Jeff's 150 Build - The Salt Box

[CastAway]

Beautiful set up! Can't wait to see it full of stuff. So envious of you guys that have room for a big tank. One of these days!

Thanks Wade. I can't wait either!

Hey Jeff, I'd suggest running your fuge light 24/7 then will not have to worry about it going sexual. I've ran my fuges mostly this way for many years as really did not see much difference in daily PH swings as apposed to running opposite of DT lighting. As for C. serrulata goes it is a little invasive towards LPS corals by growing/attaching into them especially Euphyllia sp and Lobophyllia. Just don't intentionally place into display and you should be fine.

Thanks Todd. I do have a piece of 10PPI foam between the fuge and pump suction, so I really think I can keep it confined, at least the visible fragments that may break off. It's growing gangbusters, no doubt a result of my current NO3 and PO4. Although I'm continually adding CUC to the display, I have not added anything to the fuge other than the marco itself. My plan has been to simply trim the marco, and discard it. I actually wanted mostly red macros, so I hope the C. serrulata doesn't just take the whole space over. It may be time for some detrivore kits I think.

Here's the obligatory clowns (first video, hope it works)....
[video=youtube_share;Y2xapvE2O0Y]http://youtu.be/Y2xapvE2O0Y[/video]

 

[CastAway]

I hated the idea of naming fish, until I had some. After I explained to my wife and kids about sex and pairing, the clowns were named Cam and Mitchell. LOL

 

[TJ's Reef]

That's pretty funny, and actually my wife and I are fans of Modern Family so if they pair and spawn the little ones will be named Lilly... lol

Cheers, Todd

 

[CastAway]

Added four Mexican Turbo snails - two pretty good sized, two pretty small. Wow, they went to town. Also added three Nassarius snails, they're fast. That is all.....

 

[CastAway]

Forty days now. Nitrates at their lowest yet - 0.5ppm. Algae in DT has decreased notably, and macro growth in refugium has slowed. Was a little concerned with the macro slow down, but I suppose it's just finding an equilibrium. May trim a little soon. Need more livestock I guess!

Hope to plumb the GFO reactor this weekend. PO4 at 0.12.

 

[Rob.D]

Your patience and planning is inspirational!

 

[CastAway]

Well thanks Rob. It may be more OCD than patience and planning. LOL It's one thing to put a tank together, it's entirely another to keep corals and fish. I just hope I can.

 

[CastAway]

New addition today, a Starry Blenny. It's always been a favorite of mine. Crappy pic - you can see all my cyano. :squigglemouth:

 

[CastAway]

Funny, about ready to install a GFO reactor, everything purchased and ready to plumb in, and my PO4 just hit it's lowest, at .02ppm. Preventative medicine, or impatience...

 

[CastAway]

Had a small Cerith snail that bit the dust. It didn't move for a couple days, and I just now noticed a white fur growing on it. It was close enough to the front pane, I got my magnifying glass out and looked up close. The white fur was tiny hydroids. I scooped it out as carefully as I could a discarded it. I hope that doesn't lead to a million more. Been reading on them. Also, one of my little hermits has a tiny creature on it. Looks like a small tube worm - definitely not aptasia or hydroid, so I'm leaving it be. Having fun....

 

[EricB]

Hey Jeff! Tank looks good man. Was wondering how those dj strips hold-up to the environment in your stand?

 

[CastAway]

Hey Jeff! Tank looks good man. Was wondering how those dj strips hold-up to the environment in your stand?

So far so good, but I can't say that I'd recommend them. Terrible reviews just about every where you look. My LED fixture had to be powered elsewhere, as there was some stray current in one of the strips that kept the light from going completely off. It's not too humid in my stand, it's ventilated, so they're "standing up" to the environment and continuous duty, at least no now.

 

[davocean]

Wow, nice clean quality build!
Love that sump/fuge.
Another tip for raising that skimmer is glass block, disappears in water, but the black crate looks cool too.

 

[CastAway]

Wow, nice clean quality build!
Love that sump/fuge.
Another tip for raising that skimmer is glass block, disappears in water, but the black crate looks cool too.

Thanks! Very cleaver, glass block, I like it.

 

[davocean]

Cool, thought you might since clean seems to be your theme in a big way, glass block doesn't collect gunk like crate can, skimmer will appear to be just floating.

 

[CastAway]

Ready to cut this into my supply header. All it's cost me so far is the plumbing. Will be nice to have in the long run I think. (GFO is sure pricey)

 

[CastAway]

Refugium is coming along. Pods and growth has dropped off with reduced nitrates and phosphates. I think this means I need more livestock! Gobies next I think. Really wanted red macros mostly, and this Caulerpa is going to have to get cut WAY back.

 

[CastAway]

New addition. Added on Saturday, took a picture while it was in the bag, cause I figured it would disappear for a while. Sure enough, I have not seen it once since it went in!

 

[davocean]

Yeah those do hide alot, but worth it when they do come out.

 

[CastAway]

Not much to report, just letting it run - sixty days now. Added a few more turbo's - they're really knocking the GHA down. Two water changes so far, didn't really need the last, but did it anyway. Parameters all in the zone. Sapphire damsel, clowns & starry blenny all doing well. I see the antennae of the fire shrimp every now and then, but have not seen red since five mins after I put him in. Hope to add some corals and tiny brittle stars soon. Have my eye out for some small gobies as well, red heads, neons, etc. Won $100.00 from Salty Aquaria, here on R2R, and have my heart set on a flame wrasse pair before the end of July. Cheers.