BrokenReefer’s 150G build thread
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OP
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BrokenReefer
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It looks way more blue in the pictures, it isn’t that blue in reality. That’s one thing I’ll need to work on, how to properly set the iPhone camera settings.
I’m running the stock Helius program in the Icon app, eventually I would like to tweak it but running so new with no corals I’m fine with it.
I’m running the stock Helius program in the Icon app, eventually I would like to tweak it but running so new with no corals I’m fine with it.
dstockwell
2500 Club Member
Lookin good !
OP
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BrokenReefer
Well-Known Member
Everything has been clicking along just fine, no issues to speak of. I added a few bubble tips, originally had two and I thought that I had lost one, so I got another one… well, I didn’t lose it, it was just retracted. So now I have three BTAs for my four (4) clowns, maybe one day they will host in them. I also have a few encrusting montipora, one acropolis (but I think it’s getting burned by the lights, which I’m in the process of adjusting height on this weekend), and a couple others that I’m not 100% certain on. I thought they might have been cyphastrea, leptoseris, and possibly a stylo.
I just changed my light settings (mirror @MantisReef settings) so hopefully the corals start to look better. the acro (Purple Stylo) was doing good at first but now it looks like it has been getting blasted by my lights causing it to bleach. I’m hoping that I can save it, I need to keep reading posts on how to save a bleaching coral.
Current FTS:
I just changed my light settings (mirror @MantisReef settings) so hopefully the corals start to look better. the acro (Purple Stylo) was doing good at first but now it looks like it has been getting blasted by my lights causing it to bleach. I’m hoping that I can save it, I need to keep reading posts on how to save a bleaching coral.
Current FTS:
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BrokenReefer
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Long overdue update:
Lost all corals, thought I lost the bubble tip but come to find out one of them split, so now I have three.
Didn’t realize how high my nitrates and phosphates were until 4-5 months ago. Been working to get them down to acceptable range(s); which I finally did through several 30+ gallon water changes and dosing Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance. Brought those in to a good range and held there for a while. I have to pull out some dead frags and rearrange some of the new ones I got. I have two goni, hammer, a few acans, some zoas, and a couple ricordia.
And then I decided I wanted to increase my sump size (Trigger Platinum 34 to a Trigger Titanium 39) … which then led me into ordering a new overflow (Modular Marine 1600gph) … which then led me to completely gut the bottom of my stand and redo everything.
And that’s where I sit today. In the middle of drywall repairs, stand painting, drywall painting, all new 1” pvc drain lines and return line; new return pump; new heaters. The sickness is real.
All of this to the point of, I should have laid out the sump area better the first time and planned for future expansion. live and learn.
Oh yeah and I have taken over the basement bathroom to soak all of my accessory items and old sump in citric acid for days to get a nice good clean on it.
———
I will add that this “upgrade” has had several unplanned setbacks: 1) the overflow dimensions I gave to MM were wrong so the first one was way off; 2) I mis-ordered pvc pipe and had to reorder twice (pvc and fittings); 3) drywall and painting was not originally planned but needed since the bottom of the stand will be open and not covered.
The tank has been without water changes/exchanges for a few weeks now, all the fish are doing great, thankfully the water level is low enough and my powerheads high enough that they are churning the water surface and bring air into the tank. I will likely be losing a few frags due to these set-backs of my doing; however, coming out the other side I should have a much more solid setup.
Lost all corals, thought I lost the bubble tip but come to find out one of them split, so now I have three.
Didn’t realize how high my nitrates and phosphates were until 4-5 months ago. Been working to get them down to acceptable range(s); which I finally did through several 30+ gallon water changes and dosing Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance. Brought those in to a good range and held there for a while. I have to pull out some dead frags and rearrange some of the new ones I got. I have two goni, hammer, a few acans, some zoas, and a couple ricordia.
And then I decided I wanted to increase my sump size (Trigger Platinum 34 to a Trigger Titanium 39) … which then led me into ordering a new overflow (Modular Marine 1600gph) … which then led me to completely gut the bottom of my stand and redo everything.
And that’s where I sit today. In the middle of drywall repairs, stand painting, drywall painting, all new 1” pvc drain lines and return line; new return pump; new heaters. The sickness is real.
All of this to the point of, I should have laid out the sump area better the first time and planned for future expansion. live and learn.
Oh yeah and I have taken over the basement bathroom to soak all of my accessory items and old sump in citric acid for days to get a nice good clean on it.
