KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build

[KrazyKuch]

Well we just picked up our glass from Bow Valley Aquarium, and I have to say wow what great service, we placed the order this afternoon and when we came to pick it up at 4:30 they were just finishing cutting it up, they loaded it into the back of our truck for us. Even gave us some good pointers on how to clean the glass and the best way to go about putting it together.

The tank is 72"X24"X24" (standard 180Gal) All the glass is 1/2" thick, we are gonna set it up as a FOWLR but latter converting to a Mixed Reef..

Here is the tank sitting on my floor.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0098.jpg

Here is a side view of the stack of glass.(the piece on the left is the center brace)
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0099.jpg

Close up of the side shot.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0100.jpg

Shot of part of the top Bracing.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0103.jpg


Thats all for tonight, tomorrow gonna build some jigs and buy some clamps and gonna start assembling the tank, will post more pics tomorrow of progress!

[Glennrf38]

Just a question... Why didn't you have them put it together for you?

[michika]

Cheaper for us to do it ourselves! We've built tanks before so its no big deal for us.

[Glennrf38]

Kewl. Thats what I figured but just wanted to make sure :)

[Delphinus]

Good luck with the build! :)

[justinl]

Cool. I built my acrylic 60g and i found that to be a really fun project. I might try my hand at a glass tank come this summer. Do you think you could post some details/tips about how you like to silicone your tanks together?

[michika]

Sure, I'll make sure there are lots of photos of the actual tank assembly. Anything in particular you would like to see?

[dsaundry]

I would like to see how you prepare and then apply the silicone. Also a list of the materials used and where you got them from would be nice,,and lots of pic's.....:painting:

[Pan]

Water in it yet? :)

Whats the timeframe on your build? Or you just going to work as you can sort of thing?

[digital-audiophile]

I wouldn't be confident in my own building skills to take on a project like that :p

Must be a lot easier getting the "tank" into the house when it is in parts rather than a big glass box eh?

[Glennrf38]

Could you tell us the price difference between u-build and pre-assembled? $ or % is fine. Have fun. :)

[Joe Reefer]

Filling that for the first time is going to be very nerve racking.

[michika]

Tank - $300, assembled prices ran from $550-750 depending on who we called, most pre-assembled tanks couldn't be drilled without an extra cost.
Silicone - $20

Timeframe is whenever, sooner is better, but you can't rush a good thing. The goal is to do a little work on it every night and see where that takes us. This tank is intended to be a grow out tank for our larger tank project we want to do in the future. Once its assembled I'm going to move everything from my disaster of a 28g long nano into this system. We are still working out details in regards to the return flow, but most everything else has been planned out for some time. I am hoping to have it set up & leak tested before May 1st.

Don't worry, I have some apprehension too about the leak test that will need to happen once the silicone has dried!

Next steps;
- trip to the hardware store for a 2x4, 8 clamps, and 2 corner clamps, a plastic square and a box of screws.
- Prepare the glass by washing it with white vinegar.
- Planning out shopping list of materials for reinforcing the floor
- Not breaking any panes of glass

[Glennrf38]

I didn't think you could screw the glass together........ Do you use special screws?

Just kidding......

[Nevin]

Really your hardware store stocks clams?? Do they have a store in Vancouver?

Regards,
Nevin

[Glennrf38]

Man are we a vicious lot.......

[michika]

:D

Yes, special screws...

Screws are for the 2x4, we are making a frame to set the glass in and on while its being siliconed. The clamps need to clamp onto something right?

[justinl]

ooh, yes I would like to see pics of the frame you set up to silicone the glass together.

Also, are you just using the aquarium grade silicone you find in a lfs or are you going to home depot or something to find an aquarium grade silicone. If you chose the latter, which silicone did you choose specifically? I find that when i go to a store i cant seem to find anything that doesn't say "not to for marine use below the water line"... which is kind of annoying.

I would also be interested in how you plan on reinforcing the floor.

lol special screws and clams.

[michika]

For the tank itself its GE silicone, these were purchased specifically from the tank builder. I'll post photos later today of both types that we typically use for tank related builds, one from the builder, and one from our local Rona. I choose Rona because a) its Canadian, b) Gives me airmiles, and c) They take Amex, which indirectly gets me free goodies. So every tank build I do gives back to me in a small way.

[Matt]

Building the tank won't be hard, but doing clean, neat silicone work is quite hard. I applaud anyone who can do it by hand and get it looking good. A long time ago, I built about 100 tanks one summer, mostly small and custom shapes for Acadia University Biology dept. By the time I'd done the first 15 or 20, I got pretty good at it. By the end, it looked like factory-built. Now, out of practice, I hardly trust myself to caulk my shower!

[ElGuappo]

i saw it looks like you are putting this on a second level by the point of strenthing the floor..

If your floor joice is exposed all you have to do is put pieces of 2x4 in the joice on both sides every 12 inches or so. this will strenthen the floor without having an ugly post underneath.

[michika]

Actually this is the main floor, and reinforcement will come from changes made in the crawl space. I'll post photos when we are ready to do the reinforcements.

[adidas]

Building the tank won't be hard, but doing clean, neat silicone work is quite hard. I applaud anyone who can do it by hand and get it looking good. A long time ago, I built about 100 tanks one summer, mostly small and custom shapes for Acadia University Biology dept. By the time I'd done the first 15 or 20, I got pretty good at it. By the end, it looked like factory-built. Now, out of practice, I hardly trust myself to caulk my shower!

using tape is the key to straight silicone lines ;)

good luck on the build!

[Matt]

using tape is the key to straight silicone lines ;)

good luck on the build!tape makes thick transitions... but it is how I'd do it if I was building one with my current skillset.

[BC Mosaic]

In my late teens (1960's) I ended up working for a new tropical fish importer in Montreal. One of my jobs was to build aquariums. The jig was soooo simple that I had to shake my head. It consisted of 2 pieces of 2x4 screwed down to a piece of plywood and 8 long grey shelf brackets that were secured to the plywood and 32 bolts plus silicone. That was it. Talk about using the "Kiss Principle"! Built 2 tanks everyday for about a month!

I'm interested in seeing how you are going to go about doing yours.
Have fun and good luck!

[ElGuappo]

Actually this is the main floor, and reinforcement will come from changes made in the crawl space. I'll post photos when we are ready to do the reinforcements.

Please do post pics as it could be very easy to reenforce the floor joice. Rather then trying to build up to the floor and take up the entire crawl space.

Met a guy on a job site we got to talking and he told me how a buddy of his did it.

[KrazyKuch]

well I went with another way of bracing the glass instead of 2X4's, I bought some corner clamps and put some stick on felt on them as to not damage the glass!!!

Here is the corner clamps I bought.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0104.jpg

Here is the clamps with felt on them.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0105.jpg

Bottom after it has been cleaned with vinegar.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0106.jpg

After the edges have been taped.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0109.jpg

Bottom with the back side by side.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0111.jpg

Starting to apply silicone.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0127.jpg

Another shot of me applying silicone.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0128.jpg

Back pain in place.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0130.jpg

One side in place and clamped with the corner clamp.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0132.jpg

Both sides in place and clamped, and me removing excess silicone on the inside.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0133.jpg

Shot of all 3 sides in place.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0135.jpg

Shot of one of the seams.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0137.jpg

And here is a pic of the silicone we used.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0116.jpg

Basically once I had an end piece in place I clamped it to the back pain,and then made sure that the bottom of the side piece was flush to the bottom pain, and that the side pain was full pressed up against the back pain...Make sense or did I loose anyone!

[Delphinus]

Nice work so far! Where'd ya get the clamps?

[justinl]

makes sense to me. Thanks for the pics.

btw, nice legs. i like the stockings :wink:

[KrazyKuch]

Nice work so far! Where'd ya get the clamps?


I got them from Rona!

[ElGuappo]

Just a suggestion but you may want a small peice of wood or foam or carpet or somthing inbetween the clamp and the glass as it could scratch.

[michika]

btw, nice legs. i like the stockings :wink:

Thank you! I like them too! :lol:

[KrazyKuch]

Just a suggestion but you may want a small peice of wood or foam or carpet or somthing inbetween the clamp and the glass as it could scratch.


Actually if you would re-read my recent post with the pic's, you will see that I put felt on the clamp so that it can't scratch the glass...(it's the second photo in the group)

[ElGuappo]

My bad. felt is a great idea. dont know how i missed it saw all the other pics?????:redface:

[brizzo]

We have these neat corner clamps at work .. We sell them for about $20.

One big caulking tip for readers: buy a half barrel, 'dripless' style caulking gun. You will notice huge improvement over a cheap skeleton frame gun!

Also GE Silicone 1 is considered 'aquarium safe' and submersible for those wondering. I've never seen the GE SCS1200 Silicone .. Is that what the professionals use?

[Jason McK]

Great build WOW totally cool and very interested in this one. Never seen a Total Glass build

J

[KrazyKuch]

We have these neat corner clamps at work .. We sell them for about $20.

One big caulking tip for readers: buy a half barrel, 'dripless' style caulking gun. You will notice huge improvement over a cheap skeleton frame gun!

Also GE Silicone 1 is considered 'aquarium safe' and submersible for those wondering. I've never seen the GE SCS1200 Silicone .. Is that what the professionals use?

The clamps I'm using cost $8, Yeah that is the silicone that bow valley aquariums uses!

