Custom 240 Starphire Pennisula Tank: 5+ years planning

zachhll said:
I know it hasn't been long but any update on the Pukani leaching PO4. I had that in my last tank but had the same issue. I ran way too much GFO and still had issues keeping PO4 down. This time around I ran Real Reef Rock and haven't had a single issue with PO4. Plus I didn't have to wait for coraline to grow.
Click to expand...

It seems to be leaching PO4. I dose Phos free which drops it back down and then it comes back up after a few days. I am measuring with a Hanna ULR (736) and am keeping track of the numbers but don't have them right now.

I am glad to hear that Real Reef Rock is working out for you. :thumbsup: I was going to go that route, but I decided to buy live rock from Aquatic tech that has been "curing" for more than 2 months and they are picking me only pieces that are 100% coraline encrusted. They have been great to work with, very helpful!
 
Aquatic Tech Bali Live Rock

Aquatic Tech Bali Live Rock

Live rock from http://www.aquatictech.com/
Greg was great, he picked the rock and then sent me some pictures. It is some of the nicest live rock I have seen in a long time. It's almost as good as the stuff we got back in the earlier days from Fiji. I am happy to discuss why I choose this route over TBS (TBS looks like amazing rock too!!)

THIS PIECE IS HUGE. The picture doesn't do it justice.

i-x74jTG3-L.jpg


Sorry about the DOF...

i-FtdNGrp-L.jpg


A smaller piece sorry about the focus. I was in a hurry to get this stuff into the tank. Only took a few shots.

i-dT4dXTv-L.jpg
 
Wow, what a beautiful tank and location. It's even beautiful with just sand in.

Looks like you are not QTing the rock. That would be my preference too. This way it will be easier to see if there are any bad hitchhikers.
---sitting at bar (shelf) w/ bourbon in hand 'hunting' for baddies--- :)
 
Last edited:
woodnaquanut said:
Wow, what a beautiful tank and location. It's even beautiful with just sand in.

Looks like you are not QTing the rock. That would be my preference too. This way it will be easier to see if there are any bad hitchhikers.
---sitting at bar (shelf) w/ bourbon in hand 'hunting' for baddies--- :)
Click to expand...

Nope, not QT'ing the rock. Drop and watch! Greg at Aquatic Tech already had the rock for a couple months, so most the nasties/die off has already taken place. It's in my tank now and ammonia/nitrite is 0.

By the way, I want your job -- "VP of Wine Country Reefers"

Thanks for the compliments.
 
Clean up crew

Clean up crew

So I need to get a clean up crew and I just can't decide what to get...

Last time I and a to of dwarf ceriths, but they can be a PIA and they look like black ants all over the tank, not all the attractive. Probably going to get a bunch of regular ceriths, nerites and a couple strombus a. (fighting conch) and scarlet/blue legged hermits. I already have a couple cucumbers.

Any other thoughts on some good "new tank" clean up characters to consider? Tank is cycled.
 
Rock in the Tank..

Rock in the Tank..

Alright, we got rock in the tank!

I threw my flash on the old DIV to try and get some natural shots. Basically I just played around with the flash exposure -- full stop to 1/3 stop.

i-TDdVHB7-L.jpg


i-gLkdm4x-L.jpg


i-VvrDJx4-L.jpg


i-rxz5TCg-L.jpg


i-qcVJF7k-L.jpg



The sand has been in the tank for about 5 weeks...and I did have the lights on because I wanted to make sure there were no signs of cyano. I am seeing the typical new tank stuff - diatoms etc.

Clean crew is being added today. And I used a couple pieces of Euphyllia to test the water quality since it will tolerate a lot. I did all the standard tests, but I view the euphyllia as the "non-chemical" bio test.
 
Brett, your setup is absolutely gorgeous. I love the peninsula design and that cabinet is such a beautiful work of art that compliments the tank. I love the basement setup too. My old 75 starfire was a peninsula and I loved it!
Let me know if you need some frags once you get everything settled. I can hook you up!
This reminds me to update my build thread!!!!! Good luck.
 
RTMA said:
Brett, your setup is absolutely gorgeous. I love the peninsula design and that cabinet is such a beautiful work of art that compliments the tank. I love the basement setup too. My old 75 starfire was a peninsula and I loved it!
Let me know if you need some frags once you get everything settled. I can hook you up!
This reminds me to update my build thread!!!!! Good luck.
Click to expand...

Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words and offer. :thumbsup: I wish I had some frags to offer, but I am basically starting over right now. Building the system, while not easy, is pale in comparison to turning into a thriving tank. I only hope I can find success this time around like I had with my 75, it's eluding me right now, but hopefully not for long.

