First big tank/tank build 210

[Toddrtrex]

Looking good.getting ready myself to upgrade to bigger tank build.
Thanks for all the helpful insights

Thank you.


Not much happened over the holiday weekend, just some tweaks here and there.

I did do a water test, 0 ammonia, 'trates and 'trites -- this is with 3 clams on the half shell being in there for about a week and a half.
This week I want to pick up a few pieces of live rock from an LFS, to help seed. Need to make the screens for the top, and may move the clown pair over, but that depends on the screens getting finished.

 

[reef_only]

Nice setup friend!

 

[Babyfaceur]

Nice set up. I am following along.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Thanks guys.


Not a ton has happened, but I did move the clown pair (( SI perc and B&W ocellaris )) over and they seem to be fairly happy in there --- though I haven't moved an anemone over. They have been hosted by an E. quadricolor, but that won't be making the move, instead I will move over a blue S. haddoni. The perc has hosted an S. haddoni in the past, hopefully it will remember that. I didn't want any rock dwelling anemones, hence the reason I am not transferring the E. quad.

Lastly night I moved over a Kenya tree coral (( at least that it what I have always assumed it is )), seems to be doing great. I am assuming 2 layers of window screening to help acclimate to the lights.

Before I moved the fish over, I made 3 window screens to keep the fish in the tank. So easy to cut the frames with a jig saw and a "metal" blade. Find that putting blue painters tape where you are cutting makes a cleaner cut, and running the saw at high speed too. Heck the hardest part was getting the netting taut; having a canopy helps hide that error.

Hopefully will get a few pictures either tonight or tomorrow night.


A side note --- the 15 year 2*250 + 2*96 PC Hamilton fixture over my 65 finally gave up the ghost. Actually just the the PCs, but it was getting long in the tooth and a bit beat up. The fans were very very loud too. So, was able to get a "clearance" one from Hamilton that came yesterday. Pretty much the same fixture, but has 2*39 T5s instead of the PCs and has built in moonlights. I am using my existing MH ballasts (( 2 250 Galaxy )), since they are working great and "only" 5 years old. Holding onto the Hamilton ballasts as back ups.

In addition, I ordered another ATO and ATO reservoir for the 65 too --- really like not having to worry about the sump levels. Will come in handy for the tank sitter during vacations.

Plan on moving a couple of "clean" rocks from the 75 this week, and perhaps a couple more fish. Will need to sell my orange skunk clowns and their anemone in the near future.

 

[Sn8kbyt]

Looking good and moving along nicely! I think I am at least a month away from water yet on my build. Following along on your adventure!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Looking good and moving along nicely! I think I am at least a month away from water yet on my build. Following along on your adventure!

Thanks, been enjoying your build. Hope you are staying warm.



Was at the dinning room table watching the clowns, the male appeared to be cleaning off parts of the overflow. Seems like they are pretty happen being in the tank. I tried to get a video, but when I got close to the tank they thought they were getting fed.

Got a very short one, of them just hanging out, nothing too special, but it is an update. Hopefully this weekend (( after some water tests )), I will move over a few more fish, and one or 2 rocks.

The clowns.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MvEwYIhjOEE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Sn8kbyt]

Thanks, been enjoying your build. Hope you are staying warm.



Was at the dinning room table watching the clowns, the male appeared to be cleaning off parts of the overflow. Seems like they are pretty happen being in the tank. I tried to get a video, but when I got close to the tank they thought they were getting fed.

Got a very short one, of them just hanging out, nothing too special, but it is an update. Hopefully this weekend (( after some water tests )), I will move over a few more fish, and one or 2 rocks.

The clowns.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MvEwYIhjOEE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Certainly trying to stay warm. It is funny I was born and raised in WI and lived here my entire life except the past 2 years. I took a job in West Virginia and cold there was like 30 degrees on a bad day in the winter. Nobody even owned a shovel. I should be seasoned and used to the weather but I am struggling since coming back.

My clowns do the same I think I could feed them 10 times a day....or maybe they just want to be petted

 

[Toddrtrex]

Certainly trying to stay warm. It is funny I was born and raised in WI and lived here my entire life except the past 2 years. I took a job in West Virginia and cold there was like 30 degrees on a bad day in the winter. Nobody even owned a shovel. I should be seasoned and used to the weather but I am struggling since coming back.

My clowns do the same I think I could feed them 10 times a day....or maybe they just want to be petted

And just like that all the snow is gone, and going out without a jacket.





Had some "fun" working on the tank over the weekend. I finally hooked up the 2 BRS reactors (( one for carbon, the other for phosban )). Well, I am glad that I put that pond liner inside the stand and under the sump.
Both leaked at every joint, and it was 100% my fault. When I pushed the tubing into the JG fittings I stopped when I THOUGHT I was all the way in, alas they all needed to be pushed in a couple more centimeters. At least it was an easy fix, and the clean up was really easy with the pond liner. Just half a roll of paper towels.

While messing around with that, I decided to fully test the Vortech battery back up --- in the past I had just unplugged the pumps, and the back up took over. However, the back up was still plugged in. This time I unplugged the back too --- nothing. Given the age of it (( over 5 years )), I am not surprised. Time to order a new one --- at least I figured this out before I needed it.

Lastly, did a full battery (( no pun intended )) of water tests. All were good, except for Alk, it was very low. I am slowly bring that up, and the Kenya is already looking better. I need to test my salt, to see if it was that, or do the Marco rocks cause a drop in Alk when first put in the water.

