500G Reef Tank in Puerto Rico

[cougaran]

Bleach w/ water in a 1 to 10 solution basically cleans and sterilizes everything. I would just soak afterwards w/ some dechlorinator.. There was a guy on youtube that does fish maintenance on a big fish only tank this way, he rotates the corals everytime he does maintenance. I personally like to use it after a sucessful QT or hospital tank to ensure that any parasites and any thing else is dead..I allow to dry after.

[zaheda]

Did the rocks come with the previous tank or did you collect yourself from the beach?

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by thelizardkin

very nice are you going to use local fish in the tank

thelizardkin

Locally we have a variety of fishes but most of the pet stored here import the fish. I would like to have a mix but I don't know where to get local fishes here.

I have used nets to get some before in the shores and that has worked out for smaller fishes.

Lets see what we find.

Keep in touch

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by zaheda

Some top quality liverock you got there.

zaheda thanks a lot. There are a couple of pieces that are amaizing. It's basically dead coral but the shapes are very cool.

Regards

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by Spirofucci

I think you are going to need to get the crane back for all that rock! Very cool build!!!

I would definately check out Ching's and Peters builds for aquascaping. With all the beautiful rock, I would really take all the time necessary for a great aquasculpture.

Thanks for your post Spirofucci

Some of them are over 100lbs so they are quite heavy. Glad to have the invention of the wheel available.

Still, since the top of the glass is at 7' from the floor getting it into the aquarium is going to be a challenge. I may have to use something like a crane but in smaller scale.

Take care

Jan

[othercents]

Originally Posted by JanVelazquez

Regarding the closed loop, The plumbing and filtration system is something I think I need help with, the tank does not have an internal overflow nor is it drilled. I can incorporate this or keep using the external overflow box.

I will put it up for debate to see what the FC community thinks.

For the overflow and returns I would drill the tank. I have done both and I was never fully satisfied that the external overflow wouldn't just quit working one day. My drilled tank is also much quieter than when I was using the external overflow. If you drill the tank you won't have anything sticking up over the back of the tank.

Closed loops are another issue. While I have seen a bunch of builds with closed loops in them there is definitely a large group of people who have used closed loops and don't like them. This could be because the closed loop never actually met their flow requirements (bad design) or the system kept breaking or leaking (bad design/maintenance). You can get very good flow from powerheads and I don't think there is really any benefit in using closed loop over the powerheads. I have tossed around the idea of using them too and still haven't decided if I should given the negative feedback.

I'm subscribed... Love to see how things progress.

Other

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by luisgo

Jan there are different approaches to clean the rock.

One is to put them in salt water for three months in the dark and let the bacteria to clean it. The problem is the time required. That is what people call cooking the rock.

Another alternative is what you are saying to clean it with a power washer. The problem is that some dirt will remain in the pores of the rock and you may have some proteins in your water that may result in algae.

Some people boil the rock to clean it. The problem is that it consumes a lot of electricity and again you may end up with some dirt in the pore. Not easy to boil such large pieces!

Finally you can use clorox. That way you will clean the rock with no traces of proteins and dirt. After that you use the power washer and put the rock in water with anti clorox. A very strong dose. After that you can leave it in the sun for two or three days and smell the rock to be sure there is no clorox odor. For me this is your best alternative. Maybe others can give their opinions.

Luis

I actually found a thread regaring the cooking process.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=437342

It is very good and I asked to the what recomendations I can get.

With the clorox method... won't that alter my water later on?

Cuidate

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by Barebucta

Those are serious some impressive looking rocks......

Thanks Barebucta... can't wait to set them up.

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by chrisv

those are ancient Acropora palmata skeletons. you can find them on the coast of PR. If you try to ship them, things will go less well for you. The federal government disagrees with the collection of live or dead Acropora palmata--in a pretty serious way... People who keep living A. palmata are required to have special permits and submit growth pictures and die off pictures to prove that they are not distributing frags.

chrisv

I did some research after your post and you are dead on.

The person from which I got them from I don't think knows this so I will let him know.

Thanks for the tip.

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by gasman059

saludos LOCO another boricua from fort lauderdale.

Wow that is a piece of history from "el Normadie" cerquita del escambron papa!

PM when u get a chance and I will put you in touch with the reef mafia en la isla.


