220 Gallon SPS Reef Build

[JonoH]

Amazing video! It really highlights the intricacies of creating a mixed reef...not an easy achievement and you have done it to perfection. Everything looks so vibrant and healthy, both fish and corals. I also envy your collection of tangs. I have a yellow tang (the self-appointed tank boss) and would love to add another but I don't think the yellow would stand for it. And as the "duly elected" sheriff guess I'll choose keeping the peace rather than trying to add another tang.

Thank you!
Would love to add a Blonde Naso to the collection, but nervous my Yellow will beat it up! Its super chill until something invade's its territory.

Can't wait to see photos of your new frags!

Pic's in-coming! Just letting them acclimate in the frag tank currently.

 

[JonoH]

Here are some pics of the latest purchases.
'Firetruck' Acropora Rosaria


Derek's Indecision (Stag)


Green Glitter Leptoseris


And Candy Canes (this is the one that was meant to be 3 different types LOL), actually have some of these in my tank for over 3 years now and they are so slow growing - the neon green one's are meant to be a lot faster!


Can't remember if i posted these a while back, but managed to pick up some nice frags of Echinata.



Also have another lot of corals coming.
Grafted Cherry Blossom
Grafted Digi
Fox Flame
Miyagi Tort
Red and Purple Grafted Monti

Just need to find space for them in the tank now...

 

[JonoH]

Finally caught my second Blue Tang this morning...took a week to get it confident enought to go into the trap.
And the trap popped in half... allowing it to escape.

Anyway...
Also had another shipment of new frags this week.
New Vivids Confetti - keen to see if this is different to my current one.


Grafted Cherry Blossom - This one looks great, really hoping it grows out well


Fox Flame


Electric Miyagi


Purple and Red Plating Monti


Grafted Digi


Did an ICP a couple of weeks back, which came up mostly good, just a few minor adjustments which i wouldnt normally stress over - but decided to follow it. And colours have started to pop more!
Finished the adjustment doses so will send off another ICP this week to see if its all showing perfect now.

 

[JonoH]

Re-homed this little guy over the weekend - nice to have a new fish (first one in ages!)


Also my Goni Garden is growing

 

[JonoH]

Well...Glass has been ordered for the frag tank upgrade, been battling with space in there for ages now, so its much needed!

Will look like the below -

Wouldnt be me without a 3d render of it... :-)

Also have a Flame Angel coming this weekend...plus some Birdsnest Colonies (have no idea where I am going to fit them!)

 

[JonoH]

Re-homed a stack of corals over the weekend, just a couple of quick snaps of some, most are still acclimating.

New Flame Angel - Having a rough time with the Bristletooth Tang currently, so will move him into my Frag tank if they don't settle down.

Some new Torches (my Kids told me 'finally'!)

Heaps of new Goni - all grumpy and closed up currently...

And a few Birdsnests

 

[DarkReefer]

Sure will be! But one very carefully planned! :-)

No room behind or beside for an external ATO? Could always use a few Reefcan's instead, but not sure if the Cade ATO would have the depth for the dryside anyway...
You def have better flow with the powerheads on the sides - the Cade's are designed with this in mind as you can then get a caddy and frag tank to the side also.

Sorry mate, don't remember seeing your reply. Just came to check it out just in case because I thought it'd been quite for a while and low and behold there's a heap of updates!

There's a small amount of room behind and beside but like being able to open the side panels and the reefcan things look to be too small, the ATO on the cade is about 72L I believe and sometimes will near on be empty after 2 weeks so the volume kind of works.

The upcoming frag tank looks like it'll be a great fit and the new additions look awesome.
I've found my bristletooth tang to be a jerk as well (even my previous one I had a couple years ago before I moved interstate was a jerk). If the missus wasn't fond of it, it'd be gone by now.

 

[JonoH]

Sorry mate, don't remember seeing your reply. Just came to check it out just in case because I thought it'd been quite for a while and low and behold there's a heap of updates!

