RNMB Cardiff Tank - ReBorn with "The Other Water"

[RnMB1988]

So, Hi Everybody

This is my first post here so I thought it would be cool to do a build.
A little about me..... I have been in the freshwater side of the hobby on and off for years. I got to the point where I was doing Discus in completely live planted tanks. I went through a very hard few years where I had to sell off everything, things are better now and my wife and I decided to try a Saltwater tank together.
Now you would think that someone with some experience would not make a bunch of newbie mistakes, well I am here to tell you that isnt the case, we have made some real bone head decisions. I guess thats life, so here is what we have, what we have done, and maybe a glimpse of where we are going. This is intended to help people not make the same mistakes we have and it may be good for a laugh of two as well. Please dont be hyper critical of what I said or done here, remember, we are ALL human.

April 20^th 2013
We got a fairly decent deal on a used Cardiff all set up and running, so we thought. $360 it had the three tier rack in the center slot of the sump, and it had water and sand in it, and a T5 light on top. We ran out and bought a ton of live rock, (based on the 1.5 lbs per gallon the LPS told us we needed) this is what it looked like to start with.



May 13^th 2013
So now that we had a tank and some water in it and live rocks that had aged so with all my fresh water knowledge we were off and running, so I thought. As it turns out we didnt aquascape very well to start with, so it got changed, and not for the better. We also put a few fish in along with some cleaner shrimp, two pieces of coral and some snails.



More to follow:


May 17^th 2013


I met a local guy (Eddie..AKA...Zia on here) who was selling some coral frags and I learned about an item called a refugium, I had never heard of this and that was with all my fresh water experience!! (You do hear the sarcasm, right?) I also found out that our current aquascape was still not very good, so it got changed again and I ordered a refugium. (The Reef Octopus 18 HOB) as well as purchased some very nice coral from Eddie, I also gave him a Mandarin Dragonet that we had been told was OK to put into the tank from the LPS, I also started reading..EVERYTHING I could find (this forum) and even went out to a few others.

[RnMB1988]

May 31^st, 2013.

The refugium arrived and I spent the day figuring out how to modify it so it would work with this small tank. I had to re-make the plumbing because of the sump-in-back of the Cardiff tank and the pump was HUGE, so I had to figure out how to keep it in the refugium. Now this was a tuff call I could have gone and got a smaller pump, but that would be more $$, or I could have used the included pump in the tank, but that would have looked like crap and required me to yet again move the rocks around, so it was a fairly easy call to move it into the refugium even though it eats up valuable space. This is what I ended up with.

 

 

It didn’t work as I wanted, there was a TON of flow through it, (yes I know there is supposed to be) but it was too much for the overflow to handle, so it WAS too much. I had to make a few modifications to the modifications. I added a valve to the inlet so I can control the flow, and I added a grate to the middle chamber overflow to keep the Cheato in the middle chamber. So as of today, it seems to be running as I think it should (you remember how much fresh water experience I have right??).

So I guess we will see what happens.

 

So things just ran for the next 4 weeks with the exception of me playing with the aquascape and doing water changes, we went on Vacation to the Florida Keys and left our 18 yr. old son in charge of the house, dogs and yes, the tank. He did well and everything survived.

 

Right before we went on vacation we had gone up to Albuquerque NM and found the South West Reef Co. What a great store. The people are very friendly and helpful, the store is clean, the tanks look great, and it’s just a pleasure to shop there! We put aside the money for a new light that Jen (at Southwestern Reef) told us about. I will post the results of the change to the new light in a week or two when I get all the parts to actually use the light.

This is what it looks like today 7-2-13

[AJ69]

Looking good

[RnMB1988]

Well, I received the last piece of the light fixture/mount on Wednesday and was able to assemble and install it on the tank today. I have read several other peoples build thread that have the same tank and I decided to open up the back panel and install a cross member to give the stand some extra stability, then I installed the new Aqua Illumination "Hydra" LED light. Man what a difference it makes in the way the tank looks, I also did a little more aquascaping. Here is an before and after shot.

[Zia]

Hey there you are buddy!

Man the tanks really coming along. Love the fuge mod!

[Zia]

Lovin that Hang on back fuge addition. Did you finally get the flow dialed in the way you wanted it, and anything moving around in there yet?

 

http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/ziareefer/media/2_zps5258c379.jpg.html'>

[RnMB1988]

Zia.

 

Yes! when I added the valve it allowed me to slow the flow to what ever I want. All I did was shut the valve just to the point the water level would not surpass the return pipes limit, so it is running as fast as it can. I have a nice large wad of Cheato in the middle chamber along with some live rock and I have stocked it with Tiger pods. As of today I also took the T-5 light that was the main aquarium light and moved it to the refugium. Now its just time to grow some coral......

