My New Tank Build

[Braves Fan]

The Big Let Down,,,,,, Everything that I can think of is done, recheck everything, take a break come back and recheck everything again. Its time to turn the return pump on, will I have leaks everywhere, did I do everything right, kinda afraid a bit, will be ready to yank the return pump plug if things go wrong, OK its time don't be afraid, just do it. Plug in the return pump, wait for it, wait for it, here its comes Nothing, Nada, Squat what the @#$% Unplug the pump. Plug in the manifold pump into the same outlet, works fine, plug in the skimmer, everything's good. Take the return pump out of the sump, get the old pump from the old 125g, plug it in and everything's good. Guess I got a bad pump, tapped on it a bit and got it to Hummm a bit, but it won't pump water. Anyway putting salt into the sump now. Didn't think to check the pump at the LFS, never thought it would be a bad one. Anyway, we now have a tank.

 

[Braves Fan]

Day Off today so made a little progress. Had a problem with the 6 month old MP40 that I had used briefly in the 125g tank making a grinding noise. After soaking the MP40 wet side in vinegar for a few hours, hooked it back up to the tank and had the same noise. Called Brett at EcoTech, he had me hold the phone up to the dry side and said there is something wrong with it. His remedy, he is sending me a new wet and dry side, I will put the old one back in the box and mail it back to him. Can't beat that with a stick. Have the quarantine tank up and running also am making water for the Top Off tank. Also got the return pump working, just needed a tap in the right place. The one piece of advice that I could give someone going down the same road as I am. When you think you have enough RO water made, make another 150 gallons.

 

[robf]

I had a similar support experience with my MP10's. EcoTech was very helpful. I ended up having problems with both sides. The power heads are delicate however they are amazing. The support is great as too.

 

[Mike&Terry]

Nice build so far... Glad to see you have water and looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Braves Fan]

A Few new pics Went to a friends house today, picked up 2 Chromis for the tank, also got a piece of Live Rock, and a couple cups of sand. The white piece of PVC on the return line into the tank will be replace when the right part comes in. The MP40 on the right is the problem child.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Awesome! I love new tank builds!

 

[Braves Fan]

I was planning on going with a minimalist aqua scape, so much for that idea, I guess you like what you like. I am pretty much happy with the left side, not so much with the right and will be tweaking that side a bit more.

 

[Braves Fan]

Need a bit of advice here, is this something I should just get out of my head and forget about it. The new SPS tank, will be pretty much be all about the corals. Fish will be second class citizens, although I am planning pretty much a Wrasse tank, with a few exceptions. After my experience with Maroon Clowns in my old 125g mixed reef tank, swore I would never own another clown. Then along came Alpha Corals and %@#% their Black Ice Clowns. I really wouldn't mind having one of these fish in my new tank, so my question: Could I have just one and not a pair, do I have to have a BTA, just don't want something traveling around the tank stinging the SPS corals. Could I make this fish happy in my new tank with these restrictions?

 

[LiveRock27]

I like the aquascaping!

Need a bit of advice here, is this something I should just get out of my head and forget about it. The new SPS tank, will be pretty much be all about the corals. Fish will be second class citizens, although I am planning pretty much a Wrasse tank, with a few exceptions. After my experience with Maroon Clowns in my old 125g mixed reef tank, swore I would never own another clown. Then along came Alpha Corals and %@#% their Black Ice Clowns. I really wouldn't mind having one of these fish in my new tank, so my question: Could I have just one and not a pair, do I have to have a BTA, just don't want something traveling around the tank stinging the SPS corals. Could I make this fish happy in my new tank with these restrictions?

My clowns are fine in my 90g tank without a BTA and you can only have one if you like. I personally like the interaction between groups and pairs, so that is why I have a pair of clowns(along with a trio of Borbonis and 4 Lyretails).

 

[Braves Fan]

A fellow reefer came over to the house yesterday, he got the tank all hooked up. He got the AI LED lights all programmed and pretty much got everything in the sump area set up in the Neptune Apex controller. This controller is way cool, if you are thinking of getting one, spend the money for it, well worth it. Had a small pin hole leak in the top off tank, that's being fixed. After that is done, the tank is pretty much finished.

