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Grigor's ATS Version 2 (1 Viewer)

NorthSide Reef said:
I hear CBB's really create a mess I could help ya out there and take that one off your hands :)

/joking
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Funny you mention that, CBB has taking a real liking to my cynaria and scolymia corals. I can sit there for 30 minutes and it will peck at them at least 5 times in that time frame. I think CBB just thinks there is worm or something and not actually interested in the coral as food but can't really tell just yet. Doesn't appear to be any serious damage caused but they stay closed now. The two cynaria corals are getting picked at more than the scolymia and placed them in the lit sump for now. Just hope it doesn't get any ideas and start doing the same to other LPS.



I have noticed ( and another fairly recent post with same topic ) that even freshly mixed has 11-18ppb phosphorous ( or up to .05ppm phosphate ). I have an extra BRS reactor and will throw can throw that in the freshly mixed 24 hours prior to use to see if can get to near 0. If do that everytime, perhaps GFO won't exhaust it too quickly and don't have to use directly in the tank. Haven't measured fresh ro water to know if source if the salt, water supply, or combination of both.
 
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:popcorn2: watching this thread with interest. I want to see how far the ATS can be pushed as the sole (not in your case though ;))nutrient export option
 
Yeah yeah, but better to be harrassed for too much tank maintenance rather than not enough........

Hey Mannish, Here is a couple quick pics to show you your glass tank/sump ( 60"L X 24"W ) re-incarnated. Had to tweak the stand to fit but was able to reuse all the wood and didn't have to buy anything to make the stand work. Already had the lights just upgraded to a larger external pump that is 30w bigger. 21 RaysReef Frag racks each can hold up to 45 frags. I had to cut 1/4" off the racks to be able to fit 3 wide. There is literaly no space except on the left end because of the overflow. Only real additional operating costs is going to be to heat it in winter:

Full shot:

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Left end:

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Right end ( glass had lots of water spots ):

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Ummmm .. yeah rub it in but I will have a tank soon :)
thats looking really nice,... really happy to see the tanks being setup again and glad everything worked out.
 
Taklu said:
Ummmm .. yeah rub it in but I will have a tank soon :)
thats looking really nice,... really happy to see the tanks being setup again and glad everything worked out.
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You will have plenty of ammo to rub in when it's freezing here and your enjoying a breezy 78 day out on the coast.
 
Its been about 5-6 weeks since the last time I ran GFO on the tank.

Couple of weeks now since reducing fish load by 6-7 fish. Down to 27 fish total.

Corals have always looked great. My only concern was the rock not looking as nice as it has. With the reduction in fish load, increased screen size, rock is clearing up nicely. Never had any hair algae but rocks were looking a bit more dirty/brown. Definately improved a number of the stubborn areas is mostly white again with little bit of coraline. Hopefully won't have to resort to GFO again. Only area of improvement there is some cyano on the substrate by the time for the weekly maintenance, will looks great for several days but it's back before the next week. Nothing terrible and certainly manageable. Hoping that will improve over time.
 
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Hi David... I was having the itch so I figured I will surf tcmas... saw the full frag tank shot, made me feel good - gotta get my self a tank soon.. is it snowing there yet :p
 
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OK DG....You have have piqued my interest with this ATS idea. I made a upflow type for proof of concept...and I had all the stuff to make it in house.
 
Just wanted to update with a few tank shots. Now 28months since ATS is filtration. No skimmer. Tank is doing very well. Really quite proud to be honest. No coral or fish additions planned just let what I have grow out more ( not even planning to attend spring frag swap so I won't be tempted ). Seriously considering tearing down the frag tank that is also plumbed into the system just takes too much energy to heat it in wintertime and doesn't really generate enough $ to keep it going. Will still use the 60g tub/sump for frag grow out and it will easily hold 500+.

Still do weekly water changes, back to cleaning one side of screen on Wed, other side on Sat/Sun. Seems to work the best now that mature with cleaning once per week if let go 2 weeks growth seems to be less. Tank goes in the crapper if try to stretch water changes to 2 weeks so it is what it, I use 1 bag of IO a week so go through 1 box per month. Change 1 cup of carbon per week. Scrap the glass ( including the back twice a week ), turkey baster the rocks to dislodge detritus as often as possible not daily but try too. Siphon the substrate with every water change.

