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bignose
03-07-2010, 05:10 PM
I'm currently building a setup at my new house. I will be using everything from my old setup but will be built totally different. My display will be in my basement and the equipment will be in the storage room. I have finished the basement to the point where I can start the build.

The equipment I have is:
90G display 48"x24"x18"
50G sump 48"x16"x15"
Sunlight Supply Tek5 6x54w T5
Euroreef RS135
2-Koralia 4
2-Koralia 3
Quiet one 5000
Vertex PuraTek 100 GPD RO/DI

Live stock:
120pnds of LR
Yellow Tang
Green Chromis
Midas Blenny
3 PomPom crabs
many different kinds of soft and hard corals

All my livestock is currently in a 100G poly tub I borrowed from The Codfather. The tub is in my good friend Oshiney's storage room.

Display
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1207.jpg

The stand is a design from reefcentral that kien told me about.
Started from this pile of wood
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1269.jpg

Originally I had a taller stand for the sump but decided I would keep it lower just to be safe I had room for the plumbing
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1271.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1274.jpg

Display stand
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1275.jpg

Here is the poly tub with all the livestock
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1280.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1281.jpg

This is Oshiney's 15G nano which has my midas blenny. I wish my first tank was this nice. Good work oshiney:wink:
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1282.jpg

bignose
03-17-2010, 04:59 AM
update March 16th.

I put the tank on the stand and figured out how to plumb everything.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1310.jpg

This is the first time I have plumbed through a wall so I was winging everything. I plumbed the drains and returns first.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1319.jpg

Then I plumbed the other side of the wall. I also plumbed in the RO/DI unit and mounted a couple of powerbars.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1314.jpg

This is where I am now.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1318.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1317.jpg

kien
03-17-2010, 10:06 AM
wow, that looks so neat and tidy, love it :-)

bignose
03-17-2010, 11:23 PM
wow, that looks so neat and tidy, love it :-)
Thanks kien I'm really happy it turned out that way. It looks good for not knowing what I was doing.:lol:

I raised the salinity to 1.025 and the temperature to 79F. Next I will rinse and add sand. I'm going with 40 pounds of sugar sand. The last time I used 40pnds sugar and 20 pounds crushed argonite which was too much.

bignose
04-02-2010, 03:58 PM
It was 3 weeks ago but here is a picture of me and my gf adding sand.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1321.jpg

2 weeks ago I added about 40 pnds of base LR, I put half of it in my sump. Last week I added 10 hermit crabs and 8 narcissus snails.

Yesterday I put in my yellow tang. Here is a picture I took today.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1350.jpg

I still have around 60 pnds of LR to go in yet but it's going in when I transfer my coral.

cuz
04-02-2010, 04:48 PM
nice work!! not gonna paint the back of your tank?

rstar
04-02-2010, 05:25 PM
Looking great! +1 to the "Plans for the back of the tank". I WISH my plumbing was that neat and tidy!

bignose
04-03-2010, 04:32 AM
nice work!! not gonna paint the back of your tank?
I'm letting coraline algae paint the back for me.

Looking great! +1 to the "Plans for the back of the tank". I WISH my plumbing was that neat and tidy!
Thanks rstar the plumbing turned out very nice but I'm still trying to figure out why my return pump sounds so loud. I hear a constant humming through the wall.

BlueAbyss
04-03-2010, 03:14 PM
Acoustical batting would help with that noise through the wall.

rstar
04-03-2010, 05:15 PM
Thanks rstar the plumbing turned out very nice but I'm still trying to figure out why my return pump sounds so loud. I hear a constant humming through the wall.

I know it seems simple, but is the pump sitting directly on the sump glass? i put a sheet of foam insulation under my sump, then the rubber legs on the pump and you can hardly hear it anymore.

bignose
04-04-2010, 03:14 AM
I have a piece of pvc pipe holding the pump up right now. Would a piece of styrofoam leach any chemicals into the water?

rstar
04-04-2010, 04:53 AM
Im not entirely sure, but it would float like you wouldnt believe. It should be fairly simple to find a piece of rubber to cut to go underneath it to dampen the sound!

bignose
04-04-2010, 05:18 PM
My girlfriend seen this wonderful powder blue tang at blue world. I was going to buy a naso but she easily changed my mind. I've had my heart set on a powder blue for quite some time but timing was never in my favor. This time I could add the fish all at once and prevent territory aggression. I also added my midas blenny but I can't get a picture of him yet.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1351.jpg

Yellow tang showed aggression for the first day.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1353.jpg

bignose
06-05-2010, 12:17 AM
It's been awhile since I've updated so here are a few.

