BackbayReef's 90gal Frag

[backbayreef]

This lagoon / frag system was built as a temporary solution to break down my 175gal and while upgrading to the 450gal. The original intention was to ultimately combine the two tanks since they are next to each other. Well, this 90gal system took a life of its own and a year later, it was outfitted with a controller, ATO, high-end lights, wavemakers, kalk, reactors, etc. I have no more desire to combine the two tanks. Also, keeping things separate allows for disease control and experimentation. This tank can be used as a grow-out tank, with highest pH & alk for faster growth.

Therefore, it's less confusing for the readers and myself to separate into its own build thread. I will repopulate the build from this thread: 450g CDA + 90g Lagoon

Tank setup
Tank/stand: 90gal (66x30x12, 1" thick) by Advanced Acrylics
Sump: ClearWater CW-50 by Adaptive Reef
Heater: 300w titanium heaters by BRS
Light: (2) Radion G6 Blue by Ecotech
UV Light: 40w Classic UV by Aqua Ultraviolet
Return Pump: Vectra M2 by Ecotech
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 5000INT
Controller: Hydros XP8 & X4
Wavemakers: (2) Ecotech MP40s

Fish List
Blue tang, purple tang, fox face, (2) clowns & (4) damsels

 

[backbayreef]

Continuing where we left off in the other thread...
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/backbay-reef’s-450gal-upgrade.1066683/post-13986989
We got our baseline today after removing the calcium reactor

7.5ppm Nitrate
0.06ppm Phosphate
7.0dKH Alkalinity

 

[backbayreef]

Did major fraggings last night

 

[backbayreef]

It was a mess but managed to clean it all up before the Home Boss found out! ;)

I love these new fragging tools. My old ones rusted so threw them away.

 

[backbayreef]

Made the following frags:
CC Voodoo Majick
TSA Bill Murray
TSA Fruity Pebbles
JF Flame
PC Superman
Tanzanite Terror
2 wild frags
+several other Tenuis that I forgot their names

Found 2 babies of the 2-color Jawbreaker mushrooms that I thought melted! Woo hoo!

 

[backbayreef]

Looking at the pH curves - we definitely need to fine-tune and reduce swings. By increasing alk from 7.0 to 8’ish, pH should rise…

I’ve also checked salinity, it’s at 1.024sg so need to raise it up.

 

[backbayreef]

Note to self - once alk & pH are stable, install the CO2 scrubber that's sitting in storage. Our goal is to peg pH as high as possible...

 

[backbayreef]

Latest plan:
1. Don't touch anything until getting another alk reading tomorrow
2. Once daily alk consumption is obtained, increase AF Pro 1/2/3 in equal amount. our goal is to get closer to 8dKH with pH above 8.3 at all times
3. Raise SG from 1.024 to 1.025 (why? cause I'm OCD)
4. Wait for a week or two - if stable, install CO2 scrubber. Again, need to peg pH > 8.3

Kalk should be responsible for 80% of the alk/ca supplementation and we'll fine-tune with AF Pro 123 dosing.

Thoughts?

 

[fishguy242]

 

[backbayreef]

@fishguy242 - you crack me up! TGIF bro and glad you’re back again.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

You know I have to follow this!

 

[backbayreef]

You know I have to follow this!

You are the Oracle of R2R! lol

 

[backbayreef]

Now that I know that SPS is finally taking off — going to splurge on some high-end frags this Xmas! Hope Santa is listening???

I’ve been good all year … I swear!

 

[backbayreef]

Moved from a monstrosity of CaRx + traces to 3-part dosing + traces! It’s a lot cleaner downstairs…

 

[backbayreef]

I’ve asked ChatGPT to do a cost comparison between CaRx + traces, BRS + traces, moonshiners, and AF Pro. Looks like AF Pro is a winner for this tank!

Rank	Method	Total Annual Cost
1	Aquaforest Pro 1/2/3	$430-450
2	Moonshiners + ICP	$500-600
3	BRS + TM A-/K+	$630-660
4	CaRx + TM A-/K+	$650-700

EDIT: I’ve normalized and recalculated based on only 25mL/day so only $250/year (two 5L bottles each). It’s not bad — will see.

 

[backbayreef]

Today’s alk: 7dKH (unchanged from yesterday)

Dosing 20mL/day using AF Pro 123. Going to increase to 30mL/day to see. Goal is to get to around 8dKH.

 

[backbayreef]

Still 7dKH today before Pro2 (alk) dosing schedule. I’ve manually added another 50mL so we should be close to 8 and hold steady. Will test next week but looks like we’re good and stable.

 

[backbayreef]

Frag Tank update

 

[backbayreef]

Got a blue Gigantea last night. Fingers (and tentacles) crossed…

 

[backbayreef]

Day 2: mouth still closed and tentacles opened a little. It managed to move to the top of the rock structure though.