My 90g mixed reef build/transfer

[Vakko]

After years away from the hobby due multiple life changes, I finally decided earlier this year to dip back into the salt version of the hobby with a 29g that I had sitting in the garage. Currently, my 90g is a freshwater tank for turtle and a catfish. This is what it looked like 10 years ago...

 

[Vakko]

So earlier this year, I built this 29g. It didn't take long before I longed for a larger tank.

 

[Vakko]

Because my solid black stand doesn't match my current furniture in the room where the 90g will go, I sanded it down for a laminate I plan on applying at a later date.

 

[Vakko]

After draining the 29g, moving it, and filling it back up, I put the 90g into it's place, filled to about 67%, added powerheads and salt.

 

[Dr. Phil]

The cat was intrigued! Haha Best of luck with your new setup. I will be following along.

 

[Vakko]

Next day I started working my lighting system. I didn't want to hang them from the ceiling so I got some coated steel, closet organizer rails and mounted them to the stand.

 

[Vakko]

In a temporary hang, I dangled 1 light over a pair of rails while I transfered all of my live rock from the 29g. Even though I tried my very best not to... all of the joints broke when I picked it up :mad:

I added some more base rock that I got my my LFS and a few decorative pieces that I got my local flea market.

 

[Vakko]

Peformed a hangtest for the final configuration of how the lights will be set up.

 

[Vakko]

Finished the final rigging of the lights today. I don't recommend you do this because you will void your warranty on your Viparspectra's... but I replaced the original 1/4 20 mounting screws for 10-32 x 1" and locked it with a hex bolt. Then I secured it to the rail with wing nut so they could remove a light without needing tools over the tank.

I tried to hang the whole thing at once but it was a bit awkward.

 

[Vakko]

 

[Vakko]

Current load out:
Deep Blue Professional 90gal
UnicLife 3400 x 2
Seaclone 100 skimmer
ViparSpectra 165w x 4
Aqueon Quietflow 75
Zeolite/Carbon blend
ESV 2-part
Reef Crystals
11.5 dKh
450 Calc
1350 Magnesium
1.026

 

[TriggerFinger]

That’s some serious lighting over a 90g!! I also like the rails you came up with. I have two of the same lights over my 90 and they are dialed down to 3% white and 40% blue. What are your channels set at?

 

[Vakko]

That’s some serious lighting over a 90g!! I also like the rails you came up with. I have two of the same lights over my 90 and they are dialed down to 3% white and 40% blue. What are your channels set at?

I'm at 10% white and 50% blue at 12" height. I was 5 and 40 at 10" previously on my 29g.

 

[Vakko]

Bacterial bloom... turned off whites and reduced lights from 4 to 2. Reduced blues from 14 hours to 9 on a stagger of 3 hours apart.

 

[Vakko]

Laminate arrived and its a perfect match to my tv stand. The question now is: do I turn the grain horizonally or vertically...