I have a couple of friends wholesaling down there that can help you out.

gasman059 Saludos

The hotel shut down about a year ago and I was very lucky to get them both.

Keep on watching

Saludos

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by cougaran

Bleach w/ water in a 1 to 10 solution basically cleans and sterilizes everything. I would just soak afterwards w/ some dechlorinator.. There was a guy on youtube that does fish maintenance on a big fish only tank this way, he rotates the corals everytime he does maintenance. I personally like to use it after a sucessful QT or hospital tank to ensure that any parasites and any thing else is dead..I allow to dry after.

cougaran I think you are refering to "thatfishguy" on youtube

I think I saw that episode.

I am looking into the "cooking" method to see if it recomended but this is the seccond option.

Thanks for your post.

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by zaheda

Did the rocks come with the previous tank or did you collect yourself from the beach?

zaheda I bought them off from a supplier.

When I got the tanks they just had sand in them.

I still need to get about 5 or buckets full of live sand.

Take care

Jan

[paola98santana]

Monumental pecera...

Congrats for be the owner of a huge tank....

Stinger from Dorado, PR

[gasman059]

BTW there's a coral conference down in mayaguez this weekend with all them hot shots,
Julian Sprung/Jason Fox/Roger( rogersreeffood) prime corals and many more.......................

Great place to get to know them and those pioneers.

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by othercents

For the overflow and returns I would drill the tank. I have done both and I was never fully satisfied that the external overflow wouldn't just quit working one day. My drilled tank is also much quieter than when I was using the external overflow. If you drill the tank you won't have anything sticking up over the back of the tank.

Closed loops are another issue. While I have seen a bunch of builds with closed loops in them there is definitely a large group of people who have used closed loops and don't like them. This could be because the closed loop never actually met their flow requirements (bad design) or the system kept breaking or leaking (bad design/maintenance). You can get very good flow from powerheads and I don't think there is really any benefit in using closed loop over the powerheads. I have tossed around the idea of using them too and still haven't decided if I should given the negative feedback.

I'm subscribed... Love to see how things progress.

Other

othercents ... my thoughts exactly!!!

I would love to drill the tank. I hate the external overflow sticking out. As far as noise, I woul like to run the pumps outside of the aquarium room to keep both the heat and noise out. I just need to make sure that the glass is not tempered. That would be a disaster.

Regarding the closed loop... hmmm not sure yet.

I was thinking of using something like this:

MP-60W ES Vortech Propeller Pump by EcoTech Marine

http://ecotechmarine.com/products/vo...ropeller-pump/





SpecificationsFlow: 3,500 – 7,500 GPH (13,000-28,000 LPH)
Wattage: 10 – 60 watts
Maximum Tank Thickness: 1″ (range 3/8″ – 1″)
26mm (range 9.5mm – 26mm)
Appropriate Tank Size Range: 120 to 1000+ gallons (450 to 3,800+ Liters)
Dimensions: Wet Side- 4″ diameter by 3” long. (102mm diameter by 76mm long.)
Dry Side – 4″ diameter by 2.8″ long. (102mm diameter by 71mm long.)
Clearance Needed Behind Aquarium: 3.3″ (84mm)



What do you think?

Thanks for subscribing?

Regards

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by paola98santana

Monumental pecera...

Congrats for be the owner of a huge tank....

Stinger from Dorado, PR

paola98santana

Thanks. I actually have two of them but I am only setting up one right now. I have wanted a large tank for a number of years now and I finally got them.

Saludos

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by gasman059

BTW there's a coral conference down in mayaguez this weekend with all them hot shots,
Julian Sprung/Jason Fox/Roger( rogersreeffood) prime corals and many more.......................

Great place to get to know them and those pioneers.

I found the thread on AMEPR so I will try my best to make it this saturday. I live in San Juan and the event is a couple of hours away. If I dont make it to this one I will for sure go to the next on on July 2nd.

Regards

Jan

[cougaran]

Originally Posted by JanVelazquez

cougaran I think you are refering to "thatfishguy" on youtube

I think I saw that episode.

