SCA 120 Gallon PNP Build

ash9965 · Apr 6, 2017

CJ Great so far . Quick Question on the Pond Matrix for a tank that is up and running how often would you remove the pond matrix and replace with new pond matrix or would you just leave it in permanently cleaning at certain time intervals ??? Thanks

Water Dog · Apr 6, 2017

Do you plan on turning on the ATS during the cycle? I'm curious as to how well the Rain2 will perform.

CJs Aquariums · Apr 6, 2017

ash9965 said:
CJ Great so far . Quick Question on the Pond Matrix for a tank that is up and running how often would you remove the pond matrix and replace with new pond matrix or would you just leave it in permanently cleaning at certain time intervals ??? Thanks

Matrix last forever... I just keep detritus from building up... actually will be adding another bucket for a 1-2" depth covering my entire refugium..

CJs Aquariums · Apr 6, 2017

Water Dog said:
Do you plan on turning on the ATS during the cycle? I'm curious as to how well the Rain2 will perform.

Yes it's Been runnjng since day 1... I'll cover progress as it grows... don't expect much until I actually start adding nutrients to the tank

Water Dog · Apr 6, 2017

I'm thinking that you should get some decent growth from curing the Pukani in your DT. We'll see... thanks for the updates!

AlexG · Apr 7, 2017

I am jealous because I don't have water in my system yet. I am sure that in no time you will have a thriving reef

CJs Aquariums · Apr 16, 2017

The build continues..... covering the bare bottom!

Debated on what type of sand to use... after asking around I landed on tropic eden mini flakes 2mm grain size...

My thought was I wanted a smaller size for sand sifters and wrasses.. but also didn't want it to blow around. I'm running Gyre 130 & 230 on the system and they def can move a ton of water... but considering flow has to travel 6 ft from the surface to the bottom of the tank.. I figured I'd be safe with 2mm grain size...

Turned out I was right! At 70% power I'm getting no movement and expect everything to work out

Now I didn't rinse the sand out of laziness and believing the hype about topic eden being "very clean" ... well .... that myth was busted... tank took a full day to start clearing up and prob will need a another day or 2 before it's crystal clear...

To be continued ....

reefwiser · Apr 16, 2017

CJ it's coming along. [emoji3] A tank is a journey sometimes things work and then sometime nature has other ideas. [emoji3]

CJs Aquariums · Apr 16, 2017

reefwiser said:
CJ it's coming along. [emoji3] A tank is a journey sometimes things work and then sometime nature has other ideas. [emoji3]

No doubt about that! Haha... we are NOT in control

Mrwilcox281 · Apr 16, 2017

Following here and on YouTube. We just moved into our new house, so I can start planning my build. Keep up the great work.

Reefaddict305 · Apr 16, 2017

Looking great CJ!!

CJs Aquariums · Apr 18, 2017

Tank has finally cleared... now the fun begins...

CJs Aquariums · Apr 18, 2017

Checked parameters ... nitrites are thru the roof 5ppm... ammonia is around 1ppm and nitrates are around 10-20 ppm

Only good news is my phosphates went down from .51 to .38

I'll give it a couple more weeks Before the cycle is done...

Reefaddict305 · Apr 18, 2017

Cant wait to start seeing you add live to it. Do you have anything in mind as far as for clean up crew?

CJs Aquariums · Apr 18, 2017

Reefaddict305 said:
Cant wait to start seeing you add live to it. Do you have anything in mind as far as for clean up crew?

Just the usual.. trochus snails.. hermits... and a few other kinds of critters

Will be awhile before I can add those ... nothing for them to eat... I've kept lights off during the cycle.. gonna start leaving them on now though

Reefaddict305 · Apr 18, 2017

CJs Aquariums said:
Just the usual.. trochus snails.. hermits... and a few other kinds of critters

Will be awhile before I can add those ... nothing for them to eat... I've kept lights off during the cycle.. gonna start leaving them on now though

Cant wait brother cant wait!!!