New tank 125 (note: this may progress slowly)

[boviac]

Thanks Krowleey! Good luck with your build and it sure is a good time to have one custom made if you can get a deal! I simply enjoy doing to DIY and learning experiences. Yes, I was one of those in school that procrastinated and hated doing to the work for the term paper but in the end was glad I did it! DIY here is only slightly different.
Sump details can be seen in a photo above. It is called a Del Rey Model 125 wet dry sump. It came with bio balls which I've removed and I've been using it for nearly the entire time I've had my 50g set up. Currently I'm using it as before: drains to the filter pad on the distribution plate (flat acrylic with a bunch of holes drilled through) draining to the left side with my heaters on the bottom. Then through a bottom bubble diffuser and another mid-height wall. Then in the sump return pump section is my ATO floats and supply tubing, the small rio 60 for the PO4 rx (HOB) and it's return, a bag of carbon and the pump.

Twisted: Yes, I ended up scoring some decent to fist sized rock from PlayWithBob in Paradise. I've got some in the 29 and some in the 125 tank and sump Others I will cycle as more time permits. I too used to like a lot of rock (my 50 was pretty full) but it is simply amazing how the rock from the 50g left this tank rather empty. I have a current plan maybe next weekend or someother time soon, to remove the current rock and trim off the remaining undesirable corals. At that point, I'll try to aquascape and add some extra rock.

 

[boviac]

The ATO is working wonderfully! The filter pad not so much!

I too out the filter pad today (in now about two weeks + a few days) and by the time I got the new one in I realized the sump level was up to about 1" below the top rim. Even though I was getting decent flow through the sump, it appears the filter pad was causing the level in the 1" drain to store a decent amount of water. This caused my sump level to rise about 3" higher than normal once the return pump started. Before all my drains were near vertical so any backup would have to rise directly against gravity. And I didn't have the ATO on so the level would return as soon as I would remove the pad. I though my ATO was going through water faster than it should have!!!

Twisted: The borialis is on the frag tray still. If that's the one you're talking about than I'm sure it's not too easy to confuse with the others. And I haven't fragged it yet. If we're talking about the single frag on the right in the right tank shot... It's a tri-color acro frag that's doing fine but not quite growing yet that I can tell. All the Birdsnests and monti's are showing growth but I'd have to check some of the before after photos to see growth at this point.

 

[boviac]

The filter pad thing is working well now that I am AWARE of this and just check it/change it more regularly now.

Going through another stage of an algae bloom but so far things are going well. Seeing distinct growth from Birdsnest and montis. Seeing coloration at the tips of other acros indicating growth. Things are going well. Planning on doing my first water change this week. Different hobby took over this weekend (family in town and rockets )

 

[boviac]

Ok time for some changes! Did my first water change of about 12 gallons which works out to be about 10%. Having a problem maintaining pH even with my alkalinity high. I was hoping the water change might help that. Nope. :| I'm dosing lots of two part solution which does raise the pH level but it since I log it (AquaController) I can tell it continues to crash further each day.

Also this weekend I plan to pull out my rocks individually and chip/remove the unwanted corals and place unwanted corals in the 29g.

Then I'll move in some of the rock I got from Bob (Thanks Bob!) and hopefully make two islands around the overflows and leave some decent space in the center for some sand based/lower light corals.

Also I need to take down the light to get in to scrub the back wall and overflows of algae growth! I'm thinking the skimmer just isn't doing it's job. We just got a gallon of milk vs. the half gallon containers. I think when it's done I'll cut away the top portion and use it to hold my DIY skimmer that leaks. This way the leak can be contained until I can fix it. Also I need to get some sort of a fuge going again to maintain nitrates a bit better.

So that's my plan and I'm sticking to it!

 

[boviac]

I also stopped by Reef Connections and picked up some fish:

A six-line wrasse:

A fridmani dottyback:

and a Zebra Barbed Jawfish (goby)

All eating and appear healthy.

 

[melev]

What is the low and high of the pH in that tank? Perhaps the numbers aren't really that big of a concern. I tend to focus on salinity, temperature, alk, ca, and mg. pH is what it is.

 

[boviac]

Hey there you, Melev!!!

Well when I started the tank out last month with nearly all new water pH was right on about 8.2 cycling betwen 8.3 and 8.1. But over time, it drifts lower at night thereby making it harder for the tank to climb back up (even with alk adds). Currently, according to a new pH probe which was recently calibrated (in fact the 5 y.o probe reported the same readings) the pH has a low of about 7.75 and a high of around 8.02. Occassionally, it has gone below 7.70 which causes the x10 alarm to go off - (preprogrammed by Neptune Systems) of course around 2am!!! mg: That being said the maximum change seen from low to high on an average day is around 0.2pH and that's still normal - it's that it ends up lower over time. Every so often I grab the probe and shake it/swirl it around with the tip section still underwater to shake off any potential bubbles, detritus, etc. I've heard of some people actually taking a soft brush to clean them. Wonder if I should do that? Anyway, yes with pH that low all my tank inhabitants appear healthy.

And the 10% water change didn't appear to moderate out the pH too much. BTW, this is a problem I've had with the previous tank as well - difficulty maintaining pH even with Alk in check.

So I'm planning on doing an additional change this weekend. Thanks for your suggestion, Melev, that pH isn't as a big deal as Ca, Mg, Alk.

 

[krowleey]

hey Boviac, nice fish. did you QT these guys? i have learned my lesson thats for sure. do you have any full tank shots now? i would like to see your stand etc in its finished form with the box of water on it. what are you using for substrate? ive always used aragonite and my PH seems to stay pretty good at 8.2-8.3. lights out it drops some but not as far as yours thats kind of scary!

