1000 Gallon 3D Hole in the wall

[Harlequin Mania]

Doing my water change last weekend,with some advance planing during the build it can be done within minutes.

The storage / mixing tank for water change ( 6 ft x 3 ft x 4ft )

Throwing in the salt into the water and mixing it up with a pump.

The connection piping for pumping the new water into the main tank inside the fish room.

 

[Harlequin Mania]

During water change, i will open both the valve( Top & Bottom) for water to drain out from the main tank using gravity flow and out to the drainage below. The bottom valve is not shown on the photo.

The check valve will help to prevent backflow when i pump the water from the mxing tank .

 

[Harlequin Mania]

The water is kept cold mainly via the mitsubishi 1HP aircon running in the room during the day time, together with the compressor drop in coil as the backup . The Aircon is able to keep the water cool between 26-27 degree, which if reached too high the backup compressor will take over.

Reason for being a little bit of " Kiasu" is because i had heard too much story of chiller break down or aircon down. Having both will serve as a backup just in case one fail, the other one can took over immediately. The aircon in the room is set on timer to run from 8am - 11 pm during the day , while my ventilation fan on timer will kick on at 12pm till 7am to keep the room ventilated. Base on the data obtain from my apex, the drop in chiller only run twice during the night which is pretty comfortable.

 

[Harlequin Mania]

A new webcam to check on the aquarium anything anywhere

 

[Harlequin Mania]

It has been the second week after removing my P04 remover from my system , and the nutrient removal process is now depending only on my two refugium tank together with Bio pallets mixed with the all in one pallets. I did my second week of test and the result has been satisfactory

Po4 - 0.012 ppm( Drop from 0.020 from last week )
Nitrate - 0.2 ppm ( Drop from 0.5 ppm from last week )
Mg - 1410 ppm
Ca - 400 ppm
KH - 7 dKH
SG - 1.025
Temp - 26 - 27 degree
PH - 8.23 - 8.38

I still get a thick and dark skimmate from the skimmer.

I think maybe i have to increase the feeding alittle bit more now as too low the nutrient is not too good as well. Next , I am planing to rise up the salinity of the water this week to 1.026 to see the effect on the corals .

 

[Harlequin Mania]

My second set of MP60 Wes finally arrived !

 

[Harlequin Mania]

Recently i discover that one of my SPS in my QT tank started STN from below and in order to try saving it, i have to frag the colony up . But strangely it doesn't help though, and the few balance frags which i fragged keeping turning white, and that it when upon close examination i discover various biting mark on the SPS itself. Suspected AEFW infection although i cant see with physical eye inspection of any, so i dip the frags with a few drop of Iodine lugol solution , and that is when pink flat pcs of worm being to appear ..

The SPS frag with various bite mark .

Small tiny flat worm left on the tray after the iodine dip.

The Iodine solution that i use

The villain behind this !

 

[Harlequin Mania]

My new 3 part dipping process for all newly purchase corals .

Step 1
Physical eye inspection for any sign of eggs.

Step 2
Pail 1 - Coral RX Dip for 5 ~ 10 min ( This is effective in removal of nudi, worm but not AEFW that i experience )

Step 3
Pail 2- Bayer compete 5 min( whatever the first dip doesnt kill, this should work )

Step 4
Pail 3 ( White ) - Clean tank water to clean the coral before adding into the main tank and those pest that die off from the first two dip should begin to fall off at this stage.

With a help of a turkey blaster to "Blast " those pest off !!

Some of the pest that come dropping off die after the dip.

The pro of using this method , i would say it should remove 80% or 100% of the pest including hairy crab but the cons of it, it also remove the " Good Acro carb" that came along with the SPS.

 

[Harlequin Mania]

Some update of photos of the tank . It has been amazing to witness the changes in color for some of the SPS in my tank watching it turning from a ugly ducking to a beauty

which i believe is what the ultimate aim of all SPS keeper is aiming for.

3 month ago photo

Present

 

[Harlequin Mania]

This should be the purple valida if i am not wrong ? Used to be almost all brown when a friend pass to me.

After few months

 

[Harlequin Mania]

This is my favourite Gem pcs in my tank now. Maybe someone can ID for the exact name of this Tennis ?

Before

Now

 

[Harlequin Mania]

Another personal favorite

Month before

Present

 

[Harlequin Mania]

Growth of some of the corals

Photo taken a month ago

Present

 

[ammari33]

WaaaaaaaaW

 

[ReefKeeperMark]

WoW amazing build amazing tank.

 

[427HISS]

Man,....what an amazing build and corals !!!!!!!!

Can you explain in much detail,...... your exact process, products used, hints and advice, etc.,......for your dip ?
Only when you have the time, would very much appreciate it !

I would like to purchase some high quality Live Rock, and want to perform a dip.
How will it do for Aiptasia and the nasty tiny acropora snails ?

Kevin

 

[ammari33]

Awesome Job ..
Which Chiller are you using?

 

[revhtree]

Awesome!