 

[Braves Fan]

A bit of info that might come in handy. I just made two screen tops for my new tank set up, display tank 48x30x25 and a 29g quarantine tank. The screen I ordered from BRS, the metal for the border I got from Lowe's with the 5/16 inch corner pieces. The 29g top was made first and came out great, the display tank, not so good. After I made the top on the floor and put it on top of the tank, the top was racked a bit because the 48' metal on the front and back of the top was sucked in towards the middle of the top because I was trying to get the screen as tight as I could. I went back to Lowe's to get a thicker metal, they didn't carry it. Home Depot on the other hand did have a thicker metal that took a 7/16 corner pieces. Remade the top, came out perfect.

 

[Braves Fan]

We have a hitchhiker, he came out of a piece of live rock a friend was keeping for me. Not much in the tank for him to eat, I did put some seaweed in the tank for him, maybe he will eat that. I am pretty sure he is a emerald crab, not sure if they are good or bad

 

[Braves Fan]

I got the Wet & dry sides for the MP40 that was giving me problems. Everything is working fine, what a great company to deal with.

 

[robf]

Emerald crabs are supposedly reef safe but then again crabs will be crabs. The do tend to knock stuff over and I've had them munch on mushroom corals. You'll just have to watch him and if he's a pest just get rid of him.

 

[SpieTek2]

this thread had me enthrawled with the drama, then resolution to the problem, then more issues with even better resolutions!! you should have made a tv show! hahahahahahahha

 

[Braves Fan]

I should apologize to the tank maker for the Email I sent them about the Black backing not being on the tank when it came in, it turned out to be not a big deal, it really is a nice looking tank, everything I could have wanted in my new tank. I knew it was winter time when I ordered the tank and had told the LFS to make sure several times that the backing was going to be on the tank, I don't have a garage and at the time, didn't know there was a product that I could apply to the tank back inside my house. Its all good now, the tank is doing great, everything except my Bubble Magus is online and working, going to try and get that online today. I forgot what the word is for this, but the tank is getting some brown stuff on the rocks and on the sand where I put the live sand from my friend's tank. I went to the LFS yesterday and picked up a few snails. I also picked up a Midas Blenny, to replace the one we lost that my friend was keeping in her frag tank, that was my wife's favorite fish. I sure like that auto top off system, no more picking up that 5g bottle twice a day to fill the sump, still have to fill the quarantine tank though The Neptune Apex sure is a nice perk to have. I have the LFS trying to find me three Carberri Anthias for the quarantine tank, they will be the first to go into the quarantine tank. I put the 2 chromis and the Midas Blenny straight into the tank. I know, shouldn't have done that, but they will be the last fish going into the tank like that, I promise.

 

[Braves Fan]

No one has the Carberri Anthias and I have been looking everyday for like three weeks. I go into LiveAquaria last nite to set up a email alert just in case, I get the email alert this morning

got 3 ordered with priority over night, so hopefully I will get a tracking number today saying they will be delivered tomorrow morning. They will be the first fish into the new quarantine tank.

 

[fraghunter]

You got the latest pictures of your setup?

 

[Braves Fan]

You got the latest pictures of your setup?

Nothing has really changed with the set up. The stand isn't skinned yet, and most likely won't be for awhile. The wife's son is going to do that, but he is starting to get really busy at work, as I knew he would be. I have the dosing pump up and working, the Neptune Apex is running, top off system is running, I really love that, no more picking up that 5 gal. jug to put water in the sump twice a day. About the only thing I have left to do is get my PH probe in the sump and programmed into the Apex. Have kinda been putting that off, I know its going to be a pain, but I hope not.

 

[Braves Fan]

Well, have a great update and a not so great update. The fish came in, and are in good shape I didn't put them into the quarantine tank though, they went into the display tank, I know I shouldn't have done that, but I did. One stayed out all day swimming with the 2 G. Chromis and the Midas Blenny, the other two stayed hidden in the rocks all day I didn't see any of the new fish eat though, on the plus side, they sure are a nice looking fish. I have been reporting everything I have done in the tank build, so I might as well report the bad also. Picked up a sps frag, a small acorpora from the lfs, I am planning to buy all my fish, slowly, before I buy corals for the tank, but I had to see what would happen with a coral in the tank. I would say that 80% of the coral died within 24 hours of it going into the tank. I figured that would happen, but was hoping that it didn't. I think the lights were to bright for it, the LFS owner isn't so sure, what ever the reason, I was a bit disappointed. As soon as all 3 fish are out swimming together, I will get a pic to post,