neoh's 77g lps/softie reef

[neoh]

Hello everyone!

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, and this forum for quite some time, and I've always been a planted tank enthusiast. Once I was finally able to master the planted tank (which took years) I converted to cichlids (Tanganyikans) - though I've always had a soft spot for marine. I've always been way too afraid (and financially not able to) keep saltwater. I've always been a lurker on Canreef, and have had small but unsuccessful nano tanks in the past.

But now, It's finally happened.

I've been keeping my marine tank for awhile now, and haven't posted pics - through consult, I was told to put a journal together, as I would love to pick brains and get more involved with fellow marine hobbyists.

Current setup is:

77g custom acrylic (60x14x17)

2x powerheads (tunze/koralia)
9W UV
Three baffle sump w/refugium
Phosban 150 reactor using GFO
Marineland Pro 300 Skimmer
Digital Aquatics L3 Controller

RO/DI water

Lighting: Vertex Illumina 260 48" set to 70% B/RB 12% White

Levels:
Ca: 400
Salinity: 0.25
PH: 8.2
Mg: ?
Phos: 0
NO3: 5

Dosing:
Aquavitro Calcification
Aquavitro Ions
Kalkwasser
Phyto-Plus A

Currently housing 90lbs of liverock (soon to be much less than that)

Fauna is:

1x Bicolor Angelfish
1x Scooter Blenny
1x Clarkii Clownfish
1x Tomato Clownfish
1x Fairy Wrasse
2x (pair) Banana Wrasse
1x Blackcap Damsel

Coral:

Purple-Tip Frogspawn
Pink-Tip Frogspawn
Hammer
GTBA
Galaxia
Purple Pocci
Super-red Poly
X-Men Poly
Blue Mushrooms
Candy Cane
Atomic green-orange Ricordia
Yuma Ricordia
Florida Ricordia
Dragon-Eye Zoa
Watermelon Zoa
Campfire Zoa
Rainbow Monti
Pink/Purple Favia
Green Carpet Anemone

Inverts:

Snails
Fire Shrimp
Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
Gorgon Brittle Star

[neoh]

Here is a shot I took last night.

http://imageshack.us/a/img16/4011/20130515204725.jpg

http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/attachments/tank-journals-16/17016d1368390306-77g-lps-softie-reef-20130511_213844.jpg.att

Thanks for looking! :D

[pinkreef]

Nice assortment of goodies, i love wrasses too :biggrin:

[neoh]

Update: 5/18/13

Moved some things around, and found that a 2" frag of yuma ricordia was attached to the underside of a piece of rock - along with an entire colony of green basic zoanthids! Fancy that. However; when I turn the rock around I cover up a 4" ricordia that is attached to the other side of the rock. I gave him a little tug to see if he would dislodge, but he's on there good - and I really don't want to cut him off, so he will forever be facing the backside of the tank.

No justice with this picture, of course:

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5531/20130518191810.jpg

Added a very nice duncan to the mix, which I'll take a picture of of once he opens up.

Spent a few hours hooking up the RODI system to the bottom of the sink. Not as difficult as I had figured it would be, just one stop to Home Depot! Currently filling up the buckets for a water change and backup water.

http://imageshack.us/a/img541/9527/20130518185839.jpg

[Cubeman]

Update: 5/18/13

Spent a few hours hooking up the RODI system to the bottom of the sink. Not as difficult as I had figured it would be, just one stop to Home Depot!



I need to do something like this - any chance you can show how it is attached to your sink plumbing so I would know what parts to buy. And where does the waste water go; is it just looped up into the sink?

Most of all congrats on your new success with the salties.

[neoh]

Thank you very much!

http://imageshack.us/a/img96/9340/20130519115449.jpg

Here's where it connects to the sink. I bought the part at Home Depot for $6 I believe. I glued the hose into it to make sure it doesn't pop out. It's actually making me pretty nervous about popping off.

Then it goes to this:

http://imageshack.us/a/img593/781/20130519115459.jpg

And yes, the waste water goes down the drain.

[neoh]

Just a weekly update!

Added a few lovely frags from Fragbox.ca, looking forward to watching them grow out.

Also went shopping at J&L again. Walked out with another Phosban reactor for carbon, and a speedwave DC pump to replace my rio+ as I've heard good things about them, and after reviews I've had second thoughts about it, but unfortunately haven't figured out a good way to add it to my existing system.

Things are getting pretty crowded in the sump, I'll try to figure out a better plumbing scheme to keep things out of the sump.

http://imageshack.us/a/img443/4383/canreef2.jpg

I'm also looking to plum the reactors together something like this:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3374/canreef4.jpg

I picked up the wrong fittings from Home Depot today, so I'll have to make another trip out there tomorrow.

