drummereef's 180g in-wall build

[drummereef]

Brett i´m sure you allready posted, but are you planning on having a algae refugium because of no3 and po4 levels ? Have you added live bacteria to the refugium ?
I´m trying to do something like yours because of no3 and po4 issues, but was wondering if you used sand or miracle mud at all.

Sorry if allready posted and sorry for my english

No apologies necessary Vlado. I seeded the rock with bacteria as I was cycling but haven't added anything since plumbing the fuge tank into the main system. The only thing in the tank right now is 50 lbs Pukani rock from BRS and the macroalgae I recently added. I would hope there would be some nutrient reduction in time but it's not my main focus. My NO3 is currently undetectable, PO4 is hanging around 0.05. My current goals are as follows...

1. To create an area where microfauna can poplulate.
2. To encourage nuisance algae growth under a lower Kelvin bulb, which intern will hopefully reduce algae growth in the display.
3. To be able to grow various macroalgaes for some nutrient reduction.
4. Something different and fun to look at.

 

[110galreef]

.5) cuz i need one more project to desing, redesign, over engineer, tinker with and ultimately make looks super Uber impressive!

hahah

Overall looking sweet!

 

[drummereef]

.5) cuz i need one more project to desing, redesign, over engineer, tinker with and ultimately make looks super Uber impressive!

hahah

Overall looking sweet!

Hahahaha! Thanks 110g.

 

[Vlado4x4]

Amazing, thank you very much.

The 6 could be ... to have food for the tangs as both macroalgaes are amazing for them

 

[drummereef]

Amazing, thank you very much.

The 6 could be ... to have food for the tangs as both macroalgaes are amazing for them

You are welcome. Yes, hopefully my Yellow Tang will take to the Red Gracilaria. I tried a little on a food clip last night with mixed results... I'll keep trying though.

 

[drummereef]

UPDATE:


Some new additions...


Superman Monti frag.

Decided to take action on my sand issues so I added a small Dragon Goby. I haven't had the sand storms that others post about, I believe it's because of the grain size of the Reeflake sand - and how clean it was to begin with. So far he's been a welcome addition and started cleaning the sand bed as soon as I added him.

I came up with a different way to mount the Red Gracilaria in the fuge. Because it came as tiny little sprigs it was very difficult to get it to stay on the rock. So I used a small piece of eggcrate and feed little bunches of the macro through a few of the holes. So far it seems to be working great. I've noticed it spreading out a bit so I'm assuming it's happy now.

 

[iced98lx]

Decided to take action on my sand issues so I added a small Dragon Goby. I haven't had the sand storms that others post about, I believe it's because of the grain size of the Reeflake sand - and how clean it was to begin with. So far he's been a welcome addition and started cleaning the sand bed as soon as I added him.

Gotta love the Gobies! my YWG is great fun to watch go to work.

I came up with a different way to mount the Red Gracilaria in the fuge. Because it came as tiny little sprigs it was very difficult to get it to stay on the rock. So I used a small piece of eggcrate and feed little bunches of the macro through a few of the holes. So far it seems to be working great. I've noticed it spreading out a bit so I'm assuming it's happy now.

You mean you came up with a better way of doing something you did, and revised things to make it cleaner, and easier to manage!?

Wait...

Isn't this whole thread just that in a loop? lol

 

[BrklynArch]

the Red Gracilaria will attach in no time...its was everywhere n my fuge and out grew my cheato almost 3 to 1

 

[drummereef]

You mean you came up with a better way of doing something you did, and revised things to make it cleaner, and easier to manage!?

Wait...

Isn't this whole thread just that in a loop? lol

Yes. :lol: :rollface:

the Red Gracilaria will attach in no time...its was everywhere n my fuge and out grew my cheato almost 3 to 1

Great, thanks for the info BrklynArch. Do you think it's equal to or better at nutrient reduction as Chaeto?

 

[psteeleb]

nice additions :thumbsup:

 

[Vlado4x4]

Very nice aditions. I have a pair of Valenciennea strigata, and they do an excellent job !! You wont regret it.

When it comes to the refugium, haven´t you thought about putting mangroves in ? They perfectly work with both of the other macroalgaes.

 

[drummereef]

nice additions :thumbsup:

Thanks Pete!

Very nice aditions. I have a pair of Valenciennea strigata, and they do an excellent job !! You wont regret it.

When it comes to the refugium, haven´t you thought about putting mangroves in ? They perfectly work with both of the other macroalgaes.

Great! Thanks Vlado. I'm still hashing out what will end up in the fuge. I'm wanting to get my hands on some Ulva Sea Lettuce and possibly some Grape Caulerpa as well. Obviously those would be easier to manage as I could just throw them in there. I'm still debating the mangroves based upon what I can physically fit in the fuge but I would like to add some at some point.

 

[artw]

Drummereef, I am in the process of determining the "Best" system to start up a 180 that has sat empty for 13 years after a pump and check valve failure that resulted in loosing everything in my tank. I am curious about your thoughts concerning the media reactor? I know you have had it operating, and then pulled it on several occasions. I am considering the Zeovit system, but without the ZEOvit media. Just the chemistry. Any thoughts? Your system is incredible.

