A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build

nice spread sheet!!!
Click to expand...

I can't take total credit for it:) I previously had a beefy spreadsheet to track everything but have came across a better one with better Macros on RC:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2089309

I've added some additional tracking to it but can easily track your equipment, maintenance, livestock purchases, QT schedules, and tons of graphs including the one I added:)

Here's some screenshots I've added so you have an idea of what it looks like. I'm a little OCD but like to track EVERYTHING (I also do this for my house maintenance).

Parameters:
SpreadSheet1.jpg


Equipment Tracking:
SpreadSheet2.jpg


Livestock Tracking:
SpreadSheet4.jpg


QT Tracking:
SpreadSheet3.jpg
 
Great progress, Dustin!

How did you decide on adding an 1/8 cup? As you probably know, I'm trying to cycle my 500gal system by bringing online a 75gal tank that already has a bunch of fish in it. I'm 3 weeks away from finishing QT treatment on a couple of tanks and it would be nice if I can have the DT cycled by then. If I let nature take its course it, the DT won't be ready in that time frame. I can take the 75gal offline and then add ammonia to the system to help get the ball rolling faster. From your investigation, how long does it take to cycle a system using this method?

I never went through a cycle when I initially started this system a year ago, because I had 300lbs of established liverock in it.
 
Haffs09 said:
Great progress, Dustin!
Click to expand...

Thanks, as you know progress on a large system can be quite time consuming! I'm waiting until the day I can move the 600 gallon DT downstairs!

How did you decide on adding an 1/8 cup? As you probably know, I'm trying to cycle my 500gal system by bringing online a 75gal tank that already has a bunch of fish in it. I'm 3 weeks away from finishing QT treatment on a couple of tanks and it would be nice if I can have the DT cycled by then. If I let nature take its course it, the DT won't be ready in that time frame. I can take the 75gal offline and then add ammonia to the system to help get the ball rolling faster. From your investigation, how long does it take to cycle a system using this method?
Click to expand...

I had the idea revived in my head when it was brought up in Steve's thread (Read from page 9 on for the cylcing and a great build on the rest!)

1/8 a cup was a good starting point for me based on the estimates I saw from others using this method. After it was all said and done I think I used a 1/4 of a cup to get it started and my net system volume is ~285 gallons right now. (This ammonia from Ace Hardware is twice as strong as many other commercial ones so that makes a difference)

High Level Points of cycling this way:
- Keep dosing to keep ammonia between 1-4 ppm
- Test daily so you know where you stand
- Once ammonia is consumed in 24 hour period stop dosing
- Use Ace Hardware Ammonia as outlined (If you choose another ensure it does not contain surfacants.) Floyd_R_Turbo may further elaborate if I did not clearly outline the process!

***Also, from what I've researched most go through a ~2 week cycle with cured live rock in the system. I'm hoping to see a Nitrite spike in a week but time will tell.
 
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While overlooking everything the other day I realized I had neglected to find a good coral QT frag tank for the system. That being said, I just ordered some acrylic today at lunch that will I'll use to build a cube that is ~15"X15"X15". It will be plumbed into drain, have it plumbed in the system just for initial fill up, and ready to accept coral so I can go through dipping procedures. While I've never had a pest problem in the past, I've seen enough horror stories and want to build this thing to ensure I prepare for the worst.

QT frag tank will sit to left of fish QT tank and going to have to figure out what lighting I'll use for it! One hole is for return, other hole will be for overflow which will likely just be a street 90 that drains to my house drain.

FragQT_Rev1.jpg
 
Dustin, things are looking great! I have been horrible about updating my build thread, but will do it this weekend I hope.

I love that spreadsheet, would you mind sending a copy to me? dprill1@gmail.com

Thanks!

darin
 
dprill said:
Dustin, things are looking great! I have been horrible about updating my build thread, but will do it this weekend I hope.

I love that spreadsheet, would you mind sending a copy to me? dprill1@gmail.com

Thanks!

darin
Click to expand...

Just sent your way and look forward to your updates. I understand this can be a lengthy process. I'm going to have to put things on pause for a little bit because the wife wants to go on vacation in June so need to put some money aside for that:wildone: (I'd rather have a reef a month earlier than a vacation but eh)
 
Just did my nightly testing of the big three for cycle and my Nitrates continue to climb quickly. Nitrites are finally starting to go up but don't seem to be the spike I'm looking for.

Ammonia - 1.0-1.5 ppm, Nitrite - .50 ppm, Nitrate - 25.0

Below is chart:
Cycle2.jpg


Should I be doing water change this weekend?
 
How much rock is in your system so far?? Seems like once the bacteria start to catch up, it should drop the nitrates pretty quickly. However a small water change shouldn't hurt.
 
kmooresf said:
How much rock is in your system so far?? Seems like once the bacteria start to catch up, it should drop the nitrates pretty quickly. However a small water change shouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...

I have about 110-120 pounds of live rock and about 20 pounds of live sand/80 pounds of dry sand in the system.
 
SPotter said:
How long has that rock and sand been in the fuge for?
Click to expand...

The majority of it has been in there since 12/3/2011 when I put in the dry/live sand and then added the Live rock I had going in my Brute. On 3/11/2012 I added an additional 40 pounds of live rock from Premium so the fuge had more rock in it...

Everything is getting converted to Nitrates quickly...I'm curious if I'll see much of a cycle but was not testing the water from when I brought the fuge online.
 
Dustin1300 said:
The majority of it has been in there since 12/3/2011 when I put in the dry/live sand and then added the Live rock I had going in my Brute. On 3/11/2012 I added an additional 40 pounds of live rock from Premium so the fuge had more rock in it...

Everything is getting converted to Nitrates quickly...I'm curious if I'll see much of a cycle but was not testing the water from when I brought the fuge online.
Click to expand...

I don't think you'll see much of a cycle. I got mine because I had my cooked rock out of water for 2 days under a damp towel.
 
Steve, you think I should stop dosing ammonia then? Maybe I'll stop dosing ammonia, let it get to an undetectable level, and then dose up until 1 ppm and see if it disappears after a day? If so, then tank should be 'cycled'.
 
Dustin1300 said:
Steve, you think I should stop dosing ammonia then? Maybe I'll stop dosing ammonia, let it get to an undetectable level, and then dose up until 1 ppm and see if it disappears after a day? If so, then tank should be 'cycled'.
Click to expand...

yeah I would stop and do a water change. You probably got a mini cycle going on there.
 
Headed down to get a 44 gallon batch of salt water mixed up and heated. Prolly will change out Sunday morning/afternoon as I'll be gone all tomorrow. I really need to get a couple fish in the QT so I can start my QT period:)
 
Did my water testing first thing this morning as I did not get home until late last night and nitrites/nitrates were off the chart and seems that ammonia is mostly out of the system. I just performed a 40 gallon water change from the Brute and planning to do the following today:

- Mount/Paint plywood on wall above sink to hold LMIII/pumps and Bubble Magnus T01 doser and run appropriate lines
- Bring Carbon/GFO reactors online

I want to get the GFO online asap as Phosphate was reading .24 this morning. Hopefully I can gain control of that with the GFO. I'm also hoping to bring the ATS online by the end of next weekend, after it's built of course;) I'll get some pictures up once I get my cables and cable organizers from Monoprice which should arrive tomorrow. I'm also hoping to start working on a fish list so I can stock the QT with a couple fish to start that process. I'm thinking I might pick up a couple snowflake clowns but have not made a decision yet:)
 
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