120G AGA in wall upgrade

[2farNorth]

Just skimming through some threads, and ran across this one, and if I may add, that I have an in-wall, and I love the front of the tank access,, actually I rarely go from the back for things... I usually do most aquascaping /coral placement from the front, always feed from the front...

It's worth the trouble getting it to look nice!!!

Also, I noticed alot of people paint the back of the tank, I actually just use the standard blue aquarium background stuff that you get on a role , and have it hanging, so I can lift it up anytime I want, you can't tell the difference from the front, and it gives you visibility from the back!!!

And as for the fishroom, of course def. running water and a laundry tub!!!

Just a couple quick ideas for you to think about!!

[bohlke]

Originally posted by 2farNorth

Also, I noticed alot of people paint the back of the tank, I actually just use the standard blue aquarium background stuff that you get on a role , and have it hanging, so I can lift it up anytime I want, you can't tell the difference from the front, and it gives you visibility from the back!!!

A friend of mine velcros the aqaurium background stuff to the back of his tank, thats my plan as well

[bohlke]

I am thinking of using a Sequence Reeflo Dart as the return pump. That will be the return to the main tank. The return to the prop tank will be from the Ehiem 1620 thats currently in the 65G tank upstairs.

Here is the latest update, the room is ready for the tank stand and there have only been minor injuries I removed the support for the door frame and as you can see I now have a straight shot to the tank. The foam on the floor is where the tank stand will be however it will be a bit wider (the foam is 48x13 or something like that).

And here is a shot from the front, you can see how the framing is recessed from the main support beam above. It is almost exactly the width of a 2x4 (the thin way) so I will be able to make the drywall go from floor to ceiling when its all done. Only took me 8 years to fix that little miscommunication

[bohlke]

One of the main goals of the fuge area was to provide a spot for pod growth. Initially I was going to have some LR in the fuge (or in the intake section of the sump) to accomplish this. I have read that this can be a bit of a nitrate trap, is there a way to limit this or is this a myth?

[KyleO]

Will your pod area be filled with macro algae? Hopefully since the pods love hanging out in that stuff. If so, the macro algae will be sucking up the nitrates...........

[bohlke]

Originally posted by KyleO
Will your pod area be filled with macro algae? Hopefully since the pods love hanging out in that stuff. If so, the macro algae will be sucking up the nitrates...........

Yeah lots of it, would that be better than LR? Should I put LR in the return section and macro in the fuge?

[KyleO]

that's what I do................0 Nitrates and lots of Pods!!!

[bohlke]

Cool - I have two types growing now, I guess one will be in the fuge and the other in the coral prop tank. The chaeto is about the size of a basketball, it does much better when it has high flow going through it. Otherwise it gets full of gunk almost becomes a nitrate trap.

[bohlke]

Well my Christmas present finally arrived, its a macro lens for my D40. While I am waiting for the construction to finish I can learn how to use that lens. Here are a few pics:

Finally I can get a good image of my maxima:



And here is one of my blue tipped milli



I am having some trouble with over exposure, I am wondering if the hood is causing that. Anyway it should be great fun.

[jefnalyssa]

I can't wait till you master the lens. Great looking pics as is.

[bohlke]

Originally posted by jefnalyssa
I can't wait till you master the lens. Great looking pics as is.

Thanks - its amazing how there is always something new to learn.

[jefnalyssa]

Yea tell me about it. It just seems like you end up forgeting something else from years prior. lol

[snodine]

I will be tagging along watching this build also. I started construction yesterday on my 130 gallon in-wall. I do not have an existing system to move things from so I am starting from scratch.

Your construction looks like a lot of fun (?) and looks like it will turn out great!

[bohlke]

Ok so I had to completely take apart my rockwork about a month ago to rescue this frag after one of my turbo snails broke it off the rock (it was superglued on the rock) so I put it in a temporary spot.



Notice how its between my hydnophora and my acro. I was hoping that it would be fine there and I planned to attach it back to its original location. It had grown a bit so I was planning to do this soon as I was worried that it would get too close to the hydno. Well this morning I found it propped up against the hydno (thanks cleanup crew) and now it looks like this.



