My rebuild of a 50g cube
- Thread starter Bilk
- Start date
Bilk
New member
Some pics of the results I'm getting from the ATS just after cycling. There's only a good sized cleanup crew inhabiting the tank at this point. I haven't been feeding the system with anything either.
First ten days of operation results. Screen was cleaned after this pic.
Last ten days of operation and after the addition of a carbon reactor and increased system ph via kalwasser additions in makeup water.
First ten days of operation results. Screen was cleaned after this pic.
Last ten days of operation and after the addition of a carbon reactor and increased system ph via kalwasser additions in makeup water.
Last edited:
Bilk
New member
Ah the tank has fully cycled and the scrubber seems to be really working well. Parameters are stable with salinity at 34, temp running 78.5 - 80, alkalinity is 9dkh (I'd like to run the tank a bit lower - around 8dkh), NO3 is 02-04 and PO4 tests at .01-.02.
It's been exactly six weeks since the cycle was initiated. The cycle ran it's course for about three weeks and then stabilized with no detectable NH4 or NO2.
After attempting to again spike ammonia and seeing how the tank was able to handle the spike, I decided to add the first corals. I'll post pics tomorrow once the lights come up.
Bilk
New member
Ok a FTS of what's in it so far. Only two of the corals are anchored with cement and even they can be repositioned if need be. I'll see how each responds to their current locations and what any further additions may require in terms of spacing and location. I also may
It's difficult to determine what the settings of the Kessil 350 are set for, but I'm guessing 45% blue and 65% white with the fixture set 10" above the water line. One thing I have to say about the 350N is there is a discernible cone of light from the 30 degree optics. It hits all the right spots for what's presently in the tank, but the outer edges are certainly dimmer. If I see this as an issue, I may add another or go to a wider fixture - possibly the new ATI Power Module with the T5 led combo.
No fish as of yet. They will be added very slowly. Right now the CUC is the only bio load. I would like a pair of clowns and will see if they'll host a long tentacle plate coral. I kept a very large carpet for years, but that tank was softies and LPS and larger.
It's difficult to determine what the settings of the Kessil 350 are set for, but I'm guessing 45% blue and 65% white with the fixture set 10" above the water line. One thing I have to say about the 350N is there is a discernible cone of light from the 30 degree optics. It hits all the right spots for what's presently in the tank, but the outer edges are certainly dimmer. If I see this as an issue, I may add another or go to a wider fixture - possibly the new ATI Power Module with the T5 led combo.
No fish as of yet. They will be added very slowly. Right now the CUC is the only bio load. I would like a pair of clowns and will see if they'll host a long tentacle plate coral. I kept a very large carpet for years, but that tank was softies and LPS and larger.
Bilk
New member
A bit of an update and some observations.
I think sometimes we can see even good changes to our tanks in real time - or almost so. I wasn't happy with the color rendition provided by just the A350. I had 4 Stunner Strips laying around from the last lighting configuration I was running, so I decided to add them into the mix. Wasn't sure how to do this at first and didn't want to make something extensive such as a hood to mount them to if I wasn't going to use them in a permanent installation. Well I had some plastic raceway laying around and thought it might work and it actually turned out pretty well for the time being. Not sure what I'll do down the road, but for now I want to just see how the corals respond.
One thing I noticed after about an hour of running these with the A350 was the clam and the Green Eye Zoas started to expel zooxanthellae with the Zoas taking on a more pronounced green fluorescence. You can see the Zoas doing so in the pic below. The clam looks brighter and happier with this change as well. The Stunner Strips are (2) 8k + 453nm blue and (2) 403nm ultraviolet.
Some pics of the make-shift light fixture:
Zoa in the process of adjusting to the lighting changes. They're less purple/brown and more purple/green now.
Other changes/additions;
I added an Auqa Gadget MiniMax Reactor to run BRS Rox and PO4x4 actively in the sump. Being the system is 46g net, I don't need a large capacity reactor for either product, so I'll see how this does. Seems to be doing the job and it's a really easy reactor to maintain, clean, fill, etc. I also put the 2 part online and dosing aminos with the BM doser.
Two other observations so far. Running this system without a filter sock, I can see the water is a bit more turbid. However, what it also does is allow for detritus to collect in the sump where I easily suck it out of the system with a small wet-vac as part of the bi-weekly water changes. I think it sitting in the corner of the sump where the flow makes it collect, is better than it sitting in a filter sock with water pounding it further into solution. Well I guess time will tell.
Here's the results I'm getting from the ATS. This is just the third cleaning.
Just some pics of where the tank is at to date. Thanks for looking.
Temp=79.5 Salinity=34 Alk=7dkh ph=8.3 Ca=450 Mg=1520 NO3=1 PO4=.04
I think sometimes we can see even good changes to our tanks in real time - or almost so. I wasn't happy with the color rendition provided by just the A350. I had 4 Stunner Strips laying around from the last lighting configuration I was running, so I decided to add them into the mix. Wasn't sure how to do this at first and didn't want to make something extensive such as a hood to mount them to if I wasn't going to use them in a permanent installation. Well I had some plastic raceway laying around and thought it might work and it actually turned out pretty well for the time being. Not sure what I'll do down the road, but for now I want to just see how the corals respond.
