BK's will be wrasse and SPS Dominated 120

[bknapp]

I appreciate the kind words @Arkayology . Best of luck in reefing and in your schooling. Be sure to start a build thread once you get going.

 

[kingrl2]

Looks awesome Brandon. I love how clean the equipment cabinet looks, I need to work on tidying up my rats nest at some point.

 

[bknapp]

Looks awesome Brandon. I love how clean the equipment cabinet looks, I need to work on tidying up my rats nest at some point.

Thanks. Having things tidied up like that can be a catch 22. It looks better but if something goes wrong it can be a big pain.

 

[Jstn]

Here's the inside of the electric cabinet which sits to the left of the tank and houses most of the electronics, trying to keep them as dry as possible, I may add an exhaust fan, not sure if its needed but with the Radion power blocks in there I may need to, any thoughts?

What's all in there?

- Three MP40QD power supplies and controllers.
- Two Radion power blocks
- EcoTech battery back up
- Aquarium Plants electronic C02 regulator (have it but its not installed due to not needing it yet)
- Neptune Apex main brain with two pH probes and a Netgear Wifi adapter
- Two EB8
- Apex WXM
- Apex Break Out Box
- 5lbs C02 tank
- Apex display

I'm happy with the way this turned out and glad it helps keep the electronic components away from salt water.

I found once moving my radion transformers into the cabinet it started to heat up, that being said Im not going to add a vent fan on that side to my new setup.

 

[bknapp]

I found once moving my radion transformers into the cabinet it started to heat up, that being said Im not going to add a vent fan on that side to my new setup.

Do you feel its unnecessary to add a vent fan? Does the added heat to the transformers deminish the performance of the Radions in anyway?

 

[bknapp]

Tank has had the live rock in it about a week and a half at this point, I've done one five gallon water change and I've been dosing small amounts of ammonia as well as ghost feeding with some pellet food. I also added a few bags of Algagen pods, although I haven't seen much if anything come from that. I would prefer to get some pods in there before transferring the fish over. Just need to find some that will profilate.

Anyways, threads are worthless without pics so here is my first FTS:

I really like the way this one came out

I'm not a professional photographer nor do I have quality photography equipment so these are just a couple crummy cell pics.

 

[Salty1962]

Has really come along! Looks great Brandon!

 

[bknapp]

Has really come along! Looks great Brandon!

Thanks @Salty1962 still a long ways to go.

 

[bknapp]

Things are still status quo. I've started copper removal in the QT, hoping for introduction this weekend. Did three five gallon water changes over the Labor Day weekend on both the DT and QT now I'm dealing with a bacterial bloom in the DT. Unsure (doubt it though) if the water changes have anything to do with it or if maybe after three weeks the sand and biopellets have started gaining bacterial strength and in turn causing the bloom. However, I won't be adding any livestock until it clears. I am somewhat apprehensive on adding my fish, the rocks have been cycling/curing for almost five months at this point but I don't know how much load they can handle but I would really like to get the fish moved into a larger tank for their well being (and mine.) Anyone have any insights on this conundrum? I've never had/let rocks sit and cure this long before.

 

[Salty1962]

I too started my tank with cured shelf rock. I cured for @4 mths. and when I added the rock and BPs at the same time I had a small bloom. I added about 20 lbs. of LR from my other tank and let it set for @ 2wks and did 2 50% WCs. The bloom went away pretty quick. I added livestock @3 weeks after starting the new tank and everything went well, only lost 1 frag. I had 4 wrasses at the time of my transfer. I don't know if this will help or not but I would think you'd be ok after a couple of WCs for your fish. I'd consider some working fish to help you through the various algae outbreaks you'll go through, I added a Lawnmower Blenny and a Flame tang and they cleared up all of the algae outbreaks I had
Keep us updated on things and good luck! Looks like your going to have an awesome setup!

 

[bknapp]

Thanks for the input @Salty1962 . I'm in no big rush to stock this thing. I'm really trying to be patient and let the tank settle and do it right. I really want this tank to succeed.

 

[Salty1962]

Thanks for the input @Salty1962 . I'm in no big rush to stock this thing. I'm really trying to be patient and let the tank settle and do it right. I really want this tank to succeed.

Good Call !!!

 

[bknapp]

Small and unexciting update, mainly regarding equipment. The Ehiem 300 watt heater I was planning to use is much too long for the SS34 Sump so I've changed that out for a SRO Titanium 300 watt heater, so far no issues there. Talking with the two prior owners of the tank they suggested placing a powerhead inside of the overflow box, due to its size detritus can settle in the bottom and never get cleared out. So, I had a Jebao WP40 laying around and I found out today that it fits inside the overflow box, that should help.

I'm also looking into upgrading my Radions. And I'm also considering trading/selling one of the MP40 (there are three on this tank) for two MP10 for the back glass.

I am absolutely in love with having plenty of water storage with a booster pump and auto cut off, life is so much easier now.

Still experiencing a bacteria bloom so I'll do a few more water changes this weekend.

 

[bknapp]

Tonight was the night. Finally bit the bullet and transferred the fish from QT (the remaining ones anyway.) Kind of frustrated with my QT setup, will be revamping it a little before any new additions are made to it. Had two fish jump out of tiny holes I thought I had covered.

Here is what was added:
- Magnificent fix Face
- Single Frostbite clown (one jumped from QT)
- Orange Sided Fairy Wrasse
- Rosyscale Fairy Wrasse
- Splendid pin tail wrasse (male jumped)
- Blue Diamond Leopard wrasse (poor girl only has one eye)
- Tail spot blenny

I know this seems like a lot of biolaod to add to a fairly new tank, and it is. I'll be keeping a close eye on things. It was also a lot to keep in a 30 long QT for as long as I have so these fish are fairly tough and resilient.

 

[Arkayology]

Tonight was the night. Finally bit the bullet and transferred the fish from QT (the remaining ones anyway.) Kind of frustrated with my QT setup, will be revamping it a little before any new additions are made to it. Had two fish jump out of tiny holes I thought I had covered.

Here is what was added:
- Magnificent fix Face
- Single Frostbite clown (one jumped from QT)
- Orange Sided Fairy Wrasse
- Rosyscale Fairy Wrasse
- Splendid pin tail wrasse (male jumped)
- Blue Diamond Leopard wrasse (poor girl only has one eye)
- Tail spot blenny

I know this seems like a lot of biolaod to add to a fairly new tank, and it is. I'll be keeping a close eye on things. It was also a lot to keep in a 30 long QT for as long as I have so these fish are fairly tough and resilient.

Do you have a video with the fish in the tank?

 

[bknapp]

Didn't make a video yesterday as most fish were hiding while acclimating themselves to their new surroundings, I'll try for one today.

 

[Jstn]

Do you feel its unnecessary to add a vent fan? Does the added heat to the transformers deminish the performance of the Radions in anyway?

Yes from the perspective that it heats my stand and ultimately tank

 

[bknapp]

Night time sump view.

Added a PacSun Kore 5th doser that you can see right over the skimmer. Plan on dosing AcroPower, KZ Flatworm Stop, Potassium, H2O2 (possibly), and iron (possibly.)

Have some bad news regarding one of my favorite fish, the female pin tail wrasse has disappeared, no signs in or around the tank that means neither of my pin tails are left. Very dissapointing.

I've had a few starter/trial corals (some are rehab efforts) in the tank for over a week and they seem to be doing OK so I'll give them a few more weeks to see how they do than I may start restarting my coral collection.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Looking good bro!

 

[bknapp]

Looking good bro!

Thanks @revhtree