JapanReef - 450 gallon In-Wall system
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Can't afford too much at the moment. The tax man ripped me a few new holes last year and I've been recovering ever since but things are on the rebound now so I have a budget of about $500/mo to get things rolling.
But, it might be worth it - planning ahead and all that. I might just get one plus the deco rock and do the right side on May's budget. Do the other side on June's....
My Bangaii's had more babies and one more has survived - yet again I see it in the LTA. So that makes 3 babies survived now. No rotifers, no nothing.
I am the Bangaii King.
LTA is behaving a bit weird. I saw it deflated for 2 full days and even now the base is curled in a bit. The new Bangaii is really deep inside. I wonder if the adults released them in the nem and it ate them all which is why it was delated.
But, it might be worth it - planning ahead and all that. I might just get one plus the deco rock and do the right side on May's budget. Do the other side on June's....
My Bangaii's had more babies and one more has survived - yet again I see it in the LTA. So that makes 3 babies survived now. No rotifers, no nothing.
I am the Bangaii King.
LTA is behaving a bit weird. I saw it deflated for 2 full days and even now the base is curled in a bit. The new Bangaii is really deep inside. I wonder if the adults released them in the nem and it ate them all which is why it was delated.
The Japanese Pygmy - Centropyge Interruptus. 42,000 yen here (about $420). Minimum of $1500 in the US and currently available in one place only for $1700:
http://www.cultivatedcoral.com/centropyge-interrupta-japanese-pygmy-angelfish-presale-p-418.html
Looks like divers just did a big hunt for them as we don't even see them over here that often.
http://www.cultivatedcoral.com/centropyge-interrupta-japanese-pygmy-angelfish-presale-p-418.html
Looks like divers just did a big hunt for them as we don't even see them over here that often.
Nothing really exciting happening but thought I'd post an update.
Had the new LR for 3 weeks now and changed the water in the holding tanks twice now. Pretty soon I'll start adding it to the sump so the biofilter can adjust. I'm ordering one Tunze (and deco rock) in the next few days. Waiting on a quote from Savko to get some more fitting so I can hook up the Hammerhead closed loop. But by the end of this month I will have the right side rockwork done. The new aquascape will be a tall column like structure in the right back corner leaving an open area at the front for my massive Squamosa. Next month I'll get another Tunze and deco rock and do the left side with existing and leftover rock.
QT Update. Fish are into their 3rd week of hypo. The male Clarkii, Heniochus, Niger Trigger and Diamond Goby are all well. The Niger has a white spot on his back whic it's had since I got it. Last week I treated with Melafix and teh skimmer was off. Water quality started to drop noticably. Did a 30% water change a few days ago but the skimmer is still overproducing due to the Melafix. I'll do another water change there tomorrow I think to get skimmer functional. I know Pimafix is a more suitable solution for teh Trigger (anti-fungal) but the Melafix treatment is somewhat softer so thought I'd try it first. Once I get the water quality where I want it I'll treat with Pimafix I think.
Main tank water change is due this weekend but my back went out this morning (this is a recurring issue for me). I had planned on siphoning out alot of the sand in preparating for the new rockwork. It can wait though.
The QT cycle lasts all May so want to get the rockwork done and then put the new fish in. Looking forward to the next batch of fish as it'll be angels or tangs next time round.
Oh, 3rd baby Bangaii is doing fine.
Had the new LR for 3 weeks now and changed the water in the holding tanks twice now. Pretty soon I'll start adding it to the sump so the biofilter can adjust. I'm ordering one Tunze (and deco rock) in the next few days. Waiting on a quote from Savko to get some more fitting so I can hook up the Hammerhead closed loop. But by the end of this month I will have the right side rockwork done. The new aquascape will be a tall column like structure in the right back corner leaving an open area at the front for my massive Squamosa. Next month I'll get another Tunze and deco rock and do the left side with existing and leftover rock.
QT Update. Fish are into their 3rd week of hypo. The male Clarkii, Heniochus, Niger Trigger and Diamond Goby are all well. The Niger has a white spot on his back whic it's had since I got it. Last week I treated with Melafix and teh skimmer was off. Water quality started to drop noticably. Did a 30% water change a few days ago but the skimmer is still overproducing due to the Melafix. I'll do another water change there tomorrow I think to get skimmer functional. I know Pimafix is a more suitable solution for teh Trigger (anti-fungal) but the Melafix treatment is somewhat softer so thought I'd try it first. Once I get the water quality where I want it I'll treat with Pimafix I think.
Main tank water change is due this weekend but my back went out this morning (this is a recurring issue for me). I had planned on siphoning out alot of the sand in preparating for the new rockwork. It can wait though.
