72 Gallon Bowfront - New Tank

[jtinoco]

I thought I'd just start a new thread on the new tank I got so that the title actually matches what the thread is about.

Here are the details.
72 gallon bow front
Fluval-405 Canister filter
Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 6X54w
Koralia 4 - powerhead

1 Clown Fish. (looks to me like its a false percula)
2 Chromis
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Dragon Goby, Pistol goby, Banded Goby.... whatever you wanna call it.

About 60lbs of live rock. (will be adding more as time passes)
All the coral so far came from Jay's tank and was in my pico. I fragged the GSP and the zoas.

So far I have:
Zoas (not sure on the name)
Toadstool leather
Small Kenya Tree
Green Star Polyps

Will be adding more coral as tank matures. I don't want to overload it to quick.

The awesome thing with this tank is that I kept all the water the previous owner had. I was afraid of a mini cycle, but none of the parameters have spiked at all. Ammonia 0. Nitrites 0, Nitrates 10 ppm, Phosphate 0. I've been testing it every day since it was setup and nothing has changed. :fun2:

Here are the before and after pics. The cloudy ones are from the day it was set up. Pics were taken with my phone so they aren't the greatest. Seems like I misplaced my camera. Once I find it, I'll post better pics.

 

[mistaflicksta]

looks sweet! you still need a skimmer though.

 

[jtinoco]

looks sweet! you still need a skimmer though.

Yeah. I haven't gotten the skimmer yet since I'm trying to find out if I may be able to drill the tank. If I can't I'll get a HOB. If I can drill then I'll get one I can fit in the sump.

I'd go for a HOB overflow but I just don't rust them. I know most work good and flawlessly but I just don't trust them so much.

 

[puffin04]

Is there any room under the stand to place a refuge there?

Steffen Sparks

 

[jtinoco]

Is there any room under the stand to place a refuge there?

Steffen Sparks

Yeah. There's plenty of room. It's completely empty.

I may be able to fit a 30 gallon tank down there. Maybe even a 40 but not a breeder 40.

 

[psuedopimp]

you will want more flow for sure! i have two K4's in my 50. i didn't like the low flow so i went online and got the sureflow kit that they use on maxijet. this kit came with two props a med flow and high flow. it only cost 15 bucks so i thought i would try it. they work great with awesome flow. the only down side is sometimes i think the power flickers or something cause one will go backwards sometimes. but for 15 bucks awesome flow!

and i will be redoing my aquascape and should have some rock to get rid of.....one of these days.

 

[jtinoco]

you will want more flow for sure! i have two K4's in my 50. i didn't like the low flow so i went online and got the sureflow kit that they use on maxijet. this kit came with two props a med flow and high flow. it only cost 15 bucks so i thought i would try it. they work great with awesome flow. the only down side is sometimes i think the power flickers or something cause one will go backwards sometimes. but for 15 bucks awesome flow!

and i will be redoing my aquascape and should have some rock to get rid of.....one of these days.

I'll see if I can post a video. I thought my fow was good but now I'm doubting it. I have the fluval at full blast as well since it has a flow control valve.

 

[jmait769]

Looks great!! You got a good deal especially with the light. I have the old 4 bulb version, not the pro, and it has been a very good light. May want to see how old the bulbs are if you can. What have you got in the fluval as far as media goes?

Jay

 

[jtinoco]

Looks great!! You got a good deal especially with the light. I have the old 4 bulb version, not the pro, and it has been a very good light. May want to see how old the bulbs are if you can. What have you got in the fluval as far as media goes?

Jay

The guy that sold me the tanks said the bulbs werent even a month old. I stopped by The Coral Reef yesterday. Apparently Daniel knows the guy that sold me the tank. He said he changed the bulbs out on that fixture himself no more than a month ago.

As for the fluval. It's running half the container on carbon and the other half on bio pellets. Not too crazy on the bio pellets. As soon as I get a skimmer those pellets are going.

 

[mistaflicksta]

I use bio pellets in my canister but I clean it out every week, it works ok for me because I overfeed and the bio pellets hel prefilter the water before it reaches the carbon, well thats what I use them for.

 

[jtinoco]

I just don't want the pellets becoming nitrate factories in the future.

 

[jmait769]

That is great on the bulbs then! That helps knowing that Daniel was involved in the tanks equipment and maintenance! :thumbsup: I’m thinking of using the pellets once the tank matures a little further. What types of pellets are you guys using? Never used them so just curious.

Jay

 

[jtinoco]

I believe these are the ones in mine.

 

[jmait769]

I just don't want the pellets becoming nitrate factories in the future.

Ok no I was thinking more of this type:

With those fluval ceramic rings I would be worried about the nitrate factory also. I think the fear is that the canister becomes a detritus trap. Check your parameters often and get that skimmer! I have a Remora (HOB) you can use if you like until you figure out which one you will get. You will need a MJ1200 to run it.


Jay

 

[mistaflicksta]

I run the original Eheim SUBSTRAT Pro Biological Filtration Media and have just recently started to mix in BRS Bio Pellets in the canister. I havent noticed a major change in nitrate since I put it in. I used to have 20ppm and they dropped to 10ppm and have not moved since. I will be ordering a reactor next month and some GFO and ill see how that works out for me.

 

[pnavarro170]

i would have spray painted the back really quick before setting up but i know you had everything waiting. good deal good start.

 

[deehz]

.... I will be ordering a reactor next month and some GFO and ill see how that works out for me.

Erik--Have you seen the Zeovit system? Its basically the same concept as the reactor w/ gfo and carbon. The difference is that the media in the reactor somehow harbors all the beneficial bacteria. In time, it will lower your PO4 and NO3 levels naturally and the bacteria becomes a planktonic food source for your corals. People swear by this system. Its a little pricey up front, but from I have been told, the bacteria cultures and stuff that you purchase for this system lasts pretty long. Then again, everything in this hobby can be expensive.

During xmas break, I am going to finally run a real sump for my tank. I am also going to purchase this system as well. Check out the thread that I started: Zeovit.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...lty_Filters-AquaMaxx-UJ31113-FIFRISMF-vi.html

 

[mistaflicksta]

any updates?

 

[jtinoco]

any updates?

I haven't had much time lately to add anything else to the tank. Everythig seems to be doing good. The zoas and the toadstool have opened up nicely.

I fjnally found my camera. I'll post pics in a few.

 

[jtinoco]

Here are a few pics.

Actinics only

Both Daylights and Actinics

Some shots of the coral in actinics and some with just daylights.