10g to 100g Build

[mr.b306]

I never done a build thread but no time like the present to start. I’ve had freshwater tank my entire life and still do. I started in the salt water hobby a little more than 7 years ago with a small 10g setup. There was certainly a lot of trial and error along with highs and lows. One thing I can say is that bi weekly water changes were a pain even though they were only a couple of gallons. Trying my best to keep the tank as stable as I could. Over the 7 years and many upgrades later that little tank was something I was proud of. The attached picture are some of the changes that the 10g saw. It’s nowhere near all of them as I didn’t have all the pictures on my phone from the beginning but I will try and add them here from my computer when I have some time. I made the tough decision so shut this tank down this year and move something’s over to the newer 100g build as in that 7 year time frame I have 2 little ones now and time just wasn’t on my size to maintain the 10g as it needed to be. Next post will be on the 100g build

 

[mr.b306]

In March of 2021 I started to build my custom 100g tank, sump/fuge and stand. The tank was built 1/2 starfire glass and measures 30x30x27 and the sump measures 24x20x16 total water volume of 140 gallons after sand rock etc. calculated water volume is 100g. Tank equipment consists of. Lighting is a Radion xr30 g3, Radion mp40 circ pump, Fluval sea sp4 return pump, quantum nyos 160 skimmer, inkbird controller running an ehiem 300 watt heater and a Tunze 3155 auto top of with a 7 gallon reservoir. The tank has been running since June 2021. It was seeded with some rock and media from the 10g tank to kick start the cycle process and also used a mix of live and dry rock when starting the tank. The end goal for this tank is a full mixed reef including fish, inverts, and a large mix of corals sps, lps,, softies and gorgonians. Think that about covers where I’m at. If you would like to know more please ask.

 

[mr.b306]

Just finished a little rescape to have more ledges for the addition of sps.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank looks good, just wondering if you have any updates on your tank!!

 

[VSVP bet]

^ agreed looks awesome, how are things going?

 

[mr.b306]

Thanks!!
Yes I do! I will get them up shortly, been a crazy last month.

 

[mr.b306]

Been almost 2 months since my last update. Would like to say thanks to those that just posted on my thread and reminded me! Over the last few months I have made a number of changes and update to the tank. I have added a full refuge in the sump to grow macro algae and increase my over all pod population. I have also decided to ad a UV sterilizer to the system to help with insuring things are nice and clean for the SPS. Speaking of SPS I have now added branching monti
(forest fire and tubbs green), monti cap (red), more encrusting monti(rainbow), purple pocillipora, birds of paradise birds nest, acros(avocado, blueberry, green machine, Aussie orchid, green dragon), millepora(star fire). LPS added are pipe organ, red devil Blasto, jacko lantern lepto, and also started a hammer garden. Already had Incredible Hulk and have added, rose gold, pink and orange and a golden hammer. Lastly I added a small collection of mixed zoas(utter chaos, scrambled eggs, and purple people eaters) there is also colony of what I’m hoping will look awesome if and when they decide (shipped Extremely poor) to open pink zoas with grey on the button also on that order was 3 other sps that didn’t make it from shipping delays. The down side to living in Canada in winter. Fish update I have rehomed my bi colour angel as he liked sps for lunch. But have added a flame back angel(still a risk but so far has been great). Rather large photo dump incoming lol.

 

[mr.b306]

Euphyllia Garden really starting to fill in with a beauty piece yellow and blue hammer and a dragon soul torch.

 

[mr.b306]

Happy to be back finally and wanted to update! Just over 2 years ago now we had a major flood in our basement (storm backup). Everything needed to be moved out from the basement including having to have my tank relocated. Tank was moved out very quickly by a LFS who was to look after the tank well the repairs where to be done at the house. Well needless to say they did an extremely terrible job and majorly neglected the tank for the 2 year that they were paid (a lot) to look after the tank. I lost all my corals, inverts and fish well in their supposed care. I did expect some losses as I know that moving a tank especially in a short period of time isn’t easy on the livestock. Long story short the basement is back together finally and the tank is back home. The only thing that was left in the tank was the rock which was so covered in slime(green and red) algae and cyano and green hair algae that I was tempted to toss out and completely start over. Here is my newly restarted tank which is about 6 1/2 months into running. First 2 months were cleaning my live rock to get all the cyano and hair algae out and off. So happy it’s finally progressing again. Open to some feedback back on the new scape of the tank. I’m really happy with it so far.

 

[mr.b306]

Things are certainly starting to fill in!

 

[mr.b306]

Just a little update of where things have gotten to. The tank has seemed to stabilize again though phosphate always seems to creep up and nitrate drops off. Been using chaeto in the refumium which help bring them both down but now nitrates are to low and phos is a bit high. Going to try and reduce the light maybe on the refuge and take out some off the large ball of chaeto and see what happens. Open to any suggestions if anyone has any? That all said the tank I think is looking pretty darn good.