The QT cycle lasts all May so want to get the rockwork done and then put the new fish in. Looking forward to the next batch of fish as it'll be angels or tangs next time round.
Oh, 3rd baby Bangaii is doing fine.
Small Update. Savko kind of screwed up a pipe order that delayed my aquascaping plans but hopefully that will get worked out soon. I'm attacking it slowly anyhow so as to not stress teh fish. Today I moved rock over to the left side:
I need to take out that PVC thing that ran on the old CL that has been dead for ages. Tomorrow I'm going to knock up a mock up of the tank in plywood and start siphoning out crap and get it as clean as possible. Going to be hard as it's not just sand but lots of eroded rock too. The siphon I've been using gets clogged up easily.
Rock must be well cured now. Have some pipe and fittings ready to knock up some structures. Just going to try my hand at drilling it.
The 3 gobies didn't make it through QT, must have been a dodgy batch. The Niger Trigger, Henochius and male Clarkii have made 6 weeks in hypo. I'm raising salinity using the DT water to make acclimatising easier. However I won't be introducing the new fish until the rockwork is done which might be two weeks.
And then I'll get a new batch of fish. I think I'll be getting 2 Regal Angels and a juvi Emperor. Still so many fish I want to get but going to take it slow. Will order the Tunze on Monday too.
I need to take out that PVC thing that ran on the old CL that has been dead for ages. Tomorrow I'm going to knock up a mock up of the tank in plywood and start siphoning out crap and get it as clean as possible. Going to be hard as it's not just sand but lots of eroded rock too. The siphon I've been using gets clogged up easily.
Rock must be well cured now. Have some pipe and fittings ready to knock up some structures. Just going to try my hand at drilling it.
The 3 gobies didn't make it through QT, must have been a dodgy batch. The Niger Trigger, Henochius and male Clarkii have made 6 weeks in hypo. I'm raising salinity using the DT water to make acclimatising easier. However I won't be introducing the new fish until the rockwork is done which might be two weeks.
And then I'll get a new batch of fish. I think I'll be getting 2 Regal Angels and a juvi Emperor. Still so many fish I want to get but going to take it slow. Will order the Tunze on Monday too.
Time for a small update. Savko came through on the parts a few weeks ago. Just been waiting to sum up the motivation to sort out the aquascaping. I bought a masonary drill bit but it didn't work well so I hunted around for a hole saw but couldn't find one that would cut stone. But found one the other day - diamond tipped hole saw for ceramics and tiles.
But my first job was to finish the plumbing on the new closed loop and hook it into the Hammerhead. It will output to the 4 bulkheads I have lined up along teh center of the back of the tank. Simple screw in adapter with 45 degree elbow (both black) to direct flow. The one on either end will point across the tank to its opposite front corner and the two in the middle point outwards. Ind of like:
_________
\ / \ /
I still have a Dart pushing flow right to left but will most likely yank that after I install the new Tunze 6105. I bought the Deco Rock and it arrived intact but not sure if I'll use it. I might but it real low in the front right corner and angle the flow up (inspired by Ed's setup). Anyhow, here is the manifold for the closed loop - only have the right 2 open and the left is still outstanding and nothing but a huge pile of rocks.
So I knocked up a mockup of the tank in old plywood and marked out bulkheads and put together some frames for the rock.
The rocke still had a lot of colour despite being without light for 2-3 months.
The new look will be higher rock structure set back leaving lots of space in the front for large fish to swim. The first set on the right is in but needs some tweaking. I need to remove a lof sand still though. I used my hand to push most of it towards the front so the new rock frames are not sat on the old sand and there was quite a sandstorm. All fish seemed to live through the 3 hours of zero visibility though. Guess I'll have to try and siphon some more out. Thing is there is so much broken rock in there the hand pump thing gets clogged up too easily and quickly. Just can't seem to come up with a decent sand siphoning system.
My quarantine tank has an algae bloom and my UV lamp is busted. So I want to get the main tank done asap so I can transfer the clown and niger trigger across.
Cardinals haven't spawned since I bulldozed the right of the tank last month (or whenever it was) but all 3 babies are alive and well and growing fast. They always hang out together which is pretty cool to watch.
Looking forward to getting this done so I can get more fish and the calcium reactor and try my hand at SPS again but no real rush there. I think I have at least 3 full days of work to get it done. Maybe by next weekend.
But my first job was to finish the plumbing on the new closed loop and hook it into the Hammerhead. It will output to the 4 bulkheads I have lined up along teh center of the back of the tank. Simple screw in adapter with 45 degree elbow (both black) to direct flow. The one on either end will point across the tank to its opposite front corner and the two in the middle point outwards. Ind of like:
_________
\ / \ /
I still have a Dart pushing flow right to left but will most likely yank that after I install the new Tunze 6105. I bought the Deco Rock and it arrived intact but not sure if I'll use it. I might but it real low in the front right corner and angle the flow up (inspired by Ed's setup). Anyhow, here is the manifold for the closed loop - only have the right 2 open and the left is still outstanding and nothing but a huge pile of rocks.
