My 90 Tank

[Cliff]

I’m new here, long time lurker – new member

Here’s my set-up so far:

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/90withdryrock2.jpg?t=1287803413

After 12 years of fresh water tanks, I’m getting into sale water. Here’s a few details about my set-up so far. The plan is to have a FOWLR setup for a while then slowly start adding corals to make it an outstanding reef tank. Right now I have a 90 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump. I got the tank, sump, return pump, and skimmer all used for a great deal. The skimmer is a RedSea Berlin 2 skimmer and the pump is a aquaglobe 6000 (900 GPH). I am going to up-grade both in the future but they are really good for now. Right I have 80 Lbs of dry dock soaking in water to leech out any nitrates or phosphates that may be in there. Going to let them soak in the tank for a few weeks just to be safe. Once that is done I will be adding about 30 to 40 lbs of live rock to cycle the tank.

I will post more up-dates as I progress.

Cheers

[fishytime]

well let me be the first to post...welcome to the non-lurking side of canreef:biggrin:.....will be following along

[Cliff]

I picked up a reactor this weekend along with a small utility pump for it. I bought a Vertex UF-15. It has a 4” diameter and 15” height container to hold the media. I went with this one just in case I ever want to up grade to a larger tank I won’t have to get a bigger reactor. I didn’t like the fittings that came with the unit so I used some of my own for a little different set-up. I set it up and tested it a few days ago and everything seams to work fine, no leaks

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/fittings.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Reactor.jpg

I know it may look a little different, but |I want it at the end of my sump with the line running near the edges of the sump for easy removal when I need to add or replace media in the reactor

I’m planning on using biobeeds to help control phosphates. It seems to be a more natural way as compared to other purely chemical based media.

When I was at the SW LFS, I found out they are getting a shipment of live, uncured, rock. So I’ve decided to get some of that rock when it arrives and start cycling the tank. I wasn’t plan to cycle the tank until after X-mass, but I can’t let a opportunity to use uncured rock pass me by. From what I’ve been able to research, uncured live rock is better for cycling ( when you are using at least 20% live rock to cycle) as there will be more die off from uncured rock which will lead to a higher BB colony to start with. I’ve been mixing up RO water all day today. Got most of the tank full now. With any luck I’ll be able to post pics next weekend with the live rock in it.

[Cliff]

I wasn’t planning on adding my substraight until after I’ve cycled the tank (help prevent algae), but seeing as how I’m going to have to wait at least another week for my live rock, I thought I would add the substraight tonight. I actually started cleaning it last night while handing out treat to the kids. I’m using a finer sand and I’m liking the look of it. After spending hours positioning the powerheads to eliminate all but a few small dead spots, it looks like I’ve created a few spots of strong flow. After putting the sand in the tank, I smoothed it out all flat. After 6 hours, the power heads had gently moved some of it around. It’s kind of cool, almost looks like snow drifts. Now I’m getting some more ideas on how to arrange the live rock when I add it to get the full benefit of the flow. I’ve also added a pic of my sump now that I have everything in place and running.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/sandinthetank.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Sumpupandrunning.jpg


I also got a Rubbermaid container for extra slat water. I’ve now got 15 gallons in there and I want to have about 20 just increase the ammonia levels get too high during the cycle and I have to change some water. I likely won’t have to worry about cycling with 2o to 25% live rock, but its better safe then sorry.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/waterstorage.jpg

[Cliff]

I was out of town for a few days and returned yesterday to find a dying skimmer. I think the pump is just warning out and dying. I will take it all apart some time latter on to see if I can fix it. I would be nice to have it kicking around as a back-up or for a second (and much smaller) tank.

I went to our SW LFS yesterday and picked up a Vertex IN 180 skimmer. Got it set-up in the sump lastnight. It fits, but it is a tight fit, only a ½” space on either side. I did angle it so the outlet tube is on the other side from the pump. I will making a platform for the skimmer to sit on so it is not a deep in water. I really need to up-grade to a bigger sump soon. Hopefully I can find a 55 gallon tank I could make into a sump. I figured I didn’t want to be breaking in a new skimmer after I’ve finished the cycle so I bought the skimmer along with my live rock yesterday.

I’ll post pics of the tank with the live rock latter this weekend.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Sumpstage2.jpg


http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewSkimmer.jpg

[Wayne]

Nice looking set up :lol: Keep it going and welcome to the forum!

[Cliff]

I’m very happy to see the ammonia jump up to .50 ppm.

