RyanGSP's 80G Build

[Newby-Reefer]

March 15th

Well a little update. After a couple water tests I have decided to add a couple fish to the tank. Ms. Yellow Tang and my Flameback were the first fish in the tank. We will see how they do over the next week, perhaps the clowns will be in there in a couple weeks.

I have also found my Metal Halide Pendants (2x 250W HQI Lumenbright Pendants with 2x Galaxy Ballasts) I should be picking them up in a couple weeks when I head to Calgary.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

March 16th

I added the last two fish tonight. Both Clowns went in and like usual little pigs they ate right away.

Now I just have to find a skimmer to tide me over until I get a cone. This way I can move the corals over and shut the frag tank down.

Sorry for the blurry pictures, fish are not iPhone friendly.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

March 19th

UPDATE TIME!!!!!


Alright so yesterday I was in Calgary picking up a new puppy and couldnt pass on these Halides. Last night I installed them into the canopy and right away I wasnt happy with them. These Halides really are meant to be a pendants. They are 16" diameter and 8 or 10 inches deep. They fill up the whole canopy and leave very little water uncovered. Both pendants are run by 2x 250W Electronic Galaxy Ballasts.

So this morning I decided I was going to change it. I went out, picked up some supplies, cut some lumber, and went to work. I also mounted the Ballasts in the canopy. What do you guys think of that idea? Keep in mind there will be 2x 120mm fans blowing air into the canopy and a vent in the top to let hot air escape.

Here is how it sits now.

Now the bad news. The bulbs are over a year old and are only good for growing algae. But a J&L order was placed and I should have the Loc-Line to finish the return as well as a new Phoenix 14K Bulb show up wednesday or thursday. Also the seller forgot to give me the power cords for the ballasts. I was distracted by new puppy Guiness trying to eat everything I didnt catch it. So they will be shipped out on Monday and should reach the house Wednesday as well.

Hopefully we see some light later this week. Man its going to be a loooong wait.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Over the course of the past 2 days I have started moving all my Zoanthids, softies, LPS, and some of the easier to keep SPS from my frag tank to the 80G. So far everythiing opened back up right away and is looking good.

I have alos noticed a little bit of diatoms starting to grow on the rocks.

Also I lined up a skimmer for this tank. I went with a Vertex In-180 until I buy a SWC Mini S. That should be here wednesday so I will finish moving in the rest of my SPS into the tank around then.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

The J&L came in today so a little update. After 2 hours of ****ing around we finally got the fixtures and skimmer running. I should be able to move the remaining SPS from the frag tank into the display and shut the frag tank down.

Here is the tank with the Ushio 14K

And now the Phoenix 14K's in the fixtures!

I also got rhe Loc-Line for the returns and put them together. I have one shooting down the back and one shooting down the front.

Now the Vertex IN-180. It will do until I get the Mini S I guess

 

[kcress]

Really nice write up dude!

Very nice build. Looks very nice.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Thank you for the comment.

Hopefully the weather warms up here again and I can stain the panels for the exterior. We had 2 days of nice weather and now there is 4" of snow on the ground and we are back in the negatives!!

 

[Newby-Reefer]

So I moved all my corals up tonight from the Frag tank. I need to pick up some Epoxy (*sigh* another J&L order) to start securing everything down.

Here are some random pictures from tonight. Things are looking pretty rough, I have been neglecting the frag tank since starting this build.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

I got out the underwater camera when I got home. Still trying to find the best angles to allow light and exposure levels.

Hopefully I get better because I am not too happy with these. Maybe a SLR with a macro lens is in order this summer.


I love this piece when its in full colour. Its a blue polyp A. austera and I cant wait for it to colour back up.

Ultra Acans

I call these Hawk`s Envy and they are wicked in person.

Super Grape Mille

Close-up of my Frogspawn

Red & Green Blastomussa wellsi

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Thanks Alot!!! We are really enjoying it too. Cant wait to get more rock in there to finish the aquascaping, add some signature SPS, and get more fish!!

