New corals added - Welcome to my private island! Enjoy your stay :)

[canadianeh]

Hi all! I am new here but not new to reefing world. Actually, I am going to call myself a newbie since I am renewed into this hobby and I will need refresher for many part of this hobby. Yes it has been a while.

I used to own a IM Nuvo 40 and this time I am going with Red Sea Reefer 250.

For this plumbing build, I am going to have most or all of the credit to Jason as I am copying his plumbing build. Thanks Jason for the idea!

With my build, I was thinking to go bare bottom but on second thought I am going with thin layer of Caribsea Fiji pink sand. I just love the look of sand and to me I will enjoy it more and it will look more natural having sand bottom vs bare bottom. My tank will be mixed reef with LPS and softies dominant.

For the reactors, I did a bit of modifications instead of copying Jason’s instructions and see how it will work. Instead of using two after market o-rings on the outer part of the top lid. I am using the original red o-ring that comes with the reactor and install it on the outer part and then add a black after market o-ring on the other side of the lid (see picture). Please let me know if you experts out here if I will have issue with this. For the pipe I am using orange pipe to match Neptune controller.


For now this is my gear list:
2X MP40QD
VorTech M2
Clarisea SK3000
Nyos 120 skimmer
Two Radion G5 XR15 Blue
Aqua UV sterilizer
Neptune Apex 2016
Neptune leak detection probe
Neptune optical sensor
Neptune ATK kit v2
Neptune FMM-100
Neptune FMM modules
Neptune DOS
Neptune Trident
Simplicity dosing container
Vivid Aquatic return nozzle
Caribsea purple life rocks
Marine Pure Balls
Cobalt and Eheim Heaters on Inkbird controller
Clearview lid

DIY 80/20 light mount

Current FTS Feb 14, 2021

Other pics:

Day 1
Dose 60 drops of ammonia

Day 2
Ammonia <0.15
Nitrate 25

Day 3
Ammonia <0.15
Nitrate 2.5
Then after added more ammonia drops

Day 4
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2.5

Day 5
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2

Day 6
Added more ammonia
15 minutes later ammonia test shows 0.5

Day 7
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 5

Day 8
Didn’t test. No ammonia added

Day 9
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 25

Day 10
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 25
Added 65 drops of ammonia after the test

Day 11
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 50

Day 12
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 50

Day 13
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 50

Day 14
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 2
Nitrates 100
Added 1.5 ppm ammonia

Day 15
Ammonia 1.5
Nitrite 1
Nitrates 50

Day 16
Ammonia 1.5
Nitrite 2
Nitrates 100

Day 17
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 2
Nitrate 100

Day 18
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 2
Nitrate 100
Added ammonia

Day 19
Ammonia 1.5
Nitrite 2
Nitrate 100

Day 20
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 2
Nitrate 100

Day 21
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 100

Day 22
Ammonia <0.15
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 100

Day 23
Ammonia <0.15
Nitrite 1

Day 24
Ammonia <0.15

Day 25
No test

Day 26
Ammonia <0.15
Nitrite 2
Nitrate 100

Day 27
No test

Day 28
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 100

Day 29
Nitrite 0.5

Day 30
Nitrite 0

Day 31
ball of chaeto in to the sump and started refugium light

Day 32 and 33
10 gallons WC each day
nitrate 25

Day 34
10 gallons WC
Nitrate 25
2 clownfish in!

 

[canadianeh]

Aquascaping time! Which one you think look and function the best?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

Option 6

Option 7

 

[canadianeh]

Still working on plumbing today. I am going to place the skimmer in the front area where the refugium is supposed to be and use the larger area in the back for refugium and/or marine pure media.

Will I have issue if I use the refugium section for skimmer? The skimmer intake has plenty of clearance as you can see on the picture. And it is easier to access the skimmer cup.

 

[canadianeh]

I finished cutting and dry fitting many of the orange pipes.

I currently have gate valve only on the return pipe to the clarisea. Do I need one gate valve from the return pump to the tank?

 

[powers2001]

@canadianeh your liverock option 5 and 6 look very similar and I like them best.

 

[canadianeh]

Plumbing is done. Next is leak test.

 

[canadianeh]

Alright water in and 2 days leak test has begun. I noticed that the top connection on the reactors starts to leak when I open the valve very wide. It stopped leaking after I adjusted the valve.

 

[canadianeh]

Another aquascape idea which me and my son built together. They are all the same one but I took pictures from different angles. We spend more time now than ever due to this pandemic.

 

[canadianeh]

Thinking about using 1” pvc cut to 1” length to make give “floating” sense and also it will be less detritus trapped under the rock. It also will saved me money instead of buying eggcrate. What do you guys think?

 

[NY_Caveman]

I really like this one from above you labeled option 5. The way the structures flow from the bottom right to the upper left is very pleasing. How it gets heavier as it climbs. It kind of nails the rule of thirds too, if you were considering that.

 

[NY_Caveman]

The three island one you did with your son is sweet too. I like the multiple island look. The top down made it easy to see how that left structure opens up.

 

[canadianeh]

The three island one you did with your son is sweet too. I like the multiple island look. The top down made it easy to see how that left structure opens up.

I made little adjustments.

 

[powers2001]

I made little adjustments.

Wow that's stunning @canadianeh !!! Totally Quaggular !!!

 

[canadianeh]

Wow that's stunning @canadianeh !!! Totally Quaggular !!!

What's "quaggular"? LOL I gotta keep up with the lingo here hehe

 

[powers2001]

@canadianeh dude I have no clue I think I just made it up. Haha !!! Lol

 

[TheWB]

I like the last two scapes with the little islands best. I also like that you raised up the scape with the pvc legs, I did something similar and it’s worked out well. Following along to watch your progress.

 

[canadianeh]

I like the last two scapes with the little islands best. I also like that you raised up the scape with the pvc legs, I did something similar and it’s worked out well. Following along to watch your progress.

I found some 1/2” and 1/4” acrylic rods and super glue. I think I am going to use them instead of using PVC. I think I can put extra footing since they are smaller than 1” rods. What do you think?

 

[2000se]

I tried using pvc 'feet' like you are showing above and would not do it again. In fact I took them out after redo-ing my aquascape. Anytime I would move the rocks the pvc 'feet' would shift. Then sand would get under them and they would not lay flat again... wasn't worth it IMO.

Nice build BTW.

 

[canadianeh]

I tried using pvc 'feet' like you are showing above and would not do it again. In fact I took them out after redo-ing my aquascape. Anytime I would move the rocks the pvc 'feet' would shift. Then sand would get under them and they would not lay flat again... wasn't worth it IMO.

Nice build BTW.

Did you glue them though? Anyway, like I mentioned, I will be using 1/2” and 1/4” acrylic rods and glue them.

 

[2000se]

Did you glue them though? Anyway, like I mentioned, I will be using 1/2” and 1/4” acrylic rods and glue them.

Glue them to the bottom of the glass? Is that what you are asking?