Maroun 150g Build Thread
- Thread starter maroun.c
- Start date
maroun.c
New member
Ok Noted for next move
Fitting bulbs for temp tank
or
Bigger tank to fit bulbs
that's not new the neighbors and people passing by were used to seing the blue lights shining out for the 1.5 years we stayed there. the weirdest thing was when neighbors wanted to check the "changing lighting system" I had installed in the house as the tank colours coupled witht he colours from the Philips Ambilight LCD we have made for some weird effects shining out of the house at night...
Fitting bulbs for temp tank
or
Bigger tank to fit bulbs
that's not new the neighbors and people passing by were used to seing the blue lights shining out for the 1.5 years we stayed there. the weirdest thing was when neighbors wanted to check the "changing lighting system" I had installed in the house as the tank colours coupled witht he colours from the Philips Ambilight LCD we have made for some weird effects shining out of the house at night...
maroun.c
New member
No pics of the tank move itself as it was a very stressful move with many delays because of movers not sticking to thei appointments... My biggest fear was of having the tank dropped or hiting something while being moved as it would take months to get another one done. Luckily it arrived safe and sound. so here are pics after the move. Scaping is somehow similar to the previous one but is a lot better as it offers much more horizontal rocks to put corals on. will post better pics when corals are organized and frag tank is finished to have all those frags on the rack and sand bed taken out of display.
maroun.c
New member
Hooked up my Hurricone Cat 1 skimmer and next to it my turbofloater looks really tiny. (in these pics the turbofloare is laying on the bubble traps so is around 5-6 inches higher than the sump bottom that's why it looks taller than the Cat 1.
Cat 1 seems to be a much better skimmer than the Turbofloater. Not that the turbofloater is bad but the amount of bubbles the modified Askoll pumps pushes is just crazy. This skimmer is kind of new and reason I got it is that it is the replacement of the Octopus (1 of 3 skimmer Marc suggested. Thanks Marc) was going to get the pro 250 but as it was discontinued I went for it's replacement. the name is a bit misleading as its not a true cone (which I knew before buying anyway) guess its still good to go for havlf a cylinder half cone skimmer as somehting to combine both designs as I couldn't get a really good comparison of cone VS Cylinder skimmer to decide so combining both seemed like a good choice. Skimmer finished braking in period however it now poses a real problem.
It did not fit in the return section which has a fix water level so I had to put it in the return section where water level varies at power off which results in it overflowing and also cause the return pump to suck microbubbles from it to DT(this skimmer has to be between 7-10 i. Turbofloater is in same partition however it's pump and output are in the return section so the bubble trap deals with it's microbubbles.
To make it worse I can't raise the skimmer much higher because of these horizontak metal supports for the stand which were added to avoid haing a vertical center brace for the stand in addition to the middle tank drain which was meant to be used with a mechanical filter, chiller or CL pump.
Trying to decide if I will only redesign my sump or make a new one as the whole undertank set will be changed when I relocate back as I should have a separate fish room.
My options now will be:
having a bigger return to fit both skimmers or at least the Hurricone, bubble trap, return which will house the frag tank, and refugium (ATO will have to wait till next move)
or having the refugium with the return partition as it can handle a drop in water level (if that happens better than frag tank)
or maybe having Refugium and frag tank in same aprtition separated by egcrate?
any info on pros and cons of this will be apprecited especially that Id rather not buy a new sump now which will have to be modified after 1 year again.
Cat 1 seems to be a much better skimmer than the Turbofloater. Not that the turbofloater is bad but the amount of bubbles the modified Askoll pumps pushes is just crazy. This skimmer is kind of new and reason I got it is that it is the replacement of the Octopus (1 of 3 skimmer Marc suggested. Thanks Marc) was going to get the pro 250 but as it was discontinued I went for it's replacement. the name is a bit misleading as its not a true cone (which I knew before buying anyway) guess its still good to go for havlf a cylinder half cone skimmer as somehting to combine both designs as I couldn't get a really good comparison of cone VS Cylinder skimmer to decide so combining both seemed like a good choice. Skimmer finished braking in period however it now poses a real problem.
It did not fit in the return section which has a fix water level so I had to put it in the return section where water level varies at power off which results in it overflowing and also cause the return pump to suck microbubbles from it to DT(this skimmer has to be between 7-10 i. Turbofloater is in same partition however it's pump and output are in the return section so the bubble trap deals with it's microbubbles.
To make it worse I can't raise the skimmer much higher because of these horizontak metal supports for the stand which were added to avoid haing a vertical center brace for the stand in addition to the middle tank drain which was meant to be used with a mechanical filter, chiller or CL pump.
Trying to decide if I will only redesign my sump or make a new one as the whole undertank set will be changed when I relocate back as I should have a separate fish room.
