My Custom 160 Build :)

[Audi_Guy]

Well here it is

A few obligatory side shots...

And this still isn't the final product as there's still plenty of rock to go in there!

And now for the "critters" that i was able to pick off the rock..

Sump is doing great so far as well...

Still need to finish up my drains, but cant as my bulkheads I ordered off Amazon haven't arrived yet so its a waiting game at this point...

 

[mgoulding]

Are those bristle worms?

 

[Audi_Guy]

Yup... almost 2 dozen lol

 

[Audi_Guy]

This is what was once on the live rock that is now in my tank... ranging from 2-3" to "bigger" ones ( around 8 - 10" )

 

[Audi_Guy]

Well... Time for a quick update

The Sump:
It has been successfully running for a while now and started to grow some algae in the refuge.

This guy has been in the sump for about a week now and seems to be doing very well. He was rescued from a tank shut down and he was a freebie and is rather large ( around 8" ). For now he's duties will be to keep the sump clean and algae free
On this front... There's only 1 failure point and that's the cheapy light that bit the dust. It was only a matter of time before those compacts died... but hopefully the ballasts will work with T5's as I'm planning a retrofit it

Main Display Tank:

Levels are settling even though the bulkheads that I've ordered from Amazon did not arrive yet, which leave me with the drains still not plumbed in!!
The water is being circulated with 2 power heads and stuck the heater in the tank as well. Levels have spiked and now back at 0 after 2 weeks of running !!

As any sensible mind would do... the clean up crew would slowly going to be assembled.
So after a short shopping spree today I added the following to the display tank:
4 Medium Sized Scarlet's

25 Small Blue Leg Hermits

And last but not least 4 of these guys...

and some of them came with some interesting hitchhikers:

Also had to replace a couple of tubes in the main fixture as the actinics were pretty much burnt out. Will probably add 25 more blue leg hermits again tomorrow and probably the first batch of GSP's.
Another item on the agenda is to finish up the aquascaping which is till not quite complete...

 

[HuskerBioProf]

You filled the tank before adding the drain bulkheads? That is brave! I don't think I could've done that.

 

[Audi_Guy]

You filled the tank before adding the drain bulkheads? That is brave! I don't think I could've done that.

Temp is good and my levels are in check...
Me levels have peaked on day 4 and everything was off the deep end and since then dropped back down.
Water is being circulated by 2 power heads and I have been testing religiously every other day.

Last nights test revealed :
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 10
Phosphates - 0
Nitrite - 0
Temp 79

Bioload is very minimal since they are mostly clean up crew, but enough to create some waste to keep the biology rolling along. Also i have been observing lots of movement on the rocks...
Lots of amphipods and copapods on some of the live rocks and been noticing that they have been "migrating" to other areas of the tank

 

[Audi_Guy]

Well...

Its been a while and way overdue for an Update !!!

Some of the main changes were in equipment:
- Protein Skimmer
The eShopps PSK200 pump ( Sicce ) kept on failing and after 3 rebuild kits the motor started to overheat. I finally had enough and got Reef Octopus Diablo DCS200.

- Calcium Reactor
Came across an used Vertex RX6 Duo for a price I couldn't refuse...

- Lights
Upgraded from the T5 to LED and seen a huge improvement in the tank.

 

[Audi_Guy]

Next on the list is new power heads at these ones are starting to be a bit finicky.
Time to replace them before they crap out on me...

Been looking at a pair of Jebao/JECOD PP15 as replacements

 

[Audi_Guy]

Levels update:
NO3 = 5
NH3 = 0.2
NH2 = 0
PO4 = 0.25

NO water changes, only RO top ups!!!