Author Topic: Steph's 90 Gal Reef (Read 6064 times)

~reefchik~ · « **on:** August 08, 2009, 16:55:14 »

I should have done this earlier I guess.

Like any reefer, I've been daydreaming of my dream tank for a while. The largest reef tank I'd ever had was a 55 AGA that I got rid of back in 2003 when my DH and I separated and we sold that house. Totally gave it away contents and all. We got back together a while later and in '05 we bought a new house, which is in Miamisburg.

I had to have a new SW tank just to "get by", so I set up a 20 gallon nano reef that just had some snails, a perc, a blenny and some soft corals. DSB & LR with CPR Bakpak and small hang-on filter. It sort of fixed that craving, you know--for a while.

One day a couple months ago we got to talking to our neighbor who I've been sort of mentoring over the years on his 90 gal tank. He was tired of dealing with it, totally lost interest and wanted to know if we wanted it for free. Heck yeah!

Now, this wasn't my choice, first of all. But free is free.

And once I saw the mess he'd made of it, it sort of felt like a rescue mission anyway.

So here's what we got from him:

Non-drilled standard black 90 Gallon AGA with Stock Pine Stand
Fluval 405 filter
Live Rock (which he had a bunch of, but it was dead rock by the time I got it)
an engineer goby and 6 chromis. (Don't anyone tell you these are not tough fish. They were surviving without being fed and a salinity that was so high that it didn't register on my hydrometer. In fact, it took about an additional quart or two of fresh water added to the bucket they were in during the move to get the salinity back down to 1.026.

)

I threw out all his sand and started over with new Aragamax DSB (about 4-5 inches) which I seeded from my DSB in my 20 gal.
Instant Ocean Reef salt mixed with RO water
New media inside the Fluval (charcoal, GFO and floss to catch the dust from the sand)
Rena 300watt Smart Heater
Hagen 110 powerhead
and a reef starter pack including some macroalgaes from Reefcleaners.

Because we didn't want to put all his fish into my 20 gallon nano, we knew the move had to be a one-day thing.

We got it done, as I have shown in another thread: http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=6324.0] [url]http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=6324.0[/url] which maybe should really be here.

Now we're having to think about replacing the Fluval with a sump which I've never had, so I can do a decent job skimming this thing.

I waited a couple weeks and moved the contents of my 20 nano over, and everything has done well so far, except that I found my Watchman Goby dead this morning

Well, the grandkids are here for the evening, so I must end now and finish up later!

TechGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2009, 20:03:35 »

We talked about this before

A Sump = Success.

Did you ever stop by and see Justins Setup? Mine is always available for viewing if your in the Piqua area.

harleyrider · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2009, 20:09:25 »

well unless im brain dead, and i might be, she has very limited room, her stand wont take a sump without rebuilding, and she also states she has a non-drillled tank, which also means shed have to have a over flow box, which would be hard to find one that would work for her in the room she has!

UD Flyer · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2009, 21:24:33 »

You said that theres 3 inches in the back, which still gives hope for a sump. Here's a link to a overflow box that is only 2.5 inches thick: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SA-NPF&Category_Code=SA-overflow&Store_Code=PA

Having a sump would open up your possibilities to skimmers that are not HOB.

Aquatic Specialists · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2009, 21:47:52 »

Usually those pine built stands are just stapled together and that center upright is just for show and the doors. It really has no load bearing issues. The load is all in the corners. That board can be removed and replaced easily enough if you wanted to go with a larger sump. Another option you could do is multiple smaller tanks drilled and linked together. By doing this you can now have multiple types of "sump" filteration: water storage, refugium, wet-dry, RDSB, there are several possibilities. As far as flooding goes you don't have to worry there are several little "tricks" of the trade to ensure that from not happening. I don't think that the Fluval canister is a horrible thing to have I just don't think it is near enough by its self. When cleaning it you end up disturbing the biological part of the filter and if not acted on quickly can kill a great deal of your bacteria. I do however recommend using them for chemical filtration as they ensure water is flowing through and not around whatever media/sponge you may need to use. I do not recommend just soley using this, but in conjunction with a sump it is always a good idea! Think of it this way, you can never really have "too much" filtration, but your water can be too clean. Absolute Zero on some things is not always a good thing as there are a lot of creatures that feed off of nitrates and most everything needs a little phosphate. Unfortunatly, a lot of undesirable things feed off of these also like cyano, algea, etc. So using these different types of filters and reactors in the proper stages and time increments you will have great success. The more water you can turn over the better off you are, but by utilizing different filters to do different things you do not have to disturb the biological portion of the system. Also, there would possibly be enough room to get a recirc skimmer under there to avoid the HOB, which are not nearly as efficient, but do work. If anything I would not "skimp" on the protien skimmer. In my personal opinion skimming, water turn over, and volume are key. I would be more than happy to order in for you which ever type of skimmer box you would like, the Eshopps are nice and thin enough. I am also more than willing to help you decide on the sump addition, I have several used tanks that can be drilled and customized to fit your needs.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2009, 14:49:23 »

Quote from: TechGuy40 on August 08, 2009, 20:03:35

We talked about this before

A Sump = Success.

Did you ever stop by and see Justins Setup? Mine is always available for viewing if your in the Piqua area.

You've convinced me as I said in the other thread! I just need to work out the technicalities :-)

As far as seeing Justin's setup? Nope, I just discovered this place a few days ago! I have however, already met one member, Jake, who is now the proud owner of my sea hare who ate himself out of house and home. Hope he does as good a job for them.

