Frank's 120 gallon upgrade build.

So, this week has been good. I picked up another pp-15(new rw-15) for the right side of my tank. I have them both pointed towards each other now. Only problem is that the center of my tank is now bare bottom. This also spiked my nitrates between 12-16ppm.

I changed my carbon for first time in forever. Also, picked up another cleaner shrimp and got a red cucumber. My wife liked the cucumber.

I also got an Ora ice tort frag.

Other than that, alk consumption is back up. I'm not changing my kalk mix in my ato yet just to make sure the trend continues.

I need a decent photo update soon.


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So, after doing my research, I decided that I'm going to add Anthias to my tank. I settled on Resplendent or Randall's anthias based on photos and videos. Seems like I should be able to have success with them as long as I can fatten them up in QT.

I wandered into exotic aquatic on Sunday. Apparently I missed one by a day. I've never seen them in person.

Yesterday, I ended up in Aquatic Jewels after a vet visit for our dog and surprise, they have two. Couldn't get them to eat, though. So I didn't pick them up. However, after seeing the randall's in person, I'm set. I put my name on two call lists if the stores come across them. Also, asked AJ to call me if theirs starts to eat.

In other news, I came across a par reading for my lights online and I believe I'm running them too low. I am now at 75% across the board and will work my way up another 5% in a week. But each time I've moved my two low channels up 5% I get new growth, so I believe I'll find some today when I get home as well.

Alk consumption has gone back to normal and dipped to 7dkh. I added a tbsp to the remaining 2.5 gallons left of ATO. By my math, this should steady me out and slowly raise me back to around 7.3-7.5 by Sunday where I can resume 3tbsp per 5-6gallon ATO container.

A few of my frags have taken off. One being my WWC tricolor stag. A few of my battlecoral frags have browned out but I expected that since they were in very low light for the better part of two weeks before being moved to their new homes.

Again, I need to get some photos.
 
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It's been 10 days since I dropped an update.

Tank is humming along nicely. I've ramped my lights up to 90% now. Colors are only getting better and so is growth. Most of my corals are at least 8 inches below the water line. I think on Monday, I'll ramp up to 100%.

I changed my bulb combo around some. I'm now C+ C+ B+. My B+ is a little old and I'm thinking about picking up an AB Special to replace it.

Another change that I've made is I've started feeding two cubes of Sp Mysis daily. One in the morning and one at night. The fish gobble it down in about 30-45 seconds. I'm trying to get my bioload ready for anthias slowly.

I dropped another liter of Siporax in my sump as well. I was planning on running a reactor with my 2L but I haven't made the purchase of one. My nitrates have been 10 on average and My last phosphate test was between .04 and .08. I haven't noticed any issues what so ever with growth and My Alk has been steady at 7.3 for about two weeks while dosing my normal 3t of Kalk in 5-6 gallons of top off. So, I think it's safe to say that I have no ill effects from the nutrients. In fact, I'd say that my colors are some of the best that I've ever had.

One thing that I haven't been happy with is my Skimmer. SRO 1000INT. I'm at a point where I'm getting good skim but 3-5mm close or open is the difference between a full cup daily and a full cup once a week. The full cup daily and full cup once a week doesn't seem to have a big difference in color. I don't mind emptying the cup daily but I feel I should be able to adjust this better. Unless, I've maxed out the skimmers capacity.

I work this Sunday, so it'll be a little bit before a photo update.
 
Ran some tests as I usually do on Sunday mornings. Alk is still 7.7 after a week. So, I'm good there. Probably a little higher than 7.3 because top off just filled my return area.

Tested Nitrates this morning. Significant drop in nutrients without any decrease in feeding. I'm not sure that the siporax I added could've had such an effect already but who knows.
Nitrate was down from 10 to between 0-4ppm.

Before I make any assumptions, I'll keep doing what I'm doing and see what happens next Sunday.
 
growth comparisons.

These range from dates 4/18-6/15
 

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Looking good. That Siporax creeps up on you. Before it my nitrates were at 10-20 for months now I have to dose Nitrate to keep it barely readable, AND I've cut back my vodka/vinegar substantially! Now it's time to hurry up and wait. Did you ever try the new t5 combo?
 
rovster said:
Looking good. That Siporax creeps up on you. Before it my nitrates were at 10-20 for months now I have to dose Nitrate to keep it barely readable, AND I've cut back my vodka/vinegar substantially! Now it's time to hurry up and wait. Did you ever try the new t5 combo?
Click to expand...



Haven't even ordered them yet. Still 2c+ and an old b+. Will be ordering an ab special and another c+ just incase.

I don't think it's been more than a week with the additional siporax. I doubt it could be effecting it that much already could it? I was actually liking my nitrates around 10. Everything seemed really healthy. Maybe next Sunday I'll bump up my feelings if I'm still seeing lower nitrates.


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Everything is doing pretty well. I've increased my feedings and I'm feeding about the equivalent of 3 frozen mysis cubes twice per day. Nitrates have still bottomed out at 0ppm as of Sunday morning. I don't want to dose Nitrate so I'm searching for fish to add.

I haven't added any corals in a few weeks. I'm thinking about setting that to the backburner until I figure out the fish situation.

My short list so far: 5 Randall's Anthias, 1 Scopas Tang.

I'm looking for other ideas for fish. I'm still considering adding more angelfish since I'm convinced that I'll stay only SPS in this tank.

Rovvster threw out Swiss Basslet or something like that. I'm still considering it. I may add some more wrasses to the tank.

My Bulbs need updating. I'm thinking about ordering 2 AB Specials and B+. I think I'll be extending my lighting on my T5s by an hour tonight.

rovster said:
Everything looks happy:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. Everything does seem pretty happy and everything is humming along still. :celeb3:
 
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