———
I will add that this “upgrade” has had several unplanned setbacks: 1) the overflow dimensions I gave to MM were wrong so the first one was way off; 2) I mis-ordered pvc pipe and had to reorder twice (pvc and fittings); 3) drywall and painting was not originally planned but needed since the bottom of the stand will be open and not covered.
The tank has been without water changes/exchanges for a few weeks now, all the fish are doing great, thankfully the water level is low enough and my powerheads high enough that they are churning the water surface and bring air into the tank. I will likely be losing a few frags due to these set-backs of my doing; however, coming out the other side I should have a much more solid setup.
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BrokenReefer
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Todays update is a aggravating one:
I pretty much just nuked my tank. I was attempting to add nitrates via Ammonium Bicarbonate …. And I didn’t use TEASPOON TO MEASURE, I used tablespoon. I realized I made a massive error when my Alk alarm spiked to over 9.7dkh, ORP cratered out, I wasn’t able to get to the tank until 30 minutes ago. Half my fish are dead, snails are laying on the sanded, anemones are shriveled up balls. I’m pretty sure tomorrow morning I will have a total fish, invert, and corals loss. I’ll be amazed if I don’t but I am mentally preparing myself for the worst.
This is the result of not paying attention, not fully writing down formulations, and carelessness. Tomorrow when I get home from work will be the start of a 30% water change. I plan on doing that three more times this week to attempt at rebalancing the levels in the tank. I have to deal with a massive bubble algae issue that popped up, which is I suppose the only bright side; I’ll be able to really break all of that crap loose and siphon it out without worrying too much about the fish.
What a ****** end of an otherwise really great family weekend.
I pretty much just nuked my tank. I was attempting to add nitrates via Ammonium Bicarbonate …. And I didn’t use TEASPOON TO MEASURE, I used tablespoon. I realized I made a massive error when my Alk alarm spiked to over 9.7dkh, ORP cratered out, I wasn’t able to get to the tank until 30 minutes ago. Half my fish are dead, snails are laying on the sanded, anemones are shriveled up balls. I’m pretty sure tomorrow morning I will have a total fish, invert, and corals loss. I’ll be amazed if I don’t but I am mentally preparing myself for the worst.
This is the result of not paying attention, not fully writing down formulations, and carelessness. Tomorrow when I get home from work will be the start of a 30% water change. I plan on doing that three more times this week to attempt at rebalancing the levels in the tank. I have to deal with a massive bubble algae issue that popped up, which is I suppose the only bright side; I’ll be able to really break all of that crap loose and siphon it out without worrying too much about the fish.
What a ****** end of an otherwise really great family weekend.
OP
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BrokenReefer
Well-Known Member
Checked the tank for any overnight casualties and I didn’t see any, curiously I did see my cleaner shrimp survived… so, that’s a plus??
I’m going to check nitrates when I get home and start to make up the 30g saltwater batch.
I’m going to check nitrates when I get home and start to make up the 30g saltwater batch.
OP
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BrokenReefer
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Wel, two more casualties.
Springerii Damsels: gone.
I have four fish remaining, Picasso and Percula clownfish, Sailfin tang but he’s looking massively rough, and I think one more Springerii Damselfish. I am not optimistic on the last remaining fish, I am going to pull out all the loose rock corals, and break off any dead skeletons tonight. It will be a long and dreadful night for me.
No pity party though, I made a major mistake and I will learn from it and the resulting re-build will be even better. Might even take this opportunity to rip out all the rock work, really start over. That’s a knee jerk thought I had just now.
:::Sailfin is goner as well … there are two Springerii damselfish left and the two clownfish. Oh and the cleaner shrimp.
Springerii Damsels: gone.
I have four fish remaining, Picasso and Percula clownfish, Sailfin tang but he’s looking massively rough, and I think one more Springerii Damselfish. I am not optimistic on the last remaining fish, I am going to pull out all the loose rock corals, and break off any dead skeletons tonight. It will be a long and dreadful night for me.
No pity party though, I made a major mistake and I will learn from it and the resulting re-build will be even better. Might even take this opportunity to rip out all the rock work, really start over. That’s a knee jerk thought I had just now.
:::Sailfin is goner as well … there are two Springerii damselfish left and the two clownfish. Oh and the cleaner shrimp.
OP
OP
BrokenReefer
Well-Known Member
After doing three 15g water changes over the course of the week, feel more comfortable adding livestock back to the tank.
