Macon's 90g (ORCA)

[nitr8]

Macon's 90g (ORCA)

Tank looks fantastic, been following along as thats the same size tank I am looking for. Hope I have as good of results.

Thanks. Miracles built mine.

Macon, you have any pics of the tank and overflow setup before you set it up?

Absolutely.



Too early? Lol

 

[nitr8]

Macon's 90g (ORCA)





Latest FTS:

 

[Boostable]

WOW, thanks.. that's what I needed to see, that is EXACTLY how I would like mine configured. Don't mind if I copy yours do you.. lol

Would you mind PMing me what Miracles charged you for the build? I am waiting on a quote from RS and CTC, might as well get one from Miracles as well right..

Would really like an RS, but don't see my waiting 8 months to get it!

Jack

 

[Boostable]

BTW, checked out your photobucket, that pic of your son in the tank is absolutely priceless!!!! Thats one to pull out later on in life, lol

Couple of questions. I noticed you initially had all the returns plumbed together and not it looks to be separate into the sump, did you find it had to balance, or?

Also, did Miracles provide all the bulkheads for drains and returns? Any siphoning issues with the returns like they are?

Thanks,

Jack

 

[nitr8]

WOW, thanks.. that's what I needed to see, that is EXACTLY how I would like mine configured. Don't mind if I copy yours do you.. lol

Would you mind PMing me what Miracles charged you for the build? I am waiting on a quote from RS and CTC, might as well get one from Miracles as well right..

Would really like an RS, but don't see my waiting 8 months to get it!

Jack

I don't mind at all. I'll PM you the quote when I get home. I think mine took about 6 months.

BTW, checked out your photobucket, that pic of your son in the tank is absolutely priceless!!!! Thats one to pull out later on in life, lol

Couple of questions. I noticed you initially had all the returns plumbed together and not it looks to be separate into the sump, did you find it had to balance, or?

Also, did Miracles provide all the bulkheads for drains and returns? Any siphoning issues with the returns like they are?

Thanks,

Jack

I changed the plumbing because I wasn't getting a full siphon like I do now with the dedicated drain.

The bulkheads were not included. When I turn the return pump off or loose power the return lines back siphon about 5 gallons. I engineered my sump to accommodate for 10 so no issues.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

oh man. your gf did an outstanding job for first time. wouldn't say that out loud might get some other reefers out here a lil jealous. lol tank is awesome and your coral selection is one of the best i've seen.

 

[trialanderror]

nitr8,

How do you like your mp40s? How is the noise level?

I bought 2 used mp40s and purchased 2 new wet sides. To my supprise, it is about 5 times noisier than my other mp10, even louder than my skimmer. I can hear it 10' away. I don't know any other mp40s to have a reference point.

 

[nitr8]

oh man. your gf did an outstanding job for first time. wouldn't say that out loud might get some other reefers out here a lil jealous. lol tank is awesome and your coral selection is one of the best i've seen.

She's an outstanding photographer. Here's a link to her website if you're interested.
bpricephoto.com

Thanks. Can't wait to start fragging. Some of my favorites are the un-named SPS frags.

nitr8,

How do you like your mp40s? How is the noise level?

I bought 2 used mp40s and purchased 2 new wet sides. To my supprise, it is about 5 times noisier than my other mp10, even louder than my skimmer. I can hear it 10' away. I don't know any other mp40s to have a reference point.

One is great and almost dead silent. The other I can clearly hear sitting on the couch on the other side of the room. Swapped wet sides and the noise didn't move so I know its the dry side. I can live with it though. Flow and control-ability are unmatched IMO.

 

[nitr8]

6/25/14 Update

6/25/14 Update

I haven't updated the old build thread in a few months so here it goes.

I had a really bad outbreak of cyano about 6-7 weeks ago. The entire sand bed was completely covered and some the LR too. I never did figure out what caused the outbreak but it seems to have subsided, for now. Every few days I still have go in with a turkey baster and blow off 2 or 3 quarter size patches that I just can't seem to get rid of. I'm happy though, 99.9% improvement.