One thing I noticed after about an hour of running these with the A350 was the clam and the Green Eye Zoas started to expel zooxanthellae with the Zoas taking on a more pronounced green fluorescence. You can see the Zoas doing so in the pic below. The clam looks brighter and happier with this change as well. The Stunner Strips are (2) 8k + 453nm blue and (2) 403nm ultraviolet.
Some pics of the make-shift light fixture:
Zoa in the process of adjusting to the lighting changes. They're less purple/brown and more purple/green now.
Other changes/additions;
I added an Auqa Gadget MiniMax Reactor to run BRS Rox and PO4x4 actively in the sump. Being the system is 46g net, I don't need a large capacity reactor for either product, so I'll see how this does. Seems to be doing the job and it's a really easy reactor to maintain, clean, fill, etc. I also put the 2 part online and dosing aminos with the BM doser.
Two other observations so far. Running this system without a filter sock, I can see the water is a bit more turbid. However, what it also does is allow for detritus to collect in the sump where I easily suck it out of the system with a small wet-vac as part of the bi-weekly water changes. I think it sitting in the corner of the sump where the flow makes it collect, is better than it sitting in a filter sock with water pounding it further into solution. Well I guess time will tell.
Here's the results I'm getting from the ATS. This is just the third cleaning.
Just some pics of where the tank is at to date. Thanks for looking.
Temp=79.5 Salinity=34 Alk=7dkh ph=8.3 Ca=450 Mg=1520 NO3=1 PO4=.04
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Bilk
New member
Just an update on some changes. Swapped out the A350 for the Mitras. I have to say the Mitras is a really powerful fixture. A few members were kind enough to send me their lighting schemes so I could get it up and running as this fixture isn't a plug and play deal. Some learning is required :hmm5: I'm still playing with the settings. It's mounted the recommended distance above the waterline - about 8.5". Pics below of the mounting bracket I put together so I could attach it to the AI light pole.
The meaningful parameters are all stable with the 2 part dialed in. I'm also dosing amino acids withe BM doser. Most all of the ugly brown is gone from the tank. The sand is pink and white. The only visible brown algae remains on the MP10s and the cover for the overflow, and that too is vanishing. Other dosing regimen is Zeobak twice a week and Zeostart daily. I've also dosed Brightwell Potassium supplement to get the K level to 400.
Maintenance is much easier now that the sump can be partially extracted from the cabinet for access to the various components. The ATS is working like a champ too, growing a dark green mat of algae which get's removed every 14 days. I don't run a filter sock so twice a week I use a small wetvac and suck out the detritus that accumulates in the corners of the sump. I basically change about 3 or 4 gallons of water each time I do this.
Today the ORP reading is off the chart at 422mV. The water is crystalline
I think good things are happening. I'm just waiting for the corals to color up now. I guess this will take a combination of continued good water parameters and dialing in the light. Speaking of water parameters - Salinity=34.5 Temp=79 NO3=1 PO4=.06 (hopefully the PO4x4 will help this reduce further and it seems to be working - was .08) CA=450 Alk=7.5. If anyone has aany suggestions, please offer them up. I would like to see some bright colors on these corals
The meaningful parameters are all stable with the 2 part dialed in. I'm also dosing amino acids withe BM doser. Most all of the ugly brown is gone from the tank. The sand is pink and white. The only visible brown algae remains on the MP10s and the cover for the overflow, and that too is vanishing. Other dosing regimen is Zeobak twice a week and Zeostart daily. I've also dosed Brightwell Potassium supplement to get the K level to 400.
Maintenance is much easier now that the sump can be partially extracted from the cabinet for access to the various components. The ATS is working like a champ too, growing a dark green mat of algae which get's removed every 14 days. I don't run a filter sock so twice a week I use a small wetvac and suck out the detritus that accumulates in the corners of the sump. I basically change about 3 or 4 gallons of water each time I do this.
Today the ORP reading is off the chart at 422mV. The water is crystalline
I think good things are happening. I'm just waiting for the corals to color up now. I guess this will take a combination of continued good water parameters and dialing in the light. Speaking of water parameters - Salinity=34.5 Temp=79 NO3=1 PO4=.06 (hopefully the PO4x4 will help this reduce further and it seems to be working - was .08) CA=450 Alk=7.5. If anyone has aany suggestions, please offer them up. I would like to see some bright colors on these corals 
moondoggy4
Team RC
Have you spot treated the Eco-techs with Hydrogen Peroxide to kill the brown slime.
milsaltnewbie07
New member
wow i have to say thats one organized set up you have there. I can only dream my current build comes out as nice lol WOW
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