I picked up from my local LFS (Blue Line Coral)
Firefish Red x1
Tobacco Basslet x1
Starry Blenny x1
Royal Gramma x1
Lyretail Anthias (all female) x3
This is in addition to the ones that survived:
Springerii Damsel x2
Picasso Clown x1
Percula Clown x1
Juvenile Emperor Angelfish x1 (this guy I will only have till he gets to about 3-4” big then I’ll need to rehome him)
I have a preliminary stocking list which adds in some fish I didn’t have the first time, but I think would be a good addition now. Slow going for right now, need to get all of my levels stable before looking at adding any corals back.
I picked up from my local LFS (Blue Line Coral)
Firefish Red x1
Tobacco Basslet x1
Starry Blenny x1
Royal Gramma x1
Lyretail Anthias (all female) x3
This is in addition to the ones that survived:
Springerii Damsel x2
Picasso Clown x1
Percula Clown x1
Juvenile Emperor Angelfish x1 (this guy I will only have till he gets to about 3-4” big then I’ll need to rehome him)
I have a preliminary stocking list which adds in some fish I didn’t have the first time, but I think would be a good addition now. Slow going for right now, need to get all of my levels stable before looking at adding any corals back.
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OP
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BrokenReefer
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Lots of updates that I’ll distill down to:
Lost a few fish (Anthias and Benny) but the rest of the gang has been good. I added a Diamond agony (massive mistake) to help keep the sanded “clean” … instead the little guy just makes massive sand piles all over.
In an attempt to try and net him I took out most of the rocks and corals, held them in some rubbermaids with tanks water, and failed miserably. He kept going under the base rocks, which are cemented together and probably 80#s. So, I gave up and took the opportunity to redo the aquascape a little bit.
But!!
I ended up ticking off all my torches, duncan, one of my Florida Rics, hammer, and a few SPS acros. So, I am almost back to the beginning we’ll say, which does sting a bit, but this will be better in the long term.
Part of this “re-do” was also the waiting game and I finally got my new light!! A ReefBreeders Meridian 43, this light is spectacular. I am going to get it hung from the ceiling today and replace my two Neptune Skys.
Lost a few fish (Anthias and Benny) but the rest of the gang has been good. I added a Diamond agony (massive mistake) to help keep the sanded “clean” … instead the little guy just makes massive sand piles all over.
In an attempt to try and net him I took out most of the rocks and corals, held them in some rubbermaids with tanks water, and failed miserably. He kept going under the base rocks, which are cemented together and probably 80#s. So, I gave up and took the opportunity to redo the aquascape a little bit.
But!!
I ended up ticking off all my torches, duncan, one of my Florida Rics, hammer, and a few SPS acros. So, I am almost back to the beginning we’ll say, which does sting a bit, but this will be better in the long term.
Part of this “re-do” was also the waiting game and I finally got my new light!! A ReefBreeders Meridian 43, this light is spectacular. I am going to get it hung from the ceiling today and replace my two Neptune Skys.
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BrokenReefer
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BrokenReefer
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BrokenReefer
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Fish_wiz2
Community Member
How's the new RB Meridian treating you? Any feedback on the SKY's now that they're off the tank? I swear I feel like I just saw you last week for your old Atlantik (working great btw!) haha.
OP
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BrokenReefer
Well-Known Member
This update is another forlorn one.
This weekend I am ripping everything apart, pulling out as much of the rock as I can; removing/relocating the fish temporarily; doing a massive (50ish G) water change; rethinking my auto top-off idea; a whole bunch of long overdue tank maintenance.
Life and work have gotten in the way, I let my tank suffer (albeit the fish seem happy and fed often) the corals have all withered away. It’s dreadful what has happened in not a lot of time.
Thankfully I have the time on Sunday to get to it and bring it back from the brink!!
I hope to make the aquascape much more fishy, coral reefy , and generally function better for coral placement.
I am going to re-think my flow situation, possibly add a couple AI Nero to live “under” the overflow piping and help push a counter current away from the overflow.
I am going to clean the sump front acrylic, make it look nicer; deep clean the skimmer and chamber; finally get rid of the clutter in the “fish room”.
All around update my tank.
It needs it.
This weekend I am ripping everything apart, pulling out as much of the rock as I can; removing/relocating the fish temporarily; doing a massive (50ish G) water change; rethinking my auto top-off idea; a whole bunch of long overdue tank maintenance.
Life and work have gotten in the way, I let my tank suffer (albeit the fish seem happy and fed often) the corals have all withered away. It’s dreadful what has happened in not a lot of time.