[Marlin65]

I used the same Silicone on my tank but in black.
Looks great :biggrin:
I see you put your sides on your bottom. I did this as well but read later that most people put the bottom up 1/4" and let the sides take all the pressure. Do you have any thoughts on that??
Also I found that after a few days of drying that you could see some of those air crack lines. I had less on my second tank I glued up but left the clamps on longer. Any thoughts on this?? I also had all my edges polished as they told me on thick glass it was hard to get it lump free. This might be why though. Would be interested in how yours look on the seam after about 3-4 days. Are you going to edge the sides with something to make the glass edge look better?

[Snappy]

Kevin & Catherine that will be a pretty sweet "grow out" tank. Great start for a build thread=== totally from scratch. :biggrin: Good luck.

[michika]

Thank you! I hope it turns out as well as we have planned for.

[fishoholic]

Very impressive and brave! Good luck with your build.

[michika]

So how about a bit more on what kind of finished product we are trying to achieve. I've always liked the tank stand setup that Cprowler has going on his 120g system (http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=29469). We want to do a control box/storage on one side on our system.

A few things that I want have on this tank;
- filtersock holder
- Removable top off container
- Automatic feeder

I'll see if I can dig up some photos of what we are aiming for, or at least drawings for comments.

[michika]

Its a box!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0161.jpg

The dilemma
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0159.jpg

So our dilemma now is the debate between going with eurobracing, or go with this non-eurobracing. My concern is that when we pop a 250w MH over this glass piece that it will hinder the light penetration in the tank. Anyone have any suggestion on this?

We are willing to buy the extra glass to do the eurobrace, we are just wondering how much of a benefit will it be to us in the long run, and in regards to using MH lighting.

Next up;
- Tank Bracing
- Floor reinforcement

[cprowler]

Looking good Catherine, Can't wait to follow along with you guys on this one.

[Pan]

Its a box!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0161.jpg

The dilemma
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0159.jpg

So our dilemma now is the debate between going with eurobracing, or go with this non-eurobracing. My concern is that when we pop a 250w MH over this glass piece that it will hinder the light penetration in the tank. Anyone have any suggestion on this?

We are willing to buy the extra glass to do the eurobrace, we are just wondering how much of a benefit will it be to us in the long run, and in regards to using MH lighting.

Next up;
- Tank Bracing
- Floor reinforcement
Wow looks like someone wasn't playing the xbox at least :)
Looks good. You might consider getting the one brace re cut using starphire glass that way you can brace it the light will penetrate and cheaper than getting all that glass for eurobracing. Eurobracing is a hinderance when it comes to cleaing to, all that salt as opposed to cleaning the one brace :)

[KrazyKuch]

Good point on that....I guess I can call Bow Valley on Monday and get that cut up as well as the piece of glass for the overflow!

[Pan]

Good point on that....I guess I can call Bow Valley on Monday and get that cut up as well as the piece of glass for the overflow!
Think it would be the best/cheapest option. or you could always just do the four corner triangle thing...i've seen a few tanks like that...mine is like that. Seems to work...god i hope so...

[KrazyKuch]

Think it would be the best/cheapest option. or you could always just do the four corner triangle thing...i've seen a few tanks like that...mine is like that. Seems to work...god i hope so...


How would the corner triangles stop the pains of glass from bowing out in the middle, that sounds like something to just reinforce the corners!!

[saltynuts]

better hurry up i have a lot of stuff to sell soon!

[Pan]

How would the corner triangles stop the pains of glass from bowing out in the middle, that sounds like something to just reinforce the corners!!
I am not sure, i've just seen a lot of tanks like this...i know mine does not bow...it's 24 inches high though..maybe a tad higher...but i think 24 ? :)
You could ask bow valley though :) i think if i was building one though i would probably use bracing in the middle though..if only for piece of mind. But I have only ever built little tanks for myself :)

[michika]

better hurry up i have a lot of stuff to sell soon!

Getting out again or upgrading?

[rigger11]

hes bailling out again!!!!! just for the summer i think?

[michika]

Crazy man that Ed is! We are tentatively planning a trip up to Edmonton at the end of April. So Ed I guess we should coordinate something, and you too Rigger11, we want to get together with you as well.

[michika]

A much needed update;

The glass for eurobracing has been ordered, someone just needs to pick it up. Its available tonight.

The required mermaid photos;
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0162.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0171.jpg

The wood for stand, storage closet, and hood
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0177.jpg

This was yesterday;
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0181.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0183.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0184.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0185.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0186.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0187.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0188.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Looks great, Catherine. I wish I had y'alls mad tank-makin' skillz!

[justinl]

lol I love the livestock!

Any reason you didnt make the corner braces on the stand go from the floor up to the top of the stand (rather than between the horizontal pieces as you did)? I just figure it might be stronger to transfer the weight of the tank to the floor via single pieces of wood rather than three distinct pieces.

[spoot]

The single top layer is best, as it will end up being flatter. I would have the legs go all the way down on mine and just built the bottom frame inside the legs. Just personal preference. One it is all screwed together, the legs and the bottome frame will move and act as one, transfering the weight to the floor evenly along the whole bottom.

[KrazyKuch]

The reason I did it this way is so that not a single screw is taking any weight....the screws are just holding the wood together!!!

[KrazyKuch]

Well it's been a couple weeks but We finally got our glass for the overflow and Euro Brace. Also did some more work on the stand, got the plywood down and the foam so it's ready to go!!

The Euro Brace is 5/8" thick and 4" wide, The overflow is 5/8" thick and is 6" deep, the two side supports for the overflow is 3/4"(reason for such thickness is that bow valley had scrap pieces kicking around so we got them cheap!)

Stand so far!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020527.jpg

Shot of the plywood!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020528.jpg

Glass for the Euro Brace and the Overflow!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020544.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020545.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020546.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020547.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020548.jpg

Black acrylic for the overflow!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020549.jpg

Overflow in Place!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020550.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020551.jpg

Shots of back Euro brace being attached
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020553.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020555.jpg

Attaching the side pieces of the Euro brace
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020556.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/P1020557.jpg

[michika]

We are planning a Tank Lift party on Sunday May 4th. We'll be offering BBQ foods along with Rock Band. By that time the tank should be drilled and ready to be set up on the stand.

[Delphinus]

I'll come help lift!

[Pan]

Need more photos of it waiting to be lifted....lets go...come on already.

[lastlight]

The reason I did it this way is so that not a single screw is taking any weight....the screws are just holding the wood together!!!

This was the reasoning I used for doing the exact same thing on my first tank. Will do it again!

[michika]

Need more photos of it waiting to be lifted....lets go...come on already.

Photos tomorrow, its Rock Band night with family! We now have our skimmer too!

[Pan]

Photos tomorrow, its Rock Band night with family! We now have our skimmer too!
I'll settle for pics of you guys doing the rockband think...you go full out and dress up in costumes :)


What skimmer did you settle on?


sigh......

"and the new one I got today is a DUAL Recirculating DDNW-250."
I really should pay attention.

[michika]

Some photos of the skimmer. Tank drilling will probably happen this week, it keeps getting pushed back, but it will get done eventually. The skimmer we picked up is an Octopus dual recirculating skimmer (DDNW-250).

Before cleaning, and just prior to a wet test
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0223.jpg

Test water from some rock we are cycling
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0224.jpg

Putting the collection cup into perspective
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0227.jpg

A shot down inside the neck
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0229.jpg

The skimmer collection cup from my 28g nano in comparison to this new one.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0230.jpg

[michika]

So as some of you can guess the tank lift party didn't happen this past weekend. Thats okay, we ended up putting it on the stand tonight.

First the stand needed a hole for the plumbing
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0245.jpg

Kevin cut in the hole, I watched, and plugged my ears.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0247.jpg

A hole!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0249.jpg

A padded hole
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0251.jpg

Then through the magic of photography the tank is suddenly on the stand!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0252.jpg

The glass needs to be cleaned, and then our next step is the floor, adjusting everything so its all level.

The rock is still cooking, and it is thankfully far less foul. I hope it will be ready soon enough to get this tank full of salt water in the next two weeks, maybe 4 weeks if I need to wait.

[Pan]

Yay!...



oh and...about bloody time :)

[michika]

So true!

There should be lots more progress in the next month. Tomorrow is a big day for building, or at least this weekend is. I'm STILL waiting on my bulkhead shipment, I think tomorrow I will just purchase locally. Where would I go for bulkheads in town?

[lastlight]

I saw a bunch at Elite the other day...

Build's looking great. What type of foam did you get?

[Pan]

So true!

There should be lots more progress in the next month. Tomorrow is a big day for building, or at least this weekend is. I'm STILL waiting on my bulkhead shipment, I think tomorrow I will just purchase locally. Where would I go for bulkheads in town?
Emco has the white pvc threaded bulkheads...

[michika]

I think its neoprene foam. It came from Rona.

Well I'm over by Emco so I may head over there at lunch, if not, to Elite I will go.

[BC564]

I'm tagging along for this build....very interesting.
Hope Sunday works and I can see the progress in person.

[michika]

There may actually be water in it on Sunday!

Emco Waterworks is the place to go to get bulkheads, its on 44th st and 90th ave (I think). Glen is the man to speak to if you are wondering. I unfortunately went to the wrong location, and will be waiting until Monday for my bulkheads, unless another store in town carries them. Everyone seems to be out lately.

