BUILDING A DREAM....SPS Dominated Tank build

[Reef_Noob]

those snails look similar to nassarius. love your setup btw.

thanks curlykid...i researched about the snails i had and they are called Lightning dove snails (Pictocolumbella ocellata)....cool name right! :smokin:

They are not so common in the aquarium trade i guess, it wasnt easy to identify this species coz there are so many species around...

I would definately recommend them as they are great algae scavengers

Here's some pics i found...

 

[Reef_Noob]

hello guys ...just a lil update....

The tank is cycling with the Hydor 2800s on full time, the RR wavemaker in antisynchronous pulse mode, the nano wavemakers on full time. The Hydor 4000s on a timer with hourly alternating on-off shchedule and they are off at night switching back on at dawn.

Initial Lighting Schedule...

RGB-P light bar on a dawn to dusk effect setting with moonlight LEDs on at night
T5 LED tubes x 2 ON for 7 hours
T8 LED tubes x 2 ON for 5 hours
MAIN LED x 2 ON for 3 hours

The RGB-P light bar bar turns on first in a dim mode and slowly brightens creating a dawn effect, then the T5 LED tubes comes on followed by the T8s and finally both the main LEDs.
They switch off in a reverse schedule...finally with the RGB-P light bar slowly dimming down and the built in "moonlight" LEDs switch on.

I am currently keeping the main LED lights at 30% power (the 455nM blue at 30% and 9000K white also at 30%)and ON for 3 hours daily...Planning to gradually increase the intensity and duration at weekly intervals...just attempting to prevent any sudden algae outbreaks if any at all...

At present i see the customary brown colour patches of algae growth on the sand bed and on the rock....i sift the sand weekly to prevent any "clumping"

Things looking normal...till now...:strange:

 

[Reef_Noob]

I am planning on a sump upgrade....plus a skimmer upgrade too...

These are the contenders...:lol2:

The ATB Small

The Bubble Magus BM220-CS with Eheim 1260

The Bubble King Mini 180 Gen 2

Any suggestions or recommendations guys??? :wave:

 

[aquaph8]

I think you would be happy with any of those skimmers. I'd go with the ATB though.

 

[Reef_Noob]

I think you would be happy with any of those skimmers. I'd go with the ATB though.

thanks aquaph8....so 1 vote for the ATB...:beachbum:

 

[Reef_Noob]

Peek inside the Hood...

 

[Reef_Noob]

Started dosing Seachem fusion 1&2

 

[Reef_Noob]

Just a small update....

The tank is cycling...26 days now...:lolspin:

I can see some brown algae on the rocks and the sand...its there in small scale and in control at the moment, and hopefully it wont go outta control :headwallblue:

Here are the stats for now:

Salinity: 1.025ppt

Temperature: 26 - 27 Celcius (Sander Temp moniter)

pH: 8.28 - 8.3 (pH controller)

Alkalinity: 8.3 dKH (Salifert)

Ammonia: nil (Red Sea)

Nitrites: 0.05ppm (Red Sea)

Nitrates: 0ppm (API)

Calcium: 460ppm (API)

Phosphates: 0ppm (API)

Lighting:
Schedule has not been changed its the same as before except that the CREE LED main fixtures cranked up to 60% power now.

Dosing:
Bacterya (Equo) weekly and Bioptim (Prodibio) every 2 weeks.
Seachem fusion 1&2 (10ml each) every four days.

Maintenance:
Cleaning glass
Sand sifting
Skimmer cup cleaned every 3 days
Running GAC and GFO full time (thru Reactors)

 

[Reef_Noob]

Started to add Fiji Mud....to replenish trace elements in a more natural way.

 

[astroreevo]

do you have a theme for this tank? it looks awesome

 

[aquaph8]

Your on your way. Hows the skimmer debate going?

 

[A. Grandis]

I've got an ATB and love it!!
If you've got the room for it, get it.

Nice set up!!!

Grandis.