So I knocked up a mockup of the tank in old plywood and marked out bulkheads and put together some frames for the rock.
The rocke still had a lot of colour despite being without light for 2-3 months.
The new look will be higher rock structure set back leaving lots of space in the front for large fish to swim. The first set on the right is in but needs some tweaking. I need to remove a lof sand still though. I used my hand to push most of it towards the front so the new rock frames are not sat on the old sand and there was quite a sandstorm. All fish seemed to live through the 3 hours of zero visibility though. Guess I'll have to try and siphon some more out. Thing is there is so much broken rock in there the hand pump thing gets clogged up too easily and quickly. Just can't seem to come up with a decent sand siphoning system.
My quarantine tank has an algae bloom and my UV lamp is busted. So I want to get the main tank done asap so I can transfer the clown and niger trigger across.
Cardinals haven't spawned since I bulldozed the right of the tank last month (or whenever it was) but all 3 babies are alive and well and growing fast. They always hang out together which is pretty cool to watch.
Looking forward to getting this done so I can get more fish and the calcium reactor and try my hand at SPS again but no real rush there. I think I have at least 3 full days of work to get it done. Maybe by next weekend.
jnarowe
New member
Nice to see you moving forward Laurence! SAVKO probably had a wet dream after they got your order! :lol:
I like the rock structure a lot. What is the material you are using to attach? And an FYI: Unless you have some very rambunctious urchins, all those sweet black fitting you got will be pink and purple in no time. I know this, because I spent time and money procuring them for my tank, with the long-term results of a pink pipe in the tank.
Fortunately, none were viewable from the front.
I like the rock structure a lot. What is the material you are using to attach? And an FYI: Unless you have some very rambunctious urchins, all those sweet black fitting you got will be pink and purple in no time. I know this, because I spent time and money procuring them for my tank, with the long-term results of a pink pipe in the tank.
Fortunately, none were viewable from the front.
That's just cheap brown pipe and fittings - maybe 3/4" or so. It was that or grey and I thought this would blend in better if any showed.
I put a bunch of urchins in the tank a few years ago but I've bannished them all to the sump now. They just bulldozed my rocked.
The black fittings I got for the back CL outlets are just black to blend in too. I do hope they get covered in coraline. I don't have much coraline growth these days due to no reactor and no dosing but that will change. I'll be building the rock out the CL bulkheads so they'll be hardly noticable I hope.
Noticed the tank temp a degree higher (celsius) than it normally is. Must be teh Hammerhead. It also does put out some microbubbles but I simply don't care about microbubbles anymore.
I put a bunch of urchins in the tank a few years ago but I've bannished them all to the sump now. They just bulldozed my rocked.
The black fittings I got for the back CL outlets are just black to blend in too. I do hope they get covered in coraline. I don't have much coraline growth these days due to no reactor and no dosing but that will change. I'll be building the rock out the CL bulkheads so they'll be hardly noticable I hope.
Noticed the tank temp a degree higher (celsius) than it normally is. Must be teh Hammerhead. It also does put out some microbubbles but I simply don't care about microbubbles anymore.
jnarowe
New member
So, I am not sure a Hammerhead can really transfer any heat to the water column. By design it shouldn't.
About urchins: Many reef keepers get really annoyed by them leving white streaks across the rock, but I have a diffeent attitude/theory. I believe they are essential in that they open up the pores of the rock to allow growth of nitrifying bacteria. Without that janitorial process, the rock gets covered in beautiful coraline algae, but loses much of its net porosity. JMO.
About urchins: Many reef keepers get really annoyed by them leving white streaks across the rock, but I have a diffeent attitude/theory. I believe they are essential in that they open up the pores of the rock to allow growth of nitrifying bacteria. Without that janitorial process, the rock gets covered in beautiful coraline algae, but loses much of its net porosity. JMO.
Still got a ways to go. My hands are quite painful after handling so much rock for so long. I have many tiny cuts like paper cuts. Today I started removing the left side rock and its sharp like glass (its the old rock) and my hands ggot battered. I then moved teh frogspawn and automatically felt a nasty stinging sensation in my fingers. I dropped the coral, removed my hand and saw lots of white spots like the skin was sloughing off. Those LTAs sure can put out some nasty stuff. Had similar experiences with the hammer.
Going to use rubber gloves tomorrow.
Going to use rubber gloves tomorrow.
