Looks good Josh

Thanks Matt. That Fijicrete is a bloody mess to work with.. haha Only got 1 of the 2 towers done last night..

If you have even a remotely healthy tank, you're cooler than me!

I run halides too... just not on this tank. Old skool FTW.

Thank Doug

Well, I have finally gotten everything cleaned up with the tank/sump this week... I've let the fijicrete "cure" for 2-3 days so my rock structure should be rock solid.

Basically, I'm at the point where it's "Turn the RODI on and fill er' up!"............

And for the first time in my reef keeping "career" I'm actual hesitant about filling this tank up as I'm worried its going to be ANOTHER failure. This "system" is about 1.5years old... and it has not looked like a healthy reef tank for more than maybe a few weeks to a month before something has always gone wrong, corals have died rapidly, fish deaths, etc..

I'm truly at a point where I'm not sure I could deal with more failure if this reboot fails. I was actually pretty excited to get home from work today, put the hose in, and start the long slow process of filling it up this weekend... and yet, I haven't pulled the triggered tonight. :neutral:

Cmon Josh. You inspired me to do a redo AND add a sandbed. :D

This is kind of what I'm scared of using previously dead rock in my reboot build.

Keep some sort of phosphate removing going at all times. when i started the 90 gallon with dead rock I ran it until i continually was testing zero's for phosphate. took the reactor offline and the po4 continued to leach out of the rocks causing a hair algae bloom just like in Joshs tank.In the end some carbon dosing and gfo cleaned it up.


New scape looks good Josh. looking forward to what comes out!

Thanks Jon. :) My main concern wasn't even the dry rock... just worried in general. :redface:

I got my 2 TLF reactors hanging on the side of my sump for that exact purpose though. Just need to pick up some plumbing parts and tubing today.

I turned the RODI on last night at about 1030pm. Tank is full, heater in the display bringing the temp up, MP10's are going. Now just waiting for the sump to fill. Skimmer has been cleaned out and the skimmer pump is currently going in a bucket of Water/Vinegar mix for a final cleanse.

Test Results 9 days Post Reboot:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...pse467f9e8.jpg

pretty !

I say mix them together :ppp

Ok, hang on a sec guys..

here we go.. cocktail

OMG! Flashback! And John Stamos on drums. :lol:

I received my replacement parts for my ATI fixture yesterday.. So seeing as I took today off work I was able to get them swapped in.

Tank is still lights out while I cure/cycle the tank but I flipped them on for literally 30 secs to snap a couple pics now that the fixture is hung back above the tank.

100% Both channels:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps531bf3b9.jpg

14% Channel 1 Only (1 ATI Superblue & 1 ATI Purple Plus)

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...psc2492e96.jpg

20% Channel 2 Only (2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Superblue & 1 ATI Aquablue Special)

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps21afa647.jpg

Misc Pics:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54b6b646.jpg

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89387865.jpg

so shiny new :-)

15 days since start up. Nitrates are on the rise.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6cc4b7ad.jpg

Stupid Question
 

...and I apologize if it was adressed earlier in the thread: is the rock protruding out of the water? If so, I am curious why?

Yup, it is.....and Why not? It's different, unique.. I actually wish it was a bit farther out to be honest. I might try and put some sort of long leaf plant life up there.

I love the rock work!

Thanks WarDog.


3 Weeks since starting up.. Cycle is moving along nicely, looks like its about time to do a water change.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 20-40ppm
PH - 8.3
Salinity - 1.026

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/1...7f1fca59_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/1...ae8702b2_b.jpg

Rock work looks awesome!
Hope you have a better experience with the restart.

Realized I haven't updated in awhile...

My 2nd channel (4 out of 6 bulbs) on my ATI 6 bulb dimmable light fixture pooped the bed early last week.... So in less that 1 year both channels have crapped out on me. The whole reason I bought an ATI fixture was because I had never heard anything but good things about them, the quality and the finish. I am quite disappointed so far. Although their customer service has been good and quick to respond to both issues. Unfortunately, after December, my 1 year warranty is over.... So I am bit worried about this problem in the future and having to fork out $$$ to pay for replacement parts.

According to the ATI rep I emailed, the channel 2 failure seems to be related to the relay switch (again, same issue as channel 1) as all 4 bulbs stopped working at the same time, which likely eliminates a bad ballast.

I am still waiting for my replacement warranty (thank goodness) parts to arrive to fix channel 2, hope to see them this week as they shipped out last friday. Unfortunately, I broke two of the buttons on the controller panel when I opened up the light last week, so I ordered a new one of those too, which set me back $68USD, (regular $97, he gave me a discount because of my multiple issues). :(

Thankfully I'm still in the early stages of stocking coral so I can get by on 2 bulbs (1 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple) till the replacement parts arrive.

This hobby can be so frustrating. :(

FINALLY got my replacement parts yesterday to fix my light fixture.

Got an updated controller to replace the one I broke the buttons on:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps106a6d47.jpg

And once again, looking at the inside of my light fixture for a 3rd time.. (I'm getting pretty good at taking these apart!!)

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0c83ba4d.jpg

And the culprit to my problems....... again.... The relay switch...:bad-word:

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/...ps47ba4019.jpg


Light is fixed though and back over the tank..

This setup will be getting put up for sale. I just don't have the time or interest to take care of a reef anymore.

sorry to hear
 

Wow that was quite the read I just went through all 27 pages. Sorry to hear your shutting down