 

[Reef_Noob]

do you have a theme for this tank? it looks awesome

thanks astroreevo for ya compliment....

Well i had planned and envisioned on a reef scape and had to wait quite a while to get the right rock pieces to bring that to life....

To be honest i wanted to have a "mix" of themes in my tank.....

And since you asked for it...i am making an attempt to explain with a tacky pic lol...:lmao:

 

[Reef_Noob]

Your on your way. Hows the skimmer debate going?

Hey Brett :wavehand:...

About the skimmer debate, well ATB has 1 vote from ya....and no one else has joined in on the debate as such :strange: is everyone scared to vote/recommend or what :lol2:

Need to have more people joining in the vote....:lol2:

Personally, I am leaning towards the Bubble King :strange:....what do ya think? So 1 vote to Bubble King

thanks for stoppin by again...

 

[Reef_Noob]

I've got an ATB and love it!!
If you've got the room for it, get it.

Nice set up!!!

Grandis.

Yo Grandis....thanks for the el complimento!!!!

Oooooooo 2 votes for ATB now.....

I am in the design phase of a sump upgrade now...to utilize the maximum available space in my cabinet and accomodate one of the 3 skimmers i had posted for a debate...

Will keep ya all posted...

 

[Reef_Noob]

Chiller TECO-TR15 (with UV)....

Got a chiller TECO Model TR-15 with a built-in UV lamp attachment.
The UV filter can be switched on/off separately, so planning to use it only if required, in case of a disease outbreak :headwalls:
It has a "silent" mode which can be switched on/off

The chiller has an option for a built-in heater attachment, which i havent got at the moment, will add if required if the temp falls too low.

The quality of the chiller is top notch and came highy recommended, as its quiet, reliable and durable....

Some Technical details:

"¢ high efficiency patented titanium exchanger.
"¢ increases cooling efficiency and provides considerable energy savings thanks to the length of the titanium 30% higher than standard.
"¢ ecological units.

Digital Thermostat
"¢ easy-to-use digital temperature control system.
"¢ maintains the desired set temperature within 1°C.
"¢ temperature's range 0° - 35°C.
"¢ °C or °F displayed temperature.
"¢ security alarms.

Cooling Power Consumption - 380 w
Ecological Refrigerant - R134a
Min. Flow rate - 500 lt / h
Tank Size up to 800 lt
(water temp. 25°C - Room temp. 30°C - Heating load 0,3 w / lt)
Dimensions - 27 x 43 x 45 (h) cm
Weight - 18 kg
Connections - 16 or 20 mm

Back...

 

[pimp2daizzo]

where did you get the led tubes, and how do you install them?? i have the same main led units you do and right now im running t5 on the side of them but i kinda want to go all led. and can i jsut take out the old bulbs and put them right in?

 

[aquaph8]

Hey Brett :wavehand:...

About the skimmer debate, well ATB has 1 vote from ya....and no one else has joined in on the debate as such :strange: is everyone scared to vote/recommend or what :lol2:

Need to have more people joining in the vote....:lol2:

Personally, I am leaning towards the Bubble King :strange:....what do ya think? So 1 vote to Bubble King

thanks for stoppin by again...

I think thats a great skimmer too. You'll be happy either way. I like the rocks too, cant wait to see some life in there.

 

[Reef_Noob]

hello pimp2daizzo , thanks for viewing....

The LED tubes they cannot be used in same fixture as that of T5, because they run without ballasts.

 

[Reef_Noob]

I think thats a great skimmer too. You'll be happy either way. I like the rocks too, cant wait to see some life in there.

:thumbsup: @Brett

Yup almost time to add one/two fishes in...

Tank up and running for 30 days now.The tank parameters are quite stable, Ammonia and Nitrite at 0ppm...so i am planning to add couple of tiny fishes..but i am gonna be selective in what fishes i am gonna put in my tank.

The brown "film" algae is almost but disappeared and specs of coralline algae is beginning to show up on some of the rocks now....

I am still running GAC and GFO in the reactors.