/(document too much)? I sometimes feel I should talk too much /show less often, since it's too much for readers to read and keep up.

BE HONEST. Thanks.

 

[ScottR]

Thanks @ScottR ,

IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS NEW THREAD (NEED FEEDBACK)

I want your HONEST Feedback, and anyone else can comment too.

I want this thread better organized. I am thinking for these few improvements.

-> This Thread is more of a Home, and I'll get into general progress/discussion/projects.
--------> The HOME THREAD will have Links to Sister Threads ( [INDEX] ON FIRST POST OF THIS THREAD)
-> For Full Tank Shots, I'll do a Sister-Thread so the Photo's show progress (side by side)
-> Same for the Coral Close up Photos Sister-Thread (Side-by-side for timelines, growth, color changes)
-> As broader topics come up (I'll move off to separate threads, keeping the Master Thread clean)

-> I will keep the way I layout the Posts (with Headings and Color Highlights).
-> PLENTY OF PHOTO's Diagrams with Clear Labeling.

I'm open to other ideas, or skip it.....Pack it all into THIS one thread?

Also do I write (too many words)/(document too much)? I sometimes feel I should talk too much /show less often, since it's too much for readers to read and keep up.

BE HONEST. Thanks.

Cmon. You did a great job with the other one. Just continue to update. I think pics are always great especially with the innovative stuff you’re doing.

btw- I missed it. What happened to the other tank?

 

[WallyB]

Cmon. You did a great job with the other one. Just continue to update. I think pics are always great especially with the innovative stuff you’re doing.

btw- I missed it. What happened to the other tank?

Other LPS/Mixed Tank doing fine. Does well on it own. Nothing to do, nothing to show.
I think it's success is the fact that it's loaded with Large LPS and they filter feed.
I could not empty the skimmer for months. SPS tank I have to clean every 3 days. SPS Frags don't filter much (so the system has to do work, the LPS./Shrooms do in the other Tank)
I am doing some corals scaping/pruning and will post a photo.

 

[ScottR]

Other LPS/Mixed Tank doing fine. Does well on it own. Nothing to do, nothing to show.
I think it's success is the fact that it's loaded with Large LPS and they filter feed.
I could not empty the skimmer for months. SPS tank I have to clean every 3 days. SPS Frags don't filter much (so the system has to work)
I am doing some corals scaping/pruning and will post a photo.

So now you have two monsters! I’ll try to stop by and check this out often.

 

[WallyB]

So now you have two monsters! I’ll try to stop by and check this out often.

Two Monsters, and A mini-35G-Monster. Frag Tank is just Aging (No Corals, just two ClownFish).
That I won't activate till I have Alk Monitor on it.

 

[WallyB]

OLD BAD HABITS ( NO MORE ) OVER-REACTION / Additives to Heal / Changes

I just want to illustrate how my OLD BAD Habits, ingrained in me need to be broken by remembering past mistakes.

After New Frags were Added, they look great.
However the Older ones, now look much worse in COMPARISON.

LAST NIGHT.....I caught myself thinking BAD THINGS.
I was thinking, to make changes. Why not some Amino to help healing. Why not some Coral Food.
Maybe lighting is too strong (After Recent Change). Flow might be damaging the Millie (too much? Too little?)

That's exactly what always got me into trouble in past, and I would ruin the new Frags, trying to save the old.

THIS PHOTO show what's happening in my TANK (Related to this TOPIC)

The point is.......DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. That's ruins STABILITY.

Healing Takes lots of time (and STABILITY).

Breaking things is QUICK and EASY.

 

[WallyB]

TANKMATE: AquaMon ALK Monitor UPDATE: ( STAND and COVER finished ) INSTALLATION TIME !!

I finished the Base Stand and the Protective Acrylic Cover.

​

Wood Stand was a Breeze.

However, I never did Acrylic (bonding) before. LEARNED ON YouTUbe.
My lack of skills resulted in rough finished edges, micro-Bubbles, a smear, and one scratch at the back.

Does look nice if not looking up close for flaws, and Most Important (PROTECTS the Delicate Contents)

Now it's time to hook it up to all 3 Tanks. For some Peace of Mind (at least for ALK)

 

[WallyB]

INSTALLED The ALK Monitor on ALL 3 Tanks (Running on SPS Tank for Validation Testing)

All done. Calibrated, PRIMED, and working with no issues.

And it FITS!! (Top is a nice Table, for Clean Stuff only)

Time for some Rest while AquaMon does the work.

Tomorrow, some Excitement, Two new Fish arrive (from QT).

 

[Ranjib]

Exciting, following along

 

[WallyB]

THEY ARE HERE (Grads from QT) !!! ( Sunburt Anthias "FATHEAD" PAIR )

This is the FAT HEAD that disappeared a few months ago. He really made my Tank Sunny.

I never found him, and the Tank Never looked the same without him/her?.

This time I got a Pair. One Small and One Larger for best chances of Pairing and Gender Setting.

They just were acclimated and put into my Refuge to get settled in, before moving to DT.

Barely 5 minutes out of BAG so scared.
At least together.
They will be out soon.

 

[WallyB]

One FATHEAD has Ventured out ( Bigger or Smaller one?? )

This one has beautiful Colors (The Fade to Purple)

Can't tell if this is the Bigger or Smaller one (since Other is Hiding).
Hoping this is the Smaller one, since much smaller than my Last Fathead (But doesn't really matter. Pair is better)
Small is sometimes a good thing. They all grow too big, and small fish find more hiding places than Big Fish.

I fed Frozen, One took a bite (twice) and spit out (just like my old FatHead, till he learned to Eat)
Threw in some of my Hermits from DT to clean the un-eaten food.

I starting to think They will Stay in the Refuge (at least till they eat properly....No Feed Time competition).