Swensos' First Reef - 90 Gallon Build Thread

[Swensos]

So I've been lurking in this forum and collecting and building for a couple years. Now that everything is coming together (finally got a well-paying job) I think it's time I started my build thread.

About a year ago, I re-did the seal in my aquarium, baffled my sump, and built my overflow box. My bubble trap does not trap bubbles well, because I have the water go over under over rather than under over under. Oh well, live and learn.

After two weeks of cure time, I water tested everything.

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[Swensos]

Two months ago, I purchased 20 pounds of tonga and 40 pounds of pukani from BRS. I'm glad I didn't order more.

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[Swensos]

My quarantine tank was set up in October last year, ghost fed and used dr tims one and only until I had zero ammonia. Then I periodically killed a series of Bangai cardinals and then some wrasses. I now have a disco fang blenny that is very healthy. My Lubbock wrasse died after three months. He was sensitive to prazi after I interrupted the first treatment to treat ich with hypo and I suspect he might have had flukes. The blenny has been through a full prazi and hypo treatment and is about ready to move out of quarantine.

During hypo, I also was overfeeding, had a bacterial bloom which turned into a small ammonia spike, which I was able to combat with water changes and prime. My quarantine experience has really taught me a lot about feeding, water quality, disease identification, and treatments.


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[Swensos]

I soaked the dry rock for over a month in warm saltwater with a powerhead and soaked and swished the dirtiest rocks in vinegar water for a couple days. My phosphate tester comes in tomorrow, so we will see how that goes.

Slowly built my rock formation. The one I did on the towel would work in a 120 gallon, but not in a 90.

After cycle was completed I added three nassarius and three trochus (store had them labeled as astrea) snails. All I know is that they can flip themselves over with ease.

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[Swensos]

First time plumbing was very intimidating, but dry fitting and drawing things out and measuring twice really helped.

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[Swensos]

I've also been trying to keep everything organized electronics-wise. I love my gyre and reef octopus varios 6. They're both super quiet, powerful and I love the control.

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[JUNBUG361]

Should of posted in tank journal & build. Great job on DIY build, clean plumbing. The spaghetti wires will eventually disappear. :thumbsup:

 

[Swensos]

Should of posted in tank journal & build.

Whoops. Newbie mistake. Maybe a mod can move it if it's in the wrong place.

Great job on DIY build, clean plumbing. The spaghetti wires will eventually disappear. :thumbsup:

Thanks. My Apex just came in the mail so the spaghetti wires could be about to multiply unless I can find an easy affordable way to keep them in check. I use sandwich bag clips and a sharpie to label the cords.

 

[Swensos]

I got the ultimate reef toy in the mail today. Now, nothing can stop me! Mwahaha.

I also got a probe holder and frag carrier from printedreefingsolutions.com

The price for the probe holder can't be beat and I'm going to use the frag carrier for purchases at reefapalooza New York. I like the choices of colors. Now I wish I had bought the purple pvc pipe...


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[JUNBUG361]

Paint the pipes to match

 

[MMacro]

Looking good!
Did you end up finding any ataenias?

Keep the updates coming!!

 

[Swensos]

Looking good!
Did you end up finding any ataenias?

Keep the updates coming!!

Thanks. I just ordered two ataenias today. I got the alert this morning that they were in stock at liveaquaria.


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[MMacro]

Thanks. I just ordered two ataenias today. I got the alert this morning that they were in stock at liveaquaria.


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Awesome!

 

[Swensos]

I've been playing around with my Neptune Apex for the last couple weeks and set up my aqua medic water refill. I got a relatively inexpensive water reservoir that holds almost 13 gallons and marked lines for each gallon. It seems to be enough for at least two and a half weeks.

Also just got my new skimmer, the premier line Eshopps S-200. It came with this extra gasket that I can't find a place to go... hopefully it's just extra...

And here's the sump area up and running.

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[Swensos]

My first fish has made it into the display tank after a rigorous quarantine! Now I need to clean the class so I can see him.

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[Swensos]

Just got my shipment from liveaquaria. These fish are plump and eating well: yellow wrasse, lubbocks tricolor fairy, and a pink-streaked. I ordered two pink-streaks, but the larger one, about 1.5" didn't make it. He was on his side in the bag and during acclimation and died a day later. The tiny one, who is about .7" is doing fine and eating frozen with the others. Here's a crappy photo from afar, since they're still super shy.

And during acclimation

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[MMacro]

Nice!
Sorry to hear about the ataenia.
Did you get a refund/replacement?

 

[Swensos]

Sorry to hear about the ataenia.
Did you get a refund/replacement?

Yes, they issued a refund right away, because they don't have any in stock right now. I've always had good customer service experience with DFS.

 

[Crooked Reef]

I just got an eshopps axium 160 and had the same extra gasket. I think it may be a replacement to go between the pump and bubble plate if needed.

 

[Swensos]

Not much going on in my build right now, because I still haven't settled on what lights I want. I like the concept of the Maxspect Recurve, but who knows when they will be released.

The gasket, I stuck it on the rod for the height adjustment to decrease any potential vibration. It fits, so who knows.

Phosphates have been steadily decreasing and no extreme algae, despite the bad rep of pukani.

My wrasses all seem healthy in QT. They're in their third treatment of prazi and I'm about to start hypo prophylactically. I saw a potential fluke on a fin last week, but after the second prazi treatment: nothing

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