 

[drummereef]

Drummereef, I am in the process of determining the "Best" system to start up a 180 that has sat empty for 13 years after a pump and check valve failure that resulted in loosing everything in my tank. I am curious about your thoughts concerning the media reactor? I know you have had it operating, and then pulled it on several occasions. I am considering the Zeovit system, but without the ZEOvit media. Just the chemistry. Any thoughts? Your system is incredible.

That is the never-ending reefer question... "what is the best system?" Fortunately there is more than "one" method that allows the hobbyist to be successful in keeping ornamental fish and coral. Being a bacterial based system, I'm not sure how much success you will have using the Chemistry of the Zeovit system without the Biological system in conjunction - to get the full benefit of that system. I've had success with select products like BioMate, ZeoZyme, and Coral Snow. You have to be careful to not overdose these products as they are very powerful, especially the AA products, as they seem to react different in a non-Zeovit system. I do think you can run a "hybrid" Zeo system using Biopellets and dosing certain Zeo additives at times, but it's all based upon how your system is reacting. It's not the exact science of the full Zeo system, so you have to be cautious when doing so. Just food for thought...

 

[BrklynArch]

Great, thanks for the info BrklynArch. Do you think it's equal to or better at nutrient reduction as Chaeto?

Not sure really....ive read that people have had some trouble growing it compared to chaeto but in my case its the opposite. Reefcleaners has it listed as a "middle of the road" algae with medium nutrient uptake and Chaeto as "high nutrient uptake".....I feel as long as they grow nutrients are being consumed. an upside to the Red Gracilaria is that you can feed it to your tangs, mine love the stuff

 

[artw]

That is the never-ending reefer question... "what is the best system?" Fortunately there is more than "one" method that allows the hobbyist to be successful in keeping ornamental fish and coral. Being a bacterial based system, I'm not sure how much success you will have using the Chemistry of the Zeovit system without the Biological system in conjunction - to get the full benefit of that system. I've had success with select products like BioMate, ZeoZyme, and Coral Snow. You have to be careful to not overdose these products as they are very powerful, especially the AA products, as they seem to react different in a non-Zeovit system. I do think you can run a "hybrid" Zeo system using Biopellets and dosing certain Zeo additives at times, but it's all based upon how your system is reacting. It's not the exact science of the full Zeo system, so you have to be cautious when doing so. Just food for thought...

Thanks. If I go the ZEOvit direction, I will follow it to the letter. Are you still using your reactor?

 

[dan1789]

164 pages in 12 hours. Pheeeeeewwwww. What an inspiration you are. This was the best build thread I've ever read. I look back at my 90g build and see all the things I could have, should have done. I'm new to the hobby (3 months) but overall I'm very happy with my tank. I just have more information for my next build. *sinister grin* that is, after I buy a house of course. Keep up the good work. I'm so sad I'm at the end of this thread what will I do now, guess il go Check out Nanook's stuff.

 

[psteeleb]

welcome to RC Dan

and I agree with you that Brett does a great job on his build and documenting it on his build log

 

[drummereef]

Not sure really....ive read that people have had some trouble growing it compared to chaeto but in my case its the opposite. Reefcleaners has it listed as a "middle of the road" algae with medium nutrient uptake and Chaeto as "high nutrient uptake".....I feel as long as they grow nutrients are being consumed. an upside to the Red Gracilaria is that you can feed it to your tangs, mine love the stuff

Indeed. My Gracilaria seems to be growing moderately however my Chaeto seems to have really taken off. A few months ago when I tried Chaeto I didn't have much luck, but I suppose with the age of the system and addition of new rock it's giving it more nutrients to uptake. I'll keep posting updates on the progress. Thanks for the posts BrklynArch.

Thanks. If I go the ZEOvit direction, I will follow it to the letter. Are you still using your reactor?

Perfect. Yes, my biopellet reactor is back online - however this time with only 250ml of pellets. I'll have some updates on the progress in a week or two.

164 pages in 12 hours. Pheeeeeewwwww. What an inspiration you are. This was the best build thread I've ever read. I look back at my 90g build and see all the things I could have, should have done. I'm new to the hobby (3 months) but overall I'm very happy with my tank. I just have more information for my next build. *sinister grin* that is, after I buy a house of course. Keep up the good work. I'm so sad I'm at the end of this thread what will I do now, guess il go Check out Nanook's stuff.

Ha, thank you Dan. My thread is a work in progress so stick around, glad you've joined the madness. :rollface:

welcome to RC Dan

and I agree with you that Brett does a great job on his build and documenting it on his build log

:beer:

 

[drummereef]

UPDATE:


New pics! The good news is the new Diamond Goby is doing a great job cleaning up the sand bed. I'd say it's a solid 70% better. On the other hand I've been getting some brown algae growing on my overflows and loc-line returns. I'm assuming it's either from the detritus the Diamond Goby kicked up and/or the new rock in the fuge is just causing a small cycle. Luckily it's stayed put and hasn't migrated from the overflows and plumbing.


Here's the pics.