First tank! Crystal Dynamic Peninsula 83

Don Lidtke · Aug 25, 2019

Great call on going with CD for the tank and Geosreef for the sump.

I am building a 250 gallon CD tank and Geosreef sump as well. I am extremely impressed with the build quality of both.

I will definitely be following your build.

anonomous09 · Aug 26, 2019

Don Lidtke said:
Great call on going with CD for the tank and Geosreef for the sump.

I am building a 250 gallon CD tank and Geosreef sump as well. I am extremely impressed with the build quality of both.

I will definitely be following your build.

This is my first tank but definitely not the first expensive hobby. I was very pleased in both the customer service and parts quality from both companies. My only regret with Geos was not having them pre mount the pump!

anonomous09 · Aug 27, 2019

Does anyone think the COR 15 output of 320 GPH is a little low? I know I have that right angle at the bottom of the tank but I am trying to utilize the manifold on the sump and the flow seems to drop too much. The flow is 320 with both manifolds closed off.

anonomous09 · Sep 2, 2019

The pair of clowns and Dottyback seem to be getting a long so far! Leaving for a trip later in this month so hoping to add one more fish before then. Wife wants a Yellow Tang. However I read in another thread there are some other Tangs that serve a more utilitarian purpose?

anonomous09 · Sep 6, 2019

Went to the LFS and grabbed a COR 20. I also determined that the 3d printed strainer on the front of the pump was pointless as the sump design doesn't allow anything but water in to the return chamber. I picked up an extreme amount of flow! I was getting about 280 GPH with the manifold opened about 1/3 to the refugium. It seemed like the refugium wasn't getting enough flow so that is what started my pursuit for more flow. I am now running the COR 20 at 65%. The refugium manifold is about 3/4 open, which enough to keep it from overflowing. I am now seeing 400 GPH with plenty of room to grow. Hopefully all of my livestock will benefit from the increased turn over as well. I snagged some quick photos and will be updating the original post with some FTS. Lastly, when the lights kick off, I am seeing a green growth on the rocks. It is hard to scrape off. Any ideas?

Naturalreef · Sep 6, 2019

Wow, looks great!

anonomous09 · Sep 7, 2019

Any livestock recommendations for the tank? The more colorful the better! LA always has yellow damselfish trios in divers den but people say they can get mean. So far the Dottyback and Clowns get along just fine.

count krunk · Sep 8, 2019

I would avoid damsels.

Bristletooth tangs are great as well for the multifunction fish.

The green algae is just part of the algae cycles you will go thru

anonomous09 · Sep 8, 2019

count krunk said:
I would avoid damsels.

Bristletooth tangs are great as well for the multifunction fish.

The green algae is just part of the algae cycles you will go thru

I will do some research. So far the Dottyback has only gone after his tank mates once or twice. If I ever notice him doing damage I’ll put him up on a local page.

anonomous09 · Sep 12, 2019

If there’s one thing I seem to be getting a handle on. It’s shoving 10 pounds of junk in to a 5 pound bag! I drilled the @geo reef sump for a uniseal up top so I could affix the UV output. I was a little worried about the hose blasting out of the skimmer chamber one day. I also got the reactor filled with some carbon to hopefully help with some bloom issues I’ve been having this week! Lastly I added another Gyre 350 but they’re putting in some serious work on the sand. I am trying to figure out a configuration where I can get flow to the front of the tank, but not lose sand!

anonomous09 · Oct 6, 2019

Small updates- I’ve been battling GHA for about three weeks. Seems to slowly be getting better. Hopefully adding some more livestock and coral soon! Current corals seem to be growing!

Damion123 · Oct 28, 2019

I love the set up. You did a good job fitting those 10 lbs of stuff into the 5 lbs bag. I really like the geo sump

anonomous09 · Oct 28, 2019

Damion123 said:
I love the set up. You did a good job fitting those 10 lbs of stuff into the 5 lbs bag. I really like the geo sump

Thanks! This has been a week of adding livestock. However we ran through a little bit of a rough patch. I got a trio of Anthias from DD. The male was DOA unfortunately. Next my Dottyback which had no problems with the clowns, attacked the remaining Anthias until they jumped in to the overflow. Then one got sucked in to a drain pipe and spent a little too much time in there... Then I grabbed a nice and small White Tail Tang from DD with help of the credit from the DOA shipment. He came in in excellent shape and was eating immediately. Lastly, my wife really wanted to add a "Gurgle" from Finding Nemo (Royal Gramma). However on his own accord he seems to only want to stay in the overflow. Hoping to give him some time there and then try and get him back in the DT. Here's a good shot I got of the Tang!

kados · Dec 14, 2019

Don Lidtke said:
Great call on going with CD for the tank and Geosreef for the sump.

I am building a 250 gallon CD tank and Geosreef sump as well. I am extremely impressed with the build quality of both.

I will definitely be following your build.

I agree with your comments. Great experiences with both.

anonomous09 · Dec 22, 2019

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated this thread! Where to begin... we attempted another trio of Sunset Anthias from DD. Two arrived barely holding on and expired about 24 hours later. The third seems to be thriving about four weeks in. I also got three fish from Pacific East Aquaculture. A Red Headed Goby, a Yellow Tang, and a Coral Beauty Angelfish. All seem to be thriving and growing quite quickly. Coral wise my first pair of mushrooms are always multiplying. I seem to have lost a couple of other frags. I am trying to learn from the losses. Here are some updated photos. If anyone has any ideas why my Scolymia is peeling up on one side I am all ears!