Back At It Finally - Waterbox 170

SPSReeferMI · Jan 25, 2020

MW319 said:
Scott, everything looks sweet. I’m really loving your lights and I’m really hoping I can fight the urge to upgrade mine.

Do you have a build thread? I tried looking but did not see one. Are you still using 3x AI Hydra 26’s? I saw a pic of your tank on another thread!

EmilyXLC · Jan 25, 2020

You’re doing an amazing job! This is one of my favorite Waterbox models.

MW319 · Jan 25, 2020

Scott MacDonald said:
Do you have a build thread? I tried looking but did not see one. Are you still using 3x AI Hydra 26’s? I saw a pic of your tank on another thread!

I was so busy with work and life that I really didn’t document my build so no build thread. I’m still using the Hydras. I added a yellow tang last night after QT for 6 weeks and now the purple, yellow eye and the new yellow tang are fighting like cats and dogs. Im thinking about putting in an egg crate divider in to separate the yellow tang from the other 2 for a few days to give the yellow a break. I don’t have a recent pic off the full tank but I did take a picture of some of my torches a couple of weeks ago.

MW319 · Jan 25, 2020

MW319 said:
I was so busy with work and life that I really didn’t document my build so no build thread. I’m still using the Hydras. I added a yellow tang last night after QT for 6 weeks and now the purple, yellow eye and the new yellow tang are fighting like cats and dogs. Im thinking about putting in an egg crate divider in to separate the yellow tang from the other 2 for a few days to give the yellow a break. I don’t have a recent pic off the full tank but I did take a picture of some of my torches a couple of weeks ago.

I also put a couple of small mirrors on the both ends of the tank yesterday morning to try and help defuse the situation before it started but I think it riled them up prior to putting in the yellow tang last night.

SPSReeferMI · Jan 25, 2020

MW319 said:
I was so busy with work and life that I really didn’t document my build so no build thread. I’m still using the Hydras. I added a yellow tang last night after QT for 6 weeks and now the purple, yellow eye and the new yellow tang are fighting like cats and dogs. Im thinking about putting in an egg crate divider in to separate the yellow tang from the other 2 for a few days to give the yellow a break. I don’t have a recent pic off the full tank but I did take a picture of some of my torches a couple of weeks ago.

I love the torches! Looks good.

SPSReeferMI · Jan 25, 2020

EmilyXLC said:
You’re doing an amazing job! This is one of my favorite Waterbox models.

Thank you! I was hoping to have more success in terms of growth by now. But live and learn.

SPSReeferMI · Jul 21, 2020

I’ve had a rough several months with this tank. Salinity too high, skimmer tuning problems, too much nitrate, aptasia, turn algae and more. What a rough run for the tank. However, the tank is happy now and using 50 ML of Alkalinity and 60 ML of Calcium Daily.

Updated tank shots:

MW319 · Jul 21, 2020

WOW that’s looking great Scott.

SPSReeferMI · Jul 21, 2020

MW319 said:
WOW that’s looking great Scott.

Thank you. Coralline finally took off.

SPSReeferMI · Feb 22, 2021

My Waterbox 170 is doing much better. I’ve made dozens of mistakes. However, my alk consumption is now 170 ml per day. Most importantly, I’ve really cut back on the amount of time this tank takes me every week.

MW319 · Feb 22, 2021

Scott MacDonald said:
My Waterbox 170 is doing much better. I’ve made dozens of mistakes. However, my alk consumption is now 170 ml per day. Most importantly, I’ve really cut back on the amount of time this tank takes me every week.

Are you kidding me? That looks freakin fantastic. I need closeup.

MW319 · Feb 22, 2021

I just noticed you put your MP40’s on the back wall. Can you share your settings? I think I need to do that.

SPSReeferMI · Feb 22, 2021

MW319 said:
Are you kidding me? That looks freakin fantastic. I need closeup.

Thank you! Per your request, here are a few closeups. I shot these with my iPhone, but I was using a couple different blue light filters.

SPSReeferMI · Feb 22, 2021

MW319 said:
I just noticed you put your MP40’s on the back wall. Can you share your settings? I think I need to do that.

That’s right - I did move two MP40s from the side walls (in the usual ear muffs location) to the back. I have one MP40 hidden on the far right back side corner. I feel they are less in the way here. The only downside to this is that I have only a single MP40 hooked up to a battery backup. With this setup, only half the tank is going to get much flow in the event of a power outage.

I run the MP40s on the back on reef crest around 60% (less percentage than when they were on the side walls). I run them in async mode most of the day. I run the back side lower MP40 on 35% reef crest. At night I lower the percentage of all three.

MW319 · Feb 22, 2021

I am just in awe over this. I want to change everything in my tank now. I always loved your aqua scape but now with the corals filling out and the variety of corals you have, I just want to copy everything. What the heck are you feeding those torches? All oh mine are doing good but dang son yours are going to be tacking over The whole tank.

SPSReeferMI · Feb 23, 2021

MW319 said:
I am just in awe over this. I want to change everything in my tank now. I always loved your aqua scape but now with the corals filling out and the variety of corals you have, I just want to copy everything. What the heck are you feeding those torches? All oh mine are doing good but dang son yours are going to be tacking over The whole tank.

My torches have been growing fast (comparatively). I would attribute it to around 200 par and a lot of fish. That means lot’s of feedings and fish waste!