Building From Scratch

[ShakeyGizzard]

I was in a thread the other day about Petco, so I decided to stop by my local one. Decent selection of SW fish, they had quite a few blue tangs that might have been an inch long ! Hope folks know how big they get. They did have some emerald crabs also, I almost got one, But decided not to. I have film algae in the DT, not sure if it would have decent food supply. Stuck with my salt purchase .

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Almost getting to point where I can start plastering tank pic's on here. Starting to get things leveled out and running smooth. I have my preferred refugium light schedule figured out and also the best size of my chato ball for nutrient control. Trying to find time to complete my dosing station. Will be using Voss water bottles, at the moment AFR is keeping my levels good with manual dosing, but not a lot of corals yet. I feed the corals with Reef chili, and have a plan for starting my own Phyto container. This should keep my pods happy.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Guess I can update my tank build component list since there have been changes since I did it last.

Tank: Aqueon 40 breeder (drilled)
Eshopps overflow (small 600 GPH)
Jebao SOW 4 wavemaker (2)
DIY acrylic lids (no sagging due to added support)
LOC-Line return nozzles


Aquascape: Marco rock DIY aquascape
Caribsea special grade Arag Alive sand (40 lbs)

Sump: Aqueon 20 gal. long
DIY acrylic baffles with adjustable water height
Bubble magus filter roller (small)
Bubble Magus extreme curve 3 skimmer (added air control valve)
Inkbird 306-a heater controller
(2) 100 watt BRS titanium heaters
Sicce Syncra Silent 3.0 return pump (sicce 2.0 as back up)
Finnex fuge light (20 watt)
timer for fuge light
Eshopps float valve and 5 gallon jug for gravity ATO
1 inch over flow plumbing with gate valve
3/4 inch return plumbing
repurposed 18 watt UV sterilizer from my freshwater set up (returned Pentair)

Stand: DIY stand (36 inches tall)
DIY controller board

Lights: at the moment, Noo-Psyche K7 pro (2)
in progress, Orphek Natura Icon with DIY mount

PAR Meter: VBR-Aqua IP68 PAR Meter

in progress: Jebao 4 head doser
Voss water bottle dosing containers and holder


Next on the want list : Algae reactor

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Still waiting on the pineapple sponges the fade away, have not seen any ill effects . I have added a Duncan frag to my coral mix, a few days ago. placed it to cover any large growth. i heard they are slow growers also.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Letting the SBB frags get settled to my tank. Also have been running an 18 watt UV sterilizer for 2 days now. Water is more clear and the dinos seem to be fading out, time will tell. My SBB frags are getting comfortable in my tank, These pics are from the same day in the tank after dipping.

NewYork Nicks Torch

Hammer

Copper planet Yuma Ricordea shroom

Golden Glitter Acan

Twizzler Zoa

Red Goni

SBB sent a freebie Blue Goni

Looks awesome! How are all the new corals doing? Duncan looks great too. I love them but they don’t love me. Pretty sure my clownfish nipped it to death.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Looks awesome! How are all the new corals doing? Duncan looks great too. I love them but they don’t love me. Pretty sure my clownfish nipped it to death.

all are doing great the gonies are growing fast, I finely dialed in my flow so they all look happy. Hope the duncan turns out ok.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

all are doing great the gonies are growing fast, I finely dialed in my flow so they all look happy. Hope the duncan turns out ok.

I think flow has been one of my flaws with my tank. May have also contributed to my failed Duncan. :face-without-mouth:

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I think flow has been one of my flaws with my tank. May have also contributed to my failed Duncan. :face-without-mouth:

I had to adjust it because I added a UV light and increased my return flow, was a pain getting it back to were it was close to before. I will get some better pictures under more white light one day.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

I had to adjust it because I added a UV light and increased my return flow, was a pain getting it back to were it was close to before. I will get some better pictures under more white light one day.

My main problem with flow is trying to understand the difference between low, medium, and high flow. It may be a dumb concept to struggle with, but for me, I feel like low/medium/high flow can be subjective. I finally just posted a video of my flow and let the community decide, but then my clowns go ahold of it despite my efforts.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

@AlyciaMarie I judged the flow based on the coral movement, like the gonies and torch, hard to judge on the ones like the acan and zoas. I do have a slight dead spot at one corner of my tank right now cant get it out without messing up the flow I have now, I might get a small Jebao pump to cover this area

 

[tbrown]

Still waiting on the pineapple sponges the fade away, have not seen any ill effects . I have added a Duncan frag to my coral mix, a few days ago. placed it to cover any large growth. i heard they are slow growers also.

They grow fairly quick for me. Mine are in a medium heavy random flow, about midway up the rockwork - probably around 100-150 PAR if not more.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

They grow fairly quick for me. Mine are in a medium heavy random flow, about midway up the rockwork - probably around 100-150 PAR if not more.

Same way here, midway up my larger rock piece, i would say medium flow and 135 to 140 par, They seem happy

 

[tbrown]

Same way here, midway up my larger rock piece, i would say medium flow and 135 to 140 par, They seem happy

Perfect! Hopefully you'll start getting some buds at the base before long.

I grew mine horizontally instead of vertical just for fun.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Working on setting up my Phyto culture, I ordered the jugs and some LED strip lights from amazon, they are supposed to be here today. My plan is to set up the jugs in a tub and line the inside of the tub with the lights. The lights come with a timer.

Hopefully the light are adequate. Getting a tub that the jugs will just fit in so they get the most of the light .


On a side note, added a new member to the clean up crew

 

[tbrown]

Working on setting up my Phyto culture, I ordered the jugs and some LED strip lights from amazon, they are supposed to be here today. My plan is to set up the jugs in a tub and line the inside of the tub with the lights. The lights come with a timer.

Hopefully the light are adequate. Getting a tub that the jugs will just fit in so they get the most of the light .


On a side note, added a new member to the clean up crew

I started my phyto yesterday.

 

[tbrown]

Reef Plantation f/2 is almost twice as potent as the Guillards on Amazon according to their website. I purchased it and some Nanno to start.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Reef Plantation f/2 is almost twice as potent as the Guillards on Amazon according to their website. I purchased it and some Nanno to start.

haven't purchased the fertilizer or phyto yet, will check out that reef plantation

 

[tbrown]

haven't purchased the fertilizer or phyto yet, will check out that reef plantation

The guy is on here as a sponsor but not under Reef Plantation. Eldredge I believe. I reached out to him and he responded pretty quickly.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

The guy is on here as a sponsor but not under Reef Plantation. Eldredge I believe. I reached out to him and he responded pretty quickly.

found him

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I put the Phyto stuff together, lights look weak, have another route for improving the lights with what I have on hand, but don't have a timer handy. Wanted them in the tub for various reasons.

Been working on the mount for the Orphek light also