My Upgrade Diary with Pics

[Coolguy818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10539717#post10539717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dtaylor123
Your pictures are very nice. But the Wall-O-Rock needs to come down, like the Berlin Wall. Did someone tell you, you need X amount of LR per gallon? The flow with that much LR is not going to work in the long run, you can keep the LR just move about 70% of it to your sump, don't lean any on the back wall and make it so the water can circulate around all the LR. Then you can always add LR if need it or even subtract more from the display.

OK, if you like the Wall-O-Rock and you don't mind a crash in your future, then go for it. No, really if you like it, then I hope your corals and fish prosper!

When the Wall-O-Rock was being built I did have that thought. Hence the reason there are 2 Maxi-Jet 1200's built into the LR. What I mean by that is there are 2 power heads on the back wall, to prevent those dead zones. They circulate the water from the back to the front..... and so on.

 

[Lagger]

Coming along nicley. You picked up some great corals :thumbsup: Although, I would seriously consider upgrading your skimmer. 118g system with all that rock & now livestock needs better life support....

Surface agitation looks good. Flow could be OK, however, I'd drop the rio & MJ down to mid tank level.

 

[Coolguy818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542151#post10542151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lagger
Coming along nicley. You picked up some great corals :thumbsup: Although, I would seriously consider upgrading your skimmer. 118g system with all that rock & now livestock needs better life support....

Surface agitation looks good. Flow could be OK, however, I'd drop the rio & MJ down to mid tank level.

I didn't think of lowering the Rio or MJ........ Good suggestion.

 

[Coolguy818]

Update Time......

Some new additions....

Palythoas Africa (T5 + MH)

Ricordia Farm (T5 + MH)

Purple Acropora (T5 + MH)

Update Picture: Orange Zoas

 

[Coolguy818]

Full Tank Shot (8/16/2007)

 

[token]

First, I want to praise you on joining our rather large club! SW is a blast to enjoy in one's own home.

Your setup is very nice. The effort put forth is obvious!

Like others, I have concerns about your flow. My worries come from a more personal place. I used a less-desirable PH behind my reef, down low and blowing to the front, while I was cleaning my better PH. I somehow didn't get the better brand back in the tank and that is a mistake; it quite literally burned/blew-up on me within a 24hr period. Despite my best efforts, I lost 90% of my 100g's inhabitants.

I have learned that I can design my flow a bit better as a result of that. I moved a lot of my rock to the sump. Although none had been leaning on the glass, access was quite restricted. I found that I liked the look of less rock and I eventually removed more.

I isolated my PH's to places where I could visually check them every time I looked at the tank and I removed all but the MJ's. I have since mod'ed all of them using the MJmods.com kits and I couldn't be happier (unless he actually has the acrylic mounts in stock). Dollar for dollar, I don't think any purchase can come as close to the AP MaxiJet for value and the mod is in the same category.

I upgraded my skimmer. I sincerely think that a superlative skimmer is the liver of the aquarium. Mine had been acceptable and that was not all I could do.

Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Coolguy818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10570145#post10570145 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by token
First, I want to praise you on joining our rather large club! SW is a blast to enjoy in one's own home.

Your setup is very nice. The effort put forth is obvious!

Like others, I have concerns about your flow. My worries come from a more personal place. I used a less-desirable PH behind my reef, down low and blowing to the front, while I was cleaning my better PH. I somehow didn't get the better brand back in the tank and that is a mistake; it quite literally burned/blew-up on me within a 24hr period. Despite my best efforts, I lost 90% of my 100g's inhabitants.

I have learned that I can design my flow a bit better as a result of that. I moved a lot of my rock to the sump. Although none had been leaning on the glass, access was quite restricted. I found that I liked the look of less rock and I eventually removed more.

I isolated my PH's to places where I could visually check them every time I looked at the tank and I removed all but the MJ's. I have since mod'ed all of them using the MJmods.com kits and I couldn't be happier (unless he actually has the acrylic mounts in stock). Dollar for dollar, I don't think any purchase can come as close to the AP MaxiJet for value and the mod is in the same category.

