My SPS Frankentank

[mshonk]

Finished the cabinet to match the stand minus a door. Plus I was able to move my printer. Now I just need a small comfy chair to put on the other side of my desk for lounging and staring at the tank.

 

[mshonk]

Top shots

 

[mshonk]

More pics

 

[mshonk]

Few updates.

1. I forgot to change my DI resin.... tested the rodi water and it was .09198ppm not terrible but my tank is still young so it's not helping.
2. I have bee dosing NO3 almost dialed in.
3. I finished my cabinet beside the tank to hide my top off water.
4. I picked up 11 corals from aqua sd's weekend sale.
5. I won their $200 LPS frag pack prize. Will post pics this weekend!
6. Started dosing Red Sea Trace Colors.
7. Temporarily runnig GFO until I have my resin replaced and gha algae in check. [I have seen worse with algae] .

 

[mshonk]

Past tanks including my 1st reef tank. My 55g was my favorite until my current. That acro was from a brownout colony.

 

[Codym808]

Looks good!! I also run a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I like that the skimmer is in the same compartment as the return, saves space for a fuge/frag section. You have anymore pictures of the sump? I'm in the middle of designing a new diy sump.

 

[mshonk]

Looks good!! I also run a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I like that the skimmer is in the same compartment as the return, saves space for a fuge/frag section. You have anymore pictures of the sump? I'm in the middle of designing a new diy sump.

No. Just the ones at the beginning of the thread. I have a frag rack int the center now. I plan on some uodate pics after I get some corals tomorrow.

 

[mshonk]

Frags are in!!!!! Lights aren't on yet. AquaSD is awesome!!! Also all of my filters came in so I am able to fix that issue too. The last pic is the frag pack I won. Cant wait to see the colors. I bought a bunch of blue acros and a rainbow millie!!!

 

[Codym808]

I see and echinata, I’m jealous lol looking good though!

 

[mshonk]

I see and echinata, I’m jealous lol looking good though!

I have wanted one in this tank soooo bad. Last shipment it was a doa and I am frequently told by the lfs's in my area that I am the only sps guy they talk with. They said they cant wait until i start supplying them.

 

[Codym808]

Nice!! I have tried to ship in 3 Echinata's and they have either came in DOA or skin starting to peel.. One day I'll get my hands on one.. Good luck!

 

[mshonk]

New additions!!!

 

[Codym808]

Looks good, polyp extension on the echinata already too!

Do you have problems with microbubbles getting into your display since the skimmer is in the same chamber as the return pump?

 

[mshonk]

Looks good, polyp extension on the echinata already too!

Do you have problems with microbubbles getting into your display since the skimmer is in the same chamber as the return pump?

Yeah I wish it looked as blue as the pic when i bought it but different lights and shipping stress. And no its the other way around. The overflow is on the right side of the dt so the skimmer is in the first chamber, and the there is the bubble trap plus I keep a powerhead on full blast in the first chamber to keep detritus out from under my skimmer.

 

[Codym808]

I see, I was under the impression your skimmer was in the return chamber this whole time ;Facepalm

The blue will come back on your echinata eventually!

 

[mshonk]

Oh bleeping dinos! Not a ton and mainly on the sand. Heres to hoping its an easy battle.

 

[mshonk]

I increased the photo period over my sump, being that is where my macro algae is to increase competition against the dinos. I dialed back the photo period in my main tank 1 hour to reduce the growth of the dinos. I may invest in a UV sterilizer again if this approach does not produce results.

 

[Codym808]

Oh man, I had a really bad case of dino’s at the beginning of my tanks life too. It’s usually due to an in balances of phosphate and nitrate. Have you tested recently? It will go away on its own once things are stable. Try not to make big changes as it’ll only make it worst

 

[mshonk]

Oh man, I had a really bad case of dino’s at the beginning of my tanks life too. It’s usually due to an in balances of phosphate and nitrate. Have you tested recently? It will go away on its own once things are stable. Try not to make big changes as it’ll only make it worst

Actually my tank used to run po4 at .01 -.02 and no3 0ppm. I started doesing no3 to get to 1 ppm and I still maintain between .5 -1ppm. I want richer colors in mt sps.

Anyway I know two things that caused it. I forgot to change out my di resin. I started dosing my trace elements and I thing the two combined created a great opportunity. It is already receding. By this time normally the sand has a thin coat on it barely holding any bubbles and today it is patchy like. 50/50. And my po3 went from .06 to .039 since changed my di resin.

 

[mshonk]

I am almost at a year. I think the end of march though I changed the tank it is still the same rock and bioload.