Oceanic Tech 120 (1 Viewer)

[KJoFan]

Some pics...

Threw a small T5 light on the tank just so I could see in it:

The plumbing:

The only thing not finalized is the output with the gate valve. It was designed to work with our old Euro Reef skimmer and now that we have one with a smaller footprint we might need to modify that a bit. Everything else is pretty much set.

Sump:

The pump isn't actually going yet so levels in that aren't at running levels.

We put our new/used Avast CS-1 skimmer in the coral holding tank, it's working pretty well so far:

Skimmer:

And the corals are starting to come around some from a week or so ago:

 

[KJoFan]

 

[Timmy77]

Looking great

 

[KJoFan]

Thanks Tim. The rock work is fairly minimal and low right now because I have nothing that requires real high light. If/when that time comes I can either re-scape it, build on what I have or get a new light. :gay1:

This is all new/dead rock and sand so I tossed a couple pieces of LR from my holding tub into the tank and now I wait.....

 

[dobbs]

Nice...looks familiar for some reason. I vote #1...if it matters

 

[Jager]

looking good, nice clean plumbing

 

[KJoFan]

Nice...looks familiar for some reason. I vote #1...if it matters

I would hope it looks familiar. This tank has alot of miles on it.

I ended up going with neither one nor two for scapes. Figures!

 

[KJoFan]

looking good, nice clean plumbing

Thanks, I tried to keep it simple and out of the way, so far so good.


Testing levels a few days ago were:

Ammonia: 1.0
Nitrite: .25
Nitrate: not tested

Today readings are:

Ammonia: .5
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: 20


Soon I can start adding a few things back to the tank. :greenguy:

Should be good to go for anything I might buy at the swap too. :biggthumpup:

 

[RyanTurner]

O man. I hope the drain doesn't get clogged. It would be one heck of a job to unclog it.

 

[KJoFan]

Because of the elbows?

 

[KJoFan]

10/16/11:

Ammonia: 1
Nitrites: .1-.2

10/17/11:

Ammonia: 1
Nitrites: .25

10/18/11:

Ammonia: 1
Nitrites: .25

10/21/11:

Ammonia: .5
nitrites: 1
nitrates: 20

10/22/11:

Ammonia: .25
nitrites: 1
nitrates: 30
(chaeto added)

10/24/11:

Ammonia: .1
nitrites: .25
nitrate: 20

 

[KJoFan]

Well because I have next to no bio-load to put into the tank (one six-line wrasse and some corals) I didn't ramp up my cycle. The ammonia reading of 1 that I topped out at was enough for me.

Readings are now at:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
SG: 1.025

The nitrates have been reduced solely by the growth of my chaeto. :beerchug:

So at this point I have diatoms coming on the sand and rocks and the wrasse is in the tank.

I may go ahead and add the corals this weekend depending if I can find some epoxy to secure them with.

I don't have all of my new T5's bought though so I may hold off until I have the new bulbs...but I doubt it! :gay1:

If I get the corals and light transferred over this weekend I'll get some updated pics.

 

[Reefer Sutherland]

I may go ahead and add the corals this weekend depending if I can find some epoxy to secure them with.

Might wanna try JB waterweld. HD $5. I've used it, I believe a couple other members too, reef safe, no curing necessary. Its just 2 part kneadable epoxy, stinky but works. And it doesn't make your skimmer go nutz.

 

[KJoFan]

Well, I got all the coral and inverts moved over today. Got the Tek light on the tank and the skimmer moved. Of course, not everything is happy yet but here's some pics anyway:

 

[Reefer Sutherland]

Nice ric rock! Did you try the JB Waterweld? I'm interested in other member opinions after using, since i've recommended it so many times, but only used it a couple... still have 3/4 a stick left.

 

[KJoFan]

I didn't, because I couldn't find any locally. I didn't feel like driving an hour+ just for epoxy.

I settled on this:

http://www.pcepoxy.com/our-products/putty-epoxies/pc-plumbing.php

I tried to do some research on it and it seems others have used it with success so I hope so!

I did read a lot of good things about the Waterweld though, if I could have found it that's what I would have used.

 

[Timmy77]

Looking good. What's you bulb combination?

 

[KJoFan]

Looking good. What's you bulb combination?

Thanks Tim!

The pics were taken with just two Blue Plus on. I have a few bulbs on order so the final (unless I don't like it) combo will be:

Front to back:

Blue Plus
Blue Plus
AB Special
Purple Plus
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

At least that's the plan. We'll see how it looks. My previous bulbs were so old I hadn't realized how far they'd shifted. I turned on the light last night with the two Blue Plus and it was not at all like the old bulbs had looked. :gay1:

 

[KJoFan]

I did some testing before bed last night just to make sure everything was in line after putting the corals in. Here's what I got:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate <5
SG 1.025
pH 7.8 (lights had been out for a couple hours by then)
Phosphates 0
kH 8-9
Calcium 480-500

I was happy with that.

 

[KJoFan]

And....the tank is shrouded in darkness for a couple days.

Fighting dinoflagellates and some hair algae.

I hope this knocks it back. I only have an API test for phosphates but I am wondering if that's part of the issue. May be some GFO in my future.