Is there any hope that it just retreated into the skeltal tissue or is this thing a goner? I am so angry with myself for waiting so long to move this back to its much safer location. This is the first time my hydno has attacked and I have had it in the tank for over a year. I guess I learned not to procrastinate, however I am an optimist and I am hoping there is some chance it will recover.

[bohlke]

Originally posted by snodine
I will be tagging along watching this build also. I started construction yesterday on my 130 gallon in-wall. I do not have an existing system to move things from so I am starting from scratch.

Your construction looks like a lot of fun (?) and looks like it will turn out great!

Yeah well its far from over, right now its a race. The pros are coming next Thursday to completely redo the upstairs bathroom (which we havent touched since we moved in 12 years ago) and I am converting the downstairs half bath into a fish room. I also have a room to recover after our little problem with water and foundation has been resolved. Needless to say we have way too much construction fun going on. I will be happy when its all done, hopefully in February.

[melev]

What a beautiful lil' coral. (Then you scroll down...) Awww man!!!

Just in case, I would move it immediately, but odds are it is lifeless.

[bohlke]

Originally posted by melev
What a beautiful lil' coral. (Then you scroll down...) Awww man!!!

Just in case, I would move it immediately, but odds are it is lifeless.

I was hoping it would show some signs of recovery after I moved it this morning but no luck it looks just as bad as it did this morning. Oh well I can get another frag, but most likely I will wait until after the tank move.

[bohlke]

Looks like I have a small outbreak of Maidens Hair algae on a few of my live rocks. I am going to move them to the QT tank to try to contain it. Should be fun as I just recently built out a bunch of frags. Oh well my display tank will be a little crowded for a while. I am going to try to hit the algae with kalk paste to remove it from the tank. Of course I'll take pictures, here is what it looks like now.

[cannarella]

Yellow tang will tear that up. Mine did.

[bohlke]

Originally posted by cannarella
Yellow tang will tear that up. Mine did.

Mine doesnt seem to like it, is it possible its in a place in the tank where it wont go (ie too high up)?

[cannarella]

Can't help you there. Hopefully Melev will have an idea.

[firsthesitation]

Following along!!

[bohlke]

Originally posted by cannarella
Can't help you there. Hopefully Melev will have an idea.

Hmm I might wait for a second opinion before I take apart the rockwork.

[KyleO]

I had a little bit of this same stuff a month ago that came in on a clam...........now it is taking over my Nano and a 30ga cube I have tied into my display. I wish I would have done something about it then!!! Both tanks are being overrun!

I have snails, hermits, lawnmower blennys, tangs........you name it and nobody touches this stuff. It grows like crazy and according to Melev, you are pretty much stuck with "gardening". He says that nothing good comes easy so you just have to clean up by hand until it comes under control.

I switch off working on my Nano and 30ga cube every other night and have been at it for a few weeks now.............can barely keep up and am wondering where this is going.

Do Not procrastinate or losing that beautiful little frag is going to seem like a tickle!!!

[bohlke]

Originally posted by KyleO
I had a little bit of this same stuff a month ago that came in on a clam...........now it is taking over my Nano and a 30ga cube I have tied into my display. I wish I would have done something about it then!!! Both tanks are being overrun!

I have snails, hermits, lawnmower blennys, tangs........you name it and nobody touches this stuff. It grows like crazy and according to Melev, you are pretty much stuck with "gardening". He says that nothing good comes easy so you just have to clean up by hand until it comes under control.

I switch off working on my Nano and 30ga cube every other night and have been at it for a few weeks now.............can barely keep up and am wondering where this is going.

Do Not procrastinate or losing that beautiful little frag is going to seem like a tickle!!!

I plan to hit it with this napalm like kalk mix one of our club members uses.

Prepare stock solution

1. 1 tsp. pickling lime - food grade calcium hydroxide
2. 2 tbls. tap water.

boil water and lime in microwave for 40 sec.
keep closed plastic container in cool place.
You will need a vet syringe from a pet store that sells vaccinations

This mixture comes out of the needle very thick. You do not need to inject the Aiptasia.
Just release a small amount on to the aiptasia and it will take it in. This mixture seems to stick to the
anemone, but it does not stick to the other inverts. We also use this mixture on problem hair algae.

We have killed 20 or 30 at a time in 55 gallon reefs and it did not hurt anything

I will post pictures tomorrow as I find I make way too many mistakes when I am tired.