[Pan]

There may actually be water in it on Sunday!

Emco Waterworks is the place to go to get bulkheads, its on 44th st and 90th ave (I think). Glen is the man to speak to if you are wondering. I unfortunately went to the wrong location, and will be waiting until Monday for my bulkheads, unless another store in town carries them. Everyone seems to be out lately.
Told Ya :)

[michika]

Alright the first part of this weekend's photo montage!

1st we moved the RO/DI to a better place, from under the kitchen sink into the utility room. This allows us to fill a larger container with RO/DI rather then the 3g storage container we had before.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0254.jpg

Then out came the Acetone, and as per Bow Valley we cleaned up all the extra silicone that was in places it shouldn't be.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0257.jpg

The tank clean up
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0260.jpg

Then into the dreaded crawl space to reinforce the floor
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0263.jpg

Again, through the magic of photography its suddenly done!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0265.jpg

The inaugural bucket of the water test
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0270.jpg

The second bucket of the water test, which by the way went very well.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0273.jpg

[Boomboy]

but what about the third bucket... what happens next. its coming along nicely, its that time in between putting water into it and getting your first fish into that really sucks to wait for.

[michika]

Lol @ 3rd bucket!

Well there is salt in the tank now and its almost all mixed in. Next up is the sand, Caribsea's Agronite, and something else by Caribesea, but its much finer, Oolite perhaps? Both came to me super cheap, thanks buy/sell forum, and in bags!

[Pan]

Lol @ 3rd bucket!

Well there is salt in the tank now and its almost all mixed in. Next up is the sand, Caribsea's Agronite, and something else by Caribesea, but its much finer, Oolite perhaps? Both came to me super cheap, thanks buy/sell forum, and in bags!
Hurry up..it's raining and there is nothing on the television...and i don't want to do my water change right now.

Side note..if i had cable there might be something on tv.

Looks great so far catherine, so what are your stocking plans...besides the ones you have already got...the ones in your little one are going into the new tank right? Every had a Marine Betta? was lookinga t one the other day, pretty neat looking, guess i should look it up.

[michika]

You should have stayed in town yesterday, then I could have put you to work over here!

Okay stocking plan tentatively are;
Tangs - various, will post when I actually have them
Emperor angel
Male mandarin, which I have already. I would like to add a female, but they seem to be extra hard to find.
I want a schooling fish of sorts, I am researching glass eye cardinals right now
Pair of yellow headed jawfish
a few lipstick conches
my one yellow damsel, one of my first fish from when I first started.
Clown gobies - green, or yellow, not sure yet.

The plan is to do a bunch of low islands throughout the tank, and to eventually grow up SPS colonies, like stags, digis and birdnests. I would like to create a forest like look and have the SPS act as hiding spaces. I want to put a minimal amount of rock in the display, and plan to keep the bulk of the rock in the sump.

Since I have to wait for the SPS to grow in, I'll be adding fish in 3 or so waves. 1st wave will be a few more social fish, and my existing livestock. I want fish that will stay out and will socialize, and in turn they will bring out any shy fish I add in the future. 2nd wave will be some of the bottom dwellers; jawfish, and maybe a blenny. 3rd wave, once the SPS has grown in, or I add rock towers (if my SPS problem continues), will be the schooling fish, and those that have an intimate relationship with SPS, like clown gobies. I think all in all I want 5-6 larger fish (tangs, the angel, wrasses) , 5-10 medium fish (smaller wrasses, etc), and probably 10-15 small fish (cardinals, gobies).

We'll take it as it goes and make changes as need. I'll definitely consider any fish. I saw a lookdown at the store today, and thought it was quite cool.

[michika]

Top portion of the stand is on, fugly 70s fan is still unfortunately present.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0275.jpg

Tank full of RO/DI. We held off on filling it completely full to account for the space sand, rock, and the salt would take up.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0277.jpg

Then we put the salt in. Just a single bucket for now.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0284.jpg

We also picked up a piece of live rock to seed the tank today. Nice piece that should make a nice island at some point.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0280.jpg

[Pan]

You should have stayed in town yesterday, then I could have put you to work over here!

Okay stocking plan tentatively are;
Tangs - various, will post when I actually have them
Emperor angel
Male mandarin, which I have already. I would like to add a female, but they seem to be extra hard to find.
I want a schooling fish of sorts, I am researching glass eye cardinals right now
Pair of yellow headed jawfish
a few lipstick conches
my one yellow damsel, one of my first fish from when I first started.
Clown gobies - green, or yellow, not sure yet.

The plan is to do a bunch of low islands throughout the tank, and to eventually grow up SPS colonies, like stags, digis and birdnests. I would like to create a forest like look and have the SPS act as hiding spaces. I want to put a minimal amount of rock in the display, and plan to keep the bulk of the rock in the sump.

Since I have to wait for the SPS to grow in, I'll be adding fish in 3 or so waves. 1st wave will be a few more social fish, and my existing livestock. I want fish that will stay out and will socialize, and in turn they will bring out any shy fish I add in the future. 2nd wave will be some of the bottom dwellers; jawfish, and maybe a blenny. 3rd wave, once the SPS has grown in, or I add rock towers (if my SPS problem continues), will be the schooling fish, and those that have an intimate relationship with SPS, like clown gobies. I think all in all I want 5-6 larger fish (tangs, the angel, wrasses) , 5-10 medium fish (smaller wrasses, etc), and probably 10-15 small fish (cardinals, gobies).

We'll take it as it goes and make changes as need. I'll definitely consider any fish. I saw a lookdown at the store today, and thought it was quite cool.
Cool. Yes, I like my wrasses as well., I have two and will be getting a third in the next week or two, both the once i have like ground up pellets, flake and michika mash :) I am not liking my blue streak cardinal, mind you if there was more than one the behavior might be different. But he/she just hangs out in the back of the tank and hovers. Comes out when the lights are off, but i have noticed since i added the chromis it comes out more when the lights are on. I like the chromis, although they keep going in the overflow (bypassing the filter sock god knows how). The way my lights are as they swim across the tank they go from bright green to bluish green to bright blue. You could always go with chalk bass? I think they school, but i have no real experience with them. I like the jawfish though, except the one i had when spooked would jump straight up and out. You defn. need some sand shifting gobies :)
The lookdowns are quite cool...i was considering one, but have not decided. I wish i could have a Moorish idol, but i got one and promptly gave it to a friend with a 1000 gal reef. Stocking is hard, so many fish you could get on a whim in any lfs in the states ....your lucky to find up here :(

On a side Note: You should have waited till next weekend to do this then i could have helped :)

[michika]

By next weekend I'll be anxiously watching my test kits to see how all the rock I add later today is working out!

SG is 1.030, glad we left the extra space in the tank, waiting on more RO/DI to bring down the SG.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Only problem with a Lookdown is that it would outgrow that tank. They get about 14-16".

Looks great so far!

[michika]

That is why I passed on it, and the fact that my system is ready yet. The one I saw also had 6" streamers, easily making it way too big.

Something like that would be a much more appropriate choice in our next system, something considerably larger.

[Parker]

Wow, this is coming together fast, looks great!

[michika]

Thank you everyone for the positive comments! I should have one more post to make later tonight.

[Lance]

It's coming together nicely, Catherine. Gonna be a real nice set-up.

[sharuq1]

Lookin' great! Love the new fish you're getting too, especially the purple and sailfin tangs.

[michika]

Thank you everyone!

Tonight's final update for a few days;
- water; done, temp 79
- salt; done, SG 1.024
- sand; done
- rock; done
- temporary sump; done
- skimmer (temp. placement); done

Some more photos for you all;
Return plumbing
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0293.jpg

Our Foreman, constantly putting her nose where it doesn't belong!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0303.jpg

Temporary sump & skimmer set up.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0305.jpg

Starting to clear up!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0310.jpg

[michika]

We have a cycle!

Ammonia ~0.5
Nitrite ~0.15
SG 1.025

The tank is about 90% cleared up at this point, I think we may try to aquascape tonight with the rock that is in the display right now. No more skimmate, although there is foam!

[justinl]

are you running the skimmer right now to just break it in? I usually dont cycle and skim simultaneously. I figure the skimmer would remove a bunch of the proteins that would break down and contribute to the cycle.

[michika]

The rock was already mostly cycled elsewhere in a bin, I think we are seeing the tail end of the cycle, I need another day or two of data to determine it though. We were trying to run it normally, I've always run it while doing a cycle, but since its not really skimming, I guess we're just breaking it in. :D

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I have a quick question. Did you see many air bubbles in the silicone when you built the tank? The reason I ask, is that I guess I did not do a great job siliconing my cross brace in and there are small air bubbles. I have noticed that since filling the tank, they seem to have gotten a little bigger, which worries me a little. Im sure it will be fine but I guess the water is putting pressure on the brace (as it should) and when the silicone is being pulled, the air bubbles are getting a bit bigger. Just wondering if you saw any of this with your tank? I ask my step father about it because he used to build tanks and he said it should be fine for a cross brace but it would be really bad if it were the actual corners because each bubble makes the silicone significantly weaker. I think Im just worrying too much though :mrgreen:

EDIT: Sorry that turned out not to be very quick!

[michika]

We don't really have a lot of bubbles to look at, but judging from the few are around they have stayed the same since before adding water to the system. I'm really thankful there were no leaks or any problems with the tank.