I upgraded my skimmer. I sincerely think that a superlative skimmer is the liver of the aquarium. Mine had been acceptable and that was not all I could do.

Good luck and best wishes!

I ordered the High-Flow system for my 2 MJ 1200's.

Also my powerheads in the back of the tank are fully visible from the sides. So i can keep a close eye on them at all times.

So with the 2 modded MJ's @ 2400gph each = 4800gph
The 2 Return pumps totalling 1000gph
And the 2 MJ's @ 295pg = 590gph

Gives me a total of 6390gph of FLOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Turnover rate: 91.28

Holy Crap:eek1: :eek1:

 

[McLovin]

great progress

 

[Coolguy818]

Thank you

 

[yoimb0b]

nicely done john, good to see how addicted you have become to your corals hah. see you at exotic life soon!

 

[Coolguy818]

Wooooooohooooooooo I got Greg Hooked toooooo.

 

[ballbreaker]

wow! i really like your tank. i think that all the live rock is going to be awsome for biological reasons. the structure looks great too!
i can see why you have so much rock, looks like it has a lot of areas for coral placement. smart.

talk to you later
great job

 

[Coolguy818]

Thanks ballbreaker, its actually thanks to a good friend who likes shots............:mixed:

I actually added a couple pieces of new corals, i'll have it up tonight.

I also added 2 MJ modded 1200...................TOO MUCH!!!!

I turned them on, and there was sand and dust and all kinds of stuff everywhere.........

It might actually be too much for me to handle!!!

2 x 2400gph - 4800gph
2 x 295gph - 590gph
1 x 650gph - 650gph
1 x 400gph - 400gph

Total of 6440gph - Turnover of 92 times

I wish I could have this much flow, but ut might actually be too much.

 

[Coolguy818]

Made some additions:

Also upgraded and nullified my flow issue. As you can see from the above post.

Enough about that, here are some pics:

Lime Green Acropora (MH + T5)

Light Purple Acropora (MH + T5)

Green Monti Cap (MH + T5)

Full Tank Shot 8/24/07 (MH + T5)

Enjoy and please comment.......

 

[Coolguy818]

Ok everyone here is an update...... Everything is running very smoothly... (fingers crossed). I got my hand on a few rare pieces. That have acclimated very well. Here are a few new pictures....

Zoo Farm with Monti Combo (MH + T5)

Atlantic Blue Palys and Orange Rim Zoos (MH + T5)

Atlantic Blue Palys Close-Up (MH + T5)

Spiderman Zoos (MH + T5) - Not open yet..

All the Zoo Frags (MH + T5)

 

[Coolguy818]

It Continues.....

Florida Orange Ricordia (MH + T5)

Green and Multi-Color Ricordia (MH + T5)

Blue - Orange Ricordia (MH + T5)

Super Orange Ricordia (MH + T5)

Ricordia Farm (MH + T5)

 

[Coolguy818]

There is more.......

Blue Crocea Clam (MH + T5)

Greenish Blue Crocea Clam (MH + T5)

Purple Haze Monti (MH + T5)

Rainbow Monti (MH + T5)

Super Green Purple Rim Monti Cap (MH + T5)

 

[Coolguy818]

And more Pics.......

Purple Tip Acro (MH + T5)

Bali Tri-Color Acro (MH + T5)

ORA Blue-Green Tort (MH + T5)

ORA Blue-Green Tort (MH + T5) Close-Up

Lime Green Acro (MH + T5)

 

[Coolguy818]

And we continue.....

ORA Scripp's Green Staghorn Acropora (MH + T5)

ORA Roscoe's Blue Acropora (MH + T5)

ORA Roscoe's Blue Acropora (MH + T5) Close-Up

ORA Screaming Green Birdsnest Coral (MH + T5)

Green Monti Cap (MH + T5)

 

[Coolguy818]

Here is More.....

Whisker Coral (Duncan) (MH + T5)

And Finally Full Tank............

Side View......