Still feed heavily, gonioporas get feed as often as possible ( about 5 times a week ) fish feed at minimum 3 times per day but try to do it up to 5 times per day when possible. I feed more in 1 day than most people would feed a 180g in an entire week. 22 Fish I believe.

No algae in the show to speak of, I haven't tested phosphates in 3+ months. Don't really see a need to when tank is doing great, growth is fine and no algae issues. Only issue is some light brown dusting on the substrate by the end of the week, nothing major gets cleaned up during siphoning and doesn't start to reappear until towards end of the week.




Cheap camera pics turn out too blue. Trying to edit them make it worse.

Full tank shot:

180g_full.jpg

180g_full.jpg


Show Sized Gorgonian:

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Gorgonian_180.jpg


Shot of zoanthids on the sandbed:

zoanthid_180.jpg

zoanthid_180.jpg


Top down angle of zoanthid colonies:

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Center SPS Arch:

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Center SPS Arch viewed from Left:

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center_180.jpg


Green Goniopora in background:

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WP_20140514_09_48_53_Pro[1].jpg


Right Side of 180g ( the zonthids area ):

right_side_180g.jpg

right_side_180g.jpg


Orange and green hammers:

hammer_time_180.jpg

hammer_time_180.jpg


Left Side of 180g ( the acans area ):

left_180g.jpg

left_180g.jpg

 
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David Grigor said:
Tank goes in the crapper if try to stretch water changes to 2 weeks so
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Interesting. By crapper, do you mean algae or corals look angry or both or other? I assume it is algae and the issue is how much you feed, which is what I would do too...heck, IT IS WHAT I DO! But I am doing it with a skimmer, pellets, and GFO due to limited space under the tank. I pay more in electricity and my GFO costs. I also have 22 fish, but not as big as yours. Nutrient export, however you do it, is the name of the game.

The nice part about serious nutrient export is that you can run the lights from early in the morning to late at night so they are always on when you are awake. Must be about a year ago, I think, I went to running lights from 5am to 9pm and then strong moonlights till 10:30pm. I enjoy the tank much more. When I was only running the lights 8 hours a day, it wasn't nearly as enjoyable.

Party on, Dave.
 
Bodegus said:
do you clear everything off the sand bed to siphon, or go around it?
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Depends on how bad the substrate looks. Usually just nudge the coral over a little with the siphon to get under it then I put the stuff back when done while water is filling. With the more open rock work I can get to pretty much every area easily, I'm pretty thorough about it.


LowersMyBP said:
Interesting. By crapper, do you mean algae or corals look angry or both or other?
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Algae build up worse, back glass gets pretty bad and comes off in sheets if wait that long. Rocks not as clean and just overall tank in general. If you look pretty closely at the rock in the topdown zoanthid pic, while there is some coralline on the rocks you can still see white bare rock exposed in a number of areas. That's what it looks like when doing my weekly maintenance, will have a brown film and not as white usually if I try to stretch it. I don't clean my rocks or anything outside of a turkey baster no scrubbing by hand or anything it stays that way on its own pretty much.

I'm sure this has as much to do with exporting the detritus and stuff along with the water change. I could try doing my normal maintenance into a filter sock vs. down the drain to reduce water changes. Cost of salt has gone up and the monthly $ of salt is a concern longer term. Didn't mind it at $32 a box but now $50 starting to hurt more.


LPS will tend to close up more and be angry. I think this has more to do with trying to stretch the carbon 2 weeks more than the water change itself.

Tank does really well with weekly maintenance though, I enjoy it much better and I don't mind doing the work. It's about 1 hour on the weekend and putz with it about 10-15 minutes with the turkey baster several times during the week. Nothing major and I like to tinker with the tank anyways so I don't shy aware from doing the work.

Yes, Lights start phasing in a 6am. Go out a 9pm. So I'm able to do full inspection in morning with some lights on before getting ready for work.
 
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cheezybuda said:
How did you keep the tang aggression down?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
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All yellow tangs were added at once except the biggest was added later. The Hippo is biggest. The yellows chase each other around some during the day. Nothing major. No tail swatting or anything though.

But IMO: Keep'em fat and happy is the key to success. Get fed 3-5 times per day. Nobody goes to bed hungry. Open rockwork with plenty of swimming room I'm sure helps too.
 
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