Glb's 40g upgrade!

glb · Jul 31, 2017

Tokash23 said:
Is that a filter sock on the outlet? Whats the gph for the pump that you are using for it? Its actually cheaper than i would have thought for something like that. Thanks for the suggestion.

It's actually a media bag. After I change the gfo, it tends to go everywhere when I turn the pump on, so I put the bag there to keep it out of the rest of the sump. I don't remember the details about the pump but I'll look for them.

Tokash23 · Jul 31, 2017

Good idea! Im done muddling up your thread now with my questions

. Ill keep an eye on your progress it seems like you have a good handle on your tank now cant wait to see it with corals in it.

glb · Aug 2, 2017

I added Nopox to bring down the nitrates and it's been a great success. I started 5 days ago with 3ml (half a dose). Two days ago I went up to 4ml. Tonight my nitrates are down to 10ppm for the first time! So, should I gradually back off the dose, because this is where I want to keep it. Maybe 3ml a few days then down to 2ml? It says to cut the dose in half when you reach your goal but I'm a big believer in slow changes. Also, can I do 10% water changes biweekly now instead of weekly? The main reason for the water changes was to control nitrates. I'm really happy with the results.

Tokash23 · Aug 3, 2017

My thoughts are that you would be fine with bi weekly changes especially because you arent keeping corals so there is no need to replenish certain trace elements and such.

glb · Aug 10, 2017

The Nopox has been very successful. I'm down to a 2ml/day maintence dose. NO3 is 5-10ppm and PO4 is 0.00ppm. I took the gfo offline and am going to turn it into an algae reactor for my nano. I lost my Royal Gramma. He just stopped eating. No signs of disease and the other fish are fine.

glb · Aug 10, 2017

Introducing Finley the Coral Beauty:

glb · Aug 30, 2017

Look what came today...

revhtree · Aug 30, 2017

Oooh goodies!

glb · Aug 30, 2017

revhtree said:
Oooh goodies!

It's an Apex Jr. My first controller!

Diamond1 · Oct 4, 2017

Nice build. Just read through you're whole thread and got some great ideas for the 40 I'm getting ready to set up. Any updates?

glb · Oct 5, 2017

My tank survived Hurricane Irma without losing a single fish! I did it with battery operated air pumps and frozen water bottles. We were without power for 7 days. It was 88 degrees in the house but the tank never got over 81. We changed out the bottles 3x/day. My husband’s office had power so we froze the water there. I was so happy!!!

Diamond1 · Oct 6, 2017

Glad to hear that your family and tank survived the hurricane.

glb · Oct 7, 2017

Diamond1 said:
Glad to hear that your family and tank survived the hurricane.

Thanks!

glb · Oct 7, 2017

I have the Apex set up now (finally). I added a Netgear Wireless extender so the Fusion works without an Ethernet connection.

I love it! Right now it’s very basic, with only a temp monitor. I’m plannind in adding Salinity and Ph modules and an 8-outlet powerbar. I may be able to make do with the Apex Jr. for a while. Now that I’m dosinf Nopox, the only things in the system are the return pump, a skimmer, external ph monitor, and an ATO. The only equipment I plan on adding are lights and dosing pumps when I’m ready for coral. I love the simplicity of the system right now.

Katrina71 · Oct 8, 2017

More pics please

glb · Oct 8, 2017

Katrina71 · Oct 8, 2017

I knew you'd have a great scape!

glb · Nov 8, 2017

Here’s the latest. I love my Apex Jr! Right now I only have the temp probe and the ph probe will be next. After that, I’ll add two dosing pumps for alk and Nopox (probably BRS brand. Nopox has made my life so much easier. Nitrates stay between 5-10ppm and I only do biweekly water changes now. I’m saving up for lights. Right now the dimmable ATI 4-bulb fixture is my first choice, maybe with a reefbrite blue strip to add some shimmer. All six fish are doing great. I have all the maintenance and test parameters entered into the Apex. I want to have everything steady before I go back into coral. That’s it for now!

glb · Jun 11, 2018

Hi everyone! I know it’s been a while but family life with kids gets crazy. Since my last post, I’ve added an apex ph/orp module and a BRS 1.1ml dosing pump for alk. I have it dialed in to keep the alk around 11kh. It works like a charm. I made a tube holder out of legos! My next apex addition will be to add an EB8 because I’ve run out of outlets.

I mounted the apex on the wall to the right of the tank and plan on building a small cabinet to hide it. For now I have a garbage bag covering it to protect from water. It’s ugly, safe, and temporary!

On the livestock front I’ve added a ruby-headed fairy wrasse. I realized they usually go in a bigger tank, but I only have 8 fish and probably won’t add any more. I also added a blue neon goby who disappeared as soon as I put him in the tank. I thought he was a goner, but he showed up a month later on the back glass, which happens to be the exact same color of the fish. Today I added a feather duster and it looks great.

Here’s some pics. Great to be checking in again!

glb · Jun 27, 2018

And we have lights!! I just added a 2-bulb Odyssea t-5 fixture for aesthetics, to finish off the ugly part of the cycle, and hopefully to raise ph a little. I can’t believe how great the tank and fish look! These will be my starter lights until I can get an API fixture.