Here are the frags that I bought locally from Dez.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1427.jpg
These are the smaller ones I got.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1428.jpg
Most of these are also from Dez.

I'm not to sure what to do with this plate coral. I feel it is too big compared to the rest of the corals I have. Perhaps I will keep the blennys spot and frag off the rest to sell.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1430.jpg

Here is what my tank looks like currently.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1426.jpg

bignose
06-06-2010, 08:55 PM
I've picked up some frags recently and glued them down. Here are some of the corals in my tank.

Zoas
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1457.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1455.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1447.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1446.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1445.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1444.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1443.jpg

SPS
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1454.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1453.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1452.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1451.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1450.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1449.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1448.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1441.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1440.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1439.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1438.jpg

bignose
06-16-2010, 01:00 AM
I was looking through some photos and I found pictures of my frags that survived my move. Here are a couple of the bigger ones.

Time from March 30, 2009 to June 6, 2010
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/1sps033109.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1439.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/4sps033109.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1453.jpg background on the left side

bignose
08-22-2010, 08:29 PM
Aug 22 Update

I've since sold my yellow and bowder blue tangs. They were too big for my tank and when the aggression came around they had to go. When they were gone my tank was very quiet but I seen some interesting things. My pompom crabs would come out to eat at feeding time. Watching it defend the shrimp and hermits with its nems was something to witness.

Soon after the tangs were gone algae started started to appear. So I picked up a 3" yellow tang. This time it will be the only tang in the tank. I'm planning to get 3 royal grammas and a 6 line wrasse.

This picture was taken June 4 when I got back from Dez's coral sale. There is a lot more coral on the rocks now. The softie on the bottom left and the plate coral are gone. I'm looking for my camera so I can update with a new picture.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1426.jpg?t=1282508816

bignose
04-05-2011, 03:00 AM
April 4, 2011

For the past 6 months I've been dealing with cyano, even with weekly water changes. I used to have carbon and gfo in my sump cleaning passively. I removed them and added a dual brs reactor and I'm currently running carbon in both. Did some massive cleaning in the display and dosed red slime remover as a last effort. The slime went away and it's been a couple months slime free. Thank God. I changed the flow in my tank downgrading from 2 K4's to a K4 & K3, cut back my sump return ~75% and pointed the returns behind the rock work on each side.
Finally my tank is cleaning up, corals are getting healthier and their colors are coming back!

Here are some pictures of the tank.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1849.jpg
FTS

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1851.jpg
Left side

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1853.jpg
Front left

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1855.jpg
Front centre

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1856.jpg
Front right

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1857.jpg
Right side

Here are some of my favorite corals in my tank.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1854.jpg
Pink palys, purple plate and my personable midas blenny rightly named Midas.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1858.jpg
Purple monster and my favorite coral ever(well for now at least). I got this and it was dark brown. It is coloring up very nicely and turning purple and green. I can't wait to see this one grow!

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1859.jpg
Not sure what this is but it's looks like a rose mille but lighter and brighter in color.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1860.jpg
Strawberry shortcake and a very nice purple sps. The shortcake is easily the hardest coral I've cared for yet. I've almost lost this one twice luckily it has survived my tank struggle.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1861.jpg
Not sure what this blue and green coral is but I've taken I liking to it. Nice green polyps and a bright blue base.

My tank still has a way to go but it's heading in the right direction and I couldn't be happier the way my tank is recovering. I've got my fingers crossed.

BlueTang<3
04-05-2011, 03:05 AM
Where did you get the purple monster. Tanks looking good. You need to come out and get some red planet

bignose
04-05-2011, 03:22 AM
I traded 2 or 3 frags out of my tank for the monster frag. I got it 2 or 3 months ago and it has barely grown, only colored up. I will make a trip out to your house for a visit sooner or later Wes.

fishytime
04-05-2011, 03:33 AM
tank is looking good man.....you have some really nice pieces there.....curious though why you downgraded your flow?....

fishoholic
04-05-2011, 04:14 AM
The tank is looking good, nice to see the sps growing out :biggrin:

bignose
04-05-2011, 05:27 AM
Thanks for the compliments.