I lost two SPS frags when I moved them to my frag tank to grow out. The tank was not ready to support life. I also lost my frag of CARs. Not sure what happened there, they just melted away. The only other coral I lost was a small Blue Hoeki frag to RTN. As far as fish, I've pretty much given up on the Panda Goby and Green Banded Goby. I haven't seen them since the first day I put them in the tank. I think the only things I've added over the past two months are a Coral Banded Shrimp, a few more ricordea and I've really been upping my CUC.

I'll hold off on a FTS for now. The tanks 1st birthday is in 2 weeks. :bounce3::xlbirthday::bounce2:

I was having an issue with my ricordea garden in my sand bed. Every time a new polyp sprouted it detached and floated around the tank. I have since purchased a flat piece of LR and secured all of them to that. Can't wait until they grow in.



Updated livestock list:
FISH:
Royal Gramma
Blue Green Chromis
Lyretail Anthis (M)
Yellow Tang
Red Mandarin Dragonette (M)
Bangaii Cardinal
Borbonius Anthias
Ruby Red Dragonette (F)
Wyoming White Ocellaris
Black Snowflake Ocellaris
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby

INVERTS:
Blood/Fire Shrimp
Cherry Red Serpent Starfish
B & W Harlequin Serpent
Red Harlequin Serpent
Serpent Starfish
Various Porcelain Crabs
Various Hermits
Various Snails
Cocoa Worm
Feather Duster
(2) Randall's Pistol Shrimp
Blue Sponge
Coral Banded Shrimp

Zs and Ps:
AOG
Sunny Ds
Pandora Palys
Rastas
Purple Hornets
Orange Delights
Magicians
Electric Oompa Loompas
Goochsters
Blue Hornets
Pink Zippers
Fruit Loops
Utter Chaos
Captain Americas
Halle Berry
LA Lakers
Red Hornets

SPS:
Various unknown/no-name
ORA Birds of Paradise
ORA Cali Tort
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Misty Purple
ORA Joe the Coral
ORA Scripps
ORA Miami Orchid
ORA Red Planet
ORA Purple Plasma
Superman Digi
Garf Purple Bonsai
Idaho Grape Monti
Setosa
Green Slimer
Starburst Monti
Jack Frost
Ice Fire Enchinata
Acroberry
Candle Light Concert
Paletta Pink Tip
Orange polyp purple porities
Yellow Caroliniana
Smurfette Milli
Tyree Tri Color
Wild Tri Color
Paris Hilton Milli
Blueberry Nasuta
Crayola Desalwii
Blue Monster
Steve Elias Stag
Orange Passion
Purple Rim Monti
Raspberry Nasuta
Appleberry Monti
30K Leagues Lokani
Red Dragon
Rose Milli
Sunset Milli

LPS:
Dendro
Branching Frogspawn
Hollywood Stunner Chalice

SOFTIES:
Iron Man Mushroom
Red Yuma
Ricordea garden

 

[nitr8]

Added a few more things over the past couple days. Highlight being a fish I've been looking for for a long time.





Updated livestock list:
FISH:
Royal Gramma
Blue Green Chromis
Lyretail Anthis (M)
Yellow Tang
Red Mandarin Dragonette (M)
Bangaii Cardinal
Borbonius Anthias
Ruby Red Dragonette (F)
Wyoming White Ocellaris
Black Snowflake Ocellaris
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Hawaiian Flame Wrasse (Super Male)

INVERTS:
Blood/Fire Shrimp
Cherry Red Serpent Starfish
B & W Harlequin Serpent
Red Harlequin Serpent
Serpent Starfish
Various Porcelain Crabs
Various Hermits
Various Snails
Cocoa Worm
Feather Duster
(2) Randall's Pistol Shrimp
Blue Sponge
Coral Banded Shrimp

Zs and Ps:
AOG
Sunny Ds
Pandora Palys
Rastas
Purple Hornets
Orange Delights
Magicians
Electric Oompa Loompas
Goochsters
Blue Hornets
Pink Zippers
Fruit Loops
Utter Chaos
Captain Americas
Halle Berry
LA Lakers
Red Hornets

