Jon’s 100.3 Reef and frag tank

[Jon's Reef]

DT has been running for ~9 months and frag tank ~1 month. Previously I had a RS 200xl for ~6 months. Goal is a mixed reef. Both tanks are tied into a single sump. I use the Triton method and APEX to keep it all under control.

 

[Jon's Reef]

The Display Tank is a Waterbox 100.3 with a CRA TRS30 triton sump. Rock is a mix of regular and shelf marco rock. Flow comes from 2 Maxspect XF330 gyres. I tried MP40's and didn't like the flow pattern. Also tried XF350, but way too much power.

The top area is my SPS zone wit par in the 300-400 range. I really like the PE of tenius, so have quite a few of those. Up top sarting on the left is WD, PC Rainbow, HW, WWC Yellow tip, JF Solar Flare, Jawdropper, SCOP and cherry bomb (last 2 on the right of the top shelf). I do not know the name of the thin purple sticks in the back.

On the left side I have some large monti's that I received from a local reefer. Also have a rainbow monti on the mid shelf. The fish really like swimming through the montis.

Moy zoa garden is in the lower left. Probably going to extend it around the front. Everything grown from 2-3 polyps. Unamed (fire and ice?) Sonic Flare, Bowsers, Hyper Jubilee, Rasta, WWC Illuminati, Golden leopard, LSOH, GMK. Mid rock has Green polyps and firework cloves. The firework cloves seem to winning the battle. Then a Forest Fire Digi in the mix.

In the middle I have my Seattle Sunburst Anemone (of course my ORA clowns don't know about nems so they like the back corner instead). Galaxia that likes to throw out stingers, JF Jack o lantern, Purple stylo, another FF digi and a jedi mind trick.

LPS zone is on the right. Starting at the top, ~8-10 head cotton candy torch, NY Knicks, JF Raja Rampage, HG micromusa, unamed Acan, WWC jelly bean, Rainbow blasto, Duncan, irridescent hammer, and green frogspawn. At the bottom is my mushroom zone with just a ~4" sunkist right now. I had some other small shrooms there but my peppermint shrimp decided to try them out. So they went to the frag tank for now.

Lighting up the tank is a hybrid fixture. 2 a360x, 2 RB XHO Actinic and 2 RB XHO 50/50. The right a360x is run at ~75% of the left to give a more suitable par for the LPS. I have the outlets set to turn on the blues first, then the 50/50, then the 50/50 off, then the blues off. Gives a dimming look and also some good fluorescent viewing time. I made the fixture out of a 3/4" PVC board and RB K series mounting brackets. I also mounted a dual fan in the center to help cool the tank.

Down below I have the TRS30 sump. Left back is the DT and frag tank returns then the emergency drains. Over the fuge I have an H380 running 12 hours. The next section has an RO Elite 150SS skimmer (dual cannister CO2 scrubber set up in recirculation, the loose tupperware regulates the amount of moisture), IM Min-max reactor (GFO) and the apex probes/ trident inlet (back). Water then goes into a media area with a coarse sponge (to grab any loose chaeto) and some Chemipure bags. Last section has a 300W finnex heater (backed up by apex), MJ pump to circulate, 3 triton dosing lines, ATO line and a COR20 pump. Water then goes up through a 2" apex flowmeter (~570 gph total) and 57W UV sterilizer. Then Tee's off to the DT and the frag tank. I have 1/2 flow meters on the frag lines (~150 GPH going to the Frag tank).

Controls and containers are in the bottom left cabinets. First is the reservoir cabinet. 5 gal ATO (Apex ato), 3 3 gal dosing containers (for triton), Avast skimmate locker and GHL 2.1 doser. I thought about going with the APEX DOS, but they are just so big. Also can see the acro power. I feed the corals a mix of acropower, RS AB+ and roids ~2 times per week. The fish get TDO at noon and LRS reef frenzy/ herbivore frenzy for breakfast/ dinner.

Control cabinet still a bit of a mess. I used expanded PVC to DIY at control board. The reservoir there is my trident drain.

Many of the fish are shy, but I have a potter angel, tomini tang, black cap basselet, snowflake clown pair, algae blenny and yellow watchman goby/ pistol shrimp. There is also a peppermint and cleaner shrimp.

 

[Jon's Reef]

The frag tank is ~20 gallon Advanced Acrylics tank. ~30x20x8. Running 2 XF330 pumps (only 1 impeller each). Racks are Bashsea mad rack pro and then a mushroom basket. I tried going bare bottom, but I just didn't like the look and I don't think the corals were doing as well. After adding the sand things seemed to respond really well.

Lighting is 2 a360x and a K30 RB add on kit. For the RB I have a apex control for dimming them. It seems like overkill, but it gives a really nice look and good par. With the RB at 100% and a360x at 50% I hit 300 par in the center, 200 on the rest of the rack and 100 in the sand.

Zoas in the bottom front, some SPS in the middle, LPS in the back, a Nem also back there. Then mushrooms on the right. I have 2 Springeri Damsels in here also. My goal is to get a frag of everything from the DT here, then as they go frag em to help fund the hobby.

Some of the corals in here:
Raunchy red, fireshroom, ~2" frank

Predator, Thermosphere

Stratocaster, taser, psychosis

GMK, LSOH, Rainbow Eclipse

Rastas, exosphere, Athena, Illuminati

Bowser, Hyper Jub, Hephaestus

Golden leopard, HR Death Star

Unamed Rhodactis, Electus

Seattle Sunburst

Yeti, Princess Oxana (top), Koala Eye

 

[Jon's Reef]

A few updates. Switched the lighting over to SKY. My goal was to simplify the lighting setup in preparation for a tank swap. Frag tank coverage is a bit better. DT coverage is a little less, in particular on the left and right upper portions of the tank. I would call it 95% of the coverage. The thing I like best is the color. It looks very natural.

Two changes in the sump. I swapped the H380 for a GRO. I lowered the H380 to reduce spill onto my skimmer, which resulted in too much par for the chaeto. I was concerned it would not be enough par, but it seems to be growing well.

I also swapped skimmers. Got a great deal on a NYOS 160. I had a 120 on a previous tank and I really liked the small bubbles and the "twisting" action of the bubble plate. It was too small for this tank, so I went to the RO Elite. So far I am liking the NYOS. Only complaint is the cup drain is a bit picky. The 90 on it can cause it to not drain into the locker. To solve I had to make sure the tubing bends down before leaving the sump area. The tupperware hat is for the recirculating setup.

In the