There's a small amount of room behind and beside but like being able to open the side panels and the reefcan things look to be too small, the ATO on the cade is about 72L I believe and sometimes will near on be empty after 2 weeks so the volume kind of works.

The upcoming frag tank looks like it'll be a great fit and the new additions look awesome.
I've found my bristletooth tang to be a jerk as well (even my previous one I had a couple years ago before I moved interstate was a jerk). If the missus wasn't fond of it, it'd be gone by now.

Yeah updates seem to turn on and off sometimes! Must be a site bug.

Have more coral coming today...I think I have a problem haha

Fish have all settled now, so must just be a 'teach the new guy whose boss' for a day or so, they are all swimming and eating together now no problems!

Have a bit of STN going on one of my coral's at the moment also, first time I've had it happen so not quite sure what caused it. The only change i made was dosing some elements to match the latest ICP test.
Going to send off another ICP this week just to be sure.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Finally caught my second Blue Tang this morning...took a week to get it confident enought to go into the trap.
And the trap popped in half... allowing it to escape.

Anyway...
Also had another shipment of new frags this week.
New Vivids Confetti - keen to see if this is different to my current one.


Grafted Cherry Blossom - This one looks great, really hoping it grows out well


Fox Flame


Electric Miyagi


Purple and Red Plating Monti


Grafted Digi


Did an ICP a couple of weeks back, which came up mostly good, just a few minor adjustments which i wouldnt normally stress over - but decided to follow it. And colours have started to pop more!
Finished the adjustment doses so will send off another ICP this week to see if its all showing perfect now.

Lots of nice corals there! It's an addiction I tell you.

 

[DarkReefer]

Yeah updates seem to turn on and off sometimes! Must be a site bug.

Have more coral coming today...I think I have a problem haha

Fish have all settled now, so must just be a 'teach the new guy whose boss' for a day or so, they are all swimming and eating together now no problems!

Have a bit of STN going on one of my coral's at the moment also, first time I've had it happen so not quite sure what caused it. The only change i made was dosing some elements to match the latest ICP test.
Going to send off another ICP this week just to be sure.

Haha crazy, I'm jealous though. I'd love to keep adding corals but most end up dying in my tank, or being eaten!

Glad to hear the fish have settled down. Keep an eye out though just in case. Mine were going fine for a while other than a little chase here or there, then turned out the bristletooth was trying to starve out my sandsifters and ended up killing them (pretty sure it was that fish as it was the only one to really chase them).

I haven't done an ICP in forever, probably worth doing.

 

[JonoH]

Haha crazy, I'm jealous though. I'd love to keep adding corals but most end up dying in my tank, or being eaten!

Glad to hear the fish have settled down. Keep an eye out though just in case. Mine were going fine for a while other than a little chase here or there, then turned out the bristletooth was trying to starve out my sandsifters and ended up killing them (pretty sure it was that fish as it was the only one to really chase them).

I haven't done an ICP in forever, probably worth doing.

Def worth an ICP - it could be why your having issues with coral.

Have you tested your PAR also?

 

[DarkReefer]

Def worth an ICP - it could be why your having issues with coral.

Have you tested your PAR also?

Nah, haven't checked PAR.
I'm only running 4x XR15's and only at about 40-45%. Every time I try and crank them up the algae goes nuts. I don't understand how people smash so much light on their tanks and get away with it (obviously better balance in the tank, but frustrating as hell).

 

[JonoH]

Nah, haven't checked PAR.
I'm only running 4x XR15's and only at about 40-45%. Every time I try and crank them up the algae goes nuts. I don't understand how people smash so much light on their tanks and get away with it (obviously better balance in the tank, but frustrating as hell).

Have you tried increasing the bio-diversity? Basically add in some live rock from a different tank - even into the sump?
Perhaps also try doing some large phyto and pod doses?
Had some coral arrive yesterday from Queensland, was sure it was going to be all dead, as the courier didnt turn up till 6pm (was sent express which is meant to arrive between 9-10am in the morning).
Thankfully it was packaged really well, and it wasnt a hot day here, so it all seems ok.