[RnMB1988]

Well its been almost two months and all I can say when I look back at the old pics, is WOW, my corals have grown a lot!!!
It may not be all due to the light, but I think that is most of it.
Here are some new pics!!

 

[Zia]

Dang Bob, your tank is looking awesome!! That green toadstool really puts it in perspective, it was the size of a quarter when you got from me. Your doing some awesome things over there.

Hey i lost that paper where i wrote down the name of that instant hatching live food. What was that amazing stuff again?

 

Hey and bummer to hear Vivid was a bust this trip. Such a disappointment, every time i go in there he has that place stocked with amazing Kandy's.

That figures...

[RnMB1988]

Zia.

 

I am using Marc Weiss Reef Bugs - Natural invertebrate food contains twelve strains of live marine microbes - Replicates marine snow for corals, live rock, sponges, clams, and more.

Found it here --> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18508

Seems to be working well.

 

I want to thank you again for the frags, and the feeding lessons, now maybe I can double the growth rate again!

 

If you decide to get a Duc, let me know, I will go with you!!

[RnMB1988]

So I have been a little lax in posting everything that has happened with my tank. I had a major malfunction with my refugium about 30 to 40 days ago, I designed the water flow poorly and I had a snail block the water return, so yup, you guess it, it overflowed. I pulled it completely off the tank and just let it sit, thinking about how to make it right. When I went up to visit Ziareefer I got a look at his fuge and BAM, I know what I need to do. Egg crate. So I made the MOD and this last weekend I got it up and running agin. I also added two small clowns and BTA and a very nice piece of Waving Hand - Blue (Anthelia sp.).

Here are a few pics

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/uploads/gallery/category_2/gallery_80172_2_182305.jpg

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/uploads/gallery/category_2/gallery_80172_2_458915.jpg

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/uploads/gallery/category_2/gallery_80172_2_592617.jpg

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/uploads/gallery/category_2/gallery_80172_2_641394.jpg

 

[Zia]

Zia.

 

I am using Marc Weiss Reef Bugs - Natural invertebrate food contains twelve strains of live marine microbes - Replicates marine snow for corals, live rock, sponges, clams, and more.

Found it here --> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18508

Seems to be working well.

 

I want to thank you again for the frags, and the feeding lessons, now maybe I can double the growth rate again!

 

If you decide to get a Duc, let me know, I will go with you!!

 

Awesome, i need a few things from them, so ill order some of this tonight! Cant wait to try it

 

No worries on the frags, you did me a favor freeing up some badly needed space!

 

So I have been a little lax in posting everything that has happened with my tank. I had a major malfunction with my refugium about 30 to 40 days ago, I designed the water flow poorly and I had a snail block the water return, so yup, you guess it, it overflowed. I pulled it completely off the tank and just let it sit, thinking about how to make it right. When I went up to visit Ziareefer I got a look at his fuge and BAM, I know what I need to do. Egg crate. So I made the MOD and this last weekend I got it up and running agin. I also added two small clowns and BTA and a very nice piece of Waving Hand - Blue (Anthelia sp.).

Here are a few pics

 

Nice mod on the fuge! Looks like that should fix the issue and gald to see you bring that back online, its such a asset for your water parameters and giving the pods a safe place to breed etc..

 

Dude those are the brightest clowns ive seen in awhile. Them and that new BTA looks awesome, great score! Your reef will be so much more enjoyable with them in there.

Holy cow that that dragon breath macro algae looks killer in there. I bet those tips glow like crazy with all blues!

 

Hey, tip on posting pics to your thread. try to upload them to a free Photobucket account and than copy and paste the link from there and BAM, there big and no extra links required.

[RnMB1988]

Ziareefer

 

Hey, tip on posting pics to your thread. try to upload them to a free Photobucket account and than copy and paste the link from there and BAM, there big and no extra links required.

 

 

I was hoping that is what it would be when I used the Gallery for the whole tank shots. I guess I will need to get an account somewhere. What is best, photo bucket, Picasa – something else??

[RnMB1988]

So I was looking through the Livestock classifieds yesterday (bad abd bad bad idea) and what do I see, Coral Candy!!!

This is what is on the way:

 

Super Saiyan

 

Mandarin Orange

 

Tyree Space monster

 

 

There goes the budget.

[Zia]

Muhahaha, you've been officially been bitten by the Z/P bug. It's all ova for your wallet my friend! Great choices on those. Tenor has some of the best ones out there and you wont be disappointed by his packaging and service!

I was hoping that is what it would be when I used the Gallery for the whole tank shots. I guess I will need to get an account somewhere. What is best, photo bucket, Picasa – something else??

I use Photobucket, its super easy and convenient.

[RnMB1988]

New arrivals.....

