TDB's 320 SPS Rebuild

[tdb320reef]

Hope you guys are doing well! Sorry I missed all of the questions, It has been a while since I have been on here. I will start vacation next week so will get some updates in this weekend and answer any outstanding questions. I have had some pretty good growth and had to remove several corals from the system to accommodate.

 

[reefmutt]

Looking forward to it!

 

[mhucasey]

Hope you guys are doing well! Sorry I missed all of the questions, It has been a while since I have been on here. I will start vacation next week so will get some updates in this weekend and answer any outstanding questions. I have had some pretty good growth and had to remove several corals from the system to accommodate.

I'm getting the popcorn ready!

 

[tdb320reef]

Hello Reefers and Friends,

My apologies about all of the algae on the glass, I just wanted to get an update in as promised. The 320 Gallon SPS reef has really reached a state of maturity. The system has been on auto pilot pretty much since the spring. Since the end of March my test kits stopped detecting any phosphate and or nitrates regardless of how much I feed.
Therefore, I decided to not do a water change until it returned. Well it’s been about 3.5 months with one small 20 g water change (to use up what was in my WC system). I have to admit that corals seem to be growing faster while maintain good deep rich color. I also decided to deploy this on my 150G stock system and 120 Frag tank and also receiving similar results, however, still doing water changes about every three weeks as the frag tank is about 6 months old.
Other than that everything else remains the same. I recently set up a ~400 Gallon propagation system and will be thinning out the 320 and 90-gallon sump frag system into this new prop system this coming winter so expect the future pictures to be less dense.

The below pictures are from my 320Gallon Reef and 90-gallon sump frag system attached. I was moving quite a bit of frags but got busy with work and as you can see the sump is jammed packed. The lighting in the sump is an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower without led so the color appears different. Enjoy

 

[tdb320reef]

 

[tdb320reef]

 

[tdb320reef]

 

[tdb320reef]

 

[glaukos]

Your coral colors and collection is insane!!!
Awesome stuff as always:beer:
Thanks for sharing

Where do you keep your no3 and po4?
Do those asterinas damage your corals or are they the white ones?

 

[tdb320reef]

Your coral colors and collection is insane!!!
Awesome stuff as always:beer:
Thanks for sharing

Where do you keep your no3 and po4?
Do those asterinas damage your corals or are they the white ones?

Hello and thanks, The nitrites never register but I know they have to be in there as I have several large tangs and feed an incredible amount. I also have mounds of detritus built up in the corners that the wrasse sleep in. Every once in a while I will get a low phosphate reading but then back to 0. I suspect I have a large positive bacterial population that consumes and gets skimmed.

there was a time that I thought the asterinas caused a STN event but it ended up being something else, they don't harm corals in my opinion.

 

[glaukos]

Thank you very much for the reply

 

[tdb320reef]

Wow,
You have an outstanding collection of beautiful corals. The colors are also amazing! Would love to see the recent full tank or cross side shot to take it all into perspective. I am sure it is just as amazing as your coral shots. Well done!

Thank you so much, I posted one today.

This is one bad *** tank

Much appriciated

You can say that again...
I hope it's still around..

Yep, I am still here and only growing more systems. Not sure I will ever get out, I really enjoy growing coral and experimenting.

update please

Hi JDM,, Delivered

Hope everything is still doing well with the tank. This tank inspired me to get back in.

Thanks Scrapz, I am glad you system looks great!

Bump for update. Hope all is well.

Always good to hear Sahin, All is well, how are you and your system?

Awesome pictures of your corals. That is one sweet acro forest
Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk

Thanks!

+1

Looking forward to it!

I'm getting the popcorn ready!

Pictures posted, enjoy and let me know if you have any questions. Talk Soon!

 

[reefmutt]

'Reached maturity'
Ha!!! You can say that again!
A stunning system and amazing corals!!
Thanks for the update.
Just amazing!!

 

[tdb320reef]

'Reached maturity'
Ha!!! You can say that again!
A stunning system and amazing corals!!
Thanks for the update.
Just amazing!!

ha ha Thanks Matt! Your system is also looking great! I enjoy following your posts, keep up the great work!

 

[mhucasey]

Wow wow wow wow wow Tom! That reef and the frag tank are packed with scrumptious acros wall-to-wall. I love the mix of colors, and I'm amazed but the growth everywhere throughout your reef - it's truly stunning. Thanks so much for updating us, and don't worry about a bit of algae on the glass, it's not like we are looking at that anyway:lol:

I would be very appreciative if you could give a quick update on the overall system approach. if I remember correctly you have a good but not overkill skimmer, a very small amount of bio pellets, daily acropower, 450nm LEDs for 14 hours, Blue plus for 12 hours, and 250 watt Radiums for 8 hours. Stable temp and ALK with a chiller and I think a Calcium reactor. That was literally from memory - which tells you how closely I follow this thread!