 

[melev]

There are some healthy tanks that peak at 7.9 each day, so again I wouldn't be overly concerned.

I'd be more worried about higher alkalinity readings though.

Take a cup of water and put it outside with an airstone & pump and let it bubble for 30 minutes, then test the pH. If it is higher, the problem may be too much C02 in your home. The tank needs fresh air if that is the case.

Let us know.

 

[boviac]

Ohh that's a good idea Melev. Yes, that very well may be the case. I forgot about that one with all the excitment of the new tank. I'll try that maybe this weekend!

Krowleey, Yeah, I'm not sure if it is aragonite or just fine, crushed coral or what. It was from the LFS in a 50lb bag and I rinsed really well what I had in my 50 gal before putting it in this one.

I don't know if I have too many extra pics of the stand other than what I've posted that show much more detail. You're more than welcome to stop by if you find yourself in Chico anytime soon!

Nope didn't QT but they were at the LFS for more than a few days so I'm not too worried about it. :eek2: Generally, I have QT with my 29g but I'm happy so far with my 125g. And as for the recent top 10 reasons why you don't QT... I think I qualify for all 10 reasons. :bum: :mixed:

 

[krowleey]

do you have any tangs? i fully plan on having at least 3 tangs and those guys are ich magnets. i wont take any chances. do you like Fish etc? thats my favorite store in chico. love that 120 sps tank they have, very beautiful! in fact i do go to chico quite alot, so i may stop by. pm me your contact info and i will give you a call when im headed that way.

 

[krowleey]

maybe i missed it. but what are you using for a return pump? did you tee it or running two return pumps?

 

[boviac]

Yes I was thinking about doing a summary of current inhabitants (that I know of and want)

I've had a pink spotted shrimp goby for the longevity of my activity in the hobby.

I have a blue hippo tang that doesn't know it's a tang (i.e. wont eat algae off the clip) I got her when she was tiny - smaller than a quarter. Now slightly bigger than a 50ct piece.

A female lyretail anthias - the above mentioned hippos schooling partner

A green mandarin

A peppermint shrimp I just saw him the other day so I know he's still in there but generally I don't see him.

Hmm. Some blue legged crabs that have grown quite large, a few emerald crabs and One astrais (sp?) snail.

 

[boviac]

What I want to eventually get is:

Coral Beauty

Percula Clown

And a one or two more tangs!

 

[boviac]

My pink spotted shrimp goby was acting awkward yesterday hanging out right in front of the glass, parallel to it - not halfway hiding under a rock or behind a coral watching me - but right up front. I put some food in there for him, the larger pellets, but he just kept looking at me like either help or good bye. Then slowly scampered around the corner and behind a rock. He wasn't breathing fast or anything... did not appear sick, other than his stare...

This afternoon I found he had passed on. This was one of the fish that came with complete system I bought back in 2002!!! So he made it least from the fish store to 1. Tyler's (previous owner) to 2. my apt to 3. take down for rearrangment and stand sealing a few weeks later to 4. move apt to 5. move to house, 6. move to apt in folsom, 7. move to house in folsom, 8. move to Chico, 9, upgrade to 125g. The last one was probably the hardest on him as it took a lot longer to get the tank ready to move the fish back in. I did end up losing a scopas tang and a coral beauty angel in the upgrade process. Note: moves 4-8 were within 2.5 years of each other - yes I'm quite proficient with tank moves - at least on a smaller, 50g level.

He was an enjoyable fish that I felt watched me more than I watched the tank. He will be missed.

Here's some photos of him:
From Nov 04

This is how he often would look at me to beg for food in the 50g

A side distored view through the glass

And here's an old, funny one that I never shared - to change the down tone more positive - of a snail that slept too close to a budding colt coral.

 

[melev]

Sorry for your loss. Seems like he was part of the family.

 

[Twisted]

Last week my Yellow Watchman Goby did the same exact thing Chris.
A fish you only usually see at feeding time, or at the most just sits there with his head sticking out, and then ducks in when he sees you staring at him.
I bought my yellow watchman about 3 years ago when I started this hobby.
He has been through several tank rearrangeings, he jumped from the tank one time to be used as a cat toy for a couple of minutes before my wife spotted it and threw it back in the tank.
He went on to live for another two years.

Then last week he started hanging out in the sand right in front of the glass one morning, and by that afternoon he was gone.

 

[krowleey]

aww bummer deal. might i suggest getting yourself a shrimp goby with a pistol to ease your pain? i enjoy mine and they will be moving into a 10 gallon tank this weekend until my 125 is up and running.

 

[boviac]

Melev: Yup... I msg'd my old college roommate who named him (pronounced like you are Scooby Doo and rather fast): goby, goby, goby. He was surprised he was still alive this long and he too was sad to hear he had passed.

Twisted: Yes, I'm by no means an animal wisperer but everyone who knows me has said I have a strong connection with most animals except those tricky humans. You can never really know what they are thinking... ha ha I sense the force is strong in you too… Ok forgive me, I just watched another episode of Star Wars.

krowleey: yes, I actually did finally get a pistol shrimp last year but I don't think they ever met up to pair. Plus, about a few days before the 125 swap, I lost sight of the shrimp and didn't hear the characteristic snapping noises any longer. So I figured he didn't make it. However, there are a few tunnels in the sand coming from under rocks that I wonder who might be making them... Alas, still no noticeable snapping however. Yes, I believe I am on the lookout for another type of goby.

Thanks everyone!

 

[krowleey]

he is there, they don't snap all the time, only if they want something or someone out of their way. mine doesn't snap much but he is there and come s out quite often, but after i tear this tank down and move the could change things.