I liked your question, it was well thought out and worded, easy to comprehend and answer! :D

Chemistry update:
Ammonia >0.25ppm
Nitrite 0.25ppm
Nitrate 16ppm
pH 8.2

Skimmer is still running, but there doesn't seem to be anything to pull out. I'm glad we started cycling all that rock ahead of time, I think our cycle should finish soon. It will be nice since suddenly my peaceful damsel of 4 years is starting to become a real brat. I guess it can see the new tank and is getting a little cabin fever.

[michika]

Some updates for this evening;

First the tank has cleared, it needs some aquascaping.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0311.jpg

Then we added on our two luminarc reflectors
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0318.jpg

Over the last week we've noticed a 20-30% increase in the humidity reading. However we can't be sure that those numbers are correct because the tank is right around the corner from the thermostat. We do have some options we can explore, should the humidity need to be addressed.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0315.jpg

We also need to figure out our lighting details. Somehow we have screwed up our measurements, and the space we counting on having between the reflectors is no longer available. As shown in the picture there is only 1 3/4" of space between the reflectors, which does not leave the space required for the 3 T5 bulbs we originally planned for.

[michika]

A little more progress on the tank.

Started on the power center
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0352.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0354.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0355.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0380.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0381.jpg

Aquascaping, which I'm not super happy with, but its getting there.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0361.jpg

With a single 175w MH in the center. We think we will go with 2x250w MH and supplement with T5s. Taking that 3rd MH off will save us electricity, heat, and some operating costs.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0362.jpg

We ended up taking the 28g nano down yesterday evening. It wasn't expected, but had to be done. The tank started leaking! So glad that it is down now, its such a relief.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0386.jpg

[Jason McK]

Looks Great Mickika. Really makes me want to clean up my wiring

J

[michika]

I loath mess, so this little power box just helps keep it out of sight and out of mind. I can't wait for it to be in place, I think it will look nice once its all set up.

[michika]

A close up of the front of the control panel. We'll be adding in pH, nitrate, and ORP monitors below the timers.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0400.jpg

[robzilla]

A close up of the front of the control panel. We'll be adding in pH, nitrate, and ORP monitors below the timers.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0400.jpg

what brand are the timer switches? from ? i assume this is for the lighting? do they have a battery backup?
as i will be building my 120 into a wall stand, and will need to clean up the wires..

[michika]

They came from Rona, and are made by UPM Innovation and are called Programmable Light Switch Timers. Our models are the ETW350 Single Pole 18000w for use with incandescent or flourescent lighting. I'll look for some packaging and try to get you a photo.

They themselves do have a battery back up. We also have a UPS backup which will be wired in to a heater and power head.

[michika]

Some more progress. Our gate valve FINALLY came in, at $60, it was quite the expense. Kevin used it to adjust the overflow height. So right now the water from the overflow goes straight into the rubbermaid sump/skimmer compartment, and then is returned to the tank.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0428.jpg

New fish pictures

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0402.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0403.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0430.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Hey Catherine, it's looking great!!

[Jason McK]

Looks Great Catherine.

Did I ask this already, What Juv Angle is that?

J

[michika]

Its an emperor. Had it since it was probably size of a quarter. I'm so pleased with it, it doesn't touch anything in the tank it shouldn't. Very peaceful and graceful too.

Here are some better photos of it.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0027-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0050-1.jpg

Its spiny dorsal fin has actually been gaining more of a white color lately. I think I am seeing the beginning of something. While its not necessarily a color morph per say, I think its part of its natural growth sequence. I am trying to document my fish at least once a month with photos to track its changes over its life.

[robzilla]

good luck with your emperor. my full size guy eats pretty much everything. the only things so far he hasnt eaten, is some leather, florida rics, hairy mushrooms, orange cap.

[JDigital]

Wow! Amazing build. Just read thru the entire thread.. These 150G+ build threads seriously blow my mind... Soo nice! Makes me wish I was doing things differently with my small 54G.. haha :lol:

Keep up the great work. Can't wait to see a finished product!

[michika]

Some more photos to keep the thread alive.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0438.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0442.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0444.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0446.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0440.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0447.jpg

[Delphinus]

2" or 1.5" valve?

[michika]

The gate valve? 1.5" its also threaded on both sides.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I never thought I'd look at a gate valve and think, "Ooh, it sure is purty..."

[michika]

Another quick update;

We ordered the RKE yesterday (digitalaquatics.com), along with the ORP probe. All I have left to get on my list now for that control box is varnish. I have the Nitrate monitor, so its just a matter of mounting everything.

Sump should be coming next week. We will also be building it from scratch. If I remember correctly it will be 3 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 18" tall. It will contain my phosban reactors (filled with non phosban things), the refugium compartment, and I think that is it.

My SPS frags I got at last week's Reef Meet are still doing well, which makes me hopeful!

[Parker]

Be sure to post up your thoughts on the RKE when you get it.. I'll be looking to pick one up around Sept for my tank.. :mrgreen:

[michika]

I definitely will. I just want it to arrive now so I can goof around all day playing with it. I just ended up picking up the basic unit and the ORP probe. I'll pick up anything else I need down the road.

[xtreme]

Any idea if they plan on releasing an OS X version of their software?

[michika]

I haven't heard anything, but I hope they do. I am making Kevin do all the PC connective stuff with the RKE when it gets here. I really really do not like windows. I'm still holding a serious grudge for its decision to eat 3 very important term papers at the last minute.

There have been lots of requests for it though on the RC Digitial Aquatics forum. I know there has also been talk about their MyReef program becoming availble for Mac. It seems that there is lots of demand for mac friendly programming, and it seems like they are looking into it, and starting to address it.

[michika]

Swapped out the lighting from the 175w MH to a single 250w MH. We need a second 250w bulb to turn the second light on.

With the 175w bulb (XM 15K SE)
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/KrazyKuch/DSC_0362.jpg

With the 250w bulb (AquaConnect 14K Plus)
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0502.jpg

This is what happens every time I try to work, my computer grows a dog. This one suffers from Roll-Over syndrome. As soon as you reach your hand out to pet her, something causes her to become a limp noodle and to immediately show you her belly.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0504.jpg

Sump should be coming on Wednesday, and again we will be building it from scratch.

[JDigital]

^^ haha... Your a MAC user... Nice! :biggrin: Good Choice! Mine doesn't have dogs growing out of it though..


Lighting change was a HUGE improvement!

[michika]

I love my macs, I will never use a PC again if I can help it. I have a MacBook and an iMac G5. I want to upgrade, but I can't bear to part with either of them.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

It's looking really good, Catherine. Love the selection of fish you've got in there!

P.S. I have the same problem with a pet growing out of my Mac:

http://xdb.xanga.com/8d5c41e128730192005264/w147939062.jpg

[michika]

Seems to be a mac related problem! Nice iMac though, I eye it every time I head into the store.

[michika]

Some photos to keep this thread alive;

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0507.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0493-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0510-1.jpg

Look! Still kicking!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0476.jpg

So I think I've solved my SPS death problems. I am about 95% sure that something important, possibly a bacteria, died off on my rocks in my move in November. Accidentally the rocks from the 28g long were added to the 180g along with the rocks that were cooking in the garbage can. We decided to just play it by ear and see what happened. We added two frags of SPS shortly thereafter, and they have been doing fantastic ever since.

[JDigital]

Nice pics! Love that first fish shot.. What type is that? And what type of Tang is that? (sorry if I missed what they were in earlier posts) :lol:

[michika]

Its a Blond Naso, or Naso elegans, Naso lituratus. This fish is also known as the ring leader and the biggest pig in the tank.

[Parker]

The Blonde Naso is on my want list also!

[JDigital]

Sump should be coming next week. We will also be building it from scratch. If I remember correctly it will be 3 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 18" tall. It will contain my phosban reactors (filled with non phosban things), the refugium compartment, and I think that is it.

Any update on the sump?

[michika]

Nothing more, still waiting on an evening to go pick up the glass.

[michika]

We stopped by Red Coral and I picked up a bunch of sweet goodies;

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0610.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0612.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0620.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0619.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0617.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0621.jpg

They all enjoyed a nice dip in TMPCC, and are now starting a few days of lighting acclimation in our system.

[Chowder]

Those are some nice pieces.

[michika]

Thank you.

[rocketlily]

Very nice pieces. Could you please tell me what TMPCC is.

[michika]

Tropic Marin (http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/english/homepage.html) Pro Coral Cure is on the website, just click under Saltwater products. In short its an iodine based dip. I dip my SPS with it when I get new pieces.

This is the process I use for dipping;
Product and my preferred container
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0003-6.jpg

Into the water
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0004-2.jpg

All mixed in
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0005-4.jpg

With a colony for about 10 minutes
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0006-2.jpg

Finished post-dipped coral
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0004_1-2.jpg

[rocketlily]

Thank you. Do you do the dip straight out of the bag from the store and then straight into your tank? Do you acclimate the corals in any way.

[michika]

I fill the jar with 80% store water and about 20% of my tank water. I don't acclimate them before dipping them. After they've been dipped I rinse them around in fresh tank water. I then hold them out of the water for about 10 seconds to allow them to slime up before putting them into the tank.

However if I'm dosing them with Interceptor, I acclimate them to my QT tank water first (which has Interceptor mixed in), then after my Interceptor treatment is done, I dip them in TMPCC like I mentioned.

