Old Reef to New New to Old New

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Started a new build or rebuild. After hurricane Ivan wiped out my SPS reef. Then Katrina wiped out my softy tank. At that point I turned my 75 gallon shallow into a planted fresh water tank. I dirted And planted the tank. It was the easiest tank I ever kept. Most of the livestock lasted 10 years. Rarely ever did a water change. After seeing several small tanks on YouTube One being Drews lagoon I got the reef bug again. I purchased a water box 45.2. There is a Build thread on here with progress pics. In one year The tank rapidly outgrew it’s self. I decided to convert my planted 75 shallow back into a reef. This is the build. Here is a picture As a reef back in the day and as planted. Also a current pictures of the 45.2

C0C78BE1-09C7-43E6-890E-E4339055FAC4.jpeg 3D8311C1-3C46-49F2-AF99-395C97CDA73A.jpeg 3F3A2088-7A06-4F02-B497-0CC9804F7BCD.jpeg D25B9E46-894D-4EBF-90B4-572567CC07C8.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The first and biggest job was tearing down the planted freshwater tank. All livestock was rehomed. Including most of the plants. The next task was removing the deep substrate bed. I chose to take my time and siphon it out because I didn’t want to risk further scratching the 20 year old acrylic tank. I had dirted this tank With miracle grow organic. Then put a variety of substrates over it. The bed was about 4 inches deep.Never did I have an adverse effect and I never once vacuumed the bed. I guess I just had a good balanced harmony between the livestock and plants.

B3F1AED9-9A19-4968-BAE6-C4A8A2227E22.jpeg C483D1A1-8E72-455D-9448-95CB20F8AFC5.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
One thing that was interesting is that all of the dirt and organic matter in the miracle Gro had been utilized by the plants and a pleated to mostly sand. After 10 years there was very little of what one would consider dirt or mud left in the substrate. I guess it was time to do this.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Next was plumbing. I went with an 18 inch modern marine overflow. I know way over kill! I needed it to overlap a patch where the tank had been drilled previously. The inch and a half plumbing matched the Aqua max filter roller anyway. Pics of dry fit.

423CA179-AB47-464B-98B6-F67BF4E7F6D5.jpeg 3EC4D529-CBCD-41D2-ADB9-724D7DC26562.jpeg 2B0E9EF7-1986-4E32-AF68-53247904B4CD.jpeg D2950A06-6006-4495-AF35-1505081648D5.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Since the tank has a hood I shied away from adding another Noopsych K7 As I Didn’t have the proper height to get a sufficient spread. The lights worked fantastic on the 45.2 though. I decided to go with a four bulb T5 fixture supplemented With two OR3 Blue Plus Bars. No pics have video but can’t figure out how to attach it for the life of me.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The next step was planning power, wire management and control. I just went with several Wi-Fi power strips. Each bar zoned for it’s specific purpose. Works great! Entire tanks power controlled from Phone.

751370B8-7640-4A20-BAEF-FBAA86FB830E.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm running an open Sump so trying to figure out the sump levels in the tank was bit of an issue. Well, the only real issue was the aqua max filter roller. I learned that filter rollers need a break in period. The aqua max AF-1 holds over a half gallon water Before it rolls and drops the water level. So there is no way to account for this with a brand new role until the filter material starts the clog and the automatic roller float switch activates for the first time. So it just took a little time before I could mark all of my levels on the side of the sump.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Trying to figure out the sump levels in the tank was an issue. Running an open Sump. The only real issue was the aqua max filter roller. I learned that filter rollers need a break in period. The aqua max AF-1 holds over a half gallon water Before it rolls and drops the water level. So there is no way to account for this with a brand new role until the filter material starts the clog and the automatic roller float switch activates for the first time.
I have video but I don’t know how to attach
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The biggest issue with the transfer other than breaking corals apart was gluing the arch to the big rock that was on the right hand side of the 45.2. I made it based off the rough measurements while in the 45.2. The match up was almost perfect. I used EPO Putty to connect the two pieces I did not let it set up long enough. Moved the Rock and it separated. At that point the pieces of putty were already so Firm the rock could not be squeezed back into the perfect position again. My only resort was to clamp them together then re-epo Into the seam and around the joint. Left the clamp on for two hours. Seems very secure. The fit is slightly off now but once grown in you shouldn’t be able to tell. You can see in the picture that the ledges are not level and now leaning slightly. And the base is not flat on the tank bottom. I guess I will fill that in with a few chalices.

C4802213-528F-4DE4-B963-943005ED8ED7.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Concerns right now are getting my consumption rates dialed in with two part. The 45.2 tank was running Maxed out on kalk With 10 mL of all for reef daily. I would have thought the stress of moving the corals would have Slowed consumption. But it looks like it’s burning about 1DKH per 24 hours. I will do a full panel tomorrow.Currently running with roller mat BRS reactor with carbon at a pretty high right because of all of the glue and epoxy. Still to add, bucket refuge with miracle mud. Yeah, used it back in the day going to use it now. It will be contained in the bucket basically for pods until I need to control other nutrients. I don’t want to run GFO because I want a clam or two. I have heard some thing and GFO is bothersome to clams. Will migrate my curve five skimmer over-this week. I plan on getting the Dalua Great White to replace the curve5.
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Bucket fuge in, great idea from Abe at corral euphoria. Currently just running miracle mud. Will also be a safe haven for pods. Will bring on the Macro allergies once the nutrients become an issue.

FC5FAF26-3072-4C96-A677-061562393124.jpeg CD0DB06C-8243-42D7-A535-65D2829C62FA.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Mickeyt1reef

Mickeyt1reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
276
Reaction score
262
Location
Gulf Breeze
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Shallow 75 update. All ok nutrients still way low. Have not done a water change yet. Bubble algae and aptasia back. Deploying nudibranchs today and starting vibrant again.

7329AA40-F14C-447B-AC3C-E756DB56CEB8.jpeg 3CBE331F-71F1-49D0-871A-4EACE96A4264.jpeg
 
Back
Top