Jan

thats probably it, I sometimes post and surf the net before bed so if I'm real tired names are overlapped and sometimes forgotten... I've been doingthe bleach method with QT tanks for years. I did that recently with my sump and some rocks. I give the rocks a real good wash afterwards with dechlorinator(amquel or something like it), even though I'm pretty sure you really dont need to. You can also leave them to soak in the amquel water afterwards for awhile.


The vortech option is expensive, but you wont have to drill..They are suppose to be one of the best powerheads.. One feature that I like about them is they have a battery backup that you can buy for them so that they will go on automatically when the electric fails. I'm not a big fan of drilling older tanks, when its for a sump its not a huge deal but when its a 500gal and one of the panes break..well....

[ch28co]

felizitaciones y mucha suerte en en el nuevo proyecto y espero que todo te quede como lo quieres. que tipo de corales son los que mas te gustan y cuales son los que esperas tener???

[othercents]

Originally Posted by JanVelazquez

I was thinking of using something like this:

MP-60W ES Vortech Propeller Pump by EcoTech Marine

What do you think?

Thanks for subscribing?

Regards

Jan

Oh Yeah!!! The vortechs are nice, however we don't see many on the large tanks because of the max tank thickness. Prior to the MP-60 being released the MP-40 only had a 3/4" max thickness rating. With the MP-60 we might see more larger tanks using them, however you are limited on directing the flow based on the static tank walls. The Tunze might be more versatile and still get the same wave maker ability with the controller. It is hard to say exactly which will be better and on the cost side they are almost identical.

Other

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by ch28co

felizitaciones y mucha suerte en en el nuevo proyecto y espero que todo te quede como lo quieres. que tipo de corales son los que mas te gustan y cuales son los que esperas tener???

ch28co gracias

I hope to have something that I can enjoy as well as share with the RC community.

I like soft corals because I like movement in the tank. As far as types these are some of them:



Thanks again.

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by cougaran

thats probably it, I sometimes post and surf the net before bed so if I'm real tired names are overlapped and sometimes forgotten... I've been doingthe bleach method with QT tanks for years. I did that recently with my sump and some rocks. I give the rocks a real good wash afterwards with dechlorinator(amquel or something like it), even though I'm pretty sure you really dont need to. You can also leave them to soak in the amquel water afterwards for awhile.


The vortech option is expensive, but you wont have to drill..They are suppose to be one of the best powerheads.. One feature that I like about them is they have a battery backup that you can buy for them so that they will go on automatically when the electric fails. I'm not a big fan of drilling older tanks, when its for a sump its not a huge deal but when its a 500gal and one of the panes break..well....

I think this is the guy, you tell me. He does aquarium maintenance in LA and gives some really good tips.

LA Fish Guy

http://www.youtube.com/user/lafishguy

About the bleaching I think I'm going to try the "cooking" method as it takes around two months and that's when I think I'll be setting everything up.

I still need to purchase a few things such as a protein skimmer which is essential.

Regarding the drilling, I will try to drill my other tank first as they are identical and see how that goes.

I do have a generator with an automatic transfer switch that I am still setting up.

Thanks again

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Originally Posted by othercents

Oh Yeah!!! The vortechs are nice, however we don't see many on the large tanks because of the max tank thickness. Prior to the MP-60 being released the MP-40 only had a 3/4" max thickness rating. With the MP-60 we might see more larger tanks using them, however you are limited on directing the flow based on the static tank walls. The Tunze might be more versatile and still get the same wave maker ability with the controller. It is hard to say exactly which will be better and on the cost side they are almost identical.

Other

othercents

My tank is 3/4" thick so the MP60 should work fine. I have three options, the MP60, the Tunze wavebox 6215 or drilling the tabk for a closed loop.



I'd love to do a combination but I'm sure I can get some more advise from someone who has tried them both.

Regards

Jan

[JanVelazquez]

Yesterday I took all the rock and placed it into my other 500G tank for the cooking method. I did add one gallon of clorox and covered it completely and will leave it like this for two months or until they are ready.

I did leave one pump running with the external overflow.

I will post the pictures later on.

Regards

Jan

[luisgo]

Jan if you are using clorox you are not cooking the rock you are sterilizing it. You should remove the rock in two or three days and preasure wash the rock. Then put it in fresh water with anti clorox for two or three days more. Then put it in saltwater for the rest of the time until you used it.

If you can add two or three damsels even better to create a cycle.