Raz Reef 90 gal from Memphis

[DaveRaz]

I've been creeping a bit and decided to join the fun. I've had my system up since November officially but just got it dialed in in the past couple months. All the sps frags are within the past month. Some lps had to be moved to the bio cube because when I dropped nutrients, cranked up the flow and installed this lighting set up they didn't seem to like it. Lobo brain and various other lps.

I have a 90gal display and a 30gal sump. For lighting I have experimented with a couple different led but my latest set up is ATI dimmable 6x39w and 3 kessil 350we. One on each end and one in the center. For flow I'm running gyres on each end alternating every 6 minutes with both in for 5 min every two hours. My cheato died also when the nutrients dropped (I'm guessing). Didn't die so to speak but stopped growing and started breaking up causing a big mess.

Installed apex a coupe months ago and maintain kh 8.2, ca 410; mg 1350, po4 0 and no3 5ish. Run GFO and carbon in separate reactors and drop a bag of Purigen in the sump every month or so. Skimmer is vertex omega 150.

I plan to buy a decent camera with the proper lens soon to post pic updates to track my progress.

SPS so far
Vivid rainbow
Birds of paradise
Three blue matrix
Wild rainbow
Tyree tricolor
Ora red dragon
George Elias staghorn
Vivid rainbow acro
Birds nest
Forest fire digitada
Green lantern monti
Jedi mind trick
2 stylos
I have a few more acros but don't have an id on yet.
Red and green monti cap
Setosta
Spongodes

Thanks for reading and I look forward to contributing.

Dave

 

[reefmutt]

very nice dave! it looks like you've done your homework and implemented what you've learned very well.
looking forward to more pics!

 

[Coralreefer1]

Nice set up! Best of luck in maintaining it!

 

[DaveRaz]

Thank you very much. I plan to post more pics once I buy a decent camera lens. Here is a mother picture of the lightning I'm using.

 

[DaveRaz]

Can anyone offer tips on how to capture decent pictures with athe iPhone 6?

 

[reefmutt]

You need to whiten up your lights to shoot from the iPhone, I find..
For top downs, get a viewing box and just lay the phone down on the bottom of the box.
You could also invest in an ollo clip lens set or ipro or bitplay. They all make very good lenses for attaching to the iPhone.
Cheaper than an new camera.. But not as good.. But pretty decent, actually
The phone, like any camera sensor really pick up the blue, so the first thing to do is make the lights as white as possible..
Hope this helps a bit..

 

[joshky]

I don't have an iPhone but my Android has a white balance option called "cloudy" that I can shoot with and it helps quite a bit. I hate photos from my phone though, I'll stick with my camera where I can shoot in RAW format.

Nice tank and huge BTAs!

 

[reefmutt]

You'd need a third party app to get that control on the iphone.. There are many, btw..
I think they work ok..

 

[DaveRaz]

I will keep trying with the iPhone. Thanks for the tips.

I travel weekly for business and use a dropcam for some piece of mind. I moved it from the coffee table and mounted to a mag float. Pretty decent resolution considering.

 

[DaveRaz]

Update since moving the anemones and most of the lps. Since finally dialing in the tank all is growing well. I now understand why advise for new reefers is to wait until you learn the tank and proceed slowly. I travelled many weeks this summer and its obvious the corals are happy not to have my hands in the tank or tinkering with everything all the time.

-signed
The ocd reefer

 

[DaveRaz]

My reef is trucking right along. I recently placed a big order for some premium coral and they are acclimating well in a diy frag rack at the bottom. Still need a decent camera.

 

[reefmutt]

Nice. Let's see a top down shot of the frags.

 

[DaveRaz]

I still need a camera and a box for top down shots. I actually plan to research the iphone6 option as suggested.

I have done all the tinkering I can do and have it where I want it at this point. I had my last two reef members join the fun today from QT. My corals have a good 4 to 7 inch radius around each one. I also have 4 or 5 corals on the bare bottom between the islands that are all doing very well also, but the rocks are full. Out of real estate! No vacancy!

As you can see from the first post that my tank has changed quite a bit. My first 1" frag of SPS doomed the fate of any and all animals that competed for space. Once I added that little frag to the tank, It Was On! I became obsessed reading about their husbandry and admiring all the beautiful pictures. Oh one day maybe I can share my full blows beauties..........Lord willing. Judging by the progress so far it's no longer just a day dream, I sure hope anyway.

Fish
(2) Blacker Ice Clownfish - first fish I added one month after set up in Nov.
Kole Tang since Feb
Coral Beauty since March
Hippo Tang since March - sold him last weekend to a 250 gallon owner.
(3) Lyretail Anthias 1 make 2 female since April
Red Hawkfish - QT completed today
Yellow Tang - QT completed today

I feed 1x per day via auto feeder and 1x homemade chum. Nori daily for the tangs and a food ring every week or two. All my fish are fat fat. Except the new ones added today. They will love my tank as I love to keep them fat and happy.