Thankfully I have the time on Sunday to get to it and bring it back from the brink!!
I hope to make the aquascape much more fishy, coral reefy , and generally function better for coral placement.
I am going to re-think my flow situation, possibly add a couple AI Nero to live “under” the overflow piping and help push a counter current away from the overflow.
I am going to clean the sump front acrylic, make it look nicer; deep clean the skimmer and chamber; finally get rid of the clutter in the “fish room”.
All around update my tank.
It needs it.
OP
OP
BrokenReefer
Well-Known Member
Project get the diamond goby out has been completed.
Of all the tasks I wanted to accomplish, the only one I didn't get to as deep cleaning the skimmer. I ended up forgetting about that when vacuuming out my sump. My little shop vac got filled up pretty quick and overflowed, so my priority was getting that addressed.
All in all, I re-did the aquascape (although my wife says it still looks the same); shifted the sand bed a bit more even; cleaned up the return chamber of the sump (got rid of a lot of detritus/mulm); moved the wavemakers; oh and got rid of 4 dead Mexican Turbo snails. I feel like it's in a good spot, need to let things settle down before doing anything else.
Of all the tasks I wanted to accomplish, the only one I didn't get to as deep cleaning the skimmer. I ended up forgetting about that when vacuuming out my sump. My little shop vac got filled up pretty quick and overflowed, so my priority was getting that addressed.
All in all, I re-did the aquascape (although my wife says it still looks the same); shifted the sand bed a bit more even; cleaned up the return chamber of the sump (got rid of a lot of detritus/mulm); moved the wavemakers; oh and got rid of 4 dead Mexican Turbo snails. I feel like it's in a good spot, need to let things settle down before doing anything else.
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BrokenReefer
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Here is the tank reset as of today.
There’s a bit of cyano, a whole lot of empty rocks, and some happier fish.
The structure still feels low to me but I like it this way. My wife think it is the same shape but it isn’t. There’s more flat spots, a couple new arches and swim through. All in all, I am happier with the reboot of sorts.
There’s a bit of cyano, a whole lot of empty rocks, and some happier fish.
The structure still feels low to me but I like it this way. My wife think it is the same shape but it isn’t. There’s more flat spots, a couple new arches and swim through. All in all, I am happier with the reboot of sorts.
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BrokenReefer
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Another year and another update.
This time it's to go bigger. I was "gifted" a 200g tank, my brother-in-law bought a new house and it came with the tank. They are not aquarists and didn't want the hassle, so they offered it to me and I, of course, asked the head of house (Wife) if she'd be cool with me getting a free tank. She said yes and here we go.
I had to help them demo the old tank and stand, and then the rest of the house but that's small potatoes.
The new-to-me tank is sitting in my garage, it needs a deep clean which I'll do this weekend, then fill with water for some leak tests on the seams, add citric acid for a three day "bath", drain, clean again, and then begin the basement remodel.
What started as a free tank is now blooming into a basement remodel ... which I think my wife and I both sort of wanted anyways. But now I'll have the chance to really make the basement work for us and add some nice new upgrades along the way. I'll update this when I have made significant progress.
This time it's to go bigger. I was "gifted" a 200g tank, my brother-in-law bought a new house and it came with the tank. They are not aquarists and didn't want the hassle, so they offered it to me and I, of course, asked the head of house (Wife) if she'd be cool with me getting a free tank. She said yes and here we go.
I had to help them demo the old tank and stand, and then the rest of the house but that's small potatoes.
The new-to-me tank is sitting in my garage, it needs a deep clean which I'll do this weekend, then fill with water for some leak tests on the seams, add citric acid for a three day "bath", drain, clean again, and then begin the basement remodel.
What started as a free tank is now blooming into a basement remodel ... which I think my wife and I both sort of wanted anyways. But now I'll have the chance to really make the basement work for us and add some nice new upgrades along the way. I'll update this when I have made significant progress.
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That is awesome! Congrats on the new tank and on a better basement in the works!
OP
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BrokenReefer
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Thank you - the tank is nasty, currently, but everything can be cleaned up nicely.
I have to settle on a style for the stand. I am leaning into mid-century modern with a mixed materials look to it but that will require the whole basement to be updated/changed to fit the new aesthetic. Which, I wanted to do anyways.... the perfect excuse, we'll say.
I have to settle on a style for the stand. I am leaning into mid-century modern with a mixed materials look to it but that will require the whole basement to be updated/changed to fit the new aesthetic. Which, I wanted to do anyways.... the perfect excuse, we'll say.
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