900 Gallon Reef Project

[Bennytheblenny]

Man what can I say that has not been said......Now that you have all of those fish in there you can get a better perspective on how big this tank really is..How will your water changes and dosing work with something that big? I am assuming your putting this old water in the municipality water waste system and not a sand mound septic system.

I have 2 160 gallon mixing tanks for water. Usually a water change goes like this:

1. RO tank is full and I turn a valve and pump it into the salt water mixing tank.

2. Add salt to the salt mix tank and let it mix 48 hours.

3. Drain 155 gallons out of the sump via another valve (I estimated and marked the sump), the 3 pumps can still operate during the drain out.

4. Turn another valve to fill the sump.

Waste water goes into the sewer, no septic. Dosing wise I am still waiting on my calcium/kalk/magnesium reactors. No other dosing is going to happen at the moment.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

I have 2 160 gallon mixing tanks for water. Usually a water change goes like this:

1. RO tank is full and I turn a valve and pump it into the salt water mixing tank.

2. Add salt to the salt mix tank and let it mix 48 hours.

3. Drain 155 gallons out of the sump via another valve (I estimated and marked the sump), the 3 pumps can still operate during the drain out.

4. Turn another valve to fill the sump.

Waste water goes into the sewer, no septic. Dosing wise I am still waiting on my calcium/kalk/magnesium reactors. No other dosing is going to happen at the moment.

sounds like a well thought out plan to me....would love to see a video of this large scale water change if you could.....

 

[dahenley]

+1. That would be a sweet video

 

[jmurr8484]

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Make sure to select the 720P option!

This is bar far one of the best tank setup on here. My favorite part is the shrimp cleaning station on the wall and how your two gobies are paired up. Keep up the good work and again great tank.

 

[chimmike]

I sent ya a PM. Bump for updates, but, any idea where I can source that limestone tile?

I've looked at travertine at the local big box stores. I know travertine is a form of limestone but I'm not sure if it's safe or not.

 

[Cheebs]

This is turning out to be one of my favorite tanks on here. Amazing!!

 

[beex215]

one of the best build threads ive read. the entire process from building the tanks from scratch and to the final stocking was great. tanks and fish are looking great.

 

[Cymaster007]

One note of advice- Turn all of your ball valves about 1-2 times a month, one of my buddies has a large system and had to change out a pump (had been running for 4 years, well the ball valve to the pump got stuck open so the only way he could change out the pump was to drain the entire tank-

 

[vincent201089]

very big and very nice

 

[Bennytheblenny]

I sent ya a PM. Bump for updates, but, any idea where I can source that limestone tile?

I've looked at travertine at the local big box stores. I know travertine is a form of limestone but I'm not sure if it's safe or not.

PM sent!

 

[Bennytheblenny]

One note of advice- Turn all of your ball valves about 1-2 times a month, one of my buddies has a large system and had to change out a pump (had been running for 4 years, well the ball valve to the pump got stuck open so the only way he could change out the pump was to drain the entire tank-

I will definately make sure I add that to my to do list each month.

 

[Bennytheblenny]

Another quick update. I am back from vacation and everything looks great in the tank with the exception of 2 corals that have bleached out. I think it may be due to some paint fumes from some work that was being done on the second floor. The air handler is the same for the fish tank area and the second floor. Ill post up some pics of that later.

I have also added a bunch of smaller fish to the tank and am currently battling some Cynobacteria on the sand. I have started using Special Blend to combat the issue along with turning off the lights for 3 days and a 30% water change. I have no cyno in the fuge or in the coral grow out, just in the display.

I also finally installed my Kalk stirrer and am still waiting on the calcium reactor. Anyone use a kalk stirrer and a calcium reactor in tandem?

 

[dahenley]

Anyone use a kalk stirrer and a calcium reactor in tandem?

i think most do. that way the kalk will raise any PH that the reactor lowers. plus it will add calcium and prevent the reactor from working as hard.

 

[K.Sweeney]

any updates?

 

[muttley000]

any updates?

Thanks for bringing this back to the front, I have been looking for this thread for a while.

I would love to see one of those HD videos to see how things are growing out (Hint!)

 

[cilyjr]

hey benny, i have been subscribed since the beginning but haven't posted until now. i would really like to see how you have delt with over the tank and the led lights you were going to get. if there is cabinetry that hides the fixtures or if they are visible over the tank.

thanks chris

 

[adamPL]

How do you like your Deltec Skimmer so far? I am looking to buy TC2560 but there is not much feedback from users.

Adam

 

[Bennytheblenny]

I will be posting up some pictures and a video later today, I have been really busy. I have been dealing with some issues with keeping Zoanthids and Anemones in the tank, possibly due to one of the Deltec pumps on my skimmer blowing up and leaking into the sump. Other than that the skimmer is amazing. I am now running some poly filters to pull out whatever is causing my issues. I have also switched to Tropic Marin, Bioactif salt to see if there is any difference between it and the Tropic Marin Reef Pro I started out using.

I have also cut down the timing on the LED lights as some of my Chalices bleached out due to the intensity of the lights. A 6 week dosing of Special Blend got rid of my cyano problems.

 

[adamPL]

What blend did you dose for cyano? I have cyano problem for some time, and I cant get rid of it.

 

[dahenley]

and what was the official cause of the pump problem? just a freek thing that started leaking electricity or did the pump leach chemicals or stuff in? just curious.

and cant wait for the updates!!