GrandeGixxer Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 I finally got the closed loop performing to my standards. I got a used SCWD from a buddy and did the mod to it found here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...ht=scwd+and+mod I ended up doing a lot of the plumbing for it again. I am sure happy that I did. It is switching every 15 seconds and flows a lot more water through the whole tank. I also changed my return from the sump. Instead of the pipe that I had just returning into the tank, I made a spray bar with holes directed over the reef as well as behind the rocks where it was dead before. I will post pics of the whole setup tomorrow since I am at work all day today. I lost an Acro frag yesterday to RTN. I had an eductor facing right at it and I think that was the cause. It never did have good polyp extension. All the other SPS looks good so I am not going to worry about it at this time. All my water parameters test out good. I also changed my standpipes to the Hofer style and it has quieted the tank a lot. Now the only thing that can really be heard is the pump fans. In the future I will replace them with electric computer type fans. The new fish are doing well. The Niger is definatly the dominant fish in the tank, but they all seem to be getting along fine. I have been testing water nightly and dosing ca and alk. It has been testing between 350 and 375 ca nightly and I am targeting 430. The alk has been testing around 2.8-3.0 my target is 3.4. Since I have begun this, there is a pretty good increase in coralline and SPS growth. I was losing a couple of blasto frags as well as a candy cane. I moved them into my sump because I was planning on taking them to a fellow reefer in the area to nurse them back to health. Since they have been down in the sump, they have actually started to recover. One of the Blastos is growing a new head! I have been target feeding them with some cyclopseeze every couple of days. I did a couple of mods to my skimmer. It is performing better. I am eventually going to do the mesh mod to it, but I first need to aquire the ever elusive enkamat as well as a kill-a-watt meter. The tank is finally becoming what I dreamed up one drunken night. I am pretty happy with how it is turning out. I am planning on adding a frag tank to the system. I am also considering a ca reactor and possibly a phosban reactor. I am still up in the air on the phosban reactor because I have been reading that it might not be a good thing for clams? The ca reactor will definatly happen eventually but that is a $ thing. For the 1 I want it is going to be around $400. I will also probably have to add a Kalk reactor at the same time to keep pH up which is another $100 or so. At the same time, I might as well get an aquacontroller to control everything. The main problem I see with that is that with a DC8, I wont have enough outlets to control everything I want to control, more money. I am pretty much done doing anything to the tank until at least after New Years except the canopy lift. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks for following along. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 Ok, here is the new spray bar return from the sump. Closed loop from the front. Modified SCWD for closed loop. Pump to SCWD. Hofer Gurgle Buster. FTS Left side. FTS Right side. Isn't she lovely? Assorted shots. Enjoy! Link to comment
AcroporaLokani Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 WOW! I like your triggerfish, has he nipped any of the corals? I have heard mixed results with that species of trigger being in a reef tank. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Uhuru, thanks. A-L, I have been watching both of them closely. The yellow coris and the trigger do not get along at all. However, the wrasse know that he will lose and just stays away from the trigger. I have not seen any real aggression between them, just a mutual understanding I think. The trigger has been a model citizen so far with all of the corals and clam. He is an awesome addition to the tank, I will be sad when he outgrows and I have to get rid of him. The angel has a fat lip right now and I know why. I was watching her the other day and saw her try to take some food away from the Hydnophora. Bad idea. Her lip is a little puffy still, but it is going back down to normal. She is still eating and acting normal. She is also a great addition to the tank. I haven't seen her nip at anything except the hydno that 1 time. The only downfall with this trio of fish is that I am pretty certain that I can't add anything else fish wise with the aggression of the trigger. I wanted to get a pair of onyx clowns in the near future, but that will have to wait until I get my prop tank set up. Thanks for the questions and following along on my little voyage. Link to comment
Capt_Nemo Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Beautiful tank GrandeGixxer, I got to steal your design for my next 40 breer tank. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thanks Nemo, steal away but make sure to post pics. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 The trigger gave me little trigger bites when I was feeding some pellets this morning. He loves me. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 did you ever get the male potter's back? Also, onyx clowns are awesome...I'd recommend them! Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 I haven't gotten the Male. I don't think I will. With the dominance that the trigger has developed, I think I am done with adding fish. That is fine though, the trio I have are some awesome fish. I was going to get a pair of Rod's Onyx, but I am not going to now. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 either way...sick tank man! I need to get more SPS! Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Thanks bud, so do I. I am going to go SPS crazy with the tax return. my wife just doesn't know it yet. Link to comment
hecsrt-4 Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I love that Angel he has great colors. Good luck with the trigger hopefully he behaves and stops bothering the wrasse. The tank is coming along nicely, I like the way you set up your tank. It looks like little islands Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 Thanks Hec. The angel is a she. The trigger and wrasse have been getting along fine lately. Everyone seems happy. I will post some new pics soon. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 I got a pair of Onyx clowns this weekend. I have them in a breeder net in the sump right now until I get their own tank set up. They are 107 days old! Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted December 17, 2007 Author Share Posted December 17, 2007 Ok, I promised everyone some new pictures so here they are. New Mille New Ricordia Blue cloves? Rainbow Monti Close up of clam New Acros New Plating Montis Leng Sy Monti Random shots Left Side Right Side End Now everything needs to just start growing. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 Here are my new clams! I will post some new full tank shots tomorrow after water change and cleaning. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Ok, here are some new pictures. As you can see, some things have grown out some. Enough chat, here are the pics. There you go, I hope you enjoy. Link to comment
Juanhunglo69 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Been looking for ideas on how to build my stand. I may have found my way. I think that I may go traditional with the way that you view the tank though. I have a new 43/44 gallon german tank. I can't keep a setup for more than 4 months anymore. I am constantly getting bigger and bigger. Well my tank is. What are the measurements on the 40 breeder? I think that mine is 39x16x16 inches or so. I have the 2"x4"s and 3/4" ash plywood all I need is some trim and either tile like yours or a nice countertop. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 The 40b is 36x18x16. Thanks for the compliments. Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Long awaited update. New Aquascape!!! <img src="http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4184/dsc02104ti9.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>By <a target="_new" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/grandegixxer">grandegixxer</a>, shot with <a target="_new" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=CYBERSHOT&make=SONY">CYBERSHOT</a> at 2008-02-18 Edit; Sorry, I will post the rest later. Link to comment
suppressive fire Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 hows the heat with thoes 2 250's in there? im looking at 2 175's i was going to do 250's but worried about heat+evap. you can check out my setup in my sig too. btw yours looks great! Link to comment
GrandeGixxer Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 I have 2x175's and have no issue with temp. I run a small fan through the hood. I get maybe 1 degree of temp rise. I am getting ready to switch 1 of the 175's out for a 400w though. I might need to get a bigger fan. I am also getting ready to add a 10 gallon frag tank that will also have a 400 over it. Thanks for the complements, I will get the rest of the pics fixed asap(I can't go to photobucket here at work). Yours look great too. Link to comment
suppressive fire Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I have 2x175's and have no issue with temp. I run a small fan through the hood. I get maybe 1 degree of temp rise. I am getting ready to switch 1 of the 175's out for a 400w though. I might need to get a bigger fan. I am also getting ready to add a 10 gallon frag tank that will also have a 400 over it. Thanks for the complements, I will get the rest of the pics fixed asap(I can't go to photobucket here at work). Yours look great too. ohh i thought they were 250's.... what type of bulbs did you go with? Link to comment
suppressive fire Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 also what ballast. Link to comment
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