Thanks. The Blasto is my favorite coral. Unfortunately, I have a tale of woe to tell about it that I will get to later. In the meantime, here is a close-up of at the height of it's glory:
McArcher's 40B
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So at this point, you might be wondering "why is this build thread called 'McArcher's 40B' when this guy keeps talking about and posting pictures of a 10 gallon?" Well, here is where I start talking about the 40B. I picked up the 40 at Petco at the $/gallon sale back in March of 2017 and started planning things and picking up gear little by little as I found deals on stuff from other R2R & Bayou Reefkeeping members. I'm a little obsessed with SketchUp, so I started drawing things up while I gathered everything. First I designed and built a sump:
For some reason, I can't find any pics of it before I installed it, but here is a pic of it installed:
For some reason, I can't find any pics of it before I installed it, but here is a pic of it installed:
So here is an updated equipment list. I carried most everything over from the 10:
40 Breeder with Eclipse L overflow. I modded the Eclipse to raise the waterline above the bottom of the tank frame. I'll post pics on that later
Custom acrylic sump
Apex Classic controller
IM Hydrofill ATO with DIY ATO container - Tom's Aqualifter pump
Current USA Eflux 1900 gpm return pump
Jebao OW-25 wavemakers x2
BRS doser for KNO3
Lighting -
Kessil A160 on right half
Current USA 18" Orbit IC x2 on left half - this was carried over from my 10 gallon. I'm saving up for another A160.
40 Breeder with Eclipse L overflow. I modded the Eclipse to raise the waterline above the bottom of the tank frame. I'll post pics on that later
Custom acrylic sump
Apex Classic controller
IM Hydrofill ATO with DIY ATO container - Tom's Aqualifter pump
Current USA Eflux 1900 gpm return pump
Jebao OW-25 wavemakers x2
BRS doser for KNO3
Lighting -
Kessil A160 on right half
Current USA 18" Orbit IC x2 on left half - this was carried over from my 10 gallon. I'm saving up for another A160.
I officially got the tank wet on February 3rd, so the tank is almost exactly two months old. Here is the latest FTS:
You can tell which rocks came from the 10 and which ones are new to this tank. Closer up:
You can tell which rocks came from the 10 and which ones are new to this tank. Closer up:
bo0sted2g
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How do you like the BRS Mini reactor? I've been thinking about buying one for a long time now. I feel like the carbon in my media bag gets almost no flow through it.
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I love whenever I see multiple firefish. I wish I could have a shoal of 10 (and they automagically just get along fine forever).
I also really dig the stand, nice, clean, simple, and tailored to your needs. Custom stands are where it's at.
I also really dig the stand, nice, clean, simple, and tailored to your needs. Custom stands are where it's at.
I like it a lot. I have realized, though, that rox 0.8 carbon is too fine unless you have some kind of prefilter for it. It clogs with detritus pretty fast. I ended up switching back to the Fritz carbon I had been using.
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I always hear the problem with them is they will randomly turn on one another, even if they've been fine for years.
But then the guy from reef builders has done what I always wondered -- a shoal of like 5 (maybe 7, I forget) and they all get along well.
In my next tank I may try that.. I think I'd like the look of a group of firefish hovering over acros
revhtree
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My Tank Thread
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Looking good and Roll Tide! 
I have read many threads about people being disappointed at the water level in their tank when they installed an Eclipse overflow on a rimmed tank. So I thought I would show what I did to remedy the issue on mine. First, you have to make sure the inside overflow box is all the way up against the bottom of the rim. But even doing that, since I am using the large model, the water ended up being a good half inch below the rim. I just made an adjustable weir to put on the front of mine. I can now adjust the water level to wherever I want it to be.
I’ve been having some cyano issues lately. Pretty sure it’s because my flow was not high enough. I’ve discovered that my PP4s don’t do well when ramping up and down with my Apex. I changed up my programming and now I run them on/off at 100% to vary the flow. Since I did that, they have worked flawlessly. Here’s the latest FTS. Still having a GHA problem, but hoping the increased flow will help with that too.
So obviously I haven’t updated this thread in a while. My GHA problem got out of hand and I also fought a dyno issue so I got to the point where I couldn’t stand to look at the tank. During the battle, I added an MP10 and a bigger skimmer thinking that would help- nope. I then added UV - no dice. I finally realized I was over skimming and went back to the Tunze skimmer. I finally turned the corner when I did a 3 day blackout and started dosing Microbacter 7.
Anyway, things are looking way better and I’m ready to start the thread back up.
Latest FTS:
Anyway, things are looking way better and I’m ready to start the thread back up.
Latest FTS:
