Initial planning stages for tank and fish room
- Thread starter Bilk
- Start date
Bilk
New member
Thanks guys. I'm fully convinced that lighting, or I should say proper lighting, was a real issue early on. Thanks for your help Aqualund for steering me in the right direction!
I was skimming thru some pics in the thread and looking for the changes that have occurred in a pretty short span of time. The growth of this ORA birdsnest is really apparent.
First pic taken 1/1/2014
This pic was taken 3/7/2014
This was taken 2/6/2014 - referencing the green acro
This was taken today
I'm guessing corals can grow under LED
Speaking of which, I purchased two 100w chips and replaced the chips in the Cannons. The specs are - 40 chips 10000-15000K + 60 chips 445-460nm Royal Blue. The Ecoxotic chips were way too yellow for my taste. I like the look of these much better and the corals are responding well to them. Overall, with the lighting I have now, the tank is really well covered.
I also did a little more on neatening up the wires that were getting a little out of control after adding two Vortechs and putting the Cannons back online. The separately switched power strips are really nice to have and that black cable tray holds the thick wires from the EB8s and a few other things.
The Geo 618 is still waiting to get put online, but I was able to hook up the RO unit in a more permanent fashion and have it switched from the power strip vs always having to pull out an extension cord to run it.
On the left side, above the sink, I re-purposed some type of hose holder from a 40g breeder to hold the waste discharge hose from the RO and a feed from the RO I use to clean glassware or for mixing solutions. The other hose is the discharge from the peristaltic pump used for auto water changes. Under the sink you can see the emergency shut-off valve for the RO unit should the floor sensor activate. The $25 bucks or so is well worth the peace of mind it offers. I had too many unwelcome floods from tubing popping off one of the connections. I think my next little project is replacing all of the fittings with John Guest.
Lats part of the update. I'm still dosing vinegar for nutrient control. However, about two months ago I started feeding the tank with the online pappone recipe. I was feeding one cube once a week for a while then upped it to twice a week. After seeing how well the corals responded as well as the overall appearance of the tank, I mixed up another batch but replaced the sugar component with sodium ascorbate and added three Prodibio Reef Booster vials to the mix. I keep it refrigerated and not frozen. I feed this every day to the tank when I feed the fish. I add 10ml of the mix to some tank water and then add the fish food which consists of two mysid shrimp cubes and few pinches of flake plus a scoop of Coral Frenzy. I dump this in and keep the skimmer off for one hour. I'm not sure what component is doing it, but the sand is as clean and white as it can get. There's virtually nothing on it. An unfortunate side effect to a clean tank, devoid of algae (well other than some valonia that's hanging around) is the loss of some cleanup crew as hermits are decimating the snail population.
Well that's the update I think I need more corals LOL
...............................................................................................
I was skimming thru some pics in the thread and looking for the changes that have occurred in a pretty short span of time. The growth of this ORA birdsnest is really apparent.
First pic taken 1/1/2014
This pic was taken 3/7/2014
This was taken 2/6/2014 - referencing the green acro
This was taken today
I'm guessing corals can grow under LED
Speaking of which, I purchased two 100w chips and replaced the chips in the Cannons. The specs are - 40 chips 10000-15000K + 60 chips 445-460nm Royal Blue. The Ecoxotic chips were way too yellow for my taste. I like the look of these much better and the corals are responding well to them. Overall, with the lighting I have now, the tank is really well covered. I also did a little more on neatening up the wires that were getting a little out of control after adding two Vortechs and putting the Cannons back online. The separately switched power strips are really nice to have and that black cable tray holds the thick wires from the EB8s and a few other things.
The Geo 618 is still waiting to get put online, but I was able to hook up the RO unit in a more permanent fashion and have it switched from the power strip vs always having to pull out an extension cord to run it.
On the left side, above the sink, I re-purposed some type of hose holder from a 40g breeder to hold the waste discharge hose from the RO and a feed from the RO I use to clean glassware or for mixing solutions. The other hose is the discharge from the peristaltic pump used for auto water changes. Under the sink you can see the emergency shut-off valve for the RO unit should the floor sensor activate. The $25 bucks or so is well worth the peace of mind it offers. I had too many unwelcome floods from tubing popping off one of the connections. I think my next little project is replacing all of the fittings with John Guest.
Lats part of the update. I'm still dosing vinegar for nutrient control. However, about two months ago I started feeding the tank with the online pappone recipe. I was feeding one cube once a week for a while then upped it to twice a week. After seeing how well the corals responded as well as the overall appearance of the tank, I mixed up another batch but replaced the sugar component with sodium ascorbate and added three Prodibio Reef Booster vials to the mix. I keep it refrigerated and not frozen. I feed this every day to the tank when I feed the fish. I add 10ml of the mix to some tank water and then add the fish food which consists of two mysid shrimp cubes and few pinches of flake plus a scoop of Coral Frenzy. I dump this in and keep the skimmer off for one hour. I'm not sure what component is doing it, but the sand is as clean and white as it can get. There's virtually nothing on it. An unfortunate side effect to a clean tank, devoid of algae (well other than some valonia that's hanging around) is the loss of some cleanup crew as hermits are decimating the snail population.
