Zen's 120g SPS Reef

[Zen685]

Hello all. I've been a lurker on these forums since Jan 2007. I've read hundreds of build threads and absorbed a HUGE amount of information but never really contributed much. It amazes me that people put so much time and effort into sharing their knowledge and experiences for others. I know I never could have created this little piece of ocean in my living room without the members here. My 120g reef is having it's 2 year birthday in a few days so I decided it's finally time to become a contributing part of the community. I plan to keep this thread updated with changes to the system any observations. Feel free to post any suggestions or comments you may have.

First a little history. Water was added 25-Oct-2009 with the intentions of growing a mixed reef. My previous tank was a 24g Aquapod with various soft corals. I always wanted to grow SPS but I didn't know if I was willing to spend the money or time required to grow these corals. I hesitantly bought a couple of small frags from a LFS and tossed them in. All I can say is nothing died but I didn't see much growth either.

25-Oct-2009 (Day 1!)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6263477293/" title="IMG_0649 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6263477293_b4119b4c3b_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0649"></a>

13-Mar-2010 (First SPS added)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6263480367/" title="IMG_0743 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/6263480367_6f1102af46_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0743"></a>

The SPS really started to take off at this point. I don't know why other than stable water parameters. I also made a change from dosing recipe 1 to recipe 2 for my alk and calc so the pH change may have something to do with it.

24-Jan-2011
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6264065778/" title="01-24-2011-180134Reef by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6264065778_984f521f5c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="01-24-2011-180134Reef"></a>

23-Aug-2011 (Starting to look like a reef tank)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6264071890/" title="IMG_2128 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6264071890_92ebcb762e_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="IMG_2128"></a>

And here is as it sits this morning. I'm working on getting the soft corals out of the tank and fully make the transition into an SPS only reef.

21-Oct-11
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6263853446/" title="IMG_2336 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/6263853446_c0bc87df96_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="IMG_2336"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6263853836/" title="IMG_2337 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6263853836_9a0f19bfab_z.jpg" width="478" height="640" alt="IMG_2337"></a>

Equipment List:
The main goal with this system has been cheap and as little maintenance as possible. I travel quite a bit for work so simplicity and automation is a requirement.

120g Oceanic
Lighting: T5 48" Retrofit Kit, MIRO SLR, T5 Accustart ballasts
Sump: DIY 40g 16"wide x 36"long x 16"deep
Skimmer: Reef Devil Deluxe recently replaced by a Super Reef Octopus 3000int (more on this later)
Flow: 2 Vortech MP40w
Dosing: 2 BRS Dosing Pumps for Calc and Alk
Return: Mag 9
Control: Reef Keeper Elite w/ net and moonlight modules
Filtration: Dual BRS Reactors for Carbon and GFO
Supplements: 6ml vodka daily, magnesium as required

Here's a shot of my sump. There's not much room for more equipment. I've considered adding a kalk stirrer or an ATO but the real estates just not there. I really need a separate equipment room!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7145699@N06/6263413103/" title="IMG_2338 by Zen685, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6263413103_9997d98848_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="IMG_2338"></a>
Issues:
Every reef tank has issues and mine is not immune. I would say the single biggest problem I've had with this tank is hair and bubble algae. Aiptasia was a problem for a while but Mr. File Fish fixed that problem in a matter of days.:lolspin:

The hair algae has been a problem from the very beginning. The rocks were in the tank less than a week before it started to grow. I've always attributed this to either the dry marco rock I used or the recycled sand that I cleaned with tap water. Whatever caused it I've had varying degrees of success handling it. The most successful so far has been vodka dosing. I started around a year and a half ago and the hair algae receded drastically but never went completely away.

Lately my problem has been bubble algae which is spreading at an alarming rate. I assume the bubble algae growth is caused by a combination of rock/sand, poor husbandry and and undersized skimmer. I've always done at least monthly 20-25g water changes but I've never really actively cleaned the sand or rocks from detritus. I've always just tried to rely on strong flow to do this for me. That's changing from this point and I'm actively pulling detritus out weekly. Hopefully I can get ahead of the curve and start moving in the other direction.


Well thats it for now. I'll get some individual coral growth progressions up soon. I have quite a few old pictures I'll have to sort through.

​

 

[Ruskin]

Hi Zen,

Nice tank. I really like seeing progression pics, its awesome to see how things change over time isnt it? Im assuming your tank is the 4x2x2 layout since you are using a 48" Lighting setup? Those are the same dimensions as mine, and I'm currently rebuilding mine after a move. How to you like those T5's over the tank? how many bulbs are you running?

Again, looks great. congrats.

 

[Zen685]

Thanks Ruskin. It's amazing to look back over the pictures and see the growth. I have a couple of corals that have literally quadrupled in size over the last 6 months. You're right it is a 4'x2'x2' layout.

I really like the T5s. They seem to be doing the job even though I don't cool them like most people do. I'm running 6 bulbs in a closed canopy with no ventilation. My bulbs are as old as the tank so I think I've gotten my moneys worth. I've never tested the par but I have an acro on the lower part of the tank showing good growth.

If I were building this tank now I would go LED either DIY or AI SOL/Radeon. The control you have over intensity and color along with shimmer just seems like the way to go for me. I would make the change but I just can't justify the cost when the T5s are working so well. I'll probably wait another year and then try LEDs. My new skimmer used up my hobby cash for a little while.

 

[Ruskin]

Thanks Ruskin. It's amazing to look back over the pictures and see the growth. I have a couple of corals that have literally quadrupled in size over the last 6 months. You're right it is a 4'x2'x2' layout.

I really like the T5s. They seem to be doing the job even though I don't cool them like most people do. I'm running 6 bulbs in a closed canopy with no ventilation. My bulbs are as old as the tank so I think I've gotten my moneys worth. I've never tested the par but I have an acro on the lower part of the tank showing good growth.

If I were building this tank now I would go LED either DIY or AI SOL/Radeon. The control you have over intensity and color along with shimmer just seems like the way to go for me. I would make the change but I just can't justify the cost when the T5s are working so well. I'll probably wait another year and then try LEDs. My new skimmer used up my hobby cash for a little while.

I hear that on the price of the LED's. Im hoping the be able to reuse most of my gear minus the lighting and return pump from my last build. I was running 2 250w MH and 2 VHO's to suppliment before I moved and really liked them, but I want a canopy thats half the size the old one was, and with less heat. I'm also looking into LED's but they just change in quality and cost so fast I might stick with T5's for a year or so until things become more stable with the LED market.

 

[Pallobi]

looking good

 

[want2reef]

Nice progress.