My options now will be:
having a bigger return to fit both skimmers or at least the Hurricone, bubble trap, return which will house the frag tank, and refugium (ATO will have to wait till next move)
or having the refugium with the return partition as it can handle a drop in water level (if that happens better than frag tank)
or maybe having Refugium and frag tank in same aprtition separated by egcrate?
any info on pros and cons of this will be apprecited especially that Id rather not buy a new sump now which will have to be modified after 1 year again.
Last edited:
maroun.c
New member
Last update for today,
move went overall great with no losses. the worst part was having to travel for 6 days just one day after everything was hooked and functional still needed lots of organizing but tank, lighting, filtration, and water movement was working. My worst worries was to get a cycle as sand was not washed thoroghly washed this time but rinsed a few times with saltwater. I did get a 2 days sandstorm and very cloudy water and had to add a small DIY mechanical filter with some resin and bioballs and ran carbon in it as well as in TLF reactor changed after 24 hours and with a 30% waterchange before bringing livestock to it. Luckily no noticeable cycle happened.
So what I hate most now:
-the look of the tank compared to what it was as rocks seems to look very uniform but now some rocks which were in the dark previously are uncovered it looks white in some areas and will take some time Iguess to blend in.
-wondering if I should add more rocks to fill the right side of the tank up to level.
-theblack back side of the tnak which was supposed to be agianst a wall and not show can now be seen from the living room and looks very ugly especially the fan.
Squirt was damaged int he move and I'm waiting for a new one to be shipped. Paul from OM was very helpful in getting the 220 V shipped but It will take some time to arrive I guess.Luckily the Vortech is making a good job keeping the tank water moving.
worst part is that the stand wood cover which was a 1 part U shaped cover that slips on the stand broke in 3 pieces. which can be seen on the right here. the guy who built it said it'll be an easy fix (but it'sbeen 10 days and he didn'teven come to pick it up to start fixing it)
move went overall great with no losses. the worst part was having to travel for 6 days just one day after everything was hooked and functional still needed lots of organizing but tank, lighting, filtration, and water movement was working. My worst worries was to get a cycle as sand was not washed thoroghly washed this time but rinsed a few times with saltwater. I did get a 2 days sandstorm and very cloudy water and had to add a small DIY mechanical filter with some resin and bioballs and ran carbon in it as well as in TLF reactor changed after 24 hours and with a 30% waterchange before bringing livestock to it. Luckily no noticeable cycle happened.
So what I hate most now:
-the look of the tank compared to what it was as rocks seems to look very uniform but now some rocks which were in the dark previously are uncovered it looks white in some areas and will take some time Iguess to blend in.
-wondering if I should add more rocks to fill the right side of the tank up to level.
-theblack back side of the tnak which was supposed to be agianst a wall and not show can now be seen from the living room and looks very ugly especially the fan.
Squirt was damaged int he move and I'm waiting for a new one to be shipped. Paul from OM was very helpful in getting the 220 V shipped but It will take some time to arrive I guess.Luckily the Vortech is making a good job keeping the tank water moving.
worst part is that the stand wood cover which was a 1 part U shaped cover that slips on the stand broke in 3 pieces. which can be seen on the right here. the guy who built it said it'll be an easy fix (but it'sbeen 10 days and he didn'teven come to pick it up to start fixing it)
melev
Well-known member
For the sump, it is my preference that it all be one piece instead of two plumbed together. Even a few inches of real estate is valued in that area.
If you put more rock on the right, you'll elevate some corals on the sand, but it may interfere with your frag rack. Honestly, I don't know why you are growing out frags under the tank currently. Why not put all your corals in the display? That isn't a stand-alone quarantine, correct?
For now, you may be able to solder that connection on the OM pump.
If you put more rock on the right, you'll elevate some corals on the sand, but it may interfere with your frag rack. Honestly, I don't know why you are growing out frags under the tank currently. Why not put all your corals in the display? That isn't a stand-alone quarantine, correct?
For now, you may be able to solder that connection on the OM pump.
maroun.c
New member
It will be a single sump for sure.
Frag rack is fixed with magnets. only used for light acclimting then will be taken out.
trying to have a duplicate of my frags go in the frag tank still can't have it separate as I can' fit a skimmer in it or next to it. hopefully it'll be separate finally. Same for an additional Coral Q tank.
Frag tank was only recently finished lighting wise as I was waiting to find 10K bulbs. this was done recently and I have a T8 actinic supplement and a 2nd one will be added if I can't find short actinic T5. acclimating some soft and LPS frags to lighting in it now so when my MH lighting period in it is increased to 4-5 hours will take down the SPS frags to it and put other in the rocks take frag rack out as well as take some of those corals from the sand down to give a cleaner look to the tank.