By the way, can you post a link to you build thread? Love to see you tank and corals.

Cheers.
brett
 
Bali live rock (Aquatic Tech)

Bali live rock (Aquatic Tech)

BrettH said:
Live rock from http://www.aquatictech.com/
Greg was great, he picked the rock and then sent me some pictures. It is some of the nicest live rock I have seen in a long time. It's almost as good as the stuff we got back in the earlier days from Fiji. I am happy to discuss why I choose this route over TBS (TBS looks like amazing rock too!!)

THIS PIECE IS HUGE. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Hi Brett,

Thank you soooo much for the great info!!!!! I'm setting-up a new 180g reef tank. Your info regarding the Bali live rock (Aquatic Tech & Greg) is a great benefit to me. I'm planning to purchase live rock in the Spring.

-Mike
Click to expand...
 
Hey everyone...figured it was time to do an update...wish I could do this more real time....but life can get in the way.

It's been almost a year since I reset (December 2014) and things are going well. I've been taking it very slow and only started adding acros late March (Thanks to my local club who gave me a bunch of frags"”Thanks Joe and Matt) and then again in April (Delaware Reef Club Farmers Mkt) and June (Reef A Palooza). Only two Acro deaths so far -- Jf Burning Banana and a Highlighter.

Video of the tank, sorry I took it on my iPhone, one of these days I'll get the DSLR out and the macro lens...
http://www.brettdhowell.com/Aquariums/Videos/n-j5RT8w/i-QKxGjFT/A

Summary of changes this year (approximate timing):
-March added a simple AWC
-April added Masterflex pump to CaRx system (Love it)
-April started using Kalk in my ATO
-April hit the tank with some Chemi-clean
-May Removed RDSB /Refugium
-June Stopped GFO
-End of July stopped using Kalk in ATO
-Added 40g frag tank to system
-July/August - Dr Tim's Refresh and Waste Away utilized to knock out small amount of Cyano
-August added 8 Berghi Nudi branches for Aiptasia control- And I am breeding them
-September added supplemental T5 Lighting - 4x54 watt (Blue+, Coral+)
-Mid Sept started Dosing Red Sea Reef Care: Potassium, Iron, Bio Active (Colors B,C & D)
-Mid October: Stopped dosing Iron (Color B) "“ test kit reading Zero for Iron, but I am seeing algae growth "“ you can have Iron in your water and still get a zero reading with the test kits.
 
Cyano & GHA problems

Cyano & GHA problems

Cyano/GHA problems:

i-4X8zjQL-XL.jpg


Let's me just say that GHA and Cyano have NOT been that much of an issue, but it is something I have had to monitor and deal with.

In March I started seeing small amounts of GHA along with a spike in PO4, no biggie, I just stayed on top it and removed GHA/cleaned rocks every two to three week and I also started running BRS GFO in a small amount. That kept the PO4 somewhat inline. Then around May I started seeing cyano in the remote deep sand bed, so I took the RDSB off line and hit the tank with chemi-clean. But it still came back in June. So I put Dr Tim's Refresh and Waste Away to work (A biological solution) around July/August. That really helped knock it all out. I used Dr Tim's in the past with mixed results, but this time after the initial dosing/loading program for two weeks, I continued dosing a small amount (5ml) of waste away every day via my GHL Doser 2.

For me, Waste away appears to be doing a better job than GFO. Once I started dosing waste away, I have seen very little algae growth. Possible reasons why it's better for me:

1) Easy to dose at a consistent rate

2) GFO may have been exhausting faster than I thought so I wasn't changing it fast enough--it requires a lot more testing. With waste away I can observe the tank for algae growth and then easily change the dose rate. I test once or twice a month for PO4.

3) Changing out the GFO is more time consuming. Have to rinse it etc.

4) With waste away you are also adding a competing bacteria as opposed to just absorbing PO4 out of the water with GFO.

For the record, I am not saying refresh/waste away are the holy grail, just it seems to be working best for me right now. That could change.
 
At some point you said you'd update as to why you switched from Dialyseas to a regular water change and I'm keen to hear all about it...did I miss it?

thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Return to Reefing
2 3
Replies
40
Views
2K
kelly_12
K
U
New build
Replies
3
Views
536
griss
griss
C
RSM Max Nano XL Plan / Build
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
griss
griss
Brian60077
Building another new tank
2 3
Replies
49
Views
1K
Brian60077
Brian60077
DPauley
Bonnethead Shark Collection and Care in Home Aquaria
Replies
3
Views
246
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Back
Top