I also added a Jebao WP40 wavemaker to the mix. I'm still not sure if I like it or not. I had to put some floss in the overflow to keep it from making the slapping sound of water sloshing all day.

Here's the "command center."

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/5047/canreef3.jpg


Ca: 440
Mg: 1400
PH: 8.0
Temp: 27.5
Phosphates: 0
Nitrate: 0

http://imageshack.us/a/img827/3750/canreef1.jpg

[WarDog]

http://imageshack.us/a/img96/9340/20130519115449.jpg

Here's where it connects to the sink. I bought the part at Home Depot for $6 I believe. I glued the hose into it to make sure it doesn't pop out. It's actually making me pretty nervous about popping off.

Don't worry, that's a compression fitting. Very reliable... if you installed it correctly! JK... you'll be fine!

[monkE]

looks good ryan!

[neoh]

Some new additions to the tank this week: Dendro, purple acan, yuma ricordea, gobstopper zoas, a small green clove polyp, and some unknown zoas.

Stopped by Loews today. Who would of thought they would be the Mecca of plumbing? Home Depot never has what I'm looking for it seems.

Plumbed the new return pump (speedwave), added two Phosban reactors chained with GFO and carbon.

Here's the speedwave. One of the great things about this is, I can control the water level in the sump with the controller. I have it at about 60% so my water level in my tank stays high, and the level in the sump stays where I want to. I had a lot of problems with the water level because I had to use the ball valves to restrict the flow and try and maintain a specific water level within the sump so my skimmer doesn't overflow - which is loud and obnoxious.

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/6706/20130525201042.jpg

Also had second thoughts about the fuge light I had, so I picked up a cheap gooseneck clip on light and a 6500k daylight bulb. Should work well for chaeto growth in the fuge. The whole setup cost less than $20

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/3392/20130525201051.jpg

I plumbed the reactors together. The powerhead is in the first overflow stage, then up and over into the carbon, then into the rowaphos and back over and down into the first stage again. Once I had everything in, I realized I forgot to put my skimmer back in. Once I put everything together, and started it up - no leaks, and everything ended up doing exactly what I wanted to! The skimmer fit like a glove.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/612/20130525211428.jpg

Here is it all working together. A lot quieter now without the rio!
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/9857/20130525214858.jpg

[neoh]

Ever been stung by a hammer? I was moving some corals around this evening, and just barely grazed my arm over it (I didn't even know I did it) then bam! Sudden pain up my arm. The only thing I can describe it as is about the equivalent to brushing stinging nettle. Yowza.

[Coral Hoarder]

no never been sting by a hammer(i feed my carpet new mysis by hand and was stung by that one time tho )

[Coral Hoarder]

o btw we need more picturs please :)

[neoh]

I added some new inhabitants last night

http://imageshack.us/a/img823/589/20130608215604.jpg

A large fox coral from J&L, some more CUC as my snails aren't keeping up anymore, and 'barney' the red sea star. I think he's pretty neat.

Here's my "acclimation station."

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7443/20130608195158.jpg

And another FTS.

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/5287/20130608220343.jpg

[monkE]

pics of the new coral?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[neoh]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIGjJ27PseJP91cOlw3nMWxdiZ3u0HL eghP8Nytmn3805UNpr3FAyfwr2bfw

[neoh]

wish I can edit my posts!

Here's the real one!

http://imageshack.us/a/img842/7982/20130609232506.jpg

[monkE]

very nice!
you should have left it at my place with that red star ;)

[Skimmerking]

neoh looking good mango But i would take the metal collar off the return line I have seen them go rusty FYI

[mrhasan]

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/6706/20130525201042.jpg


Like skimmer king said, this thing can cause serious issue. I think there was a thread on how this caused copper leach or something a couple of weeks ago. Use zip tie (two ties in the nozzle will be enough).

Things looking great :D

[neoh]

You're right. I don't have any on anything because they rust. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to put the only one on, under water. How careless. I'll take care of that this evening.

[Jakegr]

Beautiful tank! I'm interested in seeing how that fox coral does... I have had two over the last few years and haven't been able to keep them healthy, despite other LPS doing well. Not many other people seem to try keeping them.

[monkE]

that hose clamp is stainless steel... rust will not be an issue

[neoh]

Beautiful tank! I'm interested in seeing how that fox coral does... I have had two over the last few years and haven't been able to keep them healthy, despite other LPS doing well. Not many other people seem to try keeping them.