Frag rack is fixed with magnets. only used for light acclimting then will be taken out.
trying to have a duplicate of my frags go in the frag tank still can't have it separate as I can' fit a skimmer in it or next to it. hopefully it'll be separate finally. Same for an additional Coral Q tank.
Frag tank was only recently finished lighting wise as I was waiting to find 10K bulbs. this was done recently and I have a T8 actinic supplement and a 2nd one will be added if I can't find short actinic T5. acclimating some soft and LPS frags to lighting in it now so when my MH lighting period in it is increased to 4-5 hours will take down the SPS frags to it and put other in the rocks take frag rack out as well as take some of those corals from the sand down to give a cleaner look to the tank.
maroun.c
New member
To finish with move updates some hitchhikers I got lucky to take out from my tank:
2nd crab out of two evile ones I've been trying to catch since tank was started. I knew the holes where they stayed since the start but the rocks were big and supporting other ones so couldn't be taken out. Tried everything traps, feeding withthe tweezers to get them to come to tweezers, sprayed soda hot and fresh water in their holes, inserted tweezers to crush them in, with no luck. Found the first one on top of the rocks on my sps on one night few weeks ago and this one I just found laying on that rock while I was putting it in the tank after the move. Any ID on this one?
and playing dead, check out it's claws:
Eunicid or is it Eucinid worms?
had gotten two out by chance few months ago and found 3 more in the sand:
Still have to find one crab that I frequently find molts of. somehting that has this claw still lives somewhere in the tank:
2nd crab out of two evile ones I've been trying to catch since tank was started. I knew the holes where they stayed since the start but the rocks were big and supporting other ones so couldn't be taken out. Tried everything traps, feeding withthe tweezers to get them to come to tweezers, sprayed soda hot and fresh water in their holes, inserted tweezers to crush them in, with no luck. Found the first one on top of the rocks on my sps on one night few weeks ago and this one I just found laying on that rock while I was putting it in the tank after the move. Any ID on this one?
and playing dead, check out it's claws:
Eunicid or is it Eucinid worms?
had gotten two out by chance few months ago and found 3 more in the sand:
Still have to find one crab that I frequently find molts of. somehting that has this claw still lives somewhere in the tank:
maroun.c
New member
just before the move my RBTA which has been doing all kinds of stretching and showing an additinal foot for close to 2 months finally split.
This is the first anemone split in my tank except for one split that occured accidentally when I injured an old RBTA foot and it split but the close was lost inthe rockwork then and disappeared.
both are still fine so far
This is the first anemone split in my tank except for one split that occured accidentally when I injured an old RBTA foot and it split but the close was lost inthe rockwork then and disappeared.
both are still fine so far
maroun.c
New member
Finally the LFS had gotten some nice corals here just when I started moving the tank (we rarely get nice coral shipment and usually everything gets sold on the first few days) got lucky that these remianed so I picked them up 1 day after the move:
Green montipora: don't know how this one was left as we rarely get SPS around here 'not the nicest piece but I'm sure it'll grow fine:
Favia?
this piece is huge and looks a much nicer read than in the pic:
Another Favia
Last piece is this Chalice???
Can't see any mouth on it so far? but it's a very nice red so I'm really hoping it'll be a chalice
as usual I suck with ID so can anyone can ID the Favias, the monti (is it a montipora caproicornis?) and confirm if the last one is a chalice or not?
Also got these mushrooms from a friend, really nice bright red
Green montipora: don't know how this one was left as we rarely get SPS around here 'not the nicest piece but I'm sure it'll grow fine:
Favia?
this piece is huge and looks a much nicer read than in the pic:
Another Favia
Last piece is this Chalice???
Can't see any mouth on it so far? but it's a very nice red so I'm really hoping it'll be a chalice
as usual I suck with ID so can anyone can ID the Favias, the monti (is it a montipora caproicornis?) and confirm if the last one is a chalice or not?
Also got these mushrooms from a friend, really nice bright red
Last edited:
imcosmokramer
New member
maroun, nice bubble tip!! How's the new skimmer working?
maroun.c
New member
got the follwoings from him too as his PBT was munching non stop on them:
Alveopora:
which looked a bit better in his tank than in mine I'm hoping it's just acclimating:
Also took a branching GSP of his hands as his PBT had nearly torn it all off. Polyps were not even showing but tiny ones appeared on it whan I put it in my tank its a very nice green so hopefully it'll make it. no pics of it yet maybe when I get back.
he still has a goniopora that the PBT is tearing up. didn't want to risk taking it at that stage as tank was still recently moved but will do next week if the alveopora makes it in my tank for two weeks. I love goniopora so much that I never risked on in my tank as I would be really sad to see it die in my tank guess saving one from a confirmed death by the PBT justifies trying it.