SPS:
20k Lokani
Aquamarine Jewel (similar)
ASD Aussie Hot Pink Prostrata
ASD Aussie Slimer
ASD Raspberry Fuzz Millie
ASD Ultimate Rainbow
BC Battle de Fuego
BC Hellraiser
BC Hyperberry
BC Rainbow Bright
BC Reefers Poison Envy
BC Rose Garden
BC Sky Dopple
Bubblegum Milli
California Tort
Forest Fire
George Elias Staghorn
Green Lantern Monti
Green Monti
Green Stylophora
Mystic Monti
ORA Birds of Paradise
ORA Red Dragon
Paletta's Blue Stag
Pink Birdsnest
Pink Lemonade
Red Setosa
Purple and Green Monti
Purple Bonsai
Rainbow Stylophora
Red Monti
Red Planet
RR Flaming Orchid
Seasons Greetings
Skittles Rainbow Granulosa
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Spongodes
Toxic Green Tort
Tyree Sand Dollar
Tyree Tricolor
unknown
unknown acro blue
Unknown Green Fuzzy Acro
Vivid Rainbow Delight

I feed the coral oyster feast and Acropower occasionally.







So my local LFS (now closed - out of business) encouraged me to add the hippo. He said "oh yea, you will have about three years until you need to upgrade tanks. Add him it will be fine." That was March. He was 3/4' long. He is now 4 to 4.5" and fat as heck and it was obvious I needed to act NOW. I couldn't imagine waiting 3 years!




My big three fall into the range as most other reefers on this forum. Use DFS 2 part dosed ~62ml/day.
No3 - 3 to 6
Po4 - 0
Ph - 8 to 8.3
Temp 78 - 78.5
20% biweekly WC
Blow off the rocks with a baster every week or so.
Filter sock changed every other day or third day. Depends on how dirty it is.
88x random flow


Sump:
Berlin with oversized skimmer
~30lbs of large live rock
Carbon reactor runs two weeks per month (every other WC I refill and turn it on).
GFO 1/3 recommended amount. Runs 24/7 until I see it creep up then I change it out. About every 6 weeks I estimate.
two powerheads that cycle on/off during the night
packet of purigen replaced every 6 to 8 weeks when turns light brown



Lighting - I ran maxspect and sold them for the ATI and there is no comparison, these T5 were the RIGHT decision for me! I am ignorant regarding growth rates at this point, as I have zero experience, but since adding the T5 I notice significantly more growth and encrusting than before. Hands down.

T5 6 hours 100%. although the unit is dimmable I don't use it.
LEDs 10 hours (two hr ramp up/down 45% intensity, 38% Color)
Moonlight strip (very dim). Irritates me the Kessils don't dim below 15% on my apex. But oh well, I spend $20 on a led strip and it works fine.


I used a 5 gallon bucket in a small wicker chest for months. Just upgraded to this 15 gallon ATO in a wicker trash can. Sandi (wife) loves it as it blends in better with our decore? Say what? I wouldn't have an issue with a 32 gallon Brute sitting beside the tank to be honest. And of course we had to refinish the cabinet and buy matching chairs. JUST FORGET all that and let's use that money for more coral, I said. Yea right......

 

[reefmutt]

Looking really good!
When you say your carbon reactor is switched on every two weeks, you mean a gac reactor, right? Not a biopellet reactor..

 

[DaveRaz]

Thank you Matt. Yes I mean GAC.


Well I've stretched it out as long as I can, one year this week to be exact. I've been building a powerhouse reef and I've reached a stopping point. This past year was a one year hiatus from house remodel....much needed! All that's left are the bathrooms and one bedroom. Lots to do yet and my wife is excited. meh......

In the meantime I am going to do little tweaks here and there and check back in 6 months. In two/three years I want you sps freaks to ACKNOWLEDGE I'M ALIVE!! Just kidding, but I WILL turn some heads. Canale is my mentor. He has a thread here on RC and I aspire to have an equally beautiful reef in the next couple years.

I added these guys today after QT. My final fish additions. Also added 20# pink Fiji for them.














See ya back here n 6 months! Peace out:wavehand:

 

[reefmutt]

We'll be waiting!

 

[ajcanale]

I think you've surpassed "Reef Rookie" status my friend.

 

[DaveRaz]

OK, wanted to add two more perspectives! Grow out phase here we go!

 

[reefmutt]

Nice! I see some good growth tips going on in there.
And I have waaaaay more cyano than you!!

 

[DaveRaz]

Time for a journal update. Corals seem to be growing and coloring up well the last few months. Not much changed equipment wise other than adding a UV.