SPS:
Various unknown/no-name
ORA Birds of Paradise
ORA Cali Tort
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Misty Purple
ORA Joe the Coral
ORA Scripps
ORA Miami Orchid
ORA Red Planet
ORA Purple Plasma
Superman Digi
Garf Purple Bonsai
Idaho Grape Monti
Setosa
Green Slimer
Starburst Monti
Jack Frost
Ice Fire Enchinata
Acroberry
Candle Light Concert
Paletta Pink Tip
Orange polyp purple porities
Yellow Caroliniana
Smurfette Milli
Tyree Tri Color
Wild Tri Color
Paris Hilton Milli
Blueberry Nasuta
Crayola Desalwii
Blue Monster
Steve Elias Stag
Orange Passion
Purple Rim Monti
Raspberry Nasuta
Appleberry Monti
30K Leagues Lokani
Red Dragon
Rose Milli
Sunset Milli
Aussie Gold Acro
Blue Stag
PC Rainbow

LPS:
Dendro
Branching Frogspawn
Hollywood Stunner Chalice

SOFTIES:
Iron Man Mushroom
Red Yuma
Ricordea garden

 

[nitr8]

Lighting Schedule

Lighting Schedule

I was having a hard time trying to add moon lighting to the outlet configuration so I made this graph to show me the off time commands a little easier.

 

[nitr8]

 

[Tenshoa]

Curious as to why your moon lights are set during those times. As I understand it, they provide no real benefit, other than transitioning to your light cycle, aesthetics and viewing pleasure. I've seen no real study that shows otherwise, other than speculation and marketing claims. While some people claim that it creates a "more natural" environment, the benefits of the moon itself in nature are related to a cycle that is directly related to tides. Since we cannot replicate gravitation or tides in our tanks, we cannot replicate the REAL benefits that livestock utilize.

That being said, my moonlights are used simply as a transition from dark to where my full spectrum begin to ramp up.

I am open to anyone who can prove differently based on scientific evidence.

 

[nitr8]

Curious as to why your moon lights are set during those times. As I understand it, they provide no real benefit, other than transitioning to your light cycle, aesthetics and viewing pleasure. I've seen no real study that shows otherwise, other than speculation and marketing claims. While some people claim that it creates a "more natural" environment, the benefits of the moon itself in nature are related to a cycle that is directly related to tides. Since we cannot replicate gravitation or tides in our tanks, we cannot replicate the REAL benefits that livestock utilize.

That being said, my moonlights are used simply as a transition from dark to where my full spectrum begin to ramp up.

I am open to anyone who can prove differently based on scientific evidence.

The whole time I was reading that I was picturing you repeatedly resetting your glasses back to the ridge of your nose with your index finger.

lol j/k

I don't know. It's just a cool effect to have the light move across the tank through the (4) fixtures. Also gives me a little better viewing at night and is probably a lot less shocking to the inhabitants than pointing a flash light in there in the middle of the night. No real science or meaning behind it.

 

[nitr8]

7/25/14 fts

7/25/14 fts

A little over a year old now...

 

[nitr8]

Aussie Gold Acro

Aussie Gold Acro

I want to start documenting the changes I hope to see with this coral. I got it in pretty rough shape but it has the ability to be a beautiful piece. After 2 weeks its starting to get some of the yellow back. iPhone camera with zero editing.

Week 2:

 

[Tenshoa]

The whole time I was reading that I was picturing you repeatedly resetting your glasses back to the ridge of your nose with your index finger.

lol j/k

I don't know. It's just a cool effect to have the light move across the tank through the (4) fixtures. Also gives me a little better viewing at night and is probably a lot less shocking to the inhabitants than pointing a flash light in there in the middle of the night. No real science or meaning behind it.

Haha!

Fair enough...

 

[nitr8]

Aussie Gold Acro

Aussie Gold Acro

Not much of a difference:

Week 2:


Week 3:

 

[nitr8]

Livestock Update

Livestock Update

Three more corals and I reach 100!

FISH:
Royal Gramma
Blue Green Chromis
Lyretail Anthis (M)
Yellow Tang
Bangaii Cardinal
Borbonius Anthias
Ruby Red Dragonette (F)
Wyoming White Ocellaris
Black Snowflake Ocellaris
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Hawaiian Flame Wrasse (Super Male)
Hectors Goby

INVERTS:
Blood/Fire Shrimp
Cherry Red Serpent Starfish
B & W Harlequin Serpent
Red Harlequin Serpent
Serpent Starfish
Various Porcelain Crabs
Various Hermits
Various Snails
Cocoa Worm
Feather Duster
(2) Randall's Pistol Shrimp
Blue Sponge
Coral Banded Shrimp
Fire Cocoa Worm

