Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!! - Page 2

Aquarist007 · 05/19/2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
I decided to run to wal-mart last night around 2am... always a treat

Anyway, I picked up these glass measuring cups for my 2 part dosing. They were like $1 and have a picture of a chef hat on them

The line is marked at 30ml, which is what I am currently dosing daily.

I think it has been a week now--have you checked your alk and cal levels yet

Tswifty · 05/19/2008, 08:54 PM

I tested yesterday and the levels have maintained so far at 10dkh and calcium at 440.

I dosed some Kent dkh super buffer before I started dosing 2 part to jump the alk some. I would like to maintain it around 10.

Tswifty · 05/19/2008, 09:13 PM

Short Vid of the PBT:

Reeftanks6 · 05/20/2008, 05:17 AM

Great Tswifty. Congrats on the split. Never knew you have the PBT looks great man as well as the lights the look great to.

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 06:07 AM

Thanks... The PBT came in on Friday, and is in quarantine in the 55g tank right now.

My g/f calls it the "misfit" tank

rayoto · 05/20/2008, 06:40 AM

[QUOTE
My g/f calls it the "misfit" tank

[/B][/QUOTE]

I'll take that misfit tank over my DT any day. Thats a cool looking fish. Looks pretty active too.

Aquarist007 · 05/20/2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
I tested yesterday and the levels have maintained so far at 10dkh and calcium at 440.

I dosed some Kent dkh super buffer before I started dosing 2 part to jump the alk some. I would like to maintain it around 10.

that's really good results--just keep dosing the same 30 mL for the next week

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 07:02 AM

Hey Scott, what are your thoughts with the lighting... As far as reducing the photo period for a little. I didn't add many bulbs, but the IceCap ballast will overdrive the bulbs upwards of 80 or 90 watts per bulb.

Since I switched 2 older bulbs onto the new ballast also, I am looking at an increase of about 220 watts.

I was running the lights as follows:
2 Actinic Bulbs : 11am - 8pm
2 Daylight Bulbs: 12pm - 7pm

Here's the schedule I have set for today:
2 Actinic Bulbs: 10am - 9:30pm
3 Daylight Bulbs & 1 Super Actinic: 11am - 4pm

How long should I run it this way, and how quickly should I increase the time length?

I was thinking of increasing the daylight bulbs runtime every 5 days by 1 hour, until I get to the desired schedule?

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rayoto
I'll take that misfit tank over my DT any day. Thats a cool looking fish. Looks pretty active too.

Thanks... I'm very happy with his color thus far, and he's extremely active. So much so, that I don't really see myself adding many fish after him... He's probably the last active swimming addition.

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 04:34 PM

The MSX-160 is officially broken in now...

2 or 3 days worth of skimmate:

ggk1988 · 05/20/2008, 05:41 PM

Nice skimmate. I'm sure it smells great. lol

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 06:08 PM

Oh it was terrible... followed it down the toilet with some toilet cleaner for good measure.

Also after I cleaned it I took a video of the skimmer running, and you can see the fuge drain that I busted:

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 06:38 PM

Another video... Right before feeding time... everyone was interested in what I was doing.

I took the video to show how large the skunk cleaner shrimp are... I think they're both actually larger than the tang

Reeftanks6 · 05/20/2008, 06:40 PM

LOL Tswifty. Yes those cleaner shrimp are pretty big.

Al Bendiksen · 05/20/2008, 06:53 PM

Seems like that tang is pretty hungry. And i agree, the shrimps are fairly large. But don't they say the bigger the better? Lol

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 07:32 PM

Here are some better pics of the PBT:

Tswifty · 05/20/2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reeftanks6
LOL Tswifty. Yes those cleaner shrimp are pretty big.