I lowered the flow to stop sand from blowing around. I had areas 4" deep and others bare bottom. I leveled the sand and everything is staying. I also noticed coral damage from strong direct current.

Dez
04-05-2011, 05:30 AM
Nice growth Jason! Awesome.

paddyob
04-05-2011, 05:36 AM
Where did you get the purple monster. Tanks looking good. You need to come out and get some red planet

Hmmm... Maybe I need some Red Planet as well ;).


That Purple Bonsai I got from you is really taking off Wes! I need to pick over your frag rack again soon!

paddyob
04-05-2011, 05:38 AM
Jay its about time you got some pics up! Looking good!

Ned and I better come by and dose the vodka for you. By dose, I mean drink. And by drink I mean... well you get the picture.

See yah Tuesday Brotha Man!

paddyob
04-06-2011, 03:07 AM
Frick jay go home and post some more pictures. Drink your beer and leave. Now. Wohahhahhah!

reefermadness
04-06-2011, 03:20 PM
Very nice tank and progress....

Not sure if you are thinking that your purple monster is the same as the tyree purple monster? If so I hate to be the barer of bad news but it is definately not a tyree purple monster.

Everything looks great though....keep it up.

chris88
04-06-2011, 05:19 PM
some really nice zoanthids in there. I also love the hugh stag in the middle.

bignose
04-07-2011, 04:58 AM
Very nice tank and progress....

Not sure if you are thinking that your purple monster is the same as the tyree purple monster? If so I hate to be the barer of bad news but it is definately not a tyree purple monster.

Everything looks great though....keep it up.
I'm not sure if it is a tyree but I was told it is a purple monster. They were sold here in Edmonton not to long ago so you never know.

Dez
04-07-2011, 05:02 AM
I'm not sure if it is a tyree but I was told it is a purple monster. They were sold here in Edmonton not to long ago so you never know.

It's kind of funny what names are given to corals isn't it? Add the word "Ultra" and it sells. Or the word "Monster", or "Super" or "Paradise" or "Dragon". As long as you like the coral Jason, then that's awesome. I have no idea what half the corals are in my tank, but I still like 'em even if it's a plain old "Tan coloured Acro"

reefermadness
04-07-2011, 12:44 PM
No doubt Dez.

But it is just easy to identify a coral that way. I could have said the purple loripes that has been captively grown and traded in the hobby for years, originally coming from Steve Tyree in California but tyree purple monster is just easier.

Personally I think this corals sells (for a pretty penny) is because it is rare, especially colorfull, captive grown for generations, and proven to look good in a multitude of tank condtions.

Having said that though I will be honest and say that marketing/branding does play a role too...but not the most important IMO.

paddyob
04-07-2011, 01:46 PM
It's kind of funny what names are given to corals isn't it? Add the word "Ultra" and it sells. Or the word "Monster", or "Super" or "Paradise" or "Dragon". As long as you like the coral Jason, then that's awesome. I have no idea what half the corals are in my tank, but I still like 'em even if it's a plain old "Tan coloured Acro"

No matter what it is... I have seen this "monster" in person and it is going to be a knockout!

The purple is PURPLE and the tips are all turning green. Probably going to be his nicest coral ... cough cough frag cough cough ha ha ha ha!

bignose
04-09-2011, 09:10 PM
I was at aquarium illusions today and they are selling a nice sized colony of purple monster for a significant amount. I never asked if it is a Tyree but for that price it must be a special piece.

bignose
04-09-2011, 09:24 PM
I was at red coral yesterday and I seen these magician palys. 9 polyps for $10 I couldn't resist.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1881.jpg

bignose
04-24-2011, 12:13 AM
My macro shot attempt of Purple polyp pink birdnest.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1905-1.jpg

Another shot of the so called purple monster although I'm starting to think it's not because the colors are brighter than the pics on the internet.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1918.jpg

