180 custom reef build started 8/15/13 !

[fltekdiver]

Hey Matt,

Sure thing buddy, added a Sailfin Tang 2 weeks ago, he's doing great!

Here's some video's I shot yesterday on you tube, Notice the 2 Flower Rock
Anemone also

First video catches allot of the fish, 2nd video allot of the fish and coral close-up's

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJl74abBFGw&feature=c4-overview&list=UU9rW-dOqFNrKEs7kBWJQudA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exyXcjMgSdw&feature=c4-overview&list=UU9rW-dOqFNrKEs7kBWJQudA

 

[Mark...]

Looking good...the tangs seem to be getting along very well...

 

[fltekdiver]

Thanks !

I'm still having alittle trouble with the yellow tang. Every once in a while he swims up and bumps the Sailfin Tang to show the Sailfin who's boss

2 Weeks after introducing the Sailfin, he's now out swimming around and not hiding no more, which is a good sign

He's always ate well, next day after introducing him to the tank he was eating

Tanks levels are still doing very well, which I'm very happy with

PPo4 levels are 0.002 ppm , way down since adding the MR1 GFO Reactor a month ago

I'm very happy so far, 4 months in, and everything's been pretty smooth

I been doing 25% water changes every other week using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

I been going through about a 1.5 gallons a day of RO water

Water bill doubled last few months, going from $57 a month to $113

I'm making water now every two weeks, vs changing the water out every week in smaller amounts

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

everything looks great. its come along way.

 

[fltekdiver]

Some more Pictures, and Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Tanks really coming along nice !

I found some sponges growing in my Refugium today! You can all the pods in their also!

Also Added 2 Leathers Coral, and more!

Enjoy!

 

[N9BX]

Tank Looks Great

Tank Looks Great

Very Nice Marco. Glad you are Happy with its Progress. Taking the slow and easy route sure makes for a Nice established Tank. Merry Christmas to you and your Family Also. Bruce

 

[smilonas]

Thanks !

I'm still having alittle trouble with the yellow tang. Every once in a while he swims up and bumps the Sailfin Tang to show the Sailfin who's boss

2 Weeks after introducing the Sailfin, he's now out swimming around and not hiding no more, which is a good sign

He's always ate well, next day after introducing him to the tank he was eating

Tanks levels are still doing very well, which I'm very happy with

PPo4 levels are 0.002 ppm , way down since adding the MR1 GFO Reactor a month ago

I'm very happy so far, 4 months in, and everything's been pretty smooth

I been doing 25% water changes every other week using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

I been going through about a 1.5 gallons a day of RO water

Water bill doubled last few months, going from $57 a month to $113

I'm making water now every two weeks, vs changing the water out every week in smaller amounts

Hi Marco...just read this entire thread and it is awesome. What a great job you did not only on the build but also sharing tons of useful information. One question I have is the amount of water changes you specified above "I been doing 25% water changes every other week using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt". Are you still doing that or have you lowered the % and/or frequency? I have a 200 gallon and am still trying to get the water change ratio/timing down and would appreciate any advice.

GREAT JOB! :beer:

Stacy

 

[fltekdiver]

Very Nice Marco. Glad you are Happy with its Progress. Taking the slow and easy route sure makes for a Nice established Tank. Merry Christmas to you and your Family Also. Bruce

Bruce, Merry Christmas to you and your family also

When you get the 120 up and running, please let me know

I'm very excited to see the pictures, it will be great!

 

[fltekdiver]

Hi Marco...just read this entire thread and it is awesome. What a great job you did not only on the build but also sharing tons of useful information. One question I have is the amount of water changes you specified above "I been doing 25% water changes every other week using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt". Are you still doing that or have you lowered the % and/or frequency? I have a 200 gallon and am still trying to get the water change ratio/timing down and would appreciate any advice.

GREAT JOB! :beer:

Stacy

Hi Stacy,

Thanks so much! I appreciate it, allot of hard work to get it here

I do 32 gallons of Red Sea Coral Pro Salt every other week, and 40 gallons every other time

So for example, yesterday I did my bi-weekly water change, using 32 gallons

in 2 weeks from now, I'll do a larger water change of about 40 gallons

I change my GFO in my Reactor every 8 weeks ,or until I see the glass needing to be cleaned more then twice a week. Yesturday when I checked, it's 6 weeks since it was added, and I'm still at 0.002ppm on the hanna checker

Do you have a build thread of your 200 ? Also how long has yours been up and running?