Frag is looking a little sad, but should improve over the next week or so. I find the size of frags sometimes pretty funny - when i sell these, they are 4-5 times this size! In fact I fragged my 'Rods Real Teal' Stag about a week ago, and took like 8 huge frags off it...probably more classed as mini colonys compared to this!

Cherry Bomb Acropora Tenuis

Got a couple of new Monti's also, but they are pretty closed up from the long shipping still.

Flame Angel is happy and schooling with all the other fish now, just took 2 days for the others to tell it who is boss first!

 

[DarkReefer]

Have you tried increasing the bio-diversity? Basically add in some live rock from a different tank - even into the sump?
Perhaps also try doing some large phyto and pod doses?
Had some coral arrive yesterday from Queensland, was sure it was going to be all dead, as the courier didnt turn up till 6pm (was sent express which is meant to arrive between 9-10am in the morning).
Thankfully it was packaged really well, and it wasnt a hot day here, so it all seems ok.

Frag is looking a little sad, but should improve over the next week or so. I find the size of frags sometimes pretty funny - when i sell these, they are 4-5 times this size! In fact I fragged my 'Rods Real Teal' Stag about a week ago, and took like 8 huge frags off it...probably more classed as mini colonys compared to this!

Cherry Bomb Acropora Tenuis

Got a couple of new Monti's also, but they are pretty closed up from the long shipping still.

Flame Angel is happy and schooling with all the other fish now, just took 2 days for the others to tell it who is boss first!

I did buy a 1L bottle of pods recently and added that to the tank, mostly in the sump though.
But other than that, no. Haven't bothered to do the rock yet. I suspect I'll have to wash/rinse it with some RO separately to try and get any die off, off of it before I chuck it in the sump, it's old live rock from my previous tank for memory and has been stored for a few years.

It's cool you get home delivery of the corals. I always worry about buying online. I'm unsure if it's normal or not but I've known of several places where apparently they only deliver to the airport and you have to go pick it up... and stuff doing that.
I think I did that once when I first moved over here and that was to get most of my corals/fish sent across that the LFS back in WA held for me.

 

[JonoH]

I did buy a 1L bottle of pods recently and added that to the tank, mostly in the sump though.
But other than that, no. Haven't bothered to do the rock yet. I suspect I'll have to wash/rinse it with some RO separately to try and get any die off, off of it before I chuck it in the sump, it's old live rock from my previous tank for memory and has been stored for a few years.

It's cool you get home delivery of the corals. I always worry about buying online. I'm unsure if it's normal or not but I've known of several places where apparently they only deliver to the airport and you have to go pick it up... and stuff doing that.
I think I did that once when I first moved over here and that was to get most of my corals/fish sent across that the LFS back in WA held for me.

Ive done airport to airport, and its not too bad....But Adelaide Airport is nothing like Sydney, and only takes me 25mins to get there! (Compared to Sydney, Adelaide is like a small country town, we are smaller than Parramatta!).

Home delivery is ok, just need to be home so you can deal with it straight away, this is the first time one has been late, every other time they have been bang on time. (Have bought from Aquamarine, Reeftopia, Gallery Aquatica)
There's a guy in Sydney on facebook called 'Matt's Frag's' I did airport to airport with, and he was great also.

Could you pick up some rock from your LFS that has been in their sump at all? Or from a local doing a tank shutdown - thats how I filled mine.

 

[JonoH]

Something I have never done over the last 2 years is any sort of sump cleaning. But when @DarkReefer posted about Aiptasia in his Reefmatt, i checked mine out and found i had the same - never seen any aiptasia in my tank or any other part of my sump, perhaps because there are peppermint shrimp living in there, but the reefmatt seemed to be the place for them!

So after 2 years I pulled the reefmatt out, as it was due to have a new roll anyway, and gave it a citric acid bath for an hour. It was pretty filthy and had heaps of sponges growing off it, as well as various sorts of snail.



