Rebuild and recovery of a dead tank

[jason2459]

Finally got a couple videos uploaded I took a few days ago. Sorry about the glare in the first one. I love the lyretail anthias and the video got their beautiful blue eyes good. Their eyes get this brilliant blue shine and not sure if it's the same under other lights but they certainly do POP under the LEDs. You can also see the soon to be male establishing it's dominance and likes to keep the other two females apart.

http://youtu.be/eqw_kXY0k1Y?hd=1



http://youtu.be/4hV7BN3RMrI?hd=1

[jason2459]

I got in another Reefbrite LED strip and love it. It is exactly what I was hoping for. I rearranged things a bit like put the all blue in front and really like that placement. I didn't get a chance to get pictures of the tank with each on yet but here's the setup




Front to back (or in the case of the picture left to right)

All Reefbrite LED
48" all blue on at 10am off at 10pm
2x 36" 50/50 with 90 degree optics on at 2pm off at 7pm
72" 50/50 xho on at 1pm off at 8pm
48" 50/50 on at 11am off at 9pm

This totals about 215 watts.

Then there's the moon light leds which I believe they are current or something like that. They were cheap and they work pretty good. Still don't think I need anymore of those. We'll see if the timing is good or not but the Clam seemed to really like it today and looked really good. Didn't see any differences in the corals so I'll play it by ear.

[jason2459]

Still LOVING the reefbrite led strips more and more. They could be dimmable if I wanted but don't think I need to as I can ramp up and down each strip individually to get sunrise, late morning, noon, late noon, sundown like setup.

I got a torch coral in the tank doing really well. Of course I suck at taking pictures but what you can't see is a brown almost purplish polyps with these super bright green tips flowing all over the place so it was hard to get a picture of it.

[jason2459]

Leopard wrasses are tough. I have or had three of them and the Potter's decided after I removed the Starry Blenny due to Clam nipping to declare world war III on the larger female bipartitus. I haven't seen her in a few days. Last night I get home and see an unusual diatom bloom of which I haven't seen in years. I did a water change and my skimmer cup is unually fuller, wetter, and gunkier then normal. None of these are a good sign that the fish is still alive.

I'm nervous because I have a M. kuiteri going through QT right now in line to be added to the tank in a few weeks. The leopards get stressed easy and have a high chance of dieing from stress. So, going back and forth on removing the Potter's temporarily when I introduce the Kuiter's or not. I don't want to loose the Potter's but I hate to risk that the Potter's decides to go crazy on the Kuiter's. The Potter's doesn't take any notice though of the smaller bipartitus I have though so that's a good thing. Kuiter's also don't look like the typical leopard wrasse. We'll see what happens.

[jason2459]

One of these days I'll get a nice camera instead of trying to use my phone's camera.

I just wanted to share my latest addition to the display tank. A very nice pink hammer. It's the biggest piece I've bought yet at a good 4-5 inch base





I somehow managed to get a decent couple shots of my other corals

[Aquarist007]

Hi Jason
just thought I would drop by after along time off from cyberspace.
My business got so busines(servicing 30 tanks a week myself) that I have not been able to be on Reef Central at all.
I also lost about 12 to 15 fish from my own system due to nothing but neglect of the basics on my part esp taking the time to keep the fish healthy.
Out of the blue, oedemium(marine velvet) broke out in the tank and do the poor health of the fish they succumbed to it. Use of various medications killed alot of coral and basic all my clean up crew.
So I have renewed interest in your thread now as I too join the ranks of the rebuilders

Your progess has been magnificant and is a really good motivational start for me

[jason2459]

Hey Cap'n! That's great your business took off. It's certainly been a while. I remember when you were just getting it started up. Sorry to here about your own tank but I certainly know how that is. I struggle to keep up with maintenance at times too. Glad to see your posting though and always value your input.

[jason2459]

Talking about maintanence I just ordered some IO salt from DFS and saw that the Eheim Jager heaters were on sale and picked up a couple 250w heaters which seems like that is more than enough for my tank as I'm running a fairly warm return pump with the Mag 1800 drive which is about a 140w. Of course it's not like having a 140w heater but it still gives off a decent amount of heat. A perfect example is I also use a mag1800 for my mixing station (32g brute trash can) and that alone heats the water in there up to around 80 degrees. Which is nice I don't have to worry about adding a heater to the mixing water. I guess having a high wattage pump isn't always that bad.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by jason2459

. A perfect example is I also use a mag1800 for my mixing station (32g brute trash can) and that alone heats the water in there up to around 80 degrees. Which is nice I don't have to worry about adding a heater to the mixing water. I guess having a high wattage pump isn't always that bad.

Interesting--what is the temperature in the room where the brute is?
How do you use a mag that size without water going all over the place?

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Hey Cap'n! That's great your business took off. It's certainly been a while. I remember when you were just getting it started up. Sorry to here about your own tank but I certainly know how that is. I struggle to keep up with maintenance at times too. Glad to see your posting though and always value your input.

Thanks I value your input too and enjoy your thread

[jason2459]

I guess I did a live stock list recently but haven't done an inventory list for a while I don't think. Lets see if I can remember what all I have and setup.

Standard 180 (72x24x24) with an internal weir and external overflow setup with three channels as described by beananimal. 1 open channel, 1 full siphon, and 1 failsafe.

Reefkeeper light mounted in the stand with 2x Pc4 outlet strips. Controls the lights and have an extension cord run down to the basement to another PC4 plugged into it which the return pump is then plugged into. That way standby will stop the return which I do every time I feed by hand. I also have
a SL1 for the switch ports and a switch hanging in the external overflow just as an extra extra caution to make sure it doesn't overflow. That will shut down the return pump.

Reefbrite LED lighting
Front to back 48" all blue, 2x36" 50/50 with optics, 72" xho 50/50, 48" 50/50
Ramp up and ramp down schedule controlled with ReefKeeper Light (RKL) at main Display Tank stand.
10am to 10pm for the 48" all blue
11am to 9pm for the 48" 50/50
12pm to 8pm for the 72" xho 50/50
2pm to 6pm for the 2x36" 50/50 with 90degree optics

then cheap blue moon lights on from 10pm to 10am.

Water movement:
2x Tunze 6105s controlled by a Tunze 7096
Creates a smooth 1" pulsing action in the tank with these settings:
Left pump alternates from 50-80% w/ 18v jumper
Right pump alternates from 0-30% w/ 24v jumper
Pulse is set to .99 seconds with .9 ramp up and down
I don't use the night mode as the earth doesn't stop spinning and the moon doesn't stop orbiting.
Storm timer set to 6hours and really pulls up the detritus but definitely need to watch coral placements to be able to handle the temporarily 100% pulses. This popped a frogspawn head. I don't use the night mode.

Tunze battery backup for one of the 6105's connected to a deep cycle 75Ah battery with a battery tender junior maintaining the charge. This will run it for several days.

Eheim auto feeder feeding 4 times a day New Life Spectrum regular Marine formula 1mm pellets. 11am, 1:00pm, 2pm, 4pm then I'll feed a cube of frozen something at 6pm and 8pm.

That's pretty much what I have upstairs for the main display tank I believe. Then down in the basement.

40 gallon Breeder dimensions which I can't remember off the top of my head. Split up into drain section with skimmer, ph probe, carbon dosing, heaters, and temp probe. That flows into a cryptic zone like area with the Reverse Undergravel Filter (RUGF), 50gph flow, dolomite gravel and filed up the rest of the way with live rock sponges, feather dusters, worms, and pods galore. The last smallest section is the return.

Reefkeeper light w/ 2 PC4s, SL2, Net, PH Probe, and 2 float switches. One PC4 is connected to the upstairs and is shutoff entirely during feeding or I can put items into standby with the downstairs RKL as well when doing maintenance.

Mag 1800 return pump which after all the head height is giving around 700 GPH. Can be controlled by both RKLs.

Reef Octopus SRO-3000 SSS which I could not be happier with. Also, can be controlled by both RKls,

Heater Setup with multiple redundancies.
RKL monitoring via iTemp probe set to 76F with .2 swing variance
Ranco Controller plugged into RKL controlled by iTemp set to 84F
2x Eheim Jager 250w plugged into Ranco set to 82

BRS 1.1ml per day doser controlled by RKL set to dose Vinegar for 3 minutes every 20 minutes 20 times a day starting at 1pm. This gives a nice spread out 66ml to help reduce PH reduction during peak PH times. The RKL with the PH probe also has an alert action on for this to stop dosing if the PH drops below 7.85.

BRS 50ml per day doser controlled by RKL and two float switches in the return section for ATO of full saturated RO/DI/Kalk (lime water). This is also set to not run for more then 5 minutes at a time with a 10 minute break between to make sure it doesn't dose to much at once and also that it doesn't constantly run in case of a float switch failure. This also has a PH Probe alert setup to stop dosing if the PH goes above 8.4.

BRS 5 stage plus RO/DI filter. Modified with an extra RO membrane, DI cartridge and another TDS meter. So from
water supply > TDS in (~230) > 5micron Sediment filter > 5 micron carbon block > 1 micron carbon block > 300 gpd RO membrane > 300 gpd RO membrane > TDS out (~6) > DI > TDS out (~0) > DI > TDS out (0)

I'll rotate the DI as soon as the first DI stage hits 1. After reading through many many posts it looks like I probably only need 1 carbon block as would most people and even a TDS of 1 can be very bad depending on what is in that 1. That there can be things that can get through a DI stage and that having 2 is a great backup.

The RO/DI feeds into the ATO via float valve in case I forget to turn it off and it doesn't flood the basement. I do not leave it on all the time depending on the float valve in case it fails. This is also true and setup for my Saltwater mixing station.

Brute Trash Can. This gets the RO/DI water to be made into salt water with regular Instant Ocean salt (IO). It is plumbed with a Mag 1800 (I can use this as a backup for my return pump too) to mix the water, fill the water level back up in the drain section of the sump for water changes, and also a run to fill up buckets or miscellaneous things in case I need it like doing water changes for my 20g mantis tank or filling up my sister-in-laws water jugs. I don't need a heater like mentioned above since the mag drive is hot enough. Taking the room temp from around 65F to close to 80F. I also still have a run up to the main tank from when I didn't have a sump and doing water changes for my old 55g and I can still use it for emergency mass water changes.

ATO container is just a 29g clear sterilite plastic bin with a lid. as mentioned above a float valve for RO/DI and line to the BRS parasitical pump. That's it. I dump in a bunch of Kalk (either BRS or store bought Mrs. Wages lime) and stir briefly with a section of pvc. Set and forget.

Azoo battery backup air pump for the sump in case loss of power to keep oxygen levels up in the sump and not cause mass die offs and stagnate water. This should also run for a few days.

In case both battery backups fail I have a power inverter I can connect to my vehicles and charge them backup or run what I might need like a heater or Fan. Still planning on getting a full generator.


I think that's it. It's setup for me and my tank and capabilities of maintenance. I try to incorporate failsafes.

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

Interesting--what is the temperature in the room where the brute is?
How do you use a mag that size without water going all over the place?

Room temp is around ~65F and the mag1800 after running for a little while brings the temp up close to ~80F. I have it running right now and can double check when I get home.

The plumbing inside the brute points down.

[jason2459]

I was pretty close. Its getting warmer outside now over 80F during the day the past few days. The basement room was at 70F and the mixing station with the pump running for a few hours is close to 82F.

Room Temp


Brute temp

[Aquarist007]

It looks like you are running a closed loop with it??

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

It looks like you are running a closed loop with it??

Yeah pretty much. Intake on the bottom and return back on top. Using uniseals for the PVC into the brute. It has been working well now for the past 2+ years.

Wow that is crazy. I can easily remember how old my tank is because it was setup just before my son was born and he's almost 3 now. He still loves it and already calls the clown fish Nemo. He still has the betta fish in his bedroom too.

[jason2459]

*New since last list update

Current Stock list:
Fish:
Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) paired up with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus)
False Percula (Amphiprion ocellaris)
Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
Pair Kaudern's Cardinal (Pterapogon kauderni)
Sharknose Goby (Elacatinus evelynae)
Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus)
Trio Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
Potter's Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroyi)
-Divided Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) (-1 Potter's harassed one of them to death)
*Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
*Purple Tilefish (Hoplolatilus purpureus)

Inverts:
Pair Bloodred/fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
Pair Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Quad Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)
Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga)
Grape Coral (Euphyllia Cristata)
Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia Divisa)
*Pink Hammer Coral (Euphylia Ancora)
*Torch Coral (Euphylia Glabrescens)
Trumpet Coral (Caulastrea curvata)
Candy cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata)
Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa)
Encrusting Montipora (Montipora nodosa)
Tube anemone (Cerianthus membranaceus)

Just got a couple beauties into the Display Tank. I have a Kuiters in line to be added by the end of the Month. Pics to come...

[jason2459]

I fell in love with this Purple Tile fish at the LFS and had to pick it up. The colors are so vibrant and again the Camera just pulls out the blues. There are all these violets/blues/reds/purples that just blend and meld together. Seems like the colors change depending on the view angle as the fish moves around.

This does not do this fish justice AT ALL...



Hard to get this red velvet fairy wrasse standing still. Really nice bold red and outlined scales.

[jason2459]

Couple more pictures for the heck of it



Not sure if I posted this one yet or not but like it


Easily my favorite coral in my tank right now. The pinks on the tips are a lot more pink in person.

[reeftanknewbie]

Jason,

tank is looking great. This has been a fun build and recovery to follow. Thanks for sharing this.

[jason2459]

Thanks for the comments. It's been a fun journey and look forward to continuing.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Thanks for the comments. It's been a fun journey and look forward to continuing.

I have to ask myself---does the journey ever end

[jason2459]

I hope not. I would love to have the longevity in the hobby that Paul has had.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by jason2459

I hope not. I would love to have the longevity in the hobby that Paul has had.

you must be very young, I would be dead and buried before I could have that longevity in the saltwater part of the hobby.

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Room temp is around ~65F and the mag1800 after running for a little while brings the temp up close to ~80F. I have it running right now and can double check when I get home.

The plumbing inside the brute points down.

I did modify this setup a bit more since this picture was taken when I first plumbed it together. I added a fill line line I guess you can say so I know how full or empty the saltwater level is in the brute.

[jason2459]

Love growth comparison shots. Didn't realize how much my frogspawn has grown.

When I first got it and after I found a good spot to wedge it into after it popped out of it's skeleton.


back and bigger then ever. (sorry not a direct on shot but it's to the right side of the picture if for some reason you can't find it.)