Thanks again !

 

[smilonas]

Hi Stacy,

Thanks so much! I appreciate it, allot of hard work to get it here

I do 32 gallons of Red Sea Coral Pro Salt every other week, and 40 gallons every other time

So for example, yesterday I did my bi-weekly water change, using 32 gallons

in 2 weeks from now, I'll do a larger water change of about 40 gallons

I change my GFO in my Reactor every 8 weeks ,or until I see the glass needing to be cleaned more then twice a week. Yesturday when I checked, it's 6 weeks since it was added, and I'm still at 0.002ppm on the hanna checker

Do you have a build thread of your 200 ? Also how long has yours been up and running?

Thanks again !

That 0.002ppm is super impressive! Nice work.

I do not have a build thread for mine, as I didn't want to get beat up :headwalls: First 2 1/2 years of running a mixed tank (without sump) went fine then everything went belly-up last december. Rebuilt in January but being extremely cautious this time to be sure I do things the best way possible. Upgrading almost everything except the main tank this time so fingers are crossed. So glad you had all that info regarding your protein skimmer choice and why...I will be following your lead and ordering the same.

Stacy

 

[fltekdiver]

That sux, sorry to hear that after 2+ years you had trouble.

I found that the 8" cup instead of the 6" cup on the skimmer really helps from having to empty the cup so much

My cup gets all most full about the 2nd week right towards the water change. I usually cut it close, having about a 1/4 cup left till it over flows right at the water change

I been putting easy corals in the tank, allot of easy LPS, as I don't want to get into dosing for a while.

With water changes, and allot of cleaning., I been pretty lucky

Every month I break down the skimmer and give it a vineager bath, and then do the power heads. Lasy water change I did the return pump, and let the power heads run while the return soaked for a few hours

I'm keeping my fingers crossed also, So far been pretty smooth though

 

[davyjone]

Every month I break down the skimmer and give it a vineager bath, and then do the power heads. Lasy water change I did the return pump, and let the power heads run while the return soaked for a few hours

I've been following your thread for awhile now. Glad you've made so much progess. I'll be setting up a 180 when I free up some money.

I was looking for the best way to do just a general cleaning on equipment. Do you just let it soak? Is there a certain type of vineager?

 

[fltekdiver]

Thanks !! I just buy any Vineager from a local store

I bought a 18 Gallon round tub from Home Depot I believe for $7.00 , it works great, I just through the skimmer in with the pumps, fill it less then half way, pour some vineager in it, and let everything run for a few hours

 

[fltekdiver]

Gotta Love Florida,

Was out fishing today with the family, and swimming in the water's off the beach with the boat, 3 days before Christmas !

Picture of the boat beached at an island for lunch, and then my daughter and myself swimming around in the ocean off the beach with the boat

 

[fltekdiver]

Some tank pics & Refugium :

 

[lluv24]

Nice!!!!!!

 

[blkg35]

Just curious why the pics in the beginning of this thread were deleted or not viewable?

 

[fltekdiver]

I uploaded the pics to photobucket, then to here, so they appear larger.

Photo bucket said I hit my limit, and I had to pay for additional pictures

So I went into Photo Bucket, and deleted allot of pictures

Next thing I know, they were all erased from here also, because they were linked to photo bucket

It ****ed me off, because I didn't save any of them on my computer

 

[davyjone]

I'll have to give that a try, thanks. I'm just going to assume there's a rinse after the vinegar. How is that skimmer working out? I was thinking that might be the one for me.

 

[fltekdiver]

Yes, sorry, I rinse them in RO water after

Here's some pics , new designer snails picked up yestuday.

I havn't added anything new now in 6 weeks. So I'm giving the tank lot's of time to mature

I did add 2 weeks ago 2 new leather coral

I love the skimmer. It works great, havn't had any issues, and I'm glad I went with a skimmer with a 8" cup.

I'm a big Reef Octopus fan, so this was really a hard decision going with something that just came out

It's dead quit, easy to work on and clean, cup removal is a simple twist, haven't found anything wrong yet I could complain about. I'm really happy with it, and I'm very picky