Toofrigginswt's Custom 125 Gallon Tank Build

[toofrigginswt]

Hey guys. Sorry the lack of updates. I didn't really have anything exciting going on so I was going to let my tank settle for a bit before I posted some pics. But ah well, here's an update:


Fish

-For some reason, the anthias weren't doing well in my tank. I lost one and the rest weren't eating so I decided to bring them back before anything happened to them. I tried cyclopeeze, live brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, flake, garlic home recipe, etc. It's a bummer because I loved how they schooled together.

-I also lost both of my picasso clownfish I lost the first one due to it jumping and landing on my eurobrace. The second one was sucked into my sump because I forgot to close the lid to my overflow. It always swam right next to the overflow when the lights went out. It had to have jump into the overflow because the teeth are too small for the clown to go through. I was pretty bummed out because they were my two most favorite fish.

I have six fish right now and plan to keep it that way for a while.


Equipment

I removed the melamine skins and decided to go with my original plan and get acryllic sheets. There are a few drawbacks to using the melamine that I've found. One of my guests walked by and scraped the front skin with her purse! Now it's just an eye sore. Also, they are heavy so I'd always have to be very careful when taking them off. They also warped! Not bad but you can tell the lines aren't straight anymore. Luckily it only cost me about $40.

I still need to set up my dosing pump and clean up my wires. I think I'll do that this weekend.


Corals

I added a bunch of SPS pieces. So far, (knock on wood), everything is encrusting, growing, polyping, and doing well. They've been in my tank for over a month now. A few pieces started to color up compared to when I first got them.

Unfortunately, I'm at work and I only have a few cell phone pictures. The pictures are really bad and look REALLY blue! My phone does not take pictures of the tank too well. In person, it's not as blue as the picture. It's in the 16-18k spectrum. I'll try to take better pictures later this week with my dslr.


Here's how my tank looks right now. Let me know what you guys think so far:

 

[sgammon1]

Looking nice Johnathan!

 

[psykobowler]

I think you are ok with you fish stock right now. The yellow tang and blue tang are enough to make that tank exciting. You can just focus on corals now.

Glenn

 

[toofrigginswt]

I think you are ok with you fish stock right now. The yellow tang and blue tang are enough to make that tank exciting. You can just focus on corals now.

Glenn

Thanks Glenn. I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[whodat23369]

looks good!!

 

[powderhound]

Great looking tank. Very thought out.

 

[Saltwaternooby]

Looking great Jonathan

 

[robertloop]

Great tank pics. I am sorry to hear about your fish losses. We have all been there. And we will be there again.

I quick observation. I notice that the corrallin algae has not taken hold yet. It's probably normal because the tank is still so new. However, you may want to up the alk to 10-12 dkh. Also get the mg over 1200 if you have not already. That will help the CA come up. The higher MG will make those caps really pop.

Or... I need to put my foot in mouth because the cell pics are not showing corallin and it really is there. Anyway. Cheers. I love this thread.

Robert

 

[toofrigginswt]

Looking nice Johnathan!

Thanks! Looking forward to your update soon too

looks good!!

Thank you!

Great looking tank. Very thought out.

Thanks! I will probably end up moving many of the pieces around only because I want to make sure that I balance out the colors of the corals throughout the tank. I also have to take into consideration how the corals will grow out too. For right now, I'm just testing to see what depth and flow each coral do best in.

Looking great Jonathan

Thanks Anthony!

Great tank pics. I am sorry to hear about your fish losses. We have all been there. And we will be there again.

I quick observation. I notice that the corrallin algae has not taken hold yet. It's probably normal because the tank is still so new. However, you may want to up the alk to 10-12 dkh. Also get the mg over 1200 if you have not already. That will help the CA come up. The higher MG will make those caps really pop.

Or... I need to put my foot in mouth because the cell pics are not showing corallin and it really is there. Anyway. Cheers. I love this thread.