Alveopora:
which looked a bit better in his tank than in mine I'm hoping it's just acclimating:
Also took a branching GSP of his hands as his PBT had nearly torn it all off. Polyps were not even showing but tiny ones appeared on it whan I put it in my tank its a very nice green so hopefully it'll make it. no pics of it yet maybe when I get back.
he still has a goniopora that the PBT is tearing up. didn't want to risk taking it at that stage as tank was still recently moved but will do next week if the alveopora makes it in my tank for two weeks. I love goniopora so much that I never risked on in my tank as I would be really sad to see it die in my tank guess saving one from a confirmed death by the PBT justifies trying it.
maroun.c
New member
Thanks,
skimmer is actually in 13-14 inch of water as it still sits in my return section. getting lots of skimmate but its very wet as the skimmer is so deep in the water and also because it overflows a bit when pumps shuts of and restarts as water level goes higher. So can't really comment on it till I modify my sump to fit it in a partition with 8-10 inches of water. With that I''m imporssed but the bubbles in it compared to my earlier skimmer
imcosmokramer
New member
do you not have room to build a little stand for it and raise it?
maroun.c
New member
Unfortunately not in this sump design as the skimmer would not fit in the return section which was designed to have my 1st skimmer Turbofloater 750 which was replaced by the 1000 and now the Hurricone. should be working on modifying the sump when back home for few days but opted to have the skimmer run and brake in meanwhile.
Sorry didn't recognize you but when I checked your tank inyour build thread I'm assuming you're Sagi? guess I visited you last April with TJ and Laura?
Sorry didn't recognize you but when I checked your tank inyour build thread I'm assuming you're Sagi? guess I visited you last April with TJ and Laura?
imcosmokramer
New member
Yup. That's me 
maroun.c
New member
one thing I forgot to add is the addition of 2 hyppo tangs one is rather small 2-3 inches and the other one is around 5 inches. these were in a frineds tank for some time and were doing fine however he decided to take some of his tangs outso I got those 2.
Flew back home last wed at midnight for 11/2 day there and checked the tank at 2 AM when I arrived everything looked fine. I saw the shrimp MArc mentioned I should move out on some open rocks so scooped it rather easily out with my net. so thats one thing less to worry about. All corals were still alive and tanl looked fine as confirmed also on the next day check, however I lost one of my preferred inhabitants again
found it decaying where I had placed it and couldn't find the small piece of rock it was attached to. found it on the sand bed next morning
My wife said that on that day she found the clam on the rocks below and placed it back. she said she didn't feel any thing peel from it and that she don't remember that bottom rock fallig from it. Also the fact that it was already rotting when I found it contradicts the theory that the biussal organ was damaged when it fell or when my wife placed it back. so that's the 3rd clam lost in 3-4 weeks and I only have one left. the previous two died before the move and might be related to my twin spot wrasses picking on them but this one I can't find any expanation to its death. Add to the that the loss of my yellow tang just before the move made me hate the tank for the day I was there. so just cleaned up the tank glass a bit which weirdly didn't have the usual alga buildup after I'm away for 1 week. water tests were Ok except for salinity which was at 1.027 so instructed my dad to make small daily wter changes till it goes back to 1.025.
traveled again on Friday and should be back again next wed hopefully this time all will be fine.
Some SPS picture I had taken just prior and after the move:
Millepora growing non stop
ORA Red Planet looking great still even after the move:
ORA green slimer looking also good after it broke off the base. base seems to be recoviering too.
Flew back home last wed at midnight for 11/2 day there and checked the tank at 2 AM when I arrived everything looked fine. I saw the shrimp MArc mentioned I should move out on some open rocks so scooped it rather easily out with my net. so thats one thing less to worry about. All corals were still alive and tanl looked fine as confirmed also on the next day check, however I lost one of my preferred inhabitants again
found it decaying where I had placed it and couldn't find the small piece of rock it was attached to. found it on the sand bed next morning
My wife said that on that day she found the clam on the rocks below and placed it back. she said she didn't feel any thing peel from it and that she don't remember that bottom rock fallig from it. Also the fact that it was already rotting when I found it contradicts the theory that the biussal organ was damaged when it fell or when my wife placed it back. so that's the 3rd clam lost in 3-4 weeks and I only have one left. the previous two died before the move and might be related to my twin spot wrasses picking on them but this one I can't find any expanation to its death. Add to the that the loss of my yellow tang just before the move made me hate the tank for the day I was there. so just cleaned up the tank glass a bit which weirdly didn't have the usual alga buildup after I'm away for 1 week. water tests were Ok except for salinity which was at 1.027 so instructed my dad to make small daily wter changes till it goes back to 1.025.
traveled again on Friday and should be back again next wed hopefully this time all will be fine.
Some SPS picture I had taken just prior and after the move:
Millepora growing non stop
ORA Red Planet looking great still even after the move:
ORA green slimer looking also good after it broke off the base. base seems to be recoviering too.
