120 Gallon In Wall Mixed Reef Build

[Reu2]

I have been researching Ecosmart and Apex programming and I have found the following.

Eco-Smart modes (Tidal Swell and Nutrient Transport) take 150 minutes (2.5 hours) to complete.
Anti-Sync becomes Slave in EcoSmart modes (Right in my case) and Sync becomes Same Wall as the Master.
EcoBack is the Back Wall powerhead in EcoSmart modes, but runs constant in non-EcoSmart Modes.
I created a new Reef Crest Slow (RfCrstSL) for night time instead of having all powerbeads on constant. Should be better for random flow but still relaxing enough.
I use sync for a short period to give a short swelling flow in the afternoon as Short Pulse Mode doesn't work with Apex (That I can find anyway).

-Left

Fallback ReefCrst
Set Pulse
If Time 08:00 to 10:30 Then TidalSwl
If Time 12:00 to 14:30 Then TidalSwl
If Time 19:00 to 21:30 Then Nutrient
If Time 23:00 to 06:00 Then RfCrstSl
If FeedA 000 Then Slow
If FeedD 000 Then OFF


-Right

Fallback AntiSync
Set AntiSync
If Time 10:30 to 12:00 Then Sync
If FeedA 000 Then Slow
If FeedD 000 Then OFF


-Back

Fallback RfCrstSl
Set RfCrstSl
If Time 08:00 to 10:30 Then EcoBack
If Time 12:00 to 14:30 Then EcoBack
If Time 19:00 to 21:30 Then EcoBack
If FeedA 000 Then Slow
If FeedD 000 Then OFF

I still am not sure what to run the back powerhead on during pulse modes. Also I'm not sure the best way to tune the Pulse. They give us general guidelines to start with, but how do we know to go longer or shorter and in what increments?

Nutrient Transport Mode uses your short pulse Mode settings, but I had to clear the memory to setup to the Apex, how do I go about tuning short pulse? Can I just shut off the WXM and tune it the MP-40s?

[Reu2]

Here are my Profiles that I have setup so far.

-Profiles

PF1 Slow
Vortech Type Constant
Max intensity 15

PF2 Night
Vortech Type Constant
Max intensity 40

PF3 ReefCrst
Vortech Type Reef Crest
Max intensity 70

PF4 TidalSwl
Vortech Type Tidal Swell
Max intensity 80

PF5 Nutrient
Vortech Type Nutrient
Max intensity 80

PF6 Pulse
Vortech Type Pulse
On Time (Seconds) .80
Max intensity 80

PF7 Sync
Vortech Type Sync
Max intensity 100
Master Pump # VortechLeft - (3-2)

PF8 AntiSync
Vortech Type Anti-Sync
Max intensity 100
Master Pump # VortechLeft - (3-2)

PF9 Lagoon
Vortech Type Lagoon Random
Max intensity 80

PF10 EcoBack
Vortech Type Eco-Back
Max intensity 60
Master Pump # VortechLeft - (3-2)

PF11 RfCrstSL
Vortech Type Reef Crest
Max intensity 50

[Reu2]

I broke down and started running GFO. Started with one cup (BRS Recommends 2.5 Cups). Hopefully I can bring the Po4 down a touch. I'm tired of having .06-.10 Po4 and untraceable Nitrates. I also added some Alk to help get it back up (7.24 tonight). It's falling so slowly that I don't want to adjust the dosing schedule quite yet. A lot of hobbyist says that one day it just eases up, something in the tank must be using it.

Still not much to look at in my display, but here are a couple of pictures I took tonight ****in around.



Cleaner Shrimp by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


Toadstool Leather Polyps by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

[Reu2]

Here is my Juvenile Blue Hippo Tang having just been moved from QT to my observation tank. He spent a month in Hypo and a couple other treatments as mentioned earlier.

He's swimming well, and eating well, although he's a bit under weight. The only spot I see is the little one in the middle but I don't think it's a parasite. But after all the work to QT a healthy fish, I thought I'd post it here to be sure it's not a threat.


Juvenile Blue Hippo Tang by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

What do you think?

[mrbnx]

Nice clean build. Still catching up, but wanted to commend you on the job you've done thus far

[Reu2]

Picked up some Euphyllia Frags over the weekend. They're very popular this year so the search has been difficult. Still looking for a Neon Green and Pink tip branching Hammer.