 

 

 

[Zia]

The palys have landed and are in the nest Can't wait to see em planted in the tank

Can't say enough about the dudes packaging!

[RnMB1988]

OK, here they are, not in there permanent placement yet. I turned my Hydra down to 50% using the coral acclimation mode, this is so cool, I told it to go to 50% for two days hit ok and BAM - 50% power for two days!! On Saturday I will only drop it 25% for two more days.

I will wait about two weeks before I try and move them up a little. I think these will be the last I put in for a while.

Time to just cruise and encourage growth.

 

 

[Zia]

They actually look really good for only being in the tank for a few hours. Cant get over how much your plate looks like a baby of mine. It looks so cool all small like that!

Bad asss on the light being able to just go into that kind of automation.

[RnMB1988]

The palys have landed and are in the nest Can't wait to see em planted in the tank

Can't say enough about the dudes packaging!

 

I agree, each piece came with a protective dome over it and each bag was labled with what it was, light conditions and water flow requirments. I got these from Tenor through the livestock section of this forum.

 

Thanks Tenor!! A++ all the way around!!

[RnMB1988]

After spending Friday afternoon helping Ziareefer set up his new tank, I realized that I don't have any support equipment shots. So here is a quick peak of my water processing station.

 

I use a 35 gallon Rubbermaid round trash can with an old household R.O. water filter I got for $10. The reason you need to use a round trash can, I found out the hard way, is that if you try and use any other shape, the water from the pressure it produces, will over time make any other shape round. I had a very expensive (like 100 buck) square 60 gallon for my 125 tank, and it lasted about a year before the water caused a split to happen on one of the corners.

With the used R.O. filter I put two new carbon pre and post filters in it along with a new membrane. I ditched the storage tanks and taped into an existing waterline for the house that has softened water. The water here is loaded with dissolved minerals, and is very hard, that is why I went to the softened water source.

The water barrel is has an overflow to the wast water line of the water softener so if I ever forget to turn the water off, it wont flood the garage (yes I learned that the hard way too). I have a dedicated pump and heater for the water barrel so all I do is make the amount of water I want, mix my salt, then I use a 50 foot section of clear 1/2" hose (I got the entire 100' reel from Lowes for like $40) and pump my water to my aquarium. No carrying water for this guy. When I had my 125 gallon fresh water tank I was doing 60 gallons twice a week (Discus) so I got very tired of carring water real fast and thought this up.

 

I hope maybe this will help someone out there if you were thinking of making a water processing station.

 

So, here are the pics.

 

 

 

 

[RnMB1988]

Since I have made a couple of references to my old discus tank I thought I would post a link to a short video I did of it. I really miss this kind of set up and some day when I am not so prone to moving (Job requirement) most likely when I am about to retire, I will do another tank like this one, and a bigger REEF !!!

 

Enjoy

 

My old 125 planted Discus tank:

[RnMB1988]

I spent a good amount of time yesterday putting into place all of the loose frags I have, along with some really cool micro algae that Ziareefer gave me. I am so out of room in this tank now....... its time to either move up in tank size or just let it grow. Since I really don't have any space for a larger tank right now, I will just let grow.

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00606_zpsa41c508c.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00607_zps73a3091b.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00608_zps40c6c8a0.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00609_zps86a0a4e7.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00610_zps43d4cc35.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00613_zpsfac41e35.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00611_zps4d36bd37.jpg.html'>

 

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/rcgliderguy/media/Saltwater%20Aquarium/DSC00612_zps659ca43b.jpg.html'>

 

Hope you like it as much as I do.

[Zia]

Man, i was a bit behind on your thread buddy.

Notes;

The mixing station is bad asss! I love the fact that you pump straight from there into your tank and bypass the carry bucket thang, good work! How often do you have to change your membrane and do you check for TDS even though its coming from the water softener?

 

That planted tank was saweet! No wonder why the macros appeal to your spidy plant senses so much! There was a discuss in that that resembled a yellow tank,lol

 

All your corals are looking so fluffy and happy man, good job on whatever your doing over there! Love the pops of red those macros are adding!

 

I need to take and post a picture of that torch you gave me, its one of my favorite pieces in my display. Its doing really well, so thanks again! I cant believe you have 4 or 5 more heads of that gem!

[RnMB1988]

Well its been over a month since I posted a new FTS so here are a couple plus some spot shots.

I did add some new livestock since my last shoot, I added two emerald crabs, but one will get moved to Shallow Nano Reef tank later, I also added a Diamond Gobi - he is soooo cool!!!! Plus a real nice plate rock with about 7 red mushroom corals on it, they have taken off and are growing like weeds!!!

 

Here are the pics!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

My wife was like....how many pictures are you going to take????? I said, heck its a digital camera, Im going to shoot till i fill the card up or the battery dies!!!! LOL.......