220 Gallon SPS Reef Build

[JonoH]

Small update - New Reactor installed.
Wasnt happy with the small reactor I put in to run GFO (Rowaphos) - didnt really seem to be working properly, so ended up ordering one that was actually rated to the correct size tank - was genuinly suprised by how large it was when it arrived!

Installed it last night in the end, bit of janky plumbing and had to prop it up temporarily on bricks, but its working already as I tested the Phosphate coming out the end of the hose, and it was half what the tank was testing at.



Its a learning curve though having something outside the sump - makes me really nervous about a hose leaking or splitting.

 

[DarkReefer]

Small update - New Reactor installed.
Wasnt happy with the small reactor I put in to run GFO (Rowaphos) - didnt really seem to be working properly, so ended up ordering one that was actually rated to the correct size tank - was genuinly suprised by how large it was when it arrived!

Installed it last night in the end, bit of janky plumbing and had to prop it up temporarily on bricks, but its working already as I tested the Phosphate coming out the end of the hose, and it was half what the tank was testing at.



Its a learning curve though having something outside the sump - makes me really nervous about a hose leaking or splitting.

Ooo nice!
Its been so long since I used rowaphos I was looking at it thinking what the heck is it, then I remembered it's black/brown and would just be in the bottom section there!

 

[JonoH]

Did a bit over the weekend.

Deep cleaned my GW-7 Skimmer, the foam had been a bit average lately, when it was taken apart, the pin wheel was clogged with detritis and rubbish. Now its back to like new!


Reactor has been working a treat, numbers are testing back to what i'm a lot more comfortable with!


And finally started on this project -

Went with the Silicone injection technique, big learning curve and would do thinks differently if I ever did this again, but seemed to work ok (other than my glass supplier messing up a few things!)

Some progress pics below - will update once i water test...

 

[DarkReefer]

I do love a black silicone on the tank.
Miss the waterbox for that, it looks good!

 

[JonoH]

And it holds water!
At least - a partial water test :-), need to install my bulkheads before i can do a full test.


Had the pumps off during the day yesterday for a change, so got some nice top down shots of the Acro's in full light.

 

[JonoH]

Today was the official 2nd Birthday of this tank (not counting the old tank it transferred from!)

Got the sides and back blacked out on the new frag tank, and the overflow plumbing done with the bulkheads.
Propped it up and did full water test - all works great.

Just need to decide when to swap over now.

 

[JonoH]

2 Years in Progress Pics
Day 1

Year 1

Year 2

 

[DarkReefer]

You can really see the growth changes!
And the unicorn tang, wow he grew big quick!

Looks as good as ever mate, happy 2nd anniversary!

 

[JonoH]

New Frag tank installed over the weekend.
Had a small window of about 4hrs to get it done on Saturday so thankfully everything went to plan!
This tank is 100L bigger than the old one, which has added some more volume to the system.

 

[JonoH]

Test from last night, everything looking nice and stable at the moment.
Expecting some uglies in the new frag tank, but nothing yet. (Planning on adding some fish into here to help with this)

 

[DarkReefer]

Test from last night, everything looking nice and stable at the moment.
Expecting some uglies in the new frag tank, but nothing yet. (Planning on adding some fish into here to help with this)

Shouldn't be anything too crazy though right, isn't it plumbed to the main system?

 

[JonoH]

Shouldn't be anything too crazy though right, isn't it plumbed to the main system?

When I first connected the old second tank, it got almost like a Dino like algae in it until it started growing corraline.
Nothing too serious, but I did have to keep siphoning it out. I'm hoping that by adding some fish in it will help.

 

[DarkReefer]

When I first connected the old second tank, it got almost like a Dino like algae in it until it started growing corraline.
Nothing too serious, but I did have to keep siphoning it out. I'm hoping that by adding some fish in it will help.

Yeah okay. I just assumed if it was connected to an existing tank then it's basically the same thing just 'bigger'.
Interesting to know there's still an 'ugly' phase though!

 

[JonoH]

Got keen last night and fragged my budding scoly's off the main Scoly skeleton!
Tiny things, hope they survive (I have a seperate thread where I originally fragged my Warpaint Scoly).

Also got a nice shot of my Grafted Cherry Blossom which has been settling in nicely.