Quote:

Originally posted by Al Bendiksen
Seems like that tang is pretty hungry. And i agree, the shrimps are fairly large. But don't they say the bigger the better? Lol

I got them on sale from ReefHotSpot for $14 a piece... There's no way I thought they would come this big

They're great additions though, very active, always out in the open, and have extremely bright coloration.

rayoto · 05/21/2008, 06:01 AM

TJ,

Not to sidetrack/backup too much, but you are running phosban and carbon in your reactors, correct? Are you driving them with seperate pumps?

Ray

Tswifty · 05/21/2008, 06:23 AM

Actually I just hooked up one phosban reactor on my 90g tank a few days ago, but am running carbon through it. I'm waiting to hook up the other reactor with phosban, because I think the cheato, CUC, and tang are doing a good job controlling algae at this stage.

When I do hook it up I would like to set it up similiar to how I saw another RC member set it up, something like this... driven by one pump:

To answer your question though... you can drive them either way... 2 independent pumps, or "T" off the line from the pump to feed them both. The ball valves will allow you to control how much flow goes through each. I was driving them with independent pumps before, because I knew I would be splitting them up eventually between the 2 tanks.

rayoto · 05/21/2008, 06:30 AM

I remember seeing that somewhere too. The carbon can handle a higher flow than the phosban. The phosban only needs to "tumble" if I remember correctly. You gonna use a Maxi-Jet 1200 or similar? BTW.. Heres why I have got to get this going...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1394654

Tswifty · 05/21/2008, 06:33 AM

I'm not sure... I haven't looked into it that much, but I would imagine so.

Aquarist007 · 05/21/2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rayoto
I remember seeing that somewhere too. The carbon can handle a higher flow than the phosban. The phosban only needs to "tumble" if I remember correctly. You gonna use a Maxi-Jet 1200 or similar? BTW.. Heres why I have got to get this going...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1394654

that is correct--carbon can take a higher flow--care must be taken however that the carbon is not been pulverized so it can enter the display tank.

valves come with the reactors--so if you use them you can get away with using one maxijet pump and the two valves to make sure the flow rates are different

Aquarist007 · 05/21/2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
Actually I just hooked up one phosban reactor on my 90g tank a few days ago, but am running carbon through it. I'm waiting to hook up the other reactor with phosban, because I think the cheato, CUC, and tang are doing a good job controlling algae at this stage.

When I do hook it up I would like to set it up similiar to how I saw another RC member set it up, something like this... driven by one pump:

To answer your question though... you can drive them either way... 2 independent pumps, or "T" off the line from the pump to feed them both. The ball valves will allow you to control how much flow goes through each. I was driving them with independent pumps before, because I knew I would be splitting them up eventually between the 2 tanks.

you are not considering a uv sterilzer are you? IMO a waste of money

D to the P · 05/21/2008, 10:55 AM

In your video it looked like the tang was fighting a steady current to get to that food haha. Do the fish seem to enjoy the flow? I agree with the cap'n though about UV sterilizers. I mean, they do work, but generally it's not really necessary.

kudora · 05/21/2008, 10:56 AM

Are you going to daisy chain them using the 404 model then swift?

i got my phosban reactor last night with the mini 404 and it fit(thanks for the pic again). i was thinking of daisy chaining it also like that pic but put the carbon in front instead of the phos.

05/19/2008, 08:54 PM	#27
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I tested yesterday and the levels have maintained so far at 10dkh and calcium at 440. I dosed some Kent dkh super buffer before I started dosing 2 part to jump the alk some. I would like to maintain it around 10. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/19/2008, 09:13 PM	#28
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Short Vid of the PBT: __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 05:17 AM	#29
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	Great Tswifty. Congrats on the split. Never knew you have the PBT looks great man as well as the lights the look great to. __________________ 110g Reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Reef

05/20/2008, 06:07 AM	#30
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Thanks... The PBT came in on Friday, and is in quarantine in the 55g tank right now. My g/f calls it the "misfit" tank __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 07:02 AM	#33
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Hey Scott, what are your thoughts with the lighting... As far as reducing the photo period for a little. I didn't add many bulbs, but the IceCap ballast will overdrive the bulbs upwards of 80 or 90 watts per bulb. Since I switched 2 older bulbs onto the new ballast also, I am looking at an increase of about 220 watts. I was running the lights as follows: 2 Actinic Bulbs : 11am - 8pm 2 Daylight Bulbs: 12pm - 7pm Here's the schedule I have set for today: 2 Actinic Bulbs: 10am - 9:30pm 3 Daylight Bulbs & 1 Super Actinic: 11am - 4pm How long should I run it this way, and how quickly should I increase the time length? I was thinking of increasing the daylight bulbs runtime every 5 days by 1 hour, until I get to the desired schedule? __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 06:40 AM	#31
rayoto Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palmetto, FL Posts: 174	[QUOTE My g/f calls it the "misfit" tank [/B][/QUOTE] I'll take that misfit tank over my DT any day. Thats a cool looking fish. Looks pretty active too.

05/20/2008, 04:34 PM	#35
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	The MSX-160 is officially broken in now... 2 or 3 days worth of skimmate: __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 05:41 PM	#36
ggk1988 Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NW suburbs Chicago, IL Posts: 668	Nice skimmate. I'm sure it smells great. lol

05/20/2008, 06:08 PM	#37
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Oh it was terrible... followed it down the toilet with some toilet cleaner for good measure. Also after I cleaned it I took a video of the skimmer running, and you can see the fuge drain that I busted: __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 06:38 PM	#38
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Another video... Right before feeding time... everyone was interested in what I was doing. I took the video to show how large the skunk cleaner shrimp are... I think they're both actually larger than the tang __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/20/2008, 06:40 PM	#39
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	LOL Tswifty. Yes those cleaner shrimp are pretty big. __________________ 110g Reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Reef

05/20/2008, 06:53 PM	#40
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	Seems like that tang is pretty hungry. And i agree, the shrimps are fairly large. But don't they say the bigger the better? Lol __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

05/20/2008, 07:32 PM	#41
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Here are some better pics of the PBT: __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/21/2008, 06:01 AM	#43
rayoto Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palmetto, FL Posts: 174	TJ, Not to sidetrack/backup too much, but you are running phosban and carbon in your reactors, correct? Are you driving them with seperate pumps? Ray

05/21/2008, 06:23 AM	#44
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Actually I just hooked up one phosban reactor on my 90g tank a few days ago, but am running carbon through it. I'm waiting to hook up the other reactor with phosban, because I think the cheato, CUC, and tang are doing a good job controlling algae at this stage. When I do hook it up I would like to set it up similiar to how I saw another RC member set it up, something like this... driven by one pump: To answer your question though... you can drive them either way... 2 independent pumps, or "T" off the line from the pump to feed them both. The ball valves will allow you to control how much flow goes through each. I was driving them with independent pumps before, because I knew I would be splitting them up eventually between the 2 tanks. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover Last edited by Tswifty; 05/21/2008 at 06:30 AM.

05/21/2008, 06:30 AM	#45
rayoto Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palmetto, FL Posts: 174	I remember seeing that somewhere too. The carbon can handle a higher flow than the phosban. The phosban only needs to "tumble" if I remember correctly. You gonna use a Maxi-Jet 1200 or similar? BTW.. Heres why I have got to get this going... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1394654

05/21/2008, 06:33 AM	#46
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I'm not sure... I haven't looked into it that much, but I would imagine so. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/21/2008, 10:55 AM	#49
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	In your video it looked like the tang was fighting a steady current to get to that food haha. Do the fish seem to enjoy the flow? I agree with the cap'n though about UV sterilizers. I mean, they do work, but generally it's not really necessary. __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

05/21/2008, 10:56 AM	#50
kudora thread reader Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 1,639	Are you going to daisy chain them using the 404 model then swift? i got my phosban reactor last night with the mini 404 and it fit(thanks for the pic again). i was thinking of daisy chaining it also like that pic but put the carbon in front instead of the phos.