I’m amazed at how much live stuff is on these formations (live rock) in the ocean. I mean that it’s one thing to read about it, but its another to experience it. In the below pics you can see the darker coloured rock is the live, uncured rock. After two days of being in the tank, ammonia is .50 ppm. Also, the water got very cloudy over night. Another thing that caught me off guard was the smell. You’d swear I have a 4 day old dead salmon hidden in the basement. I filled my reactor with carbon to help with the smell. It should pass on its own in a few weeks but I can’t wait that long.

I spent a few hours moving the live rock around until I found a look that I like which also allowed for good flow and lots of hidding places for the new live stock (when the tank is ready). But I will likely change it a few more times as I look at it more.

After making many adjustments to the sump, I’ve made up my mind to up grade the sump before adding any livestock. I found a really good deal on a 55 gallon so I bought it today. Going to get some plexiglass sheets and put the baffles in this weekend so I can hopefully have it up and running a few days after. There just isn’t enough room in my sump anymore after getting the Vertex 180 skimmer.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Tankwithrock.jpg

[Cliff]

Getting close to the end of the first week of the cycle. The new skimmer seams to be breaking in nicely as its starting to take a lot of crud out of the water and I have yet to adjust anything on it. The water has really cleared up nicely. Tested the water this morning and got the following readings: PH 8.2, ammonia 2, nitrite 0, nitrate, 10. I completed a 25% water change to bring down the ammonia and help keep it just under 2. Looks like the dye off is done now as the “dead salmon” smell is almost all gone now. I’m going to take a water sample in to our SW LFS tomorrow to be tested just to make sure my test kit is giving me accurate readings. I was a little surprised at the ammonia spike up to 2 from 26 lbs of live rock in about 100 gallons (total) of water

Tomorrow I’m going to see if I can get some pcs of glass cut so I can put the new sump together.

[Madreefer]

How did you get those peices of "rock" to stick to your overflow? Is that peice of pcv pipe going to be a home for an eel?

[Cliff]

How did you get those peices of "rock" to stick to your overflow? Is that peice of pcv pipe going to be a home for an eel?

I cut two pcs of plexiglass and glue the small pcs of dry rock to the plexiglass. After it cured, I siliconed the plexiglass to the overflow with two small spots of silicone. I want to be easy to remove if I don't like it latter on.

I might get and eel in the future. Once I know I can keep a SW tank heathly and happy I think I'll have to look into thar. I was really just trying to make a lot of little hiding spots and use up the last of my little pcs of dry rock.

[Cliff]

I finished up-grading my sump today. I made the new sump out of a used 55 gallon tank I bought. I had glass pcs cut at a local glass shop to use as baffles. I siliconed them in place and let it cure for 36 hours. I also built a little stand for the skimmer to sit on as I’ve made the baffles so the sump will hold the maximum amount of water, a lot more water than the last sump. I replaced my old return pump with a new quite one 6000 and re-did some of the plumbing so I can have the reactor hooked up to the return pump as well.

I did the power fail test a few time with different levels of water in the sump to find the max and min levels in the sump so there will be no spills should the power go out. As only 10 to 12 gallons will drain out from the tank, the new sump can more than handle that amount of water draining back.

I also now have a compartment for live rock and some macro algae. I already have a light fixture for the sump from an old 20 gallon I have. When the tank is done cycling, I’ll move some live rock in the sump.

I now have a total of approximately 125 gallons (90 gallon display tank and 35 gallons in the sump).

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewSump1.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewSump2.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewSump3.jpg


http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewSump4.jpg

[Myka]

I like the idea of painting the sump. Makes it easier to see in there. I do enjoy being able to see through the sump to whatever I have dropped behind though! :p

[Cliff]

Thanks Myka. I bought the sump with the paint already on it. I was going to clean it off while waiting for the silicone to cure, but it grew on me so I desided to keep it.

I think it looks nice now that everthing is in place. But then again, I really like the look of a brand new set-up right after you add water for the first time.

[Cliff]

About a 2 weeks ago my tank cycled. I rearranged the rock a bit and moved a lot of rock into my sump. I also added a light and powerhead in the live rock compartment of my sump.

I added my first fish last weekend, two black clown fish. This weekend I added a yellow minic tang and a cleaner shrimp. No algae yet so I have not added the clean-up. I’ve only gotten diatoms so far, The coralline on the rock I bought as live rock is really starting to get more “purple” and if starting to grow a little

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/NewTanklayout.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Sumpup-date.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/LittleblackClownfish5.jpg


http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/LittleBlackClownfish7.jpg

[Cliff]

A few more

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/minictang.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/minictang1.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Shrimp.jpg