Armani's Clean Algae (88 gallons)

ArmanitooChar · Aug 15, 2017

Hello I'm new to the forum. I'm beginning my second reef aquarium.

I started a couple of years ago with a 66 gallons (Red sea Max). I had to stop it due to some reasons, but today i'm back again.

I build my tank completely by myself.
Indeed, i did not want to buy a complete system from a famous brand because their aren't perfect for me. So, i decided to buy all what i needed separately.

I'm still in the early stages of setup. I went with Pukani Dry Rock because of its light weight and large surface area. I also think its some of the best looking rock you can buy. After receiving the rock, I decided to give the rock a 24 hour bleach, followed by a 3 hour acid bath and plenty of rinsing to get rid of the dead stuff.

Specification

Aquarium Dimensions: 40”L x 24”W x 22”H @ 88 Gallons
Materials: 4 Sides Optiwhite glasses with translucide silicone, Vertex's PVC
Overflow: 700/gph Overflow Box (From glass-holes), I'm really happy with. Beautiful, small and usefull.
Return: Tunze Recirculation Pump Silence. (Model: 1073.040)
Skimmer: Vertex Omega 150
Sump: UP22 Sumpro Sump - SKIMZ

Enough speaking, let show my first pictures from my iphone 6. In the future i will normally use a reflex's Camera. (I hope so)

Maritimer · Aug 15, 2017

Looks like you're ready for some serious reefing!

Great looking setup.

~Bruce

trevormass7 · Aug 15, 2017

Set up looks great

Tahoe61 · Aug 15, 2017

Welcome to R2R.

Fantastic start.

ArmanitooChar · Aug 20, 2017

BIG updates.

I seeds my Pukani's dry rock with many different products of bacteria (Biodigest&Bioptim, ZEObak, Biodégradeur (french product), Daphbio(frenchproduct).

That's what i dit, I take 6 gallons of salt water (1.025), i insert 8 capsules of both (biodigest&Bioptim), the complete flask of Biobak, the half of Biodégradeur and finally the half of each bottle of bacterias and microfaunas from Daphbio. Then, I insert each of my dry rock inside this bacteria's mixtures during 15 minutes. After that my rocks where completely full of bacterias from many sources and I decided to insert all my Pukani's rock inside my tank with 4 bags of CaribSea Arag Alive - FIji Pink's sand.

During tree days my tank was blurred and i was a bit worried about, but finally all the bacteria bloom faded away and the water is today very clear.

ArmanitooChar · Aug 20, 2017

Two weeks ago, I chose to buy tree radions XR30 G3 150W with a reef link. I was so impatient to receive them by post.
Finally they arrived yesterday at 16h00.

I'm very happy about the design of my Radion's lamps! But of course it's still to early to say if my tank will enjoy them and especially my corals..

I decided to build by myself the rail system for my 3 Radions. I was a bit septic about the final rendering that i should expect, but at the end of the day it was perfect, and i'm very happy with.

Final view of my tank and my computer trying to find the best schedule for my radions. (I still need to do something with the 3 cables of the radions, but i don't find the time yet)

Tahoe61 · Aug 20, 2017

Pretty dang awesome looking.

najer · Aug 20, 2017

Loving this, looks great.

ArmanitooChar · Aug 22, 2017

Progress

I arrange my sump area. I put some acoustic foam all around my sump, to reduce maximum of noise. The result is unbelievable. I don't hear almost anything anymore. That's amazing.

A view of a part of my sump with my Vortex Omega 150 (I love him already, even if during the first week it was so hard to adjust it. he was always over flowing).