Jynx me why don't you! :puppydog:

Thank you for the compliment. What were the first signs of depletion with them?

[mrhasan]

that hose clamp is stainless steel... rust will not be an issue

It will rust over time in saltwater.

All of the stainless steels except the best of the specialty alloys will suffer from pitting or crevice corrosion when immersed in seawater.

And I am 100% sure those clams are not the "best"of the specialty alloys.

Ref: http://www.dieselduck.net/machine/04%20auxiliary/corrosion.htm

And a first hand experience:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=97581&highlight=stainless+steel

[neoh]

rust = iron oxide
gfo = ferric oxide

iron oxide = ferric oxide

I run a reactor with GFO. If anything, wouldn't the rust from the clamp help more than destroy? A theory, of course.

[mrhasan]

rust = iron oxide
gfo = ferric oxide

iron oxide = ferric oxide

I run a reactor with GFO. If anything, wouldn't the rust from the clamp help more than destroy? A theory, of course.

The GFO you use is "pure" (as far as I know) and doesn't have any other form of "leaching" material. These clams, on the other hand, are made of other materials and with rusting, there's always a possibility that the stainless steel coating will turn into ferric oxide and thus exposing what's beneath it. Thus its not only ferric oxide. Why take the risk? ;)

[neoh]

The GFO you use is "pure" (as far as I know) and doesn't have any other form of "leaching" material. These clams, on the other hand, are made of other materials and with rusting, there's always a possibility that the stainless steel coating will turn into ferric oxide and thus exposing what's beneath it. Thus its not only ferric oxide. Why take the risk? ;)

*clamps

I'm not taking the risk, I'm rather just curious.

[mrhasan]

*clamps

I'm not taking the risk, I'm rather just curious.

Oh curse my spellings mistakes :redface:

[neoh]

I took the clamp off this evening and zap strapped it instead.

Also, I took a look-sea for 'Barney' the red star and I was saddened to see that he was not in the best of shape. I drip acclimated him for probably 2 hours, however; it appears that red star fish need to be acclimated for 8-10 hours! I hope I did not contribute to his demise. I put him in my sump for now, and I'll monitor him, not sure what else I can do - if anything.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1646/20130611003350.jpg


:pout:

[Wheelman76]

How's the duncan doing?

[neoh]

really well. It's already starting to sprout a new head! I had him mid/top before for good flow, but once I stuck 'em in the sand with good flow - he's happier than a pig in ****.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3389/20130611002942.jpg

Taken about an hour ago.

[Wheelman76]

Glad to hear it , it will grow really fast if you feed it.

[neoh]

I feed it twice a week, it's pretty amusing to watch!

[Jakegr]

Jynx me why don't you! :puppydog:

Thank you for the compliment. What were the first signs of depletion with them?

Didn't mean to jinx you!

Like any other LPS coral, when a fox coral is healthy it is open. Both of mine ended up with slow tissue necrosis. In my opinion, they like low light and very, very low flow. If the current is constantly pushing the tissue to one side, and you can see the ridges of the skeleton through the tissue, try reducing flow or moving it to a different location.

[neoh]

I've got him pretty well tucked under a rock in the shade, out of range of both the wave and the powerheads, very little flow there, but i'll keep an eye out for that - thanks.

[neoh]

Well, it's been 7 months since my last update. I figured I'd give it a refresh.

Pics were taken just before Christmas:

http://imageshack.us/a/img89/6484/8fdt.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/7637/fef1.jpg

These pictures were taken in November:

http://imageshack.us/a/img24/5792/jfr3.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img571/718/n0s4.jpg

[neoh]

Lately I've been trying to slowly raise the intensity of my LED's to try and make approximately 100 PAR at the sand bed. (25" from the lights) - and it's been a slow process. Last night I added 5% across the board and noticed some slight bleaching, so I turned the lights back to 75% and I think I may leave it there.

I haven't had great polyp extension from any of my corals, despite the fact that I maintain under 10ppm of nitrates, and my phosphates are non detectable (elos phosphate test.) though I thought that was the culprit - it appears it is not.

I got some advice from another member the other day about my alkalinity and pH being low - as it currently maintains at around 7.6 at night - 8.1 during the day. Being as it swings so much - we attributed it to my fuge light being on 24/7. Since I changed it to the same time as the lights being on full strength, we'll see how things go.

I have also been battling a hair algae problem. Though it only seems to be on the right side of the tank. I've been scrubbing it off every night with a toothbrush, but it seems to be coming back. I'm just going to have to be patient with it I think.

[Coral Hoarder]

Hermits blue leg or left hand For the hair algea looks good tho