I tore down the frag tank today after everything got moved up to the display.

I spent a good amount of time picking Stomatella Snails out of the tank for the display.

I also filtered out a bunch of the coraline algae I scraped off the walls and floor to seed the display as well. I have never done this myself but I have heard it works pretty good.

Also the Diatoms are really coming in now. I have one whole shelf covered and they are starting to grow on the sand. Might be time for the 1st Water change here soon.

 

[JTrem94]

Looking good! Are you planning on trying to make more pillars out of the rock like the on you have in there now? I think the always look cool

 

[Newby-Reefer]

No I am not. I want to extend the wall behind the island right to the other side. I am still not sure if I am happy with the island. I was hoping it would be much shorter. I think it will be alright if I can find some coral that dont grow very high and require lots of light.

I might tear the top off and try a nem on there. I would love a blue or red carpet for the clowns but dont know if they are easy to control where they sit. Anyone with any experience that could help me out, it would be appreciated.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Thanks Dana. They have browned out a little in the move. I am anxious for them to get back to the pitch black.

Today I sifted the sand in the display. I wasnt happy with the big hunks on the sand. I did it for half the tank and really liked it more than the other side. The bigger pieces I put down in the frag section. I figure it will make a great media for pods to live in.

I also took some time and installed my ATO. I was worried at 1st that it wouldnt be long enough to reach down into the return section but after I realized the tank needed to be topped up (DER!) it will work perfect with plenty of room for adjustment.

I also realized a few downfalls with this setup im not too happy with. I guess they will have to wait to be addressed the next time the tank is moved. A big one is the limited amount of space under the stand with a sump this size. I am thinking off the left size to build a storage cabinet for my electronics and bulk chemicals. The top could also double as an end table or bench.

Anyway thats it for the update for the day.

Ryan

 

[Higgy2010]

You put in a lot of work for this project, Ryan, and it shows. This serves as a template for my upcoming upgrade to 90G. Keep up the great work!

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Thanks alot Higgy. I have done a couple past builds that were complete Ghetto DIY and I wasnt happy with posting them. I want this one to be a display piece and I wanted to log it so I could remember the process.

If you have any question please feel free to ask.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

A little update, all the diatoms have come and gone but in their place has come a nasty film algae problem. I think it's my own fault as I over dosed some stuff a few days ago thinking the tank could handle it and I was wrong.

I have been fighting it for 3 days now with extra vodka and it looks like tonight my 1ml dose (I was dosing 0.4ml) has it slowed down. It was so bad the glass would algae up in less than 30min and my water was cloudy as heck. Now the glass is cleared up and the water clarity is improving.

Funny thing my corals look amazing right now.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

Well this is what you get I guess with captive bred clowns. Nice frogspawn 4" away and he chooses to host my Acans!

And I have been waiting a long time to get this picture.

 

[JTrem94]

Looking good! Keep us updated on when you get rid of that algae bloom please

 

[Newby-Reefer]

After a little late night shopping I scored some magician paly's. I was dumb and only bought a frag of them but I am thinking of going back for the colony on Monday. Here are some pictures from lastnight after about 30min in the tank.

 

[Newby-Reefer]

After a trip to Home Depot lastnight I tried the Oatey Fix-it stick. I am not too happy with the product. I does the job for some of the basic stuff but I tired to mount some pieces horizontal and it wouldnt stick to the plugs too well. I think they are too smooth where as the D-D epoxy worked really well. I guess I could have used superglue as well but I didnt have any.

It also hardens really fast (1 or 2 minutes after mixing) so that kinda surprised me. The D-D stuff takes a little longer to dry so you can mix a bunch then break it off as you need it. The downside it stays soft so you have to make sure you have stuff really planted in there.

For the $8/tube it costed me it was a good product but I think I will stick with the D-D for the extra $4. Oh I used 2/3s of a tub and my skimmer didnt go too crazy. It did get a little more wet but it wasnt too bad.