My SPS Frankentank

mshonk · Jan 2, 2019

Finished the cabinet to match the stand minus a door. Plus I was able to move my printer. Now I just need a small comfy chair to put on the other side of my desk for lounging and staring at the tank.

mshonk · Jan 4, 2019

Top shots

mshonk · Jan 5, 2019

More pics

mshonk · Jan 9, 2019

Few updates.

1. I forgot to change my DI resin.... tested the rodi water and it was .09198ppm not terrible but my tank is still young so it's not helping.
2. I have bee dosing NO3 almost dialed in.
3. I finished my cabinet beside the tank to hide my top off water.
4. I picked up 11 corals from aqua sd's weekend sale.
5. I won their $200 LPS frag pack prize. Will post pics this weekend!
6. Started dosing Red Sea Trace Colors.
7. Temporarily runnig GFO until I have my resin replaced and gha algae in check. [I have seen worse with algae] .

mshonk · Jan 10, 2019

Past tanks including my 1st reef tank. My 55g was my favorite until my current. That acro was from a brownout colony.

Codym808 · Jan 10, 2019

Looks good!! I also run a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I like that the skimmer is in the same compartment as the return, saves space for a fuge/frag section. You have anymore pictures of the sump? I'm in the middle of designing a new diy sump.

mshonk · Jan 10, 2019

Codym808 said:
Looks good!! I also run a 40 breeder with 20 long sump. I like that the skimmer is in the same compartment as the return, saves space for a fuge/frag section. You have anymore pictures of the sump? I'm in the middle of designing a new diy sump.

No. Just the ones at the beginning of the thread. I have a frag rack int the center now. I plan on some uodate pics after I get some corals tomorrow.

mshonk · Jan 11, 2019

Frags are in!!!!! Lights aren't on yet. AquaSD is awesome!!! Also all of my filters came in so I am able to fix that issue too. The last pic is the frag pack I won. Cant wait to see the colors. I bought a bunch of blue acros and a rainbow millie!!!

Codym808 · Jan 11, 2019

I see and echinata, I’m jealous lol looking good though!

mshonk · Jan 11, 2019

Codym808 said:
I see and echinata, I’m jealous lol looking good though!

I have wanted one in this tank soooo bad. Last shipment it was a doa and I am frequently told by the lfs's in my area that I am the only sps guy they talk with. They said they cant wait until i start supplying them.

Codym808 · Jan 11, 2019

Nice!! I have tried to ship in 3 Echinata's and they have either came in DOA or skin starting to peel.. One day I'll get my hands on one.. Good luck!

mshonk · Jan 11, 2019

New additions!!!

Codym808 · Jan 11, 2019

Looks good, polyp extension on the echinata already too!

Do you have problems with microbubbles getting into your display since the skimmer is in the same chamber as the return pump?

mshonk · Jan 11, 2019

Codym808 said:
Looks good, polyp extension on the echinata already too!

Do you have problems with microbubbles getting into your display since the skimmer is in the same chamber as the return pump?

Yeah I wish it looked as blue as the pic when i bought it but different lights and shipping stress. And no its the other way around. The overflow is on the right side of the dt so the skimmer is in the first chamber, and the there is the bubble trap plus I keep a powerhead on full blast in the first chamber to keep detritus out from under my skimmer.

Codym808 · Jan 11, 2019

I see, I was under the impression your skimmer was in the return chamber this whole time ;Facepalm

The blue will come back on your echinata eventually!

mshonk · Jan 12, 2019

Oh bleeping dinos! Not a ton and mainly on the sand. Heres to hoping its an easy battle.

mshonk · Jan 13, 2019

I increased the photo period over my sump, being that is where my macro algae is to increase competition against the dinos. I dialed back the photo period in my main tank 1 hour to reduce the growth of the dinos. I may invest in a UV sterilizer again if this approach does not produce results.

Codym808 · Jan 13, 2019

Oh man, I had a really bad case of dino’s at the beginning of my tanks life too. It’s usually due to an in balances of phosphate and nitrate. Have you tested recently? It will go away on its own once things are stable. Try not to make big changes as it’ll only make it worst

mshonk · Jan 13, 2019

Codym808 said:
Oh man, I had a really bad case of dino’s at the beginning of my tanks life too. It’s usually due to an in balances of phosphate and nitrate. Have you tested recently? It will go away on its own once things are stable. Try not to make big changes as it’ll only make it worst

Actually my tank used to run po4 at .01 -.02 and no3 0ppm. I started doesing no3 to get to 1 ppm and I still maintain between .5 -1ppm. I want richer colors in mt sps.

Anyway I know two things that caused it. I forgot to change out my di resin. I started dosing my trace elements and I thing the two combined created a great opportunity. It is already receding. By this time normally the sand has a thin coat on it barely holding any bubbles and today it is patchy like. 50/50. And my po3 went from .06 to .039 since changed my di resin.