 

[tdb320reef]

Wow wow wow wow wow Tom! That reef and the frag tank are packed with scrumptious acros wall-to-wall. I love the mix of colors, and I'm amazed but the growth everywhere throughout your reef - it's truly stunning. Thanks so much for updating us, and don't worry about a bit of algae on the glass, it's not like we are looking at that anyway:lol:

I would be very appreciative if you could give a quick update on the overall system approach. if I remember correctly you have a good but not overkill skimmer, a very small amount of bio pellets, daily acropower, 450nm LEDs for 14 hours, Blue plus for 12 hours, and 250 watt Radiums for 8 hours. Stable temp and ALK with a chiller and I think a Calcium reactor. That was literally from memory - which tells you how closely I follow this thread!

Thanks, yep pretty close. I did make some slight changes after having a conversation with Jason Fox in Feb. at the Lansing swap. Below is the change log from what you mentioned.

1. Lighting the same except-the following : T5 Bulbs in the past 8 Blue Plus -- Future 4 Blue Plus and 4 Actinics. The actinics make my yellows look more green but maybe it is the natural color and I like the pop.

2. Bio-Pellets I retired those last winter and gave up. They work great but do not stay consistent and when it goes wrong it will cost you.

3. I increased and decreased and used up my acropower and haven't really noticed a change with or without, however it has helped my stock tank that is absent of many fish so conclude that the corals get the AA's it need from fish Poo.

4. Another recommendation from JF was to reduce the lighting period which I did MH 5 hours T5 10 hour and led 12 hours and the growth slowed but colors are much richer comparing to the previous photos. the picture color is some-what different do to the change in T5 bulbs. I simulated this in other system with the same positive results

5. Yes very stable ALK 8ish, Temp reduced to 76.5 and let swing to 77(Tip from Indo Farmer i talk to on FB, corals and fish seem happier) yes the chiller runs all of the time because of MI's hot summer. Calcium reactor for CA and alk and BRS MG for magnesium when I remember to add which I target 1300 - 1400. Red Sea Colors B for Potassium

6. I stopped feeding Mysis and made a batch of DIY Food which I feed every other day and I am sure that helped with growth and AA addition as my Achilles has doubled in size. Other than that it is Nori and Spectrum Pellets for the tangs

 

[cFloor]

Wow!!! Your tank really has matured a lot and looks insane! Acro heaven!!! :beer:

And I'm normally not too into zoanthids but that looks really cool having them cover the back panel. Amazing, amazing system and I'm looking forward too seeing your propagation tank come to life.

 

[MSHUR]

Very very nice!!!!!Great job!!!

You mention that you reduce tank tem to 77f but what did you run it before at?
my tank runs between 78-79f , do you think it would make a different if i lower to 77f?

maybe some on asked before but what method of nutrient export do you use?


mike

 

[tdb320reef]

Wow!!! Your tank really has matured a lot and looks insane! Acro heaven!!! :beer:

And I'm normally not too into zoanthids but that looks really cool having them cover the back panel. Amazing, amazing system and I'm looking forward too seeing your propagation tank come to life.

Thanks, Me either but it has added a lot of character to the tank. These hung on from my old build so I just left them.

Very very nice!!!!!Great job!!!

You mention that you reduce tank tem to 77f but what did you run it before at?
my tank runs between 78-79f , do you think it would make a different if i lower to 77f?
I have not had a STN event on any frags and I think the colors are a tad better and the fish are more colorful.

maybe some on asked before but what method of nutrient export do you use?

Just a skimmer and filter sock but it is usually overflowing for a week or two before it gets changed. No GFO or Carbon. I think the large amount of corals consume many of the nutrients that the sock, bacteria and skimmer dosent get.


mike

 

[tdb320reef]

Very very nice!!!!!Great job!!!

You mention that you reduce tank tem to 77f but what did you run it before at?
my tank runs between 78-79f , do you think it would make a different if i lower to 77f?

maybe some on asked before but what method of nutrient export do you use?


mike

I have not had a STN event on any frags and I think the colors are a tad better and the fish are more colorful.


Just a skimmer and filter sock but it is usually overflowing for a week or two before it gets changed. No GFO or Carbon. I think the large amount of corals consume many of the nutrients that the sock, bacteria and skimmer dosent get.