Back in the tank and will see how this effects my nitrates in the next day or so!
I also siphoned out the area under the reefmatt while it was out, and filled a 10L bucket with old detritus.

Skimmer will be next on the list, then the pumps.

 

[DarkReefer]

Ive done airport to airport, and its not too bad....But Adelaide Airport is nothing like Sydney, and only takes me 25mins to get there! (Compared to Sydney, Adelaide is like a small country town, we are smaller than Parramatta!).

Home delivery is ok, just need to be home so you can deal with it straight away, this is the first time one has been late, every other time they have been bang on time. (Have bought from Aquamarine, Reeftopia, Gallery Aquatica)
There's a guy in Sydney on facebook called 'Matt's Frag's' I did airport to airport with, and he was great also.

Could you pick up some rock from your LFS that has been in their sump at all? Or from a local doing a tank shutdown - thats how I filled mine.

Yeah, I have to fly around the country occasionally for work. Adelaide is pretty chill for sure LOL. I don't think I've even seen peak hr traffic happen there!

I think I did home delivery once (again with the previous LFS that stored my stuff, after they had to send a 2nd shipment to correct something). I'd definitely order online more if it was delivered to home. I work 5 mins from home so even if I'm not home, I'd see it on cam and be able to be there quick smart if it was left.

I could, but I don't trust my LFS (the closest one). Pretty sure their tanks/corals are the reason I have such a big aiptasia outbreak. I think I bought some from them when I first set up the tank (just some smaller pieces), so I'll take my chances using the really old rock and cleaning that I think LOL.

Something I have never done over the last 2 years is any sort of sump cleaning. But when @DarkReefer posted about Aiptasia in his Reefmatt, i checked mine out and found i had the same - never seen any aiptasia in my tank or any other part of my sump, perhaps because there are peppermint shrimp living in there, but the reefmatt seemed to be the place for them!

So after 2 years I pulled the reefmatt out, as it was due to have a new roll anyway, and gave it a citric acid bath for an hour. It was pretty filthy and had heaps of sponges growing off it, as well as various sorts of snail.



Back in the tank and will see how this effects my nitrates in the next day or so!
I also siphoned out the area under the reefmatt while it was out, and filled a 10L bucket with old detritus.

Skimmer will be next on the list, then the pumps.

You probably did yours much 'smarter' than me. I spent what felt like 30 minutes under a hot running tap with a toothbrush scrubbing mine down... lol. I too need to do the pump and probably skimmer. Least u got it sorted! Hopefully they stay banished for a while!

 

[JonoH]

Few shots from last night with no filter.




Had a small amount of STN showing on the base of 2 of my corals, so decided to run a course of CIES (Coral Infection Elimination) through the whole tank (i have used this previously on my Hammers and it works great at stopping bail out and infections).
A week later, it seems to have stopped the STN, but will continue to monitor it.

Picked up a new larger reactor for my GFO also, as what i put in just doesnt quite seem to be cutting it - man its huge, so need to re-jig a few things to fit it into the cabinet.

 

[JonoH]

Frag Tank Glass has arrived!
Not to test my silicone skills - actually have ordered a battery powered caulking gun to make this a little easier, so will wait till that has arrived before this goes together.


This weekend will be helping my 16yr old set up and plumb his new Cade freshwater tank!

Designed a Custom Frag Rack that i am getting machined up to fit this also - should look like the below all going well.

 

[DarkReefer]

Frag Tank Glass has arrived!
Not to test my silicone skills - actually have ordered a battery powered caulking gun to make this a little easier, so will wait till that has arrived before this goes together.


This weekend will be helping my 16yr old set up and plumb his new Cade freshwater tank!

Designed a Custom Frag Rack that i am getting machined up to fit this also - should look like the below all going well.

Nice mate, lookin forward to seeing it set up.
I've got one of those battery caulking guns... Not too sure I like it tbh but I don't have experience using a manual one, manual looks to be easier or more controllable to me though after using the auto... not a huge fan. Hopefully works well for you though