Okay, this is "Lastly" Since I was testing, I decided to mess with the doser. I sort of have it hooked up --- it pulls water out of the containers perfectly. Though, I do need to pick up a graduated cylinder to calibrate it. But, sure will be easier than dumping in the chemicals myself.

Oh, one more. I finally changed out the filter socks -- first time since water. They were nasty. Not even going to bother to clean this set. Will get into a habit of changing them every Sunday (( at least for now, will adjust if needed )).

 

[dave.m]

For hoses on barbs, I never trust just a friction fit. I always use hose clamps. Make sure you get the kind that are stamped SS (stainless steel) that won't rust.

Dave.M

 

[Toddrtrex]

For hoses on barbs, I never trust just a friction fit. I always use hose clamps. Make sure you get the kind that are stamped SS (stainless steel) that won't rust.

Dave.M

They weren't barbs, they are John Guest fittings. Used barbs about 20 years ago with an old Magnum HOT, leaked, hated them every since.

 

[Toddrtrex]

A decent (( meaning pictures )) update.

Last night I had a fellow/local reefer over, gave him some rocks from the 75 that will be taken down. With less rocks in the tank it was easier to catch some of the fish.

I also moved over a couple "clean" rocks -- one for the tank, and a couple in the sump. Need to get a couple pictures of those.

I moved over the yellow tang, and 2 dwarf angels. So far they are doing great, eating normally and exploring the new digs.

On to pics,

Just about to eat a piece of food,

All 3 of the newly added ones,

 

[Toddrtrex]

Fish are still doing great, eating like they should. But, I do need to set up the APEX autofeeder, and make sure it clears the mess screen's frame.

Did a batch of water tests last night;

Ammonia, nitrate, and nitrites --- 0
pH ---8.1, close to the reading for the probe, 8.01 -- which I still need to calibrate.
phosphates --- 0
Mag --- 1350
Cal --- 450
Alk --- 5.6, dosed to bring it up. Tested the water change water at 7, so I need to keep an eye on that, and set up the doser. Well, it is set up in the sense that it works, but need to calibrate it. Received an 150 ML cylinder the other day to help with that aspect.

Still need to;
Move over the S. haddoni, and one or 2 more rocks.
Catch and move the goby and blenny
Sell the 2 RBTAs
Sell the LTA
Make the wood block covers for the exposed nut/bolt on top of the canopy.
Take down the 75.


Also, the Smart ATO hasn't needed to be reset since I moved the outlet from top of the tank to back to the sump --- the head pressure must have been too high for it. Need to figure out the best dimensions for ATO reservoir that will get me close to 20 gallons, but not be too large nor over 16" high.

 

[Sn8kbyt]

Nice pics and update Toddrtrex. How long has it been wet and running now?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Nice pics and update Toddrtrex. How long has it been wet and running now?

Thank you.


I started filling it (( saltwater )) on 12/1, was finished on 12/13. Dang, that is a long time. I mixed up 5 gallons at a time, mixed for 1.5 to 2 hours and started over. That is about the amount of time it takes me to make 5 gallons of RO/DI water. Could usually get through 15 gallons during weeknights (( making the water after work )), and a bit more on the weekends.

So, it has been running for about a month and a half now. The clowns in there for 4 weeks now, and the new guys just over a week.

 

[Toddrtrex]

One thing I did manage to do last night...

When the ATO turns on, I hear a slashing noise and there is a bit of splashing -- sense the water is dropping around 8 inches or so. So I picked up a 3 way elbow and made an PVC standpipe for the water to pour into --- will get a pic this weekend. It is a lot quieter now, and no splashing.

And things I wish I knew months ago, my local Menards carries Sch80 parts, that would have saved me a lot of hassles.

 

[worm5406]

Keep up the good work. Any new pictures?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Keep up the good work. Any new pictures?

Thanks.

Should have some new pictures either tonight or tomorrow. I was going to move the last 2 fish over yesterday before the game, but that time was spent shoveling.

I was able to make prototypes 1 & 2 to cover the hanging brackets seen here,

Have some ideas for prototype 3, will post some pictures of prototype 2 -- only the underside is different from 1.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Moved over the last 2 fish. Haven't seen the goby, which isn't uncommon for it. The "golden" algae blenny was dead today --- not sure why, parameters are still in check. Have had it for well over a year now, so not sure what happened. No one was bothering it, and was doing its stuff.

RIP little guy,

Was sooo tiny when I received it,

And turned black,

So pictures of the remaining fish,

The male clown making sure it still looks good,

Rocks are still looking fairly clean,

Side shot,

Con't.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Did a water change tonight, cleaned the skimmer and changed out the socks --- haven't washed them yet. The original ones I bought are a bit long, takes up a bit more space in the sump. Found some on Amazon that are shorter, so when I get to those, I will wash them. Plus, with Prime, free shipping.

Noticed something now that I have a working Vortech battery -- when I shut them off through the APEX they stay on -- under battery power. Need to see if there is a way around that, or will have to turn them off on their controller. Otherwise, the water change went smooth.

Some non-fish pictures,

Fuge, rocks and algae moved over from the 75

Skimmer working nicely,

Part of the sump,

The in/outflows for the reactors. Used an APEX probe holder to keep them in place,

Lastly, the PVC tube that the ATO water flows into -- less splashing, and less noise.

 

[reelredfish]

Sorry for the loss but everything is looking good.