Gold Hammer Coral by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


Pink Tip Ultra Torch Coral by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


Pink Tip Green Torch Coral by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

For the Photo ppl out there, these photos are white balanced using an Expo Disk 2. Notice the White wall in the Background is a neutral grey and not a bluish hue. The light is a 4 bulb T5 fixture under two 10k and two Coral+ bulbs. Lightroom settings, Temp 50000, Tint -40

[Reu2]

I got accepted into the Apex Fusion Beta. Since I'm a tech guy I know better than to jump all in, but curiosity got the best of me.


image by Reuben Neese, on Flickr
Live screen grab is from an iPad.

Setup was easy and straight forward if you already have your Apex setup with an external network connection. I'd recommend a custom port for security as well.

Also, I had to agree not to share any web addresses, but I am allowed to share screenshots.

I'm going to order a Foscam FI9826W today, which supports simultaneous MJPEG for the Fusion Dashboard and H.264 for compressed high frame-rate HD video.

I'll setup the Radion Pro LED lights likely this weekend. You have to remove your lights from Ecotech before they can be cleared and added by the Apex WXM. My laptop blew a video card and will be back soon (I hope).

[frankabagnale]

Sweet build!

[OutsideBrian]

Just read through all eight pages. I am impressed!
I am currently doing my researching / learning to setup a tank in the next year or so. I had no idea marine tanks were this in depth and dare I say expensive.

[Reu2]

You can get started for much less. This is the build where my wife agreed not to ask any questions. But the fundamentals are there.

Thanks for reading.

[vdejesus27]

Very Nice!

[aquaenthusiast]

the new coral additions are very beautiful

[TravelinLight]

I have the same tank as you, but I must say I am completely jealous of the fish room!!!! I wish I had that much room for all of my crap!

[shark@thebeach]

Any pics of you front trim opened up? I'm undergoing a very similar build at the moment and you have helped me out tremendously with all you build pics!! Thanks!

[Reu2]

Nothing detailed, kind of hard to shoot. It's basically a piano hinge with a lock arm. The top boarder had to be routed a bit to ensure the hinge and trim were flush with the wall, that way you don't get light leak and the seams rest with the other trim pieces.

I'll try to get a picture the next round (Might be a while as that room is full of stuff as we work on my wife's studio in the other half of the basement).

[Mrramsey]

Nice build Reu. I am building a similar 120 in wall.

uploadfromtaptalk1395880560029.jpg

[Reu2]

Love the wood work. I actually wanted to do large wood squares instead of drywall, but the wife won. Make sure you do all your stain before putting water in the tank. Chemicals can settle in your water.

[shark@thebeach]

Originally Posted by Reu2

Nothing detailed, kind of hard to shoot. It's basically a piano hinge with a lock arm. The top boarder had to be routed a bit to ensure the hinge and trim were flush with the wall, that way you don't get light leak and the seams rest with the other trim pieces.

I'll try to get a picture the next round (Might be a while as that room is full of stuff as we work on my wife's studio in the other half of the basement).

I was wondering how you got it flush. That helps me out a lot! Thanks and awesome build by the way!

[tuanc]

Nice build and nice tank

[DevilishDukie]

Any updates?

[Reu2]

Sorry for the long Absence. I've had several setbacks such as extended power outages and extended/repeated Brown Cyano outbreaks. I've lost every SPS added to the tank and almost lost the will to continue in the hobby.

But I'm over that!

The tank has now been fairly consistent and I'm ready to start moving forward again. I've kept most of my vertebrates with the only loss being one of the Chromis. So far most of my softies have hung in there and are now showing decent signs of growth.

I need corals.

Here are a couple pictures from the other night.

Yellow Tang by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

Blue Hippo Tang by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

Long T. Mushroom Leather by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

SA Vivid Clowns by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

Ultra Gold Aussie Hammer by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

[woodnaquanut]

Sorry for your coral losses but good to see you posting again.

Have you conquered your Alk issues?

You need to feed that YT! It looks skinny in the area below it's pectoral fins.

[Reu2]

The feeding schedule was "lessened" for a while. Now I have the auto feeder going again. He'll fatten up quickly I'll also go back to the Nori he likes.

Yes, Alk has been fairly stable, just over 8 dkh for a while now. It's not as high as I'd like it, but I'll take safe and consistent at this point. Once I get some more corals in there we'll see if it starts to drop. If it does, I can just adjust the 2-Part schedule.

[bdeibler]

Glad to see you posting agin as well!

I know recently I started doing the BRS 2 part dosing had everything happy and level then I added some more corals 3 weeks ago I had to up my dosage by 1oz.

Looking forward to following along.

[dumbfireman]

Awesome setup sir!