Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12997239#post12997239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
hmm --I wonder if it has anything to do with certain captn recommending it everytime he sees the opportunity there for another club member to gain knowledge and have a little fun at the same time.
It's funny we as humans seem to have the need to belong to something-----what started out as a bit of humour with the club idea is really applealing to that need.

This is the first thread I go to everyday when I log on and I am sure others do.
What I personally like about it is that it deals with ongoing everyday things that happen in this hobby and how to deal with them
and of course the occasional pictures of TJ's atheletic gf, Rae and Leysa helps too:lol:

Haha... Yeah the "clubhouse" name stuck, and I think appropriately so.

The amount of knowledge on this thread between all the members is astounding. I really don't feel like there is much that couldn't be answered.

...and the occasional eye candy shot never hurts to help draw new members and boost the views :lol:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12999897#post12999897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Water Params:

its stabilized out quite nicely

 

[Tswifty]

GBTA Shots:

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13000303#post13000303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
its stabilized out quite nicely

Yep... I'm especially happy about the 0 nitrates. Also, the nuisance algae has really subsided.

 

[Aquarist007]

grrr I put three fish in the display last night
The copper banded butterfly everyone is ignoring

The powderblue is taking a pounding from the yellow and sailfin tangs. the regal could care less. The sailfin is just involved in a pushing match but the yellow has taken a few nips out of its tail fin. Its hanging in though

the third was a cream angel and the f'ing damsel is really massecuring it. I have tried three times to get it out when cornered by the damsel but it keeps going down the back of the reef before I can get it out.

I think the writing is on the wall for that tank---it will have to be striped down and that damsel taken out of there. You can't catchit and you can't trap it nor can you use bait and a hook

I hope I can get the angel out of there before its totalled by that damsel.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13000354#post13000354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
grrr I put three fish in the display last night
The copper banded butterfly everyone is ignoring

The powderblue is taking a pounding from the yellow and sailfin tangs. the regal could care less. The sailfin is just involved in a pushing match but the yellow has taken a few nips out of its tail fin. Its hanging in though

the third was a cream angel and the f'ing damsel is really massecuring it. I have tried three times to get it out when cornered by the damsel but it keeps going down the back of the reef before I can get it out.

I think the writing is on the wall for that tank---it will have to be striped down and that damsel taken out of there. You can't catchit and you can't trap it nor can you use bait and a hook

I hope I can get the angel out of there before its totalled by that damsel.

How long do you think it will be before the tangs accept the powder blue--never had any problems with the other tangs accepting each other as they were introduced

 

[kar93]

Sorry about that Capn. It might be a good idea to remove the PBT and put it back into the DT at night when everyone is sleeping and the lights are off.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13000360#post13000360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
How long do you think it will be before the tangs accept the powder blue--never had any problems with the other tangs accepting each other as they were introduced

I couldn't tell you. There's a lot of factors to consider as far as how long the other fish were established, how aggressive they are... One thing I do know, is that Powder Blues are known for being bullies. That being said, if he's getting chunks taken out of his tail then you might need to intervene.

Have you tried sticking a small mirror on the tank yet? Supposably that will draw the attention of the tangs away from the new addition until it settles in.

 

[kudora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12994980#post12994980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
With the skimmer at least half working I decided to add the copper banded butterfly and the powder blue tang to the display tank.
The opposite happened that I thought would happen---everyone ignored the copper banded butterfly but the three tangs I really ganging up on the power blue. I think it is holding its own though its just a bunch of tail wagging right now. The biggest instigator is the sailfin who has completely igonored any new comers to this point
Night time is very close so I am sure they will forget about the pbt by tomorrow.
Hopefully

I found your original post on this capn, i would also try to add the pbt when its dark, lights off and not much light is getting in the tank. i read to do that somewere and have stuck with it. the mirror trick also works, i would try both next time you add him if you take him out.

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12996710#post12996710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
not really i have 3" to work with between the stand and the sump. heading to bed but will prob not be able to sleep, lol man i love SW but i sure do worry about certain things now.
keep the ideas comming guys and gals(when they wake up lol)

What exactly is the baffle doing? Is it creating part of a bubble trap? The skimmer section? Fuge section? If it is your skimmer section you can remove the baffle and place a square or rectangular plastic container that you can purchase..Oh... anywhere..lol..and cut it down to the height you want and then place the skimmer into it. Quick, cheap, and easy. I use a square 5 gallon water bottle cut down with holes in the bottom on the side and smaller cotainer in side of it where my overflow drain is to create a bubble trap in my 35g sump. I placed live rock into it keep it from floating around or shifting.
Works like a charm. Maybe you can do something similar until you redo your stand.HTH

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13000354#post13000354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur


the third was a cream angel and the f'ing damsel is really massecuring it. I have tried three times to get it out when cornered by the damsel but it keeps going down the back of the reef before I can get it out.

I think the writing is on the wall for that tank---it will have to be striped down and that damsel taken out of there. You can't catchit and you can't trap it nor can you use bait and a hook

I hope I can get the angel out of there before its totalled by that damsel.

Whip out your trusty little wet vac and suck him right out of there when he gets close to the hose.