[fishytime]

Looking good and great tips for dipping. I cant wait to see those newbies rubbin shoulders with their cousins. Please be sure to post some pics when the time comes. Was great chatting with you two today.

[Railskinner]

They all enjoyed a nice dip in TMPCC, Awesome looking frags by the way!

What is TMPCC , How long do you dip them for before adding to tank

[Railskinner]

DOhhhhhhhhhhh scroll up...lol

[michika]

I dip them for about 10 minutes at about 1.5x the recommended dose. Downside is that it kills off pods and acro crabs, you can see the dead pods at the bottom in the photo. Upside is that I may be killing off something I don't want to have in my system!

[michika]

Photo dump

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0655.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0646.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0649.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0650.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0652.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0653.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0654.jpg

[michika]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0668.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0667.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0663.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0658.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0645.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0641.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0636.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0635.jpg

[michika]

Trying to teach myself some top down shots without a photo box;
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0673.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0677.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0723.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0726.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0725.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0734.jpg

[cprowler]

Very nice!

[Lance]

You deserve some good times now after your past problems. Hopefully everything stays on the up & up. Reefing sure is terrific when all goes well; and such a downer when things don't. Good luck with your new tank. Everything looks great!

[michika]

You deserve some good times now after your past problems. Hopefully everything stays on the up & up. Reefing sure is terrific when all goes well; and such a downer when things don't. Good luck with your new tank. Everything looks great!

Thank you! I hope so too!

[Borderjumper]

Very nice!!

[sharuq1]

Looks fantastic! Those frags/colonies from Red Coral are gorgeous!!

[michika]

Thanks everyone for your kind words! I picked up 3 more frags, all monti's, from our recent Calgary order with BoarderJumper.

Photos;
Everything floating, raising up my water level. This also allowed my overflow chromis to swim out on its own. Wow we ordered a lot of stuff!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0743.jpg

Some favia, lots of cool stuff came in for others.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0744.jpg

TMPCC bath
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0745.jpg

My haul:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0746.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0748.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0750.jpg

In the tank.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0759.jpg

P.S. All-Bran bars really do taste great...

[michika]

I'm going to try and work on the aquascaping tomorrow, or tonight. I'm going to make a pillar like I said I would.

More photos;
New frags from earlier this week with their polyps out, the back two are mine.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0772.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0784.jpg

You can just see the acro crab if you look closely
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0788.jpg

Feeding time
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0795.jpg

[Marlin65]

Love the purple Tang wish my tank was big enough.:cry:

[michika]

I adore the purple. I've wanted one since shortly after I got into the hobby. I was so happy to come across one.

[michika]

The Vlamingi didn't come out for feeding this morning, so I was alarmed. I looked everywhere, and then I found it. Some how he jumped out of the tank, onto the eurobrace, and behind the tank. He was long gone. I feel like a failure. I even bought all the supplies last night to make net lid for the top. Too little too late...

I even know when it happened too, I just never thought of it until this morning when we found the corpse. This fish survived in a open top tank before it came to ours, so I never even thought that it would jump out.

[Lance]

That's sad! It's hard enough when you lose a fish to illness, but a healthy one is even harder.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

OH NO! He was a beautiful fish :( Sorry to hear, Catherine.

[michika]

Seriously today is not my day.....

I just found the fishbones that belonged to my powder grey tang....

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Seriously today is not my day.....

I just found the fishbones that belonged to my powder grey tang....

Whaaaat? You mean the Powder Grey that I JUST saw on Thursday?

[christyf5]

Jeez that sucks. Sorry to hear :sad:

[Lance]

And just when things were starting to go good for you too!

[Delphinus]

Oh man that's harsh. I'm so sorry !!

[michika]

Whaaaat? You mean the Powder Grey that I JUST saw on Thursday?

Yes, that very same, very eating, very fat, and very social powder grey. :sad:

In light of such a terrible day we still decided to go ahead with a few plans this weekend.
1) 2nd reflector is up and running, we are still without a second 250w bulb so we've put the 175w XM 15K bulb on the left side of the tank temporarily.

2) I started making a rock pillar. I glued a few sets of rocks together, and left it at that. I want to make sure my method works before I go and glue everything and do some more finalized aquascaping. I'll post up before and after photos tomorrow.

3) Our new and much larger Calcium reactor is just a single set of plumbing parts away from going online. Kevin spent the evening make changes to our dual chamber reactor we used on our 230g. He cut it down from two chambers to one, and is now in the middle of changing the plumbing set up. We opted for the single reactor for space saving purposes, and because I don't know if we will need two chambers between now and a year from now. Again, more photos tomorrow.

Photos;
Before
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0502.jpg

After
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0800.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0796.jpg

[michika]

UPS tells me my lighting packages should arrive to me by the end of the week. I got out our Workhorse ballasts so they are in easy reach. Now we just need the package to show up.

I also adjusted our lights, since I'm out later and later now due to sports we've move the MH schedule to 12pm-8pm. How should I adjust this schedule once we have the T5s online? I'm hoping for maybe a total of 12 or 14 hours of light, but I'm not sure if that is appropriate for my SPS. I've never run T5s before. Lighting will be 2x 250w MH, 8x 24w T5s.

Can I run my MH for 6-8 hours and then my T5s for the rest of the time? Is this going to be too much light?

I'm hoping for something along the lines of:
9am-12pm T5s
12pm-8pm MH
8pm- 11pm T5s

Yesterday we were at the Calgary Zoo for a Behind the Scenes with the Giraffes. The stingray exhibit still isn't open. We headed to the butterfly conservatory, and then had to head home. I would love to spend a whole day there, but the good days for us to go, aren't so good for Kevin job-wise.

We fed two of the four giraffes at the zoo, Mardi and her son George. The other two didn't come over to see us while we were there.

Mardi
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0832.jpg

George
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0837.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0856.jpg

A random photo from inside the aviary where the butterfly conservatory is housed.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0869.jpg

[Parker]

I'm sorry to have passed my bad luck as of late to you!

[Delphinus]

I've always just kept my lighting to a max of 12 hours. In the tropics it's more or less a steady 12 hours year-round, I'm sure there is some seasonal fluctuation but to me it just seems "better" that if you have a, say, "summer peak" of 14 hours daylight that you should correspondingly have a "winter peak" of 10 hours. Have I any studies to back up my opinion? None whatsoever! Just a subjective opinion on my part. I avoid the issue altogether by saying "Ok, my tanks are exactly on the equator and have 12 hours daylight total year-round." :lol:

I run my lights from 10:30 to 22:30. I've often thought about shifting this a little later for the sake of being able to see my tanks longer in the evening since I'm usually up to 12 or 1 anyhow but for me it's just easier to coincide the tank lights with real daylight. (For example on days where I don't work then it becomes weird that I can't see the tanks before noon. But also light comes in through the windows and stuff so daylight will always be brighter than non-daylight no matter what I have the timers set at, so might as well set them close to the real thing and just deal with it...)

[michika]

Well some good news today is that everything is still alive and pretty!

I like how you think Tony!

[Der_Iron_Chef]

FWIW, I lived 6 degrees from the equator, and it was daylight for 12 hours (7:30-ish to 7:30-ish) every day of the year!

I run my lighting from 11-11...with an hour of lights out from 3:30-4:30 in the afternoon.

[Delphinus]

You're living your life totally upside-down compared to me. I want to retire away from Calgary and live 6 degrees from the equator (I'll even be happy with 7!!), not first live there and then retire to Calgary. :lol:

Interesting idea about the lights off for an hour. What's your reckoning behind that one, a storm? Just a break for things to keep things from overheating? (All of the above? / Insert other reasons here? / etc.?)

[michika]

I'm really curious too!

I shut my lights off a couple times a month early, or just don't turn them on at all. I do it to simulate darker days, and it seemed to have a response in my little 24g cube. I hope it works as well here in the 180g.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Hah! 6 degrees from the equator is WAY too hot and humid for me to permanently settle down. Heck, last night in Calgary was way too hot for me. *sigh*

I followed a thread on Zeovit.com where several people gave their systems an hour of dark during the day to disrupt the photosynthetic cycle of the algaes growing in their tanks (this will be in ridiculous layman's terms, but apparently photosynthesis begins after so much time in light, and by turning the lights off, you're re-starting that process...or something). I thought it was interesting, so I did it. Why not?

You're living your life totally upside-down compared to me. I want to retire away from Calgary and live 6 degrees from the equator (I'll even be happy with 7!!), not first live there and then retire to Calgary. :lol:

Interesting idea about the lights off for an hour. What's your reckoning behind that one, a storm? Just a break for things to keep things from overheating? (All of the above? / Insert other reasons here? / etc.?)

[michika]

Nice idea! I think I may want to do something like that when my T5s arrive.


So the tank has been running since May 11th, technically its had water in it since then. We have been topping up, but have not yet performed a water change. I try not to do a water change in the first month of setting up a new tank or transfering new livestock from one system to another. It just seems to help things along better. I do however change the water sooner if the chemistry tells me to.

Anyways so these are my pre water change numbers for today. I'm guessing that the total water volume right now is 200g.
Temp 79
SG 1.025
pH 8.1
Nitrate 35! Thursday was 19
Ca 345, Thursday was 400
dKH 6 Thursday was 8
Mg 1260, 1280 on Thursday

I've adjusted the kalk. reactor by adjusting the mixing pump and re-filling it with kalk. powder. I feel kind of dumb because I'm still on auto pilot and dosed the levels I used to do for my 28g long.