Zs and Ps:
AOG
Sunny Ds
Pandora Palys
Rastas
Purple Hornets
Orange Delights
Magicians
Electric Oompa Loompas
Goochsters
Blue Hornets
Pink Zippers
Fruit Loops
Utter Chaos
Captain Americas
Halle Berry
LA Lakers
Red Hornets
Candy Apple Reds
Ultra Blue Agave

SPS:
Various unknown/no-name
ORA Birds of Paradise
ORA Cali Tort
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Misty Purple
ORA Joe the Coral
ORA Scripps
ORA Miami Orchid
ORA Red Planet
ORA Purple Plasma
Superman Digi
Garf Purple Bonsai
Idaho Grape Monti
Setosa
Green Slimer
Starburst Monti
Jack Frost
Ice Fire Enchinata
Acroberry
Candle Light Concert
Paletta Pink Tip
Orange polyp purple porities
Yellow Caroliniana
Smurfette Milli
Tyree Tri Color
Wild Tri Color
Paris Hilton Milli
Blueberry Nasuta
Crayola Desalwii
Blue Monster
Steve Elias Stag
Orange Passion
Purple Rim Monti
Raspberry Nasuta
Appleberry Monti
30K Leagues Lokani
Red Dragon
Rose Milli
Sunset Milli
CC Aussie Gold Acro
Blue Stag
PC Rainbow

LPS:
Dendro
Branching Frogspawn
Hollywood Stunner Chalice

SOFTIES:
Iron Man Mushroom
Red Yuma
Ricordea garden
Purple Gorgonian

 

[nitr8]

Lost two of my ORA pieces. Not sure what happened. The ORA Misty Purple and ORA Purple Plasma are gone. :mad2: Also, lost the new Hectors Goby, may be hiding but I haven't seem it in a few days. Finally, I traded in the Coral Banded Shrimp for a Cleaner Shrimp.

FISH:
Royal Gramma
Blue Green Chromis
Lyretail Anthis (M)
Yellow Tang
Bangaii Cardinal
Borbonius Anthias
Ruby Red Dragonette (F)
Wyoming White Ocellaris
Black Snowflake Ocellaris
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Hawaiian Flame Wrasse (Super Male)

INVERTS:
Blood/Fire Shrimp
Cherry Red Serpent Starfish
B & W Harlequin Serpent
Red Harlequin Serpent
Serpent Starfish
Various Porcelain Crabs
Various Hermits
Various Snails
Cocoa Worm
Feather Duster
(2) Randall's Pistol Shrimp
Blue Sponge
Fire Cocoa Worm
Cleaner Shrimp
Halloween Hermit

Zs and Ps:
AOG
Sunny Ds
Pandora Palys
Rastas
Purple Hornets
Orange Delights
Magicians
Electric Oompa Loompas
Goochsters
Blue Hornets
Pink Zippers
Fruit Loops
Utter Chaos
Captain Americas
Halle Berry
LA Lakers
Red Hornets
JF Bloodshots
Candy Apple Reds
Ultra Blue Agave

SPS:
Various unknown/no-name
ORA Birds of Paradise
ORA Cali Tort
ORA Hawkins Enchinata
ORA Joe the Coral
ORA Scripps
ORA Miami Orchid
ORA Red Planet
Superman Digi
Garf Purple Bonsai
Idaho Grape Monti
Setosa
Green Slimer
Starburst Monti
Jack Frost
Ice Fire Enchinata
Acroberry
Candle Light Concert
Paletta Pink Tip
Orange polyp purple porities
Yellow Caroliniana
Smurfette Milli
Tyree Tri Color
Wild Tri Color
Paris Hilton Milli
Blueberry Nasuta
Crayola Desalwii
Blue Monster
Steve Elias Stag
Orange Passion
Purple/Blue Rim Monti
Raspberry Nasuta
Appleberry Monti
30K Leagues Lokani
Red Dragon
Rose Milli
Sunset Milli
CC Aussie Gold Acro
Blue Stag
PC Rainbow

LPS:
Dendro
Branching Frogspawn
Hollywood Stunner Chalice

SOFTIES:
Iron Man Mushroom
Red Yuma
Ricordea garden
Purple Gorgonian