It's time! Restarting my 75 gallon reef (pics)

[antony1103]

Finally, after waiting months for renovating our basement, its time to move my 1 year old 75 gallon reef system. For the past year its been in my bedroom. I didn't have the greatest start the first time so i'm doing everything right for my second chance. After trying to rid my aquarium of algea i finally got a chance to make everything right.

Some changes for after the move:

For the past month or so my live rock has been cooking in complete darkness with my new ASM G-3 skimmer.

After the rock is done cooking the skimmer will go on the main system in a 30 gallon sump/refuge. i oversized the skimmer for the system to get maximum waste removal.

I got a new RO/DI unit that i use for all top off and water changes.

For lighting i am using my 440 watt VHO fixture i bought from Cool Touch Lighting. It has been working very well and i am even able to keep low light SPS and clams under it. I am very happy i made the investment for it. It also has 2 MH sockets that i plan to add ballasts to sometime this fall.

Some other info on my plans.

The tank is currently getting drilled for a DIY internal overflow. I hope to get it back after the holiday (and post some pics :) ).

I plan to have a 4-5 inch DSB in the display and 7-8 bed in the refuge.

Water movement includes the return pump, 2 seios, and 3 maxijet PH's. I hope the put the maxi's on a wavemaker ASAP.

I have some pictures of my progress so far. Its not much but any questions, comments, concerns are greatly appriciated. :D

[antony1103]

Some pics (hope they come out right):

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/8c0fd6d7.jpg
ASM G-3 skimmer


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/56e1d2ec.jpg
Salt, ARM, and plumbing supplies.


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/addd6a8d.jpg
DIY calcium reactor


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/d4f98e83.jpg
RO/DI (filters need changed...)


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/787e1d8a.jpg
Final resting place. Hoping to get the tank drilled and positioned by thursday.

[mg426]

Looks like a pretty good start.

[lpkirby]

Good start, remember nice and easy..

[picnic]

Looking good,keep pics coming.

[antony1103]

Nothing much to update on today. I didn't think my LFS would get around to drilling my tank, it being the holiday and all. I should get a call about it being done tommorow, then all i have to do is wait for the silicone to dry and get the plumbing in and i'm set to add all the livestock back.

[antony1103]

Well today i called my LFS and they told me the had drilled the tank and it was ready to pick up. After bringing the tank home i started work on the sump/fuge. I thought i would get to some of the plumbing today but it got late and i had a long day so i decided to wait till tomorrow. Better safe than sorry.

Some pics of what i did get done....

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4049.jpg
The aquarium sitting in my driveway.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4050.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4051.jpg
The bulkheads installed (last pics a bit dark).

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4052.jpg
Veiw of the pump/sump/CA reactor down through the stand.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4054.jpg
Quiet One 4000. I'm thinking about switching pumps in the future but for now this one has worked well, so if it's not broke, why fix it?

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4055.jpg
The tank on the stand.

Tomorrow the acrylic in the sump should be dry and i will start the plumbing. I'm hoping to get the livestock in ASAP without risking their lives. Right now they are in a smaller temporary tank so i want to get them out (especially the tang) soon.

I think its comming along well....

[frederickk]

Look like a nice tank. Remember to take your time.

[antony1103]

Finally got the fresh salt water in. All RO/DI, so now i'm just adjusting the temperature before the livestock go in. One quick question: My protein skimmer has been making alot of microbubbles that are going right back into the display. This isn't normal for it. Could it be the fresh salt water or maybe the container i stored the RO/DI in? Its and ASM G-3, non-modded.

[antony1103]

Sorry about the wait, i've been pretty busy to update. As for a cycle, i really didn't have any. I used all the rock that was in teh tank from the start so i hade no die off (especially after cooking it a few weeks). I got around top taking some pics too.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4586.jpg

Plumbing from the DIY overflow into the sump.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4575.jpg

ASM G-3 at work, i really like this skimmer. It pulls some nasty stuff out.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4574.jpg

Yup, DSB.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4588.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4560.jpg

My clown and his green LTA.
The only pic of my livestock that actually came out right. I'm new at taking pictures of my reef using a Kodak Easyshare C360:cool:
Most of tehm just come out fuzzy.