Ca reactor is going online ASAP. I'll dose with a powder when I do the water change while we wait for the reactor's plumbing glue to dry. Mg is okay, a few points lower then I want, so I will probably dose for it as well.

Off to do the tanks first water change! I have 55g of water to swap out!

[michika]

Something is wrong in my tank.

The lights just came on and my imperator angel is dead. Crabs haven't gotten to it yet, so it was a recent death. No cutes, sores, or wounds on the corpse. Imperator ate yesterday, and everything was normal. What should i be looking at to try and determine a COD? I could already see some of the colours fading when I pulled it out.

Ozonizer should be here any day now, and I hope that day is sooner then later. I'm not adding any more fish to this system until its here and running. I'm seriously debating not adding anymore fish at all until I've passed the 6 month mark with the ones I have. Maybe just some additional clean up crew members.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0888.jpg

[Delphinus]

Ouch, that sucks :( Sorry to hear it and good luck with things.

And not that you have enough to worry about (and I don't think it's the cause of the fish deaths), but nitrates at 35ppm is definitely something you also want to look at. (It could just be the fish feeding.) You may want to look into sugar, or sugar/vodka/vinegar dosing as a temporary stop gap measure (be careful not to overdo it, the sudden reduction in nitrates can shock things - also if you dose too much sugar your tank will go cloudy with a bacterial bloom).

[michika]

Crap...I forgot to update this thread...I have 3 nitrate tests, 1 pinpoint monitor and two different brands of traditional test kits. I tested the water with the test kit and it gave me the 35ppm reading. When I tested with the pinpoint monitor I got 22ppm. I re-calibrated the monitor and got 21ppm. We are believing the monitor.

I did that water change yesterday, so I'm going to check the levels in the tank for today, and possibly do a second change tomorrow.

Nitrate levels are definitely the product of some seriously heavy feeding over the weekend, and possibly the death of the powder grey. I know the powder grey was eaten over the course of the 8 hour night, but still 8 hours is a long time.

I'm tired of this though, I just want a nice tank again with fish that thrive and don't die. I think I'm asking too much lately.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Oh no :( I'm really sorry....I didn't think Nitrates at 22 ppm could kill fish like that?

I'll hold on the Regal. No hurries.

[michika]

Please do! I want to make sure whatever is happening in my tank won't happen again, or will stop happening. I am so clueless, 3 dead fish in 3 days, 2 with unknown causes of death.

[JDigital]

Ohhh horrible news!! :( I'm sorry to hear about your losses.. I really hope your luck changes QUICK and you figure out whats going on!

[Delphinus]

No, indeed 22ppm NO3 won't do that, even 35ppm won't, but I thought I would caution about 35ppm because the last thing one needs now is to start noticing the SPS letting go (35ppm is way too high for SPS, IMHO). 21ppm is definitely a lot better than 35ppm though, I would not bother with the test kits if you're using the monitor. Just have plenty of calibration fluid on hand, I find if I get unexpected readings (or readings that don't make sense), I guess over time that stuff just contaminates to slightly different nitrate levels, so I switch to a new batch of calibration (I use refill the little bottles with the big ones) and it seems to normalize.

[michika]

I try to calibrate the monitor every few months when I remember.

Today's readings, I'm just including the red flag ones from yesterday;
dKH 5, dropped by 1pt
Ca 350, went up 5ppm
Nitrate 11/10 went down by 10 or 11 pts with the WC, tested with monitor
phosphates; 1st test 0.01, second test 0.17. I'm taking the second reading as valid.

I dosed for Ca yesterday, and dKH today, but I guess its not doing much so far. I am going to go ahead and do that other 25g WC tomorrow. The water change we did yesterday was about 1/8 of the total water volume.

I've never really battled nitrates before. I've read some serious accounts of some brutal battles, but I've never had one myself. I think the highest I've ever had for nitrates is about 30ppm in any tank I've had.

I'm hoping one more WC will bring phosphates and nitrates quite close to 0. With the Ca reactor online I'm hoping dKH will slowly start to rise to the 8/9 dKH I like to see. Once I start to have to top off again via my kalk. reactor I'll start to see the Ca. rise to the 400/420 mark I tend to keep my tanks at.

[Delphinus]

I'll have to check my instructions to be 100% sure, but I swear I remember reading that you're supposed to calibrate the monitor for every use. I know if I don't, I will not get steady readings from day to day.

[michika]

That would be great if you could check. My monitor came second hand with no instructions.

[Delphinus]

Found them online - http://www.americanmarineusa.com/NO3monitor.html

Sort of buried near the bottom it says "Calibration is recommended before each measurement."

I'm not sure if anyone local has any, but you can MO new calibration fluid from J&L. Probably wouldn't hurt to have some extra onhand. I find the calibration fluid only lasts so long before it seems to drift. I would think that the residue of the 1ppm fluid would eventually start to pull down the 10ppm fluid. (Having said that I seem to get a few months out of each, so the stuff lasts forever anyhow.)

[michika]

If I had anymore towels I would be considering throwing them in...

The power went out. So I watched the rubbermaid sump almost overflow. Then I shut the gate valve to keep most of the water in tank and to prevent the aformentioned overflow. It worked and was working when I was called to the manager's office about a problem in our condo. I came back and the sump overflowed, its all over the carpet, and in the bottom of the stand. This is not my day! Oh yes, and I argued very strongly for sealing the bottom of the stand, but was told to just put it off until we put the glass sump in...should have gone with my gut instinct.

*Edit for more info*
Post mess photo;
- most of the water on the ground has been soaked up
- dried out the stand as much as possible, I think there is water under the rubbermaid.
- have the fan blowing on the carpet and the stand.

Found out why it overflowed;
- too much water in the system, overtopped off from the water change.
- I thought the gate valve was shut, but I guess it has a sticky point about 3/4s of the way closed. It felt tight and closed, but it wasn't.

Good things! (This is my favorite part!)
- Emergency back up worked great, koralia 1 kicked on with no problems.
- Lights and everything else came back online automatically (except the pump which I shut off manually)
- Everything in the tank looks no worse for wear.
- Power was out for a total of 45 minutes, and aside from my error, and the fact that the tank was over filled with water, I think an extended power outtage would be quite easy to handle for the tank.

I couldn't find the flashlight in the dark in our catchall drawer so I had to use the flash of the camera to tell me how full the sump was.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0895.jpg

After the clean up;
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0899.jpg

More good news is that the new top plate for the Ca. reactor is done. It needs to be cleaned but I think it just needs to be washed and assembled before going online tonight.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0887.jpg

[Delphinus]

Oh no! Man alive, it can't just rain, it pours??

Good luck with everything!! :(

[Lance]

Unbelievable run of bad luck you're having! I sure hope it turns around for you soon. I think you should run out and get some 4-leaf clovers and rabbit's feet, and stay away from black cats and ladders. GOOD LUCK GOOD LUCK GOOD LUCK GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[michika]

:D Thanks for the good luck!

I'm hoping we'll have no more problems for the future. We've opted not to add any fish like I mentioned earlier for a little while. Probably at least a couple of weeks to get our chemistry straightened out, our reactors online, and our new sump in place.

The flooding was a fluke, a combination of faulty choices, that is almost impossible to see now with the fan running. The fish deaths, particularly the angel, like someone on RC pointed out, can also be a fluke. Sometimes some fish just keel over, and it could be any reason.

I have a few things to do over the next couple of weeks, and then maybe once the lighting, sump, and reactors are online we will revisit the idea of adding new fish to our set up.

[michika]

Alright so the flooding problem has been fixed. The problems were;
1) Overfilled the tank when the WC was done.
2) I closed the gate valve (or I thought I did) to prevent a sump flood because of the extra water. However, there is a sticky part on the gate valve and I thought it was totally closed, and it wasn't. So the water in the overflow drained into the sump causing the flood.

Everything is dry now and you can't even tell there was a flood at all. Yay for my quick clean up skills!

We also had another power outtage last night. There was no flood, no problems at all because we returned the sump to its proper levels. Things again seem good in the land the 180g tank.

[michika]

So my real package with UPS is out for delivery.

This came with our morning mail. I freaked out, called the Utility company and we had a nice long chat about their responsibility to their clients, and how maybe, just maybe they should read the notes on file before assuming that 1) I'm a non paying client, 2) that you need to talk to my husband to get the facts. Apparently women are now no longer able to make decisions, or be responsible for financial things...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0908.jpg

Anyways supposedly that little snafu has been fixed. They made an error on their part, and instead of just turning our electricity back on from last time, instead they gave us a 30 day trial period. Stupidity hurts my brain.

So the Ca. reactor build photos;
The reactor before plumbing,
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0900.jpg

Hi Mum, am I in your way?
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0902.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0903.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0904.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0905.jpg

Our supervisor
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0901.jpg

[Delphinus]

Wow, I can't believe the amount of bad luck! Sooner or later things have got to start turning around! Hang in there!!

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Wait...women ARE allowed to make decisions now? Sheesh, what's this world coming to?!

I agree with Tony. Things will improve...and it's lookin' good.

