Cade's 90 Reef Build.
 

Hello, My name is Cade. This is my first journal and my second reef tank. My previous set up was a 55g with a tiny 10g sump that was not even big enough for my heaters, oh and lets not forget should the power go out would flood all over my oak hardwood floors. (which happened 4 times!!)

Anyways Im sure you can understand why I didn't start a journal for that one lol.

As for my new tank, last year I bought a used 90 gallon from a local reefer "Rice Reef" some on you may know him. ;) Then I went ahead and built myself a nice stand using all corrosion resistant fasteners along with some pricey marine paints and varnish.

finally having enough time to complete the stand and tackle the "BIG" move this january I jumped in head first like I do for most things. Got my plumbing together, bought a used 40 gallon acrylic tank to use a my new sump and ordered a new Vertex IN-180 Skimmer. :lol: I suppose my HOB 7+ year old coralife skimmer (up to 60 gallons) was not going to do the trick.

I also replaced my DIY 4x48" T5HO hood with a coralife 2x250w Fixture that Rice Reef also sold me about 6 months after the tank lol.

I have also built a algae scrubber for this tank I will post pics of this as well.

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...9-47-44_42.jpg
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-48-01_149.jpg

When it was First set up. (I was not happy with the aqua scape)

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-58-45_572.jpg


Some pics on my Algae Scrubber:
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-23-05_913.jpg
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-38-39_914.jpg

After building a huge one by accident..Guess bigger isn't always better especially when working with a small space ;) and 2 major mods here is the end result:
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-04-41_407.jpg

Partial View of my sump:
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-04-52_751.jpg

And How my Tank looks Now:
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-56-34_673.jpg
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-04-27_817.jpghttp://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-05-04_474.jpg


Thanks for looking, I will try to keep this journal updated.

take care.

Looks awesome! I am currently doing a 90G build and am very impressed with yours. Keep up the good work!

Quick question, how did you attach the rocks? Epoxy or rods?

Thank you very much. I used acrylic rods, it worked pretty well but I lost one of my favorite rocks it kept breaking when I was drilling. This happened to 2 of my big rocks luckily I had extra.

Cade, looking good! That tank looks mighty familiar... I really like the rock work... :biggrin:

Hi nice tank. How is the algae scrubber working for you? I'm thinking of doing this myself.

Its working great, I dont have any algae issues but the thing that helped me make the decisions to use one is that you wont have to clean the glass as often and I can feed the fishes more which will make my corals happier as a result. Fish poo = coral food. :lol::lol:

Picture Update!! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

2 months since the move from my 55 to my 90 gallon.

Perameters:

Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
PH - 8.2
Calcium - 430
Alkalinity - 6 <-- I know, currently raising.
Mag - (dont have the test kit... is this horrible?)


Full Tank Shot 3/9/2012
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-32-32_791.jpg

Corals
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-26-58_406.jpg
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...-27-18_416.jpg

Did you put that black background on yet?

No, thanks for asking tho. I will do an update after I barrow a decent camera.
Soon I promise. :mrgreen:

Tank looks great. Do you experience any tang aggression? I have always wanted those 3 tangs in my 90.

Update?

Just curious on the tangs as well... I am currently working on upgrading to a 75g and combine my 10g and 34g tanks and was wondering how the tangs are working out for you in a 90?

After all my research I came up with a Yellow Eye Kole and a Yellow Tang in a 75g which might be at the limit if not over the limit?
I will be adding my pair of clowns with their huge anemone, two pairs of Pistol Shrimps and Gobys (hoping I can get them to sit at opposite ends of the tank), cleaner wrasse, cleaner shrimp, coral branded shrimp and 3 blue green chromis which are all coming from my 34 and 10


I'm also thinking to make myself a algae scrubber over an added refugium as the piping is already plumbed for a reactor or refugium - so how is the scrubber working out for you? I've read a ton of info on this and it looks to be very appealing.

Also how much rock do you have in that 90? for some reason it looks to be a little on the low side but it looks cool with the landscape.

Update Time! Sorry it has taken so long:redface:

I suppose the biggest 2 changes would be that I have scrapped the algae scrubber and went with 2 reactors for bio pellets and GFO I feel really good about this decision and after 3 months I was seeing some great improvements.
:biggrin:
The other change would be that Im starting to dose some ZEO products and all I have to say is WOW!!! I toyed around with vinegar vodka and sugar but I have seen noticeable colour, growth and PE on all my SPS softies are happy as always.. ;) Im using coral vitilizer, amino acids and sponge power. I definitely want to go with the Zeolites soon!:biggrin::biggrin:

New fish? We got a juvenile Dussumieri Tang!!! I cant WAIT!!! Hes soo cute!! and yes I know he will get WAYYYY to big for my 90.... can we all say upgrade? :twised::twised: Fish with a hidden agenda... (future conversation "well honey, I guess we'll just have to get rid on him.. :cry::cry:")


Here are some updated pics.

Thank you for reading.

LAST full tank shot was 3/9/2012


Current FTS 07/09/2012
http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...906_194217.jpg


http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...906_194205.jpg

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...906_194158.jpg

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...906_194151.jpg

Don't do the algae scrubber, go with 2 reactors for bio pellets and GFO then throw some carbon in some nylon and You wont ever go back...

I have had 3 good sized tangs in my 90 for months now with no issues. I even had them before the 90 in my 55. I do realise that I will have to sell them or upgrade one day....

Nice update!

Thank you!

Glad to see an update from you. It has been so long I thought you had left the hobby or gone over to fresh water tank. :lol:

Looking good! :biggrin:

Jerk. :wink:

Shut her down last fall,

Light fixture died... Couldn't get replacement for a few weeks (slacked) only had 2 t5 bulbs over it..... Then bought some nice new LED's just to watch my SPS slowly die over a 2 month period.....:sad:

DON'T LET YOUR SPS GO WITH OUT LIGHT FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME!!

Then I had a little contained flood in the stand... which submerged the power supply to my new LED's..... which sparked and caught fire...

Luckily my wife was home but unluckily she went straight for the extinguisher....:surprise: :sad::sad:

DON'T LEAVE ANY CORDS WHERE THEY CAN GET WET!!!!

That same night I brought all live stalk into blueworld aquariums....

FML

All well, can anyone say upgrade? Planning and spending is the best part anyways.... right? :mrgreen:

Thanks for looking. :biggrin:

Oh dear.. So to hear about your woes :-(

Sorry to hear about the mishap... I had a similar leak in the stand such fried my pc4 from the reefkeeper. Had to get a new pc4 next day.

Cade, sorry to hear of your mishaps. I hope you will be back in this crazy hobby down the road.

Thank you for your support.

I will definetly be back! Have been planning since the shut down.

Im thinking 120+ gal shallow SPS..... :mrgreen::mrgreen: