90 gallon "rescue" project (reef)

~reefchik~ · 07/11/2009, 10:20 AM

You may have seen my first few threads about this 90 gal. we got free from the neighbor.

Well, we got'er done Thursday with no problems at all until my DH flooded our kitchen filling up the dog bowl...but I digress.

This isn't an impressive "build" thread compared to some of the amazing tank builds I've been following. But I would like to document what we did and how we did it. It's the biggest tank I've ever had. I was especially pleased that no leveling needed to be done. We did shore up the floor beneath with a couple vertical 4x4s set on the basement floor.

I'm really looking forward to having a reef tank with some size to it to allow me to have a few more fish and corals I couldn't have in the past. Best of all, my DH has finally got the bug! This was always my hobby. He tolerated it, and helped out when asked, and enjoyed showing it to his friends, but knows zilch about any of it. This time he's really into it.

Specs:

*90 gallon All-Glass (undrilled)

*AGA stock stand (black painted wood)

*JBJ lighting - looks to be an older gen. Formosa-type with the 3 end fans (4 CF lights, two daylight and two actinic)

*New Carib-Sea Aragamax oolite DSB (seeded with sand from my 20 gal) and waiting on more IPSF stuff

*Fluval 405 filter packed with carbon, floss and Fluval's GFO (thanks to Billybeau1 for explaining that one to me)

*New AquaClear 402 powerhead (which about matches the Fluval output at the other end. Each is pointed front and middle of tank.

I wish I'd taken the first photos of this tank right at the neighbor's house before we began to move it. It was a horrible mess. So much diatom/cyano on the front glass you could hardly see inside the tank. Tank volume was down about 40% and salinity was so high, it went off the scale of my hydrometer.

With no further ado, here are the progress photos.

TB continued next post, since I don't know how well RC takes to long photo threads.

~reefchik~ · 07/11/2009, 10:35 AM

Some of the rockwork. I used plumber's putty from Home Depot which cures underwater. It's a nice rock gray and price was sweet: $3.59 a tube.

Time to put the algaes in:

~reefchik~ · 07/11/2009, 10:46 AM

Nothing eventful happened yesterday. Everyone seems to be ok, no leaks anywhere. All fish ate (frozen plankton).

I stuck a couple frags of colt in there that were bouncing around my small tank, and also a rock with GSP that is really too much in there, too.

One chromis looks damaged somehow. He has lifted scales on left side only and breathing very heavily. No other signs of problems.

I wish I knew how to keep algae cuttings in place til they take hold. Once I cranked the powerhead on for full tank circulation they all want to blow around

Here are this morning's photos:

View from left end that faces the family room.

Goby is camera shy.

Gotta love a pristine new tank setup, eh?

Now imagine it all covered with fine brown powder in a week....LOL.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for an easy cycle. The rock is old and well cured obviously but has no life at all. Once I realized the water params were not insane (just a bit of nitrate) I figured the rock couldn't be too rotten. It must have been really nice at one time. It's some of the lightest rock I've ever had, and there are a few small patches of coralline that I will nurse along.

Billybeau1 · 07/11/2009, 04:23 PM

Nice pics and good job.

919 · 07/11/2009, 04:29 PM

I think your DH forgot to buy a background...

mat167 · 07/11/2009, 04:40 PM

That is a very nice tank, especially for an aquarium which isn't drilled! I love when they look so clean and pristine.

~reefchik~ · 07/12/2009, 10:18 PM

thanks for the nice comments.

We picked up a tape-on background last night. I think I'm going to go with the blue side.

With this move, there wasn't time to paint the back.

Water looks a bit cloudy tonight. Tested ammonia and still low to zero, so not sure what this will be. Bacteria, I imagine.

Could be the engineer digging in fresh aragonite sand, too. He's feeling more at home and starting to excavate.

Toddrtrex · 07/12/2009, 10:36 PM

I personally like the blue sides of those back grounds, but if you have a reversible one can always try out black too.

It could be either one -- bacteria bloom/ammonia or the goby digging. Or a combo of both. How long were the rocks out of water being moved? But, if you are getting a "low" reading on the ammonia I would do a water change if you have some water made up. If you don't I would do it tomorrow.

ScottBev · 07/12/2009, 10:43 PM

Good luck with the tank, its looking nice so far.

Does the rock touch the bottom of the tank? I had a engineer goby that collapsed a large section of rock work when it was sitting on about an inch of sand.

My tanks and the engineer goby came from a similar situation. The tanks are doing great but the goby went to another reefer.

corbett_n · 07/13/2009, 07:28 AM

got any pics of the sump?

07/11/2009, 10:20 AM	#1
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	90 gallon "rescue" project (reef) You may have seen my first few threads about this 90 gal. we got free from the neighbor. Well, we got'er done Thursday with no problems at all until my DH flooded our kitchen filling up the dog bowl...but I digress. This isn't an impressive "build" thread compared to some of the amazing tank builds I've been following. But I would like to document what we did and how we did it. It's the biggest tank I've ever had. I was especially pleased that no leveling needed to be done. We did shore up the floor beneath with a couple vertical 4x4s set on the basement floor. I'm really looking forward to having a reef tank with some size to it to allow me to have a few more fish and corals I couldn't have in the past. Best of all, my DH has finally got the bug! This was always my hobby. He tolerated it, and helped out when asked, and enjoyed showing it to his friends, but knows zilch about any of it. This time he's really into it. Specs: 90 gallon All-Glass (undrilled) AGA stock stand (black painted wood) JBJ lighting - looks to be an older gen. Formosa-type with the 3 end fans (4 CF lights, two daylight and two actinic) New Carib-Sea Aragamax oolite DSB (seeded with sand from my 20 gal) and waiting on more IPSF stuff Fluval 405 filter packed with carbon, floss and Fluval's GFO (thanks to Billybeau1 for explaining that one to me) New AquaClear 402 powerhead (which about matches the Fluval output at the other end. Each is pointed front and middle of tank. I wish I'd taken the first photos of this tank right at the neighbor's house before we began to move it. It was a horrible mess. So much diatom/cyano on the front glass you could hardly see inside the tank. Tank volume was down about 40% and salinity was so high, it went off the scale of my hydrometer. With no further ado, here are the progress photos. TB continued next post, since I don't know how well RC takes to long photo threads.

07/11/2009, 10:35 AM	#2
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	continued - more pix Some of the rockwork. I used plumber's putty from Home Depot which cures underwater. It's a nice rock gray and price was sweet: $3.59 a tube. Time to put the algaes in:

07/12/2009, 10:36 PM	#8
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I personally like the blue sides of those back grounds, but if you have a reversible one can always try out black too. It could be either one -- bacteria bloom/ammonia or the goby digging. Or a combo of both. How long were the rocks out of water being moved? But, if you are getting a "low" reading on the ammonia I would do a water change if you have some water made up. If you don't I would do it tomorrow. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

07/11/2009, 10:46 AM	#3
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	Nothing eventful happened yesterday. Everyone seems to be ok, no leaks anywhere. All fish ate (frozen plankton). I stuck a couple frags of colt in there that were bouncing around my small tank, and also a rock with GSP that is really too much in there, too. One chromis looks damaged somehow. He has lifted scales on left side only and breathing very heavily. No other signs of problems. I wish I knew how to keep algae cuttings in place til they take hold. Once I cranked the powerhead on for full tank circulation they all want to blow around Here are this morning's photos: View from left end that faces the family room. Goby is camera shy. Gotta love a pristine new tank setup, eh? Now imagine it all covered with fine brown powder in a week....LOL. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for an easy cycle. The rock is old and well cured obviously but has no life at all. Once I realized the water params were not insane (just a bit of nitrate) I figured the rock couldn't be too rotten. It must have been really nice at one time. It's some of the lightest rock I've ever had, and there are a few small patches of coralline that I will nurse along.

07/11/2009, 04:23 PM	#4
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Nice pics and good job.

07/11/2009, 04:29 PM	#5
919 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 84	I think your DH forgot to buy a background...

07/11/2009, 04:40 PM	#6
mat167 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Montreal, South-Shore Posts: 473	That is a very nice tank, especially for an aquarium which isn't drilled! I love when they look so clean and pristine.

07/12/2009, 10:18 PM	#7
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	thanks for the nice comments. We picked up a tape-on background last night. I think I'm going to go with the blue side. With this move, there wasn't time to paint the back. Water looks a bit cloudy tonight. Tested ammonia and still low to zero, so not sure what this will be. Bacteria, I imagine. Could be the engineer digging in fresh aragonite sand, too. He's feeling more at home and starting to excavate.

07/12/2009, 10:43 PM	#9
ScottBev Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Gville, FL Posts: 59	Good luck with the tank, its looking nice so far. Does the rock touch the bottom of the tank? I had a engineer goby that collapsed a large section of rock work when it was sitting on about an inch of sand. My tanks and the engineer goby came from a similar situation. The tanks are doing great but the goby went to another reefer.

07/13/2009, 07:28 AM	#10
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	got any pics of the sump?