Robert

I appreciate your advice! You're right. The coralline algae has not taken off yet. The tank is still in it's infant stage. I will take your suggestion and try to keep my levels at where you suggested. My alk is currently at 10 and my calcium is at 450. I've been manually dosing because I haven't had time to sit down and read the instructions on the dosing pump. I haven't tested my Mag lately but the last time it was at 1350 (3 weeks ago). I know mag is the key player in keeping the the other two levels in check. I'll keep a closer eye on it.

Normally, I'd have signs of coralline algae by the 3rd month in every system I've had previously. However, every system I've ever set up in the past were created with actual live rock with plenty of coralline colonies. I'm currently seeding this dry rock with some live rock (8-10lbs) but I think it's taking longer than usual. Maybe I'll get some coralline scrapings from another tank and use that to seed as well. Do you think GFO can stunt the growth of coralline algae?

 

[André Silvestre]

Jonathan, the tank is great!

Love the minimalistic approach regarding the layout and the balance you achieved when it comes to proportions!

It feels very natural. Many times, in order to achieve the minimalist look, hobbyists tend to lower too much the rockwork in all its extension and the islands become too flat. Instead of the old days when we had rock walls, we get coral walls and that is not good either ( IMO), as corals tend to smother each others and some end up hidden in the mid/background. This is not the case and you managed to do that well enough not only to bring out the focal point of the tank but also to create good coral placement conditions. Bravo!

As to coralline algae, I would hold on before ramping up those parameters that already look very high ( kH 10, Ca 450). Coralline algae will appear, no matter if you set up a tank with dead or live rock. And it will appear in its good time. Rushing things up just for coralline growth, already with sps in a newly set up tank can be a disaster. I would´t touch that kH. In fact, I would let it lower a little bit more, along with Ca to achieve a balance to a more normal or safe levels. Just my two cents about it.


Regards,
André

 

[Reef_Noob]

Looking very beautiful!!
Very nice n minimalistic reef scape.
Regarding coralline just give it time it will definately appear.
But if you are planning on a ULNS system (Zeovit, Prodibio ) for done reason coralline seems to take a back seat. That's what I have observed.
As Andre said don't tinker with your parameters as of yet. As you start stocking more fishes and corals the values will fall a bit and all you have to go is test and stabilize.
Your attention to detail is commendable. Great job!!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[psykobowler]

Ok I am just gonna say it. I believe from the picture that there are a few more inches of space on both ends of the tank. You could have made the tank a little bigger to fit snug in that tv niche. Haha..... I would have squeezed the biggest tank my wife would allow me to keep. Every inch of it.... Haha...

Glenn

 

[toofrigginswt]

Jonathan, the tank is great!

Love the minimalistic approach regarding the layout and the balance you achieved when it comes to proportions!

It feels very natural. Many times, in order to achieve the minimalist look, hobbyists tend to lower too much the rockwork in all its extension and the islands become too flat. Instead of the old days when we had rock walls, we get coral walls and that is not good either ( IMO), as corals tend to smother each others and some end up hidden in the mid/background. This is not the case and you managed to do that well enough not only to bring out the focal point of the tank but also to create good coral placement conditions. Bravo!

As to coralline algae, I would hold on before ramping up those parameters that already look very high ( kH 10, Ca 450). Coralline algae will appear, no matter if you set up a tank with dead or live rock. And it will appear in its good time. Rushing things up just for coralline growth, already with sps in a newly set up tank can be a disaster. I would´t touch that kH. In fact, I would let it lower a little bit more, along with Ca to achieve a balance to a more normal or safe levels. Just my two cents about it.


Regards,
André

Thank you and I really appreciate the wonderful comments. It's very rewarding when another hobbyist can see the little things that were done. In terms of the levels, I will definitely take your advice.

Looking very beautiful!!
Very nice n minimalistic reef scape.
Regarding coralline just give it time it will definately appear.
But if you are planning on a ULNS system (Zeovit, Prodibio ) for done reason coralline seems to take a back seat. That's what I have observed.
As Andre said don't tinker with your parameters as of yet. As you start stocking more fishes and corals the values will fall a bit and all you have to go is test and stabilize.
Your attention to detail is commendable. Great job!!
Thanks for sharing.

