Leak turns into new build

[MichaelClark55]

All done except with building the shadow box doors and coming to a final decision on the canopy. Right now I don't like the look of the canopy but I will wait until I get the doors built before deciding. The vertical board in the middle on top of the tank is a temporary support. The middle light is a couple of inches higher so you can't see it in the pic. (will lower it back down level with the others if I keep the canopy) Nothing is painted. It will be all white and have a pediment over it as the cased opening next to it.

The wiring for the power for the lights will have to be covered by some wire covers and some extensions added so I don't need the powerstrip hanging on the wall. All the electrical connections are on the right side of the stand and will have an access door to conceal all of it. I'm thinking of splicing the power cords. I don't want to use extensions or strips at all.

I am very pleased with how well the system is dialed in. I made so much salt water I exhausted the filters on the RODI so had to wait a couple of days for the new ones to come in. Got the ATO filled with clean water and it worked flawlessly as before. Dialed in the skimmer and had crystal clear water with 24 hours.

Picked up a few pieces of dry rock from the LFS and have them soaking in some RODI for a couple of weeks.

Still trying to dial in the flow a bit. With 2 SW8 and 2 SW4 they have to be turned way down not to blow the Euphelia away but strong enough for the SPS. Need more coral for sure. Hint hint.....@AllSignsPointToFish.

Working on getting a super male Melanurus from the LFS. Also looking into a Richmond Wrasse and maybe another Flasher Wrasse. Going to add 1 fish per month so not to overwhelm the bioload.

Refugium is doing well, however, I do want to get some fresh C. Proliferia as soon as the divers get some new ones in. Also going to get more gold and purple gorgonian as well as some red soon as soon as the Gulf Coast Eco has them back in stock.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Need to add about 5' on to the length of the lights power cords so they will terminate into the power center area.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Still trying to dial in the flow a bit. With 2 SW8 and 2 SW4 they have to be turned way down not to blow the Euphelia away but strong enough for the SPS. Need more coral for sure. Hint hint.....@AllSignsPointToFish.

LOL. No pressure at all!
I'll have your grape Monti frag this weekend. I was actually planning the frag yesterday when I was looking at the mother colony.

Do you want it mounted on a 1" plug, a 1 1/2" disk, or a 3" disk? Or would you like it loose?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Were you also wanting a frag of the Montipora digitata? I would be willing to pull the smaller of the two plugs I have in my tank if you're interested. Looks very similar to this:

The small BOP birdsnest has new buds on the tip, so it's doing well also I could also probably scare up a frag of a red Montipora capricornis, if interested.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Whatever you got I will take. As far as mounting the monti I would say the smallest thing you have. It's going on an irregular shape rock. I trust your judgment whatever you think.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Whatever you got I will take. As far as mounting the monti I would say the smallest thing you have. It's going on an irregular shape rock. I trust your judgment whatever you think.

This is what I've got so far.
Montipora digitata (I think):

Grape Montipora:

Red Montipora capricornis:

Here is the little BOP frag that could:

And the Timex acropora

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Sorry the pics are so crappy with my phone :/

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I do have a nice branching hammer frag, but it's got vermetid snails on it .

 

[MichaelClark55]

Sorry the pics are so crappy with my phone :/

Ill take them. You got pic of the hammer?
I imagine my yellow wrasse would love those snails. You should see what he did to a sea urchin. I removed a big one from one of my hammers then super glued over the spot.

I do have a nice branching hammer frag, but it's got vermetid snails on it .

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Ill take them. You got pic of the hammer?
I imagine my yellow wrasse would love those snails. You should see what he did to a sea urchin. I removed a big one from one of my hammers then super glued over the spot.

Yeah, let me move it to a place where I can photograph it separately.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Here is the hammer frag. It's a little PO'd from me moving it. It actually has six polyps even though only 4 are visible in this pic
Looks like a vermetid pipe organ! LOL

Here is the mother colony:

 

[MichaelClark55]

yeah Ill take that too. that snail will pop right off
what my total so far got to start counting my quarters lol

 

[MichaelClark55]

yeah Ill take that too. that snail will pop right off
what my total so far got to start counting my quarters lol

what do you for your euphila as far as flow before mine liked it slow but with the 4 ph I can't turn them down low enough I got them all in the center of tank hoping that would be the weakest flow I have 4 different hammers they're all open but about 1/2 the size they were

 

[MichaelClark55]

Update on tank build. Took that bulky looking light valence down. I will build another one that will be 8-10" high. That last one was 18"h.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

what do you for your euphila as far as flow before mine liked it slow but with the 4 ph I can't turn them down low enough I got them all in the center of tank hoping that would be the weakest flow I have 4 different hammers they're all open but about 1/2 the size they were

I wedge them down in between rocks or place them directly under powerheads. They really like uplifting flow.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Finally finished trim....time to paint

 

[MichaelClark55]

Took one month to go from this leaky contraption
To this 125g reef with 55g sump/refugium. Just finished the paint job. The best part of this build.......I'm finished!

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Looking great!!

 

[MichaelClark55]

Sump and electrical cabinet which is on the right side of the stand. All the wiring in the sump area is inside wire looms to protect it.
All the wiring terminates in the electrical cabinet where it is powered by 2 dedicated 20amp GFIC. Last thing I need to do is hook up the 4 head dosing pump and figure out which of Randy's recipe's I'm going to follow.