[rocketlily]

I had an "untalk" with Direct Energy yesterday. They told me they couldn't talk to me because it was my husband's name on the account. I then asked them if they have ever received a payment on the account from my husband or was it is wife paying the bills. After a discussion, I was asked if there was anything else they could do for me. My reply was that if they couldn't talk to me, how could they do anything for me.

[michika]

Kevin isn't even on the utility accounts, which is what makes it such a fantastic conversation to have had.

Well I am seeing some awesome things regardless of the messes and the electricity drama and stuff. The colonies we bought are colouring up like I expected. Too bad Kevin can't tell the difference between purple and blue, otherwise he would owe me his share of a bet we made.

I had a gut feeling about one particular colonies. I thought it would turn purple if it was under a more blue light. Kevin said it would darken up to be a nice rich royal blue. Its turning purple. I'll try for some photos of the change later.

My ups package, our new lighting, STILL isn't here yet. I'm so anxious to get the box!

[michika]

Some pre-upgrade lighting photos;

You can see the bad acro crab if you look closely. He is coming out after dinner.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0909.jpg

The colony on the right is turning purple!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0913.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0914.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0920.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0928.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0929.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0921.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0916.jpg

[michika]

So the package arrived, at the very end of the day. It contained the following;
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0931.jpg

I got sucked into another XM bulb. I know Sanjays site doesn't say its great for par, but I love the colour.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0934.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0935.jpg

All T5s, plue 1x250w on the right side of the tank.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0937.jpg

Close up of the T5s
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0938.jpg

No MHs, T5s only
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0939.jpg

The T5s are stupidly bright. I think 9 bulbs would have been overkill. I'll take tomorrow to figure out what we want for a schedule and then program the associate timer.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Looks good, Catherine! I love me some T5's.

Question: why is the acro crab bad? I've never heard before that they are.

[michika]

There seems to be two different types of acro crabs. The good kind are hairless, and often have a black mask type pattern over its eyes. This is the bad kind, they kill the good ones, and seem to eat the polyps on the sps. They all seem to have light blue eyes, and a hairy body.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/PICT0014.jpg

[Delphinus]

Yeah, I'm not sure that's really an 'acro crab' per se as it is a 'crab that came in on an acro.' I had one like that, it definitely ate SPS polyps yum yum, and grew from a wee little 1/4" to between 1/2" - 3/4" in the space of a few weeks before I was able to catch him. I stupidly put him in my 110g cube at the time, I'm sure he's still in there along with the dozen or so other HH crabs in that tank. Man they live forever.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Gotcha. I recently imported 3 acro crabs (well, along with three colonies :p) and was a little worried. But they all seem to be the cute ninja type.

Side note: 2 of them live in a birdsnest colony. Do I still have to call them acro crabs? :)

[michika]

You're right, I should have called it the crab that arrived in the acro, or acro-eating good acro crab killing evil crab. That particular crab is also the infamous Mr. Fugly I believe.

Nah, give them a cool new catchy name, or an amusing one (similar to the bio balls thread).

[Mik_101]

The tanks realy coming along nicely!

[michika]

Thank you!

[Chowder]

Everything is looking really great. Sorry to here about the number of problems you have been having. some good luck has got to be heading your way.
Chris

[mseepman]

I have a little white crab that came in with one of my acros...seems to not affect the acro at all...should I be worried...I thought it was a good crab.

[michika]

Is it hairy? Does it have a black or dark brown type mask over its eyes? Its probably a commensal crab. This (http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/crustaceans/crabs/faq_acrocrab.jpg/view?searchterm=xanthidae) is a bit of a better photo.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Here's (http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/acrocrab.htm) another good photo of one.

[michika]

So our colonies have been enjoying tank life for about two weeks now. We've seen quite a bit of colour shifting in some colonies, and nothing in others. A little bit of comparison for all of you. Older photos are at the top. Apologies for the out of focus shots.

Yellow:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0610.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0646.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0784.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0928.jpg


Cap:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0653.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0920.jpg


Pink w/orange tips:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0620.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0655.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0914.jpg


Purple:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0617.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0649.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0788.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0913.jpg

[michika]

Light purple/blue:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0621.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0654.jpg


Pink:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0619.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0915.jpg

[christyf5]

Stunning, love that purple/cream milli and the little blue tree one in the pic with the pink milli (don't you just love it when I get all technical? :razz:).

[michika]

Thank you. I love the little blue tree too! I thought it was too delicate and pretty to pass up at the store!

[michika]

Just got confirmation that our RKE shipped today. It was in Wisconsin early this afternoon. No ETA on it.

[michika]

Quick Update
- RKE is still in Wisconsin
- Ozonizer is at Customs in B.C.
- SPS order to arrive on Monday, or Tuesday
- The Kalk. top-off did fail as I expected. I turned it on and forgot about it. Oops! No harm, I don't fill it up enough to cause any problems.
- Researching inverts, or fish, to add that will help keep the sandbed clean, suggestions?

Cleaning out the bad acro crabs
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0956.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0957.jpg

Breakfast
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0969.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0972.jpg

FTS from this morning; the back and edges of the tank need cleaning
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0977.jpg

[fencer]

Sand dollars and those snails that bury themselves. I have a 3in bed.

[michika]

Do you mean lipstick conches?

Sand dollars sound pretty!

[Snappy]

Our supervisor
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0901.jpg
Your supervisor looks to be over qualified and should work at the city.:lol:

[fencer]

Not sure what there called...senior moment, but there not conches and they are snails. All you see most of the time is these little breathing tubes out of the sand. Mine are quite white. I remember eventually.

[michika]

Hahaha yeah, Pepper is quite the supervisor, cracking that whip and all. I guess that makes Matia the obnoxious boss who is always poking her nose where it doesn't belong!

I think you mean Bumblebee snails. I have a bunch of them, but there are bigger ones, whose name I don't know either.

[Delphinus]

Think you mean Nassarius snails?

Sand dollars work, I have one, and although it's pretty, don't expect to ever see it. Every once in a while I'll see a lump of sand moving so I know it's still around, but it never comes uncovered - never.

Also hedgehog urchins (I think that's what they're called?) Albert had brought some into Golds back in January-ish. Burrows in the sand.

Tiger tail cuke ...

... and conches.

[michika]

All I've ever had is lipstick conches, bumblebee snails, and a sandsifter starfish. I am oblivious to my other options.

I never knew there were so many options. Thank you!

[fencer]

Yes it was Nassarius snails

[Chowder]

You could also use a orange spot gobie. They do a good job at sifting the surface of the sand.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+220&pcatid=220&N=0

Nassarius snails do a great job as well.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1133&pcatid=1133&N=0

You can also get a tigertail sea cucumber
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+502+712&pcatid=712&N=0

There are a few different fish that do the same job but I would not suggest them. The yellow headed sleeper goby. It sifts the sand threw its gills while swimming up in the water collum and spreading it all over your corals and clams.
And the two spot or signal goby will usually not last a long time. They tend to starve in the aquarium.

Chris

[michika]

You guys give great suggestions! I think I want to try for a mix of fish and inverts. Maybe the orange spot gobie and a few inverts, probably snails.

[fencer]

I have a couple tiger tails in the tank...not sure if they are actually sifting or just grazing on the top of the bed

[michika]

Alright so its Chiller Time! (I need some Hammer Time music here please) The tank held steady all day at 82, and around 8pm it started to climb and has hit 85.7 as of 8:30pm. I made Kevin crawl down into our creepy spider infested crawlspace to pull up my now undersized chiller. Something is better then nothing right?

I have never had to run a chiller before on a tank that has been on the main floor in any of our previous residences. I only have this chiller because I used to keep a 24g cube in my 12th floor apartment. That was the apartment where they kept the heat on year round.

So my new and temporary chiller is a 1/4HP Aqua Logic chiller with controller, and it smells like basement. I have to admit I wasn't 100% prepared to have to add a chiller, I've been fine for years with just fans near my lighting, and the occasional fan over the sump. While I was aware it could be a possibility, I just figured since we've had quite a few hot days already where we haven't hit 83 that we would be fine.

[fencer]

You might want a dehumidifier for your place. I bought one during our heatwave and was shocked how much I actually pulled out of the air.

[michika]

I have one of those, but its so noisy! There really isn't much of a need for it right now. Maybe once winter rolls around. You are right though, they do take out a lot of water from the air.

[michika]

I've gotten like 4 PMs in the last couple days about my lighting, so I thought I'd just re-post the response from a recent request.

MHs;
- bulbs are mogul base, one is an XM 15K, and the other is a AquaConnect 14K bulb. XM is on the left, and the AquaConnect is on the right.
- Both are run on M-79s bought from the wholesaler
- Both are run in Luminarc reflectors.

T5s
- 6 bulbs run on Workhorse 7 ballasts (bought from the wholesaler)
- In 24" Sunlight Supply Tek reflectors
- Each bulb is in its own reflector
- Each bulb set, 2 per set, includes a Giesemann Aquablue, and a Korallen-Zucht Fiji Purple
- The two sets of bulbs on both ends of the tank are angled inwards to try and limit the light pollution.

All the lights are run on timers, 10am-10pm T5s, and 12pm-8pm MHs.

[michika]

I stopped in a Red Coral this afternoon and went a little crazy. I barely had enough self control to stop myself from asking Kevin to empty out his SPS, and clam tanks for me. I am such an addict!

