Fish building/man cave build!

[dantimdad]

Well, gang, both buyers have backed out.

My wife wants me to give it one more shot so this is it.

I lost all SPS but no lps or softies. Obviously, I lost all fish.

The tank is has been fallow for 6 days now. It will be ready to add a tester fish Christmas Day if my calculations are correct. I am going to get a quarantined clean up crew first though. I need suggestions on a good supplier.

I figure I will add a couple mangroves because I planned to anyway, rescape because I am not happy with it the way it is and fix a couple other things like slowing down the return pump, adding a vinyl background and cleaning up the wiring a little better.

I think I will take a trip to visit with Matt and Amy and pick up some fish after the tester fish is in a few weeks.

I may also rearrange the lighting because no matter what I do, I just can't get it to look right to my eyes. I have seen what I am after and have gotten their settings and am hoping it works. IF it does, the T5 are coming out and a frame will be built to hold the acrylic canopy and kessils and a third kessil will be added.

Wish me luck

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Good fortune....glad you are sticking around!

 

[dantimdad]

Thanks @Lowell Lemon

Btw, I am working more and more with acrylic on the laser. You’d be proud. :)

 

[dantimdad]

The corals that survived are doing really well now. I am shocked.

The algae (there never was a ton) is subsiding and I am starting to battle the aiptaisia.

Gonna rearrange the rock and replace the return pump (I ran in issues last week) soon.

I still need hose for the UV and then hook up the pump.

All just busy work u til the fallow period is over.

 

[dantimdad]

Not really sure where to begin.

First off I apologize for not keeping in touch.

The shallow reef was a miserable failure. Nothing except a couple leathers would grow. I kept losing fish. Algae came back with a vengeance and it just looked awful.

I decided to send off an ICP and came back low salinity, incredibly high phosphates and zinc. Toxic levels of zinc.

Not sure how the heck that got in there. I don't use hose clamps in or near the water. The pumps are reef safe.

Anyhow, I wasn't happy and I needed room for more laser work so I broke down the 147 rimless planted tank and the shallow reef. Everything from the shallow reef is in a 75 on the floor while I setup the 147 as the replacement.

I am adding some fake branch rock and new sand, 100% water change, replacing the cheap gyres with Tunze streams and changing out skimmers while I am at it. The reef octopus was just too big for my sump.

I am hoping this time it works. In the past, I never had these problems. It's just the last couple years reefs have really been a challenge.

I will send off an ICP as a baseline whenever I am setup and I will post photos after the room doesn't look like a bomb went off. lol

The fish going in are a purple tang, Klein's butterfly, pair of clowns, a diamond goby and a couple mollies.

If any of the corals do survive, I will put them in and wait a while to see what happens.

I am sorry I haven't updated in a long time but it's been so depressing. Especially since the 12 foot planted tank is doing so well. I swear I don't do anything at all except water changes, trim plants and change filter pads. It just takes care of itself.

Hope y'all can forgive me.

 

[dantimdad]

Salt in. using unopened reef crystals so I can be sure no contaminants are in there. I thew away the open bucket.

Lighting is 2x a360x and an SB reef 36" UV light bar. I will be adding a second light bar soon and possibly another 360X after everything is established again.

The RODI has almost finished filling the tank and sump. Probably a couple more hours then I will turn on the return pump.

Initially, there will be 3 Tunze power heads. Two 6015 in the back corners and a 6045 going from left to right toward the front of the tank. I will add another 6045 later on. (I have to find where I put it lol!)

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Hey man just glad you are still moving forward. Any news from Katrina? Have not seen her for awhile.

 

[dantimdad]

No news. I will try to contact.


The livestock is in. What there is of it. lol

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/Vy0C3T6rT0mKCBt6gQ9eHg.KeLKXJhrB63EJA0EpD4sQE
I took a bit to get the temp up. I am running two 300 watt titanium heaters. I have two spares just in case.

Power heads are out for delivery. I added a BRS dual media reactor but haven't fired it up yet.

I am tidying up the wiring as I go. It was a mess.

Now, I just have to clean up the horrendous mess and get the temp 75 drained and out of here.

 

[dantimdad]

A really good sign: I thought my gonipora was a goner in the other tank. It's been in this tank for a couple hours and already opening up. Too soon to tell but I think swapping tanks may have helped.

It's still a mystery where the excessive zinc was coming from. I looked through everything. The only thing I can think of was something was buried in the sand I didn't see when I threw it out.

 

[sfin52]

Hey man just glad you are still moving forward. Any news from Katrina? Have not seen her for awhile.

She was on briefly like 6 months ago.

 

[dantimdad]

Tank cleared up today fish are healthy all but one coral opening up nicely. The devils hand still looks rough.

Doing a bunch of work on the room tomorrow. Hopefully will get pics.

 

[dantimdad]

We got a major amount done on the room. Still need a few things organized and a couple shelves hung up.

Here's a short video:

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/I_37B5fBQnC8EExo2p9LsQ.bGvthPWCGXDUvNAjsdp5v2

Hope you like it.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I like it. Part fish room, part mad scientists laboratory!

 

[dantimdad]

I like it. Part fish room, part mad scientists laboratory!

Absolutely! I have everything in there from a hot air flow soldering station to a CO2 laser. That's not even the equipment in the closet either. :)

I also get to work from home in there 3 days a week.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

We got a major amount done on the room. Still need a few things organized and a couple shelves hung up.

Here's a short video:

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/I_37B5fBQnC8EExo2p9LsQ.bGvthPWCGXDUvNAjsdp5v2

Hope you like it.

Wow looks like a mad scientist lair with all the print stuff. Awesome freshwater tank!

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I like it. Part fish room, part mad scientists laboratory!

I honestly had not read your post before I made mine hahaha...yeah right.

 

[dantimdad]

A lot of it is @Lowell Lemon fault. He gave me the kick in the pants to start working with acrylic about 6 years ago. The whole reason I bought the big laser and the 30cmx30cm CNC is working with it. ;) BTW, that first project, the ATO container, is still being used on this tank. I will NEVER part with it! It's been modified with a float valve and a couple extra holes and a patch, but it works just as well as the day I built it.

Seriously, most of the crazy stuff I do is inspired by folks from this group.

Except for my 1980 f150. I grew up working on trucks and this one is mine. I got it to haul stuff but still be able to work on it and do improvements. Been a blast.

 

[sfin52]

Wow looks like a mad scientist lair with all the print stuff. Awesome freshwater tank!

It is an awesome set up.

 

[dantimdad]

It is an awesome set up.

Thanks. I finished the vent for the CO2 laser with a bigger fan this weekend and the drawer units should show up today so I can put all the aquarium stuff away.

I got the skimmer (BM d8) installed yesterday and it immediately started skimming. I love these skimmers.

I came across a new in box tunze 6045 so I have a backup.

Picked up a copperband that was eating frozen in the store. He's beautiful and ate last night already.

Trying to find 3 barred dart gobies and 3 spingeri damsels as well as an orange shoulder and that should about do it for fish.

 

[sfin52]

Thanks. I finished the vent for the CO2 laser with a bigger fan this weekend and the drawer units should show up today so I can put all the aquarium stuff away.

I got the skimmer (BM d8) installed yesterday and it immediately started skimming. I love these skimmers.

I came across a new in box tunze 6045 so I have a backup.

Picked up a copperband that was eating frozen in the store. He's beautiful and ate last night already.

Trying to find 3 barred dart gobies and 3 spingeri damsels as well as an orange shoulder and that should about do it for fish.

Thats an awesome fish list.