New zoa frag I got from red coral. Don't know what it is can someone ID it?
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1914.jpg

Walt smith purple sps
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1913.jpg

BlueTang<3
04-24-2011, 12:28 AM
I was at red coral yesterday and I seen these magician palys. 9 polyps for $10 I couldn't resist.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP1881.jpg

Have the palys gone bright red for you yet? I picked up a frag from rcc and wow when the actinic come on, hope there the same ones for you.

bignose
04-24-2011, 04:31 AM
There are nice red lines coming from the center out. That shot is with aquablue special(12k I believe?) bulbs on. Like your saying when the actinics come on the colors in the magicians really show. Not sure if it's the bulbs or the coral settling into my tank probably a bit of both. I big thanks to Steve at red coral for these beauts though.

I was hoping to get some of the Joker paly at red coral yesterday but they sold out before the store opened. Oh well Steve so kindly put me on the waiting list now I have to wait WTH!!!:twised: kidding Steve I can wait. Got my fingers crossed hopefully I'm at the top of the waiting list!

bignose
06-22-2011, 02:04 AM
Since my last post I split my returns and added a couple more flare nozzles reducing the flow allowing for full flow. No more sand storm and all my corals seem to be happy.

I also changed my bulbs to the following:
1. ATI Blue plus
2. KZ Newgen II
3. D&D Powerchrome pink
4. ATI Aquablue Sp.
5. ATI Purple+
6. ATI Aquablue Sp.
7. ATI Purple plus
8. ATI Blue plus

For the past month I've started dosing vodka and have positive results except for 1 coral with some bleached tips but the color seems to be coming back slowly. Growth and color are starting to increase. Presently I'm at 1.3 ml daily and will soon be dosing zeobak.

Also some hair algae is appearing in my tank probably from all the frozen food I've been feeding. I've cut back the frozen to once every 3 days and feed nls pellets for the other days. To combat the algae I bought a lawnmower blenny.
I also bought another scooter dragonette to pair with my other scooter. They were doing their dance last night swimming up and around the tank, very interesting to watch. No aggression between them so I'm happy.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0021.jpg
FTS

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0003.jpg
purple deaths

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0010.jpg
blue mille starting to color up

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0017.jpg
alien eyes

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0030.jpg
onyx true percula

chris88
06-22-2011, 03:47 AM
love the aquascape. that tank is going to look awsome when it all grows in.

fishytime
06-22-2011, 01:47 PM
Tank looks great man.....I love that big green stylo on the right....

noirsphynx
06-22-2011, 09:01 PM
Looking awesome Jason!

bignose
06-26-2011, 09:51 PM
Thanks guys,

Here are some new things too add to my journal.

I wanted a male for my female onyx. They had a pair at Red Coral for awhile so I bought the smaller one to take home for her.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0061.jpg

A male scooter dragonette I got for a lonely female that I've had since I got into the hobby. They paired up and do their dance daily in the evening. Very fun to watch.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0066.jpg

I got this rhodactis(superman?) on fathers day for free from Aquarium Illusions.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0069.jpg

Lastly a couple of nice clams. With all the clams dying in the past I've got my fingers crossed.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0056.jpg
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0053.jpg

bignose
10-24-2011, 03:32 AM
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0186.jpg
My skimmer died awhile back and I decided to buy a Vertex IN180 very happy with it so far.

I also installed a Bubble Magus doser. I've never used a dosing pump before so I'm still dialing in my water parameters, I'm happy with it so far some of my corals are starting to color up. Dosing 24mL KH, 20mL Ca and 6 mL Vodka daily.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0185.jpg

Here is my tank now about 4 months since the last picture. I made some minor changes in rock scape on the left side of the tank which made some nice caves. Not sure if I'm going to keep my zoas because I think there is too much flow and light, they are very small and partially closed.
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/jasoncompton1/IMGP0184.jpg

noirsphynx
10-24-2011, 03:52 AM
It looks awesome Jason!

reefwars
10-24-2011, 04:48 AM
looking good jason man, for some reason i bet a nice big elegance would look good in there;););pppp

kien
11-17-2012, 09:29 PM
:cry:

chris88
11-19-2012, 06:33 PM
Great tank I love the aquascape.