A few preliminary photos, which do no justice.
Stunning pink birdsnest.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0011.jpg

A down on its luck mille, we're trying to nurse it into better health
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0006-1.jpg

One of the 3 crocea clams that followed me home
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0004-4.jpg

True to form all my fish want in any photos I try to take of clams & sps
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0047-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0053.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0082.jpg

I like seeing this
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0032-1.jpg

[Delphinus]

Wow that is awesome especially with that fish load!! Man I'd pay money for that reading. I don't even get zero on my zeo tank (although it's the lowest of the bunch, settling in at around 2ppm or so)

PS, I think that milli is actually a Pocillopora of some kind.

[michika]

I think you are right about the mille. It does look a lot like a poci. I'm hoping it will start to regain some of its colouring in the next week.

Have you ever kept Purple Anthias aka P. Tuka? I saw a very nice looking harem at the store and am on the fence about them after having done research on them this afternoon.

[Delphinus]

Me? No, sorry, I've always been shy of trying anthias due to the constant feeding requirements. I figure if you could train them onto dried foods that you could use an autofeeder that dumps in pellets or whatever several times per day. I wish there was an easy way to autofeed mysis. :lol: LOL - a public aquarium could do it ... with a product called a "summer student" or "co-op intern."

[michika]

Hahaha, yeah good products those Summer Students and Co-op interns!

Since I'm home all the time, the longest the house is ever empty is maybe 3 or 4 hours, its something I could do. I should have asked Kevin to specify what they were eating. I can't even express how sharp their colours were, if I had to compare they were as colourful as some of Greg's, Snappy's, SPS!

I think I've figured out how to keep my nitrates down now. The big thing was to stop feeding commercial frozen foods. It seemed to help quite a bit with both phosphates and nitrates. I don't feed a lot of pellet foods either, just lots of nori, and my homemade frozen food. Like everything though its different from tank to tank.

How big of a spread in nitrate levels do you get between your zeo system and your other tanks?

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Catherine.
Wow nice photos. It was great seeing you today and thanks for dropping off some fish food. Your medley gets most of the finicky eaters I get in to eat like champs. The Purple Anthias eat brine right now as I havn't had the chance to train them into mysis or flake or your food. The key is to get fish to eat something then you can train them to eat nearly anything by mixing it with food they eat.
Kevin

[michika]

They are definitely a harem I am considering. 16 fish is a nice number for a harem. They would probably be the last fish I add, save for a few clean up crew members. I am debating QTing them for another month or so to get them onto additional foods. How often are you feeding them now?

[Aquattro]

PS, I think that milli is actually a Pocillopora of some kind.


Yes, it's a pocillopora.

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Right now I am feeding at least once a day somedays twice. I wish I could be more regular but they are looking and doing very well. I would like to train them to eat flake and then autofeed them. HMMM 6 more arms would be nice.
Kevin

[michika]

More photos;

Photos of the other two clams, the middle one and the one on the right are new. Fish, like usual are in the way.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0087.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0093-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0092.jpg


In preparation for the RKE (which is STILL in customs), Kevin cleaned up the control center, and made space for it, and the nitrate monitor.
Before:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0124-1.jpg
After:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0126.jpg

Attempts to get the white balance right;
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0114.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0101.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0107.jpg

This is the closet to the actual colour
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0123-1.jpg

More nice measurements from yesterday
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0083.jpg

Remember those two bad acro crabs I took out of my colonies? Well they went into the pop bottle prison with another much larger acro crab that I caught in the move from the 28g to this system. The big crab actually ate the little ones, there are little crab pieces in the prison.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0129.jpg

The last colony not pictured yesterday, the worm got on it, I'll be moving the colony.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0097.jpg

[michika]

Some more sailfin love for Drew.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0091.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0048-1.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Aww shucks. I have to live vicariously through others, as that is way too much fish for my system :(

[michika]

Time for a bigger system? You can make it nice a streamlined like your sweet iMac!

[michika]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0147.jpg

I'm trying to fix my photobucket problem.

[Marlin65]

Are you sure that they are large enough to begin with?

[Marlin65]

You are using the one that has the IMG in front not one of the others right??

[michika]

Yeah I am. All the pictures are over 1MB and I'm uploading them to photobucket with a 5mb limit. Photobucket has just responded to my inquiry and they think that there is a system glitch.

[michika]

Today was a good day!
- first day at my new job; little work, lots of pay, just how I like it!
- frags showed up today, I got 6, but did not get the ponape birdsnest I placed the order for
- RKE showed up, and cost $34 in duties.

Of course you all want photos....

The ozonizer finally arrived, and it was the wrong unit. Its just the AquaZone and not the AquaZone plus. However now that we have the RKE, we can use it to monitor the ozonizer.

Baking the beads to recharge them. For everyone who isn't colour blind, you can seem the starting to change around the edges.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0166.jpg

Recharged beads
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0167.jpg

I use TMPCC to dip all my corals before they enter my tank, and they undergo an inspection for redbugs, flatworms, and nudibranchs. If I could I would treat all incoming SPS with redbugs, however it has become almost impossible to get interceptor here. Most vets acknowledge the existence of redbugs, but refuse to prescribe the medication even with a sample of the SPS and literature.

Anyways, I wish Tropic Marin would change the way the distribute their Pro Coral Cure. I think the bottle has a lot of issues. This is my second bottle, and its leaky! My first bottle somehow got air in it, and it dried out over the course of a month.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0171.jpg

The RKE!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0170-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0195.jpg

New frags;
Purple Bonzai
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0184.jpg

Orange Digi
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0189-1.jpg

Green Digi
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0191.jpg

Excellent Exquisita, I don't think this frag will make it.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0196.jpg

Peach mille
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0188.jpg

Blue/green Lovelli
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0186.jpg

[michika]

Older frags & colonies;
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0185.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0187.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0192.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0202.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0205.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0206.jpg

New livestock;
one of two yellow headed jawfish
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0174.jpg

red sea raccoon butterfly
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0198.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0200.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0214.jpg

[sharuq1]

Sahweeeeet!

[Jason McK]

Looks Great. Love this thread.

My TMPCC did the same thing.

J

[michika]

Thanks guys!

So some somewhat big changes; I gave Kevin the go ahead to put a SMALL hole in the wall behind the tank. The room behind the tank is our "utility" room/storage/water making place. Over the next couple of weeks we are going to convert it to a water making place/ fish storage/dehumidifyer/ozonizer/misc. fish equipment storage aka a semi fish-room. We are also going to be making a few changes to how our top off is done, and possible even top off from the utility room.

The RKE is now running;
- top off pump
- kalk stirrer
- ozonizer
- skimmer
- ORP/ pH/ Temp probes

To add on;
- chiller
- heaters

We will need another power bar to do the lights. I am quite pleased though that we have not encountered any errors that I have seen in the DA forums. I still want to be able to sit down the play with the controller myself, as I have yet to do that, but things are seeming to be pretty intuitive, and the instruction manual is helping out.

The sump WILL be built either this weekend, or early next week. We finally have a space to build and dry the sump. The sump is what is holding up the remaining projects; skinning the tank, doing the final returns, and creating the storage shelving.

As well the beads in the ozonizer are exhausted already. The system was brought online on Sunday and they are needing a re-charge already. Melev from RC thinks its because of the high humidity where the ozonizer is located (under the stand).

[michika]

Ah! The cyano, its invading! And, its already established colonies!

I need to do some testing today, however I think when I do test I will find that my dKH/alkalinity is low. This was previously the cause of my other experience with cyano in our second tank, a 46g bowfront.

RKE is still running like a champ. I love it, even though I still haven't made time to play around with it and familiarize myself with it. From today at 6pm MST:
Temp 80.6
pH 7.98
ORP 371

The fish are grazing and generally being good. I have been keeping a tentative list of the length of the doctor tang. When I got it, it was 1" from nose to tail, today it is about half an inch, maybe less, smaller then the Naso tang. As of today the fish are:

Naso tang; 5"
Doctor tang 4.5"
Red Sea Sailfin tang 4.5"
Vlamingi tang 4"
Scopas tang 2.5"
Red Sea Raccoon Butterfly 1.25"
yellow damsel 1.75"
both small chromii are STILL 0.5" (been this small for at least a year)
mandarin (full size) 1.5"

I also happen to know that is Der_Iron_Chef's birthday today. I also happen to know he has a love of the Red Sea Sailfin tang, so some photos just for Drew on his birthday. I apologize for all the air bubbles in the water. The fish got a little on the excited side when I put the feeding stick in the water.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0219.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0223-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0227-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0234-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0238.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0240.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0250.jpg

[michika]

I came home with another SPS colony and two more clams. The cyano was pretty bad this evening. I cleaned off the rocks, and I am preparing a WC for tonight or tomorrow. I am quite sure that there is a link to my low dKH.

My new (as soon as its emptied) dipping container for frags
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0254.jpg

A poor shot of the two new squamosas. They look amazing top down!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0259.jpg

Our new SPS that we are calling "the bush", it has quite the growth pattern
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0268.jpg

And a close up. It got caught by a snail on the way down into the tank.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0263.jpg

[Ephraim]

i remember seeing that "bush" at Red Coral a few days ago, that is a super odd growth form. Glad someone on here nabbed it, i am really curious to see how that thing is going to grow out.

[michika]

I am pleased to have got it. There were at least 3 other pieces that were in the running with it. I'm really hoping it will maintain its shape, and continue to colour up.