Upgrading my 50 gal.

[Alaska_Phil]

I should also mention that the clean-up crew is doing a great job. The tank is getting progressively cleaner with no effort on my part. I've also added a rainford's goby, who constantly pics at the remaining hair algae and sifts the surface of the sand. So the light dusting of diatoms that appeared right after the clean-up is gone now. I also added a yellow headed antenna goby, who so far is only seen at feeding time. He's gradually getting bolder though. I'll get some new tank shots tomorrow. I'm off to sand the hood some more now (fun fun fun!). :thumbsup:

Phil

 

[melev]

I'm really glad to hear that Phil. :thumbsup:

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Thanks Marc. Last time I added a fresh clean-up crew this tank was full of dinos. After all the snails died in the first 2 months I learned that it's toxic to most snails. I finally killed the dinos by elevating the pH to 8.6 for a couple weeks (from an article in Reef Keeping). Of course as soon as it was gone the hair took off from all the phosphate released by the dying dinos. I'm hoping by giving them a clean tank to start with the clean-up crew will stand a chance of staying on top of things this time. Live and learn.

Phil

 

[melev]

Yep, sometimes it can be an expensive lesson - both to our wallets and to the livestock.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I'll do a full update showing the rest of the new light hood construction later. It's been on the tank for a week now and my corals look amazing for it. Here's a sample below, compare it to the previous pictures of this frogspawn.

Phil

 

[Alaska_Phil]

And a full tank shot. The green hair is trying to make a comeback too, so filled and put the phosban reactor back on last weekend.

 

[robot2222]

this should be voted [comeback tank of theyear] looks good keep up the good work............

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Thanks Robot, but I'd say the jury will be out for a couple months to make sure it doesn't regress again.

Phil

 

[dylandrewsdad]

WOW! Great job on the comback! I second Robot's vote.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Nice!

 

[kudora]

wow what a difference, gj on the upgrade !!!

 

[Paul B]

Looks good to me so far. I am a little leary of that substrait with the course sand and the find sand on top of it. That will all be mixed in a short while and I guess you can call it a DSB.
You will have to consult WaterKeeper or one of the other 11,000 people on here who run those.
I personally don't like DSBs and think they are useless.
But it's me against 11,000 so what do I know?

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Grim, thanks. I'm still trying to figure out what white ballance setting gives me the most accurage colors.

thanks, Kudora. It's still a work in progress though.

Paul thanks. I'm hoping the sand will mix, and been toying with
the idea of helping it along by poking it with a wooden spoon handle. If it's any consulation, My refugium plan, (if I can figure out where to put it) is to have a RUGF covered with course crushed coral and live rock rubble. I may become the first person to have a RUGF and DSB.

Phil

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Here's and interesting photo from the past. This was shortly after I inherited the tank. Note the deep gravel bed with forward undergravel filter and damsel fish. The fogspawn is on top on the right side of the tank. At this point all I'd done was add the 2x55W lights and skimmer and do lots of water changes.

 

[melev]

I'd leave the sand alone and let it do what it wants on its own with the help of your clean up crew. I think I'm seeing nitrogen bubbles along the front glass, which is good.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Here's a close-up of the frogspawn from 4 years ago.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15592015#post15592015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I'd leave the sand alone and let it do what it wants on its own with the help of your clean up crew. I think I'm seeing nitrogen bubbles along the front glass, which is good.

There are definitly bubbles forming in the sand Marc, good eyes. I hope they're nitrogen. Guess I'll just wait and see.

 

[WaterKeeper]

I'm not all that crazy about the mixed sand/gravel but it would be foolish to try to correct it at this point. You haven't talked much about what you currently have for circulation. If it is low that will encourage algae growth. Also, are you running phosban in that reactor or is it still carbon?

I think you have made great progress and that new lighting will add to the tank's ability to handle a range of corals. You might also consider setting up some sort of refugium where you can grow and harvest some Chaeto. That can out compete many nuisance alga for nutrients.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Waterkeeper, what I have now in the bed is fine sugar sand, over a courser sand (1-2mm). The gravel is long gone now.

Circulation is still 2 Koralian power heads, 1 rated 400gph the other 800. And the Backpack skimmer which adds about 200. I'm actually thinking of reducing it as my soft corals are getting blown around pretty good.

I ran carbon for about 10 days after adding the sand bed, then removed it for a couple weeks. Saturday I replaced it with Phosban in it.

Sump with Refugium is next on the upgrade list. Just have to figure out where to put it. I was thinking the chaeto or turf over a RUGF and live rock rubble.

Phil

 

[Alaska_Phil]

OK, time for some hood construction photos.

All painted and hinged.

And let there be light! Four 54W T5 HO's. 2 Actinic, 1 high K lamp and a 6700K. As recommended by The Grim Reefer on the T5 questions thread. Thanks again Grim, I looks awesome! :thumbsup:

And finally on the tank. I mounted the ballasts remotely in the stand. The ballast harness came with quick connects so I can remove the hood without removing the ballasts.