Wow. Reef_Noob commented on my thread! I've been a big fan of your tank since you started it up. You have a very beautiful setup. I don't think my attention to detail even comes close to what yours is Keep up the good work on your build.

I don't plan on using zeo. I'll take your advice and not tinker with my levels too much.

Ok I am just gonna say it. I believe from the picture that there are a few more inches of space on both ends of the tank. You could have made the tank a little bigger to fit snug in that tv niche. Haha..... I would have squeezed the biggest tank my wife would allow me to keep. Every inch of it.... Haha...

Glenn

Hahaha! I know I know... I think I ended up leaving some room on the edges because I knew I was going to use Vortech pumps. Initially I ordered two mp60s and they were huge! The dry side barely fit on the sides and was vibrating on the walls. I then downgraded to two mp40s and now I have about an inch gap from the dry side of the pump to the walls.

Maybe I should have made the tank flush and went with tunzes :headwalls:

 

[loup]

Nice tank. I love the minimal rock look. Very clean setup.

 

[AMAYEU]

Here's the other shipment with my dosing pump and 3 chamber dosing container.

Is this the marine color dosing pump?
How do you like it?
Did you order from http://www.reefshops.com ?
Any shipping issues?

 

[Backinthegame]

Looking Good Jonathan! Sorry to hear about the clowns. Keep up the good work!!!

 

[Reef_Noob]

Wow. Reef_Noob commented on my thread! I've been a big fan of your tank since you started it up. You have a very beautiful setup. I don't think my attention to detail even comes close to what yours is Keep up the good work on your build.

I don't plan on using zeo. I'll take your advice and not tinker with my levels too much.

Hello Jon,
Thanks so much for the kind words. Thanks for taking the time to go through my build. Your words are true motivation and inspiration for me my friend.
I'm sure you will do a great job with this setup and wishing you the best.
:thumbsup:

 

[mpoletti]

Nice tank. I love the minimal rock look. Very clean setup.

Me too Lou. Unfortunately I don't have the self control to only keep a limited number of corals. Maybe one day I will be able to limit the number of corals I try to kill slowly over time.

I have been itching for a new tank look though…

 

[toofrigginswt]

Nice tank. I love the minimal rock look. Very clean setup.

Thanks!

Is this the marine color dosing pump?
How do you like it?
Did you order from http://www.reefshops.com ?
Any shipping issues?

Yes it's the marine color dosing pump. I actually ordered it through their ebay auction but it pretty much linked me to reefshops. Shipping was ridiculously fast. I received the container and dosing pump within 7 days from placing the order. The item came in packaged really well with no damages. I had lots of questions prior to placing the order and the seller's responses were always within 10 minutes.

I played with the pump this past weekend and everything works. I just still have to figure out how to calibrate it. The instructions do come in English but are very vague.

Looking Good Jonathan! Sorry to hear about the clowns. Keep up the good work!!!

Thanks Kevin. It's all thanks to you!

Hello Jon,
Thanks so much for the kind words. Thanks for taking the time to go through my build. Your words are true motivation and inspiration for me my friend.
I'm sure you will do a great job with this setup and wishing you the best.
:thumbsup:

You're welcome and thanks again. :beer:

Me too Lou. Unfortunately I don't have the self control to only keep a limited number of corals. Maybe one day I will be able to limit the number of corals I try to kill slowly over time.

I have been itching for a new tank look though"¦

Hey Mark. Your tank is beautiful and I wouldn't change a thing! lol. Oh by the way, not sure how but your name came up in a discussion when I was talking to my friend the other day. Do you know a Tony? He use to work at O St.

 

[toofrigginswt]

I just received some more T5 bulbs from an order I placed on reefgeek.com. I have to say that I am very impressed with the way they packaged the bulbs to prevent damages.