Perry's 90 Gallon SCA Acro Upgrade

[Perry]

Were you using the TMPR when you had acros dying Perry?

No, I was using AF Reef salt, but the tank was established on TMPR, I will have to see if I have the old bucket and see where it was made. I prefer AF, but it's becoming hard to find. So, Red Sea blue bucket it is, it's a good salt, IME. Did a 5 gallon change, things looking perky, hmmm.....

 

[Perry]

I haven't updated, but things are cranking along. Finally beat the uglies, it took time, and then within a 48 hour period, cyano and dinos just disappeared... Only thing different in my efforts to elimination was addition of chaeto gro from BW. Now, could have been a coincidence, so I will not make claim, but really strange how it just went away.
I continue to run UV and will for awhile. I add bacteria, both nitrifying and denitrifying strains from Aquaforest. I alternate from day to day. I have 2 liters of siporax in the sump, 3/4 cup passive carbon for media. Skimmer pulls very dry. Mesh fiter sock swapped weekly. I supplement phosphorus from seachem at 2.5ml daily to maintain P04 at 0.06-0.1
N03 stays solid between 2-5ppm

 

[drawman]

I haven't updated, but things are cranking along. Finally beat the uglies, it took time, and then within a 48 hour period, cyano and dinos just disappeared... Only thing different in my efforts to elimination was addition of chaeto gro from BW. Now, could have been a coincidence, so I will not make claim, but really strange how it just went away.
I continue to run UV and will for awhile. I add bacteria, both nitrifying and denitrifying strains from Aquaforest. I alternate from day to day. I have 2 liters of siporax in the sump, 3/4 cup passive carbon for media. Skimmer pulls very dry. Mesh fiter sock swapped weekly. I supplement phosphorus from seachem at 2.5ml daily to maintain P04 at 0.06-0.1
N03 stays solid between 2-5ppm

Very interesting Perry. I wonder if jump starting the chaeto was enough to tip the scale?

 

[Perry]

Very interesting Perry. I wonder if jump starting the chaeto was enough to tip the scale?

I don't run chaeto, but dosed because of Chris Meckley claim on iron for dinos. It has iron, but several other trace as well.

 

[Mystikal]

I’ve haven’t had the guts to pull the sand out of my tank. I like the look of the sand (natural reef look) but I also like the BB look. As far as the casualties I’ve always had to chalk it up to a loss in the game. Unless you have a wide spread rtn/stn issue. Or the original mother colony it originated from had pre-existing issues to begin with.

I gotta check out that research article about the cheato. I haven’t been dosing anything but acropower and kalkwasser. However, since I’ve been feeding heavy (4x a day) I started a small bit of Phospate/carbon in a bag to clear things up. Still doing random water changes every two weeks or so. I’m trying to not complicate things with dosing.

 

[Perry]

I’ve haven’t had the guts to pull the sand out of my tank. I like the look of the sand (natural reef look) but I also like the BB look. As far as the casualties I’ve always had to chalk it up to a loss in the game. Unless you have a wide spread rtn/stn issue. Or the original mother colony it originated from had pre-existing issues to begin with.

I gotta check out that research article about the cheato. I haven’t been dosing anything but acropower and kalkwasser. However, since I’ve been feeding heavy (4x a day) I started a small bit of Phospate/carbon in a bag to clear things up. Still doing random water changes every two weeks or so. I’m trying to not complicate things with dosing.

I have had sand in a premium aquatics cart for a month now. I have yet to order. I like both, but now that I have gotten the biome settled, I just don't want to cycle again, and despite my efforts with several sand cleaners, it eventually gets loaded. Unless, you are willing to be consistent with maintenance. BB for a sps only tank, well, just easier for me. No guessing on flow, no conflict with softies or lps, property demands, but the biggest bonus.... being able to put frags on discs, and growing on the bottom, no racks.
I have still only lost 2 corals since the reboot, so despite the funky algaes, I still pulled through. The only loss was a kermit granny, and red dragon, but that one replaced with a better strain. 50 different sps, mostly acros. Now, some are just taking their time, like BC Fleshdunce, it has been SLOW. KC Red Robin is also just creeping along, may move it higher. Tyree Pinky The Bear is just now coloring, but stull putting along. 60% of my corals are mounted on rubble or marco nano shelf pieces. I attach then by drilling a hole, then used AF polymer to firmly mount. Not sure why, but some plugs that I drimmiled off the stem and mount with glue don't stay put. This system better, can easily move pieces around if needed. Anyway, once the bottom has montis and others filling in, I don't think it will look as sterile, lol.

 

[drawman]

I don't run chaeto, but dosed because of Chris Meckley claim on iron for dinos. It has iron, but several other trace as well.

Interesting. I remember him saying that but I tend to take some of his info with a grain of salt. Maybe he's on to something.

 

[Mystikal]

I’ve used small ruble to plant sps on my sand bed. It is helpful to move them around if need be. Most of my higher end stuff and glued to the Rock.

 

[Perry]

April FTS:

 

[drawman]

April FTS:

Looks great Perry! Is the foxface doing a good job with algae?

 

[Perry]

May FTS-

 

[drawman]

May FTS-

Those rocks are loaded Perry it will be great to see them grow out!

 

[Perry]

Hey Tim, loaded for sure... Fortunately, I mount a large majority of corals on rubble tiles, marco nano, so I can move them around if necessary. I know it looks fairly busy, but all them frags are growing at a good rate, hopefully we will see something other than a colorful rock pile in the near future

 

[Perry]

It's been awhile, but an updated picture of the tank.

 

[tripdad]

Looking good!

 

[Perry]

Looking good!

Thank you my friend!
I tend to park on the sps forum and forget about my build thread, but so far the reboot(late January), has been successful, few losses and steady growth. Hard to believe that this system was just frags only 8-9 months ago. Currently around 60+ sps. 50+ acros

 

[Troylee]

How do you like that skimmer? Does it perform well with such a small tank? I’m looking at one but my tank is only 70gal over all.. afraid it’s too over kill

 

[Perry]

@Troylee
If we're talking about the Simplicity DC240, I would 100% recommend. I have since upgraded to a massive way more powerful skimmer, but that's how I prefer it, lol

 

[Troylee]

@Troylee
If we're talking about the Simplicity DC240, I would 100% recommend. I have since upgraded to a massive way more powerful skimmer, but that's how I prefer it, lol

Yes I was referring the dc240… hmmm okay maybe I’ll pick it up! I know it’s a good skimmer just not sure if it will work on my smaller system.. it’s gotta be better than the red devil Amazon thingy I got now

 

[Perry]

Yes I was referring the dc240… hmmm okay maybe I’ll pick it up! I know it’s a good skimmer just not sure if it will work on my smaller system.. it’s gotta be better than the red devil Amazon thingy I got now

Yeah, I would say that the rating specs are a bit under what manufacturer indicates, it should be a perfect match... If you were close to me, I would sell ya mine, lol.. Best of luck my friend