 

[JonoH]

Got my new light for the frag tank today - finally trying out one of the A8 LED's.
Hooked up easy as, connected into the app with no issues, and set to AB+, still need to test the PAR but will do that once I have the new frag rack in.
Rigged up my own LED Holder also (bit of Black Ally on some Glass clamps) - will probably hang it from the ceiling eventually properly, but needed to get this done before I head to Sydney at the end of next week.

Cut out a heap of Xenia last night also (stuff grows like a weed, and I cant get rid of it completely!)
Also trimmed up my Kryptonite and Tabling Teal (which is currently Brown) as they were growing into each other, ended up moving my Pink Digi colony lower in the tank at the same time.

My old egg crate frag rack was super high in the new Frag tank, so rigged up a quick temporary rack with some left over egg crate to make it a lot lower, some of the stags were starting to breach the water!

Also have a rock in there that was in the old Frag tank, always intended on making another Zoa rock but just didnt have the space on the old frag rack, stuck 4 different varietys on it last night to let it all grow out.
It may end up in the tank...or sold (idk).

If the A8 holds up well...I may end up ugrading all my old Hydra's to them!

 

[DarkReefer]

Got my new light for the frag tank today - finally trying out one of the A8 LED's.
Hooked up easy as, connected into the app with no issues, and set to AB+, still need to test the PAR but will do that once I have the new frag rack in.
Rigged up my own LED Holder also (bit of Black Ally on some Glass clamps) - will probably hang it from the ceiling eventually properly, but needed to get this done before I head to Sydney at the end of next week.

Cut out a heap of Xenia last night also (stuff grows like a weed, and I cant get rid of it completely!)
Also trimmed up my Kryptonite and Tabling Teal (which is currently Brown) as they were growing into each other, ended up moving my Pink Digi colony lower in the tank at the same time.

My old egg crate frag rack was super high in the new Frag tank, so rigged up a quick temporary rack with some left over egg crate to make it a lot lower, some of the stags were starting to breach the water!

Also have a rock in there that was in the old Frag tank, always intended on making another Zoa rock but just didnt have the space on the old frag rack, stuck 4 different varietys on it last night to let it all grow out.
It may end up in the tank...or sold (idk).

If the A8 holds up well...I may end up ugrading all my old Hydra's to them!

Some juicy tank shots there! looking great!

How did you go about the xenia removal?
Mine's starting to get a bit out of hand in some areas and will no doubt need to cull it back a bit at some point!

 

[MegabiteOG]

Got my new light for the frag tank today - finally trying out one of the A8 LED's.
Hooked up easy as, connected into the app with no issues, and set to AB+, still need to test the PAR but will do that once I have the new frag rack in.
Rigged up my own LED Holder also (bit of Black Ally on some Glass clamps) - will probably hang it from the ceiling eventually properly, but needed to get this done before I head to Sydney at the end of next week.

Cut out a heap of Xenia last night also (stuff grows like a weed, and I cant get rid of it completely!)
Also trimmed up my Kryptonite and Tabling Teal (which is currently Brown) as they were growing into each other, ended up moving my Pink Digi colony lower in the tank at the same time.

My old egg crate frag rack was super high in the new Frag tank, so rigged up a quick temporary rack with some left over egg crate to make it a lot lower, some of the stags were starting to breach the water!

Also have a rock in there that was in the old Frag tank, always intended on making another Zoa rock but just didnt have the space on the old frag rack, stuck 4 different varietys on it last night to let it all grow out.
It may end up in the tank...or sold (idk).

If the A8 holds up well...I may end up ugrading all my old Hydra's to them!

Your setup looks fantastic. Very nice work!

 

[JonoH]

Some juicy tank shots there! looking great!

How did you go about the xenia removal?
Mine's starting to get a bit out of hand in some areas and will no doubt need to cull it back a bit at some point!

If you can get your hands to the base, then generally it will rip off the rock its mounted to.
Otherwise a new/sharp razor blade and just slice them off as close to the rock as possible.
Just be careful with any polyps that escape, as these can re-grow a whole new one! I tend to turn off pumps and wavemakers so there is no flow.

 

[JonoH]

Your setup looks fantastic. Very nice work!

Thanks!

 

[JonoH]

Happy to report also that with the new Reactor installed, my Phosphates have been super solid at around 0.09-0.1.



Alk has risen a little but I ran out of Coral Essentals Carbonate + Trace, and had all the raw ingredients to make my own, the only issue being that Randy's recipe is about 1/2 the strength, so having to dial it in again!