90 Gallon First build

Nirethell · Mar 15, 2017

waxhawreefer said:
I'm not hating on stock tanks, I just had a few stock tanks crack, vibrations and water movement, and usually the glass is thinner because of the black bracing, ecotech are good products unfortunately they are way overpriced, that new M1 pump-2000 gph, with that new flow module from apex, guys are these forums are reporting that they aren't even close to that number, not to mention the reef link cost, just saying, u could have bought four jabeo pumps for the price of one vortech and have extra money left over, doesn't matter what leds u buy, the life expectancy is around 5 years of good usable light, that's from ecotech themselves!

So far the M1 has been one of the better pumps I've worked with. the ability to calibrate it to your tank is absolutely priceless, there isn't a spec of buyers remorse there. I should be able to grow with that alone. I'm also sure that I can buy new leds for the radions when/if the time comes. I do understand where you are coming from. there was probably a much cheaper option, but after my research, I wanted at least my big three to be able to communicate completely between each other and through the reeflink I have been able to do that, it makes setup a breeze, and gives me peace of mind.

I actually already grabbed a really great light schedule from @ChristopherKriens after reading through his 160 setup page, which is absolutely stunning I might add if you haven't seen it I do implore you to take some time and check it out. That guys is a wizard with his camera.

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

I've already done a little aquascaping, I have the remaining pieces of Dry rock soaking in RODI water, should be ready this weekend for me to finish the aquascape empty the tank, and start putting sand & saltwater in. I'm pretty excited, pics will be up as soon as I put the aquascape in.

SeahorseKeeper · Mar 17, 2017

Looks like you are off to a great start!

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

SeahorseKeeper said:
Looks like you are off to a great start!

Thank you!!

midtnmike41 · Mar 17, 2017

Following. I have the exact same tank, pumps, and lights. Curious to see how yours comes along.Good luck!

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

midtnmike41 said:
Following. I have the exact same tank, pumps, and lights. Curious to see how yours comes along.Good luck!

thank you, did you buy yours new or used?

midtnmike41 · Mar 17, 2017

I bought all mine new. Its been running about year and half.

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

midtnmike41 said:
I bought all mine new. Its been running about year and half.

Oh well then your a bit ahead of me I'd love to see what yours looks like after all this time

kazikage42 · Mar 17, 2017

I also just upgraded to a 90 recently and still in the cycling process. Your tank gonna turn out awesome

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

kazikage42 said:
I also just upgraded to a 90 recently and still in the cycling process. Your tank gonna turn out awesome

Thank you so much. I certainly hope so I've put a lot of research and thought into this

midtnmike41 · Mar 17, 2017

Not the best pic but you get the idea. I just added the vortechs and radions.

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

midtnmike41 said:
Not the best pic but you get the idea. I just added the vortechs and radions.

Looks Awesome! what are you running for a skimmer/media reactors, are you doing a refugium?

midtnmike41 · Mar 17, 2017

I am running an aqumaxx co-1 skimmer. little small but seems to be keeping up just fine. I actually have a hard time keeping No3 and PO4 in the tank. I run GAC though a reactor, I don't use GFO anymore. My PO4 is running about .02 without. No fuge, tried it, just made a mess. I have 2 part set up but don't use it. I mix kalk in my ATO and that is keeping my ALK and Ca in check. Other than that I run filter socks and change about 15% water every 2 weeks. My colors are a little washed out, I am hoping the new radions fix that. They have been on the tank about 3 weeks now. I have good growth though.

Nirethell · Mar 17, 2017

interesting, I wonder if I will have the same problem that you had with the No3 and PO4 since I'll be running GFO.. I'm also planning on a fuge hopefully it wont cause a mess! I'm going to do the same with Kalk once my levels are good. great tank setup though I do like it. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I emptied the tank, emptied the brute cans with the remaining live rock (I cleaned out the can and im begining to run RODI in it now, my other can is full and mixing with salt now), and did a 40% waterchange substrate clean on my 55 gallon freshwater. I plan on doing the chord management tonight and hopefully later finishing the aquascape. If I do ill post a picture. Live sand is in at my LFS, so ill pick that up tomorrow.

Nirethell · Mar 18, 2017

I was able to get to the aquascape tonight. It may change before I eventually get fish and coral in there but this is what I decided to go with. Yes there is only one Radion on at the moment. The other plc for the reefkeeper is off as i was doing a bit of chord manament

Hard to see but there is a overhang there, I had to use some epoxy to make the rock stay!

I'm a sucker for archways too!

Maritimer · Mar 18, 2017

Very nice ... I like the massiveness of it, as though it has quietly lain there for a thousand millennia . . .

~Bruce

Nirethell · Mar 19, 2017

Maritimer said:
Very nice ... I like the massiveness of it, as though it has quietly lain there for a thousand millennia . . .

~Bruce

Thank you!

Nirethell · Mar 21, 2017

Sand and saltwater have been added

After two days, I reaquascaped causing it to clould up again. This is what we have for a finished product.

parameters are as follows
Salinity - 1.024
KH- 11.8
Ca- 425
mg-1320

I started the first day of the Reef mature pro in effort to help cycle the tank.

My QT tank is well into its cycle I'm seeing high levels of Nirate and Nitrite already!

The only issue I seem to be having with both tanks is breaking the PH into the 8.0 barrier. I know that the DT should go up once I introduce the Chaetomorpha, as for the QT tank I'm not sure of the proper method of achieving this. I know of a few different once I just want to know the proper one thats all. Any input would be wonderful.

midtnmike41 · Mar 21, 2017

I remember those days!!! I had no clue what I was doing when I did it. You seem to have done more research than I did at that stage. Honestly right now I would just worry about letting it settle and cycle. I would not worry about chaeto, alk, ca, ph, or anything else. It will all come together, and faster than you think.

Nirethell · Mar 21, 2017

midtnmike41 said:
I remember those days!!! I had no clue what I was doing when I did it. You seem to have done more research than I did at that stage. Honestly right now I would just worry about letting it settle and cycle. I would not worry about chaeto, alk, ca, ph, or anything else. It will all come together, and faster than you think.

Awesome thank you. I will certainly do that then Ill let them both settle and cycle for now. I'm sure my QT tank will be finished with its cycle soon Ive read so much about people QTing their cleanup crew. usually the rule of thumb is anything wet. So I suppose that means i need to get a small cleanup crew and QT them soon so that way they are ready for the main display?