I'm also talking via email to another member close by who has an old wet-dry or sump he might wish to sell us. My weekends are usually offline for the most part due to family stuff. I may work in a road trip to Troy this week though. I'd like to see Justin's store. Same Justin, right?

TechGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2009, 15:13:49 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on August 09, 2009, 14:49:23

You've convinced me as I said in the other thread! I just need to work out the technicalities :-)

As far as seeing Justin's setup? Nope, I just discovered this place a few days ago! I have however, already met one member, Jake, who is now the proud owner of my sea hare who ate himself out of house and home. Hope he does as good a job for them.

I'm also talking via email to another member close by who has an old wet-dry or sump he might wish to sell us. My weekends are usually offline for the most part due to family stuff. I may work in a road trip to Troy this week though. I'd like to see Justin's store. Same Justin, right?

Yeah same Justin.

Send me an E-Mail/PM I can give you a hand.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2009, 13:16:55 »

Time for an update.

Techguy, first my apologies, I didn't see that last post til today. I wasn't ignoring you. Sorry.

So now we have an Eshopps dual overflow (the PF-1000), and a Reefmaster 300 Sump/Refugium and a Vertex IN-100 skimmer. I would have loved an IN-180 but it wouldn't have fit in the sump area. As it is, I had to reassemble the skimmer inside the sump due to low clearance from the front of the cabinet. Everything is working well so far.

What else? Well, I've been up to Troy to see Justin's shop and got some corals from him. I met Rayviv who was kind enough to bring me my new PC bulbs from Justin (one drive through Dayton's I-75 construction in mid-day is enough for a while

) Soon, I'll have a new RODI system to replace mine, which I suspect had the membrane dried out a while back.

Here's the last FTS I have:

Kenn · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2009, 16:15:14 »

Lookin' real nice !

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2009, 13:00:47 »

Thanks. If I took a photo today, you'd cry

But I'm working on it!

ghurlag · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2010, 23:50:53 »

Stephanie, everything's looking good! What kind of lighting are you running right now? Any plans to change?

HUNGER · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:21:13 »

looken good keep it up

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2010, 01:31:38 »

Quote from: ghurlag on January 03, 2010, 23:50:53

Stephanie, everything's looking good! What kind of lighting are you running right now? Any plans to change?

No plans to change. I like the JBJs. See sig line for what I have in there. Fairly new bulbs as of a couple months ago.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2010, 01:33:12 »

Quote from: HUNGER on January 04, 2010, 08:21:13

looken good keep it up

thanks! But I still have way too much colt in there.

HUNGER · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2010, 08:21:00 »

well you can allways frag it off

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #15 on:** January 10, 2010, 22:56:01 »

Yep. I need to. But nobody seems to want any of it, and my schedule since the holidays has turned crazy, anyway. So getting someone here to pick up frags would probably be a challenge.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2010, 23:05:16 »

We have a new tank inhabitant. Actually maybe two since I posted photos last. Klein's butterfly and One spot Foxface:

New FTS, taken today

<< what IS this coral? I thought it was kenya tree, and now I think it's cladiella. Whatever it is, I wish someone would take some of it off my hands!

HUNGER · « **Reply #17 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:21:03 »

nice angle tank looks happy

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2010, 14:32:58 »

Time for some new pix!

FTS

My shy foxface ain't so shy anymore. He won't stay out of the way of the camera now.

the 2-3 inch single branch of birdsnest I got from Nikki at the Feb. meeting - look at it now!

I guess I can grow sps after all!

That big cloud of bright green behind it is the previously "browned out" pocillopora I got from Justin
back last fall (it's a double of pink and green, but the green has tripled in size over the pink).

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2010, 14:45:19 »

a few more:

Mike took this one for me at the meeting yesterday, playing around with my Canon Digital Rebel

and my little cutie (freshwater puffer) I've had her about 5 months now, looking for a couple more.

HUNGER · « **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2010, 21:47:04 »

the pics look great

lazylivin · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2010, 22:06:18 »

Wow great growth since your January pictures. Especially that Sarc. Nice work

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #22 on:** July 26, 2010, 10:56:27 »

Thanks guys. Lazy, I tried to get some shots of my only remaining zoas. I'll post them later if they came out.

HUNGER · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2010, 15:42:01 »

how the chaclis doing

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #24 on:** August 17, 2010, 01:51:28 »

Uh...not so great, Dave. I posted a photo to Andy, maybe he can give me some pointers.

I got rid of most of the kenya tree last weekend and got some nice new frags in trade (Gerbers). I'll have to get more photos done

HUNGER · « **Reply #25 on:** August 17, 2010, 08:14:49 »

im sorry to hear that

chromiumlux · « **Reply #26 on:** August 17, 2010, 09:34:43 »

Hey Steph
Where in that tank is your chalice located?

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #27 on:** August 17, 2010, 15:33:09 »

Right now, and for the past couple of weeks, it's on the frag shelf in the corner, mainly under the LEDS, about 8 inches down.

chromiumlux · « **Reply #28 on:** August 17, 2010, 15:42:22 »

I would recommend moving that particular chalice down lower in the tank away from the softies where there is some good mild flow. Somewhere between mid tank and the sand bed. Sounds to me from what you have said it is suffering from from diminished water flow.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Steph's 90 Gal Reef (Read 6064 times)