Well that's the update
I think I need more corals LOL...............................................................................................
benihana
New member
I also did a little more on neatening up the wires that were getting a little out of control after adding two Vortechs and putting the Cannons back online. The separately switched power strips are really nice to have and that black cable tray holds the thick wires from the EB8s and a few other things.
...............................................................................................
I am amazed at how neat that all is. How many actual electrical outlets are you using in your fish room? Any 20 amp circuits? I am getting ready to start wiring mine and will definitely be using yours as inspiration on what good looks like
DrHarryLopez
One Happy Reefer
Please tell me about the iPad hanging there. What is it connected to and what is it monitoring?
Bilk
New member
Hey beni. I ran one 20amp dedicated line to the fish room. I think if everything is running at the same time, meaning all the tank lighting, pumps, skimmer, lights, heater, RO/DI pressure pump, powerheads and what ever else there might be, I'm at about 12.5amps. Number of outlets are 2 EB8s, 2 quad outlet power strips and two duplex outlets. The room lighting is on a separate circuit. Thanks for the props.
Hey Dr. Harry. I know I still need to let Jarrett know about a date you guys can come over for a meeting. I think June works, but I'll work it out with Jarrett.
The iPad is just a larger interface for the Apex and used for recording tests on an app - Aqua Planner Pro. It's also used for referencing RC when needed Oh it's mounted on an iPad mount and fastened to the plywood that constitutes the control panel.
Hey Dr. Harry. I know I still need to let Jarrett know about a date you guys can come over for a meeting. I think June works, but I'll work it out with Jarrett.
The iPad is just a larger interface for the Apex and used for recording tests on an app - Aqua Planner Pro. It's also used for referencing RC when needed
Oh it's mounted on an iPad mount and fastened to the plywood that constitutes the control panel.
Bilk
New member
So I'd like to add a few more fish and need some suggestions. Present occupants:
I tend to feed quite a bit without any issues of nutrient buildup, if that helps. I know keeping some not so reef safe fish are more reef safe if well fed. Any other schooling fish I can keep along with what I have? I'd also like an angel or two and possibly one more tang that would fit with the two existing tangs. I used to have a flame hawk in a different tank a while back and really liked it, but not sure about adding another since the last guy liked to munch on crustaceans. He had rather expensive tastes But it was a really fun fish.
Added a few more corals and still need MORE, but the tank is really doing well except for the Aussie goniastrea. It's paled and not really expanding. Used to feed every night but not doing that either. Do these need to be target fed?
- 1 percula clown
- 1 chromis
- 4 pajama cardinals
- 1 kole tang
- 1 yellow belly royal blue tang
- 1 bi-color blenny
- 1 male lyretail anthias
- 2 female lyretail anthias
I tend to feed quite a bit without any issues of nutrient buildup, if that helps. I know keeping some not so reef safe fish are more reef safe if well fed. Any other schooling fish I can keep along with what I have? I'd also like an angel or two and possibly one more tang that would fit with the two existing tangs. I used to have a flame hawk in a different tank a while back and really liked it, but not sure about adding another since the last guy liked to munch on crustaceans. He had rather expensive tastes
But it was a really fun fish. Added a few more corals and still need MORE, but the tank is really doing well except for the Aussie goniastrea. It's paled and not really expanding. Used to feed every night but not doing that either. Do these need to be target fed?
Bilk
New member
I started with 5 chromis and have one left. The five were in the prior 50g however and not this tank. Only one survived the aggression or what ever it is that causes one to be the lone chromes in the end LOL I guess I've read here somewhere that eventually ends up being the case.
The check valve works and holds, so there's no back siphon from the returns.
what kind of check valve is that and where did you get it.
Thanks,
Zach
Bilk
New member
Hey Zach. It's a Colonial swing check valve. Purchased from US Plastics. It's PVC all the way. No metal parts internally. It has to be mounted as you see it - horizontally. I think I should have gone one size larger. May change it out when I have time, but it works and I do get good flow. Just think larger might offer even better flow.
Some fairy and flasher wrasses
Bilk
New member
Hey fellow Long Islander! How will the different wrasses get along? There are already 3 Lyretail wrasses in the tank.
How about some larger fish? I'd like Convict tangs and maybe an angel or two.
Bilk
New member
Hey beni. Thanks for the suggestion. That's a pretty fish. Not inexpensive either :O I would hope getting it in a juvenile stage would be better and it would become accustomed to hand feeding vs feeding on the corals
Edit: I see that's the fish in your avatar