 

[kudora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13000976#post13000976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
What exactly is the baffle doing? Is it creating part of a bubble trap? The skimmer section? Fuge section? If it is your skimmer section you can remove the baffle and place a square or rectangular plastic container that you can purchase..Oh... anywhere..lol..and cut it down to the height you want and then place the skimmer into it. Quick, cheap, and easy. I use a square 5 gallon water bottle cut down with holes in the bottom on the side and smaller cotainer in side of it where my overflow drain is to create a bubble trap in my 35g sump. I placed live rock into it keep it from floating around or shifting.
Works like a charm. Maybe you can do something similar until you redo your stand.HTH

thats an idea i might have to consider, its my baffle between my refuge and my return area. i overnighted some of that underwater glue since the wedge i put in is working so that will be tomorrows project.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13001004#post13001004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
Whip out your trusty little wet vac and suck him right out of there when he gets close to the hose.

I'm going to need you help on this one buddy, at least to get the wooden canopy off

 

[Aquarist007]

Tonight things are a lot less hot in the tank--the pbt is finally being ignored by everyone unless it gets too close to the group
So I am hopefull there is signs of acceptance.
Its fiesy though--its determined to keep trying to swim with the pack.

Still can't get close enough to net the angel however, it floats sideways near the top of the tank but darts down behind the reef still

 

[OwNeD162]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13001980#post13001980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
Tonight things are a lot less hot in the tank--the pbt is finally being ignored by everyone unless it gets too close to the group
So I am hopefull there is signs of acceptance.
Its fiesy though--its determined to keep trying to swim with the pack.

Still can't get close enough to net the angel however, it floats sideways near the top of the tank but darts down behind the reef still

I'm glad things are settling down for the PBT ... If it's that determined to swim with the group I'm sure it will eventually be accepted, "if you can't beat him, let him join you" lol ...

Is the angel still being picked on really badly? Still a "take it out of the tank" situation?

 

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

I think that's the same exact stuff I just got. I wish I would have got it sooner. Lesson learned. My swingarm was saying 1.025. Refractometer= 1.029. Piece of crap. If you are putting a lot of money into livestock in this hobby BUY a pH monitor and Salinity monitor. Red Sea pH kit: 8.1. Salifert: 7.8. Pinpoint= 7.67. Now I know why I've had some problems. Test kits are not very reliable. You can get away with more inaccuracy with Ca.. so I'm not suggesting buying electronic kits for everything. But Salinity and pH are cheap. For everything else I have 2 brands for each to verify #'s. Ca/Mg are ok but I think I can trust a kit for ALK too but I'm not 100% sure which brand yet. My SPS' are slowly peeling tissue right now.

I also got a lot of pH calibration fluids and Salinity cal. I was sorta worried about how much trouble it might be calibrating and doing care for these 2 devices but it was really easy.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12999894#post12999894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Test Kit Shot... Now that I finally have the whole gang:

Thermometer & Refractometer:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13003083#post13003083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SCIFI_3D_zoo
I think that's the same exact stuff I just got. I wish I would have got it sooner. Lesson learned. My swingarm was saying 1.025. Refractometer= 1.029. Piece of crap. If you are putting a lot of money into livestock in this hobby BUY a pH monitor and Salinity monitor. Red Sea pH kit: 8.1. Salifert: 7.8. Pinpoint= 7.67. Now I know why I've had some problems. Test kits are not very reliable. You can get away with more inaccuracy with Ca.. so I'm not suggesting buying electronic kits for everything. But Salinity and pH are cheap. For everything else I have 2 brands for each to verify #'s. Ca/Mg are ok but I think I can trust a kit for ALK too but I'm not 100% sure which brand yet. My SPS' are slowly peeling tissue right now.

I also got a lot of pH calibration fluids and Salinity cal. I was sorta worried about how much trouble it might be calibrating and doing care for these 2 devices but it was really easy.

did you not get the same reading after you standardized both?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13002333#post13002333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OwNeD162
I'm glad things are settling down for the PBT ... If it's that determined to swim with the group I'm sure it will eventually be accepted, "if you can't beat him, let him join you" lol ...

Is the angel still being picked on really badly? Still a "take it out of the tank" situation?

Yes but its holding its own enough still that it swims down behind the reef every time I come close with the net.

 

[OwNeD162]

Ok, I need the help of the clubhouse... I'm deciding lights for my tank, I'll be getting a mixture of MH and T5, at the moment im looking at:

2 x (2 x 54W 10,000K + Atnitic) T5 Fixtures, and
1 x (2 x 150W) MH Fixture.
Plus some blue LED's fixtures for moonlights.

The tank will be 4ft x 2ft x 2ft.
I want the ability to house almost every coral we have in the hobby (although I wont be, I'll be mainly sticking to soft, but I do hope to get a few extreme coloured acros), and I would love to have a blue maxima clam in the middle of the tank on the sand.
Do you think this is enough lighting, or to much, or to little, or should I be getting 250W MH, etc... The above setup works out to about 4.3W/Gal... 250W MH would make it 5.96W/Gal....

Let me know what you think,
Thanks gang !

 

[timschmidt]

I'm no expert but I vote for the 250 MH at about 10,000k and use the T5s to get the blue coloring that you want. Heat may be an issue though. I'm happy with my 6 x 54 T5 lighting. Little effect on my tank temps.