[antony1103]

Sorry about the size, again i'm new with this. What do you think?

[MyMonkey]

Great start.

[R33f3r]

Looking sweet :) :)

[HotRod68Camaro]

What size are you drain bulkheads?

[antony1103]

They are one inch bulkheads. I had tehm drilled after i got the tank and i made an overflow from acrylic. 2 is more than enough for the pump i have but i plan to upgrade it in the near future.

[T reef K]

People say tempered glass ( I am assuming your tank is) cannot be drilled. What's the real deal?

[antony1103]

Yeah from what i hear tempered glass cannot be drilled. That is why i couldn't get the bottom drilled. The sides although are not so my LFS drilled it for a small fee.

[ambaratur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7850429#post7850429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by T reef K
People say tempered glass ( I am assuming your tank is) cannot be drilled. What's the real deal?

Why are you assuming the tank is tempered? Also most tempered tanks are only tempered on the bottom - this one was drilled on the side.

And you can not drill tempered glass.

[antony1103]

I took some more pics of some livestock that came out semi-clear. Not the best but i'm getting better at this.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4619.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4620.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4615.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4603.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4617.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4621.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_4625.jpg

Not to sure what the 5 and 6 coral is, i'm new with sps and got the frags from a local club. I also got some monti's and some digita frags with quite a few lps. All see to be doing well now.

As for fish currently i have a blue tang, engineer goby, Clarki clownfish, and last week i just added what my LFS called queen anthias (sp?). Not to sure, but as soon as i get a pic i'll try to ID them.

Happy reefing!

[antony1103]

Ok, It's been a while but school started and i have like no time left anymore. The tank is up and running, very well actually. Its not as good as some tank here but i say its doing great. Some changes in livestock. I still have the blue tang and engineer goby but had troubles with the clown.. He was way to large and agressive. So i gave him to a good home and added a foxface, salfin blenny(sp?), and 2 true percs. I didn't buy them as a pair but they seem to be doing well. They both host my LTA and seemed to have formed their dominance and look like they are forming a mated pair.

I'm hoping to get more info but its late now and i have class tomorrow. But i do have some pics of the clowns. (not the best but i'm trying)

Here are some of the best pics i could get with the lights off.



http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_6304.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_6300.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_6297-1.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/100_6296.jpg


Sorry about the size, again new at all this.

Enjoy!

[drummereef]

Looks like things are going swimmingly! Nice!

[easye123]

that last pic is soo bad *** epsecially when your h...

[ultra spikey]

how did you make your overflow?? I have a 75g with a tempered bottom aslo, and i'm looking for options on what to do about overflows.

[CPT. MURPHY]

Very cool!

CPT.

[antony1103]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8597358#post8597358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ultra spikey
how did you make your overflow?? I have a 75g with a tempered bottom aslo, and i'm looking for options on what to do about overflows.

I saw the idea somewhere on here before. The side aren't temepered so i had my LFS drill 2 holes for 1 inch bulkheads. They drilled them and gave me bulkhead kits for like $20. I drilled them in the top right corner and just made an 8"x5"x5" acrylic box and siliconed it to the back glass around the bulkheads.

Its been working very well, better than expected actually. The 2 one inche bulkheads really help with alot of flow. My Quiet One 4000HH is running at 100% and i'm still thinking of upgrading it for more flow. I can take pictures of it later on today and go into more detail if you like. IMO it's worth it. More reliable than a siphon and takes up less space than an overflow built in.

[xtrstangx]

Looks really good, I love the clowns in the anemone!

[antony1103]

Well its been a while and my thread kinda got lost but i found it and i took some more pictures. Don't mind the camara, its actually the one on my phone.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/FFcoral-1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/FFCBCTandcoral.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/antony1103/FFcoral.jpg

[jdircksen]

looks great. what kind of noise do you get from your drains?

[antony1103]

Very little actually. The fans on my light are louder. I used 2 exactly for this purpose. Less water going through each = less noise.

[jdircksen]

Cool. I have 2 1" drains on my 75 as well. I first plumbed it without the dorso and it was horrible. Mine is silent now without the dorsos b/c I used the "Herbie method", but it is a pain because I have to adjust the gate valves daily. I may switch to the dorsos if they are quiet. thanks