Teebone's Epic 210G SPS Build

[teebone110]

Loving this build as well. This forum is booming!.

Super sexy aquascape, I love the two island idea.

Thanks Dave, you have me feeling guilty for slacking on my build, got to admit that it is the season for new builds

Very nice Tyler. Do you still have the temp setup going with fish and corals that you plan on moving into the new tank?

Yup! My 90 is still running strong and my fish are all doing well. I currently have my DIY fish trap loaded and ready so we will see who will be the first to go into the new tank. Funny thing is that they have all become a lot larger and only my lemon chromis and wrasses can fit into the opening. My preference is to put the lemon chromis in first to "test the waters."

Here is a pic of the trap in my 90 under RBs, so it's not very clear...

 

[jroovers]

That is great progress Tyler, I'm excited to see what this will look like in person! Getting to the exciting part, adding fish and eventually coral!

 

[teebone110]

That is great progress Tyler, I'm excited to see what this will look like in person! Getting to the exciting part, adding fish and eventually coral!

Very exciting indeed, actually caught my mystery wrasse today, he was the first to go into my DIY trap. Had to let him go, as I don't want to send him into the new tank as the canary

How's your new tank coming along?

 

[ALowe]

Love the aquascaping idea to maximize lighting for SPS something i will look into in the future! Great progress pics. Can't wait to see this thing filled.

 

[jroovers]

How's your new tank coming along?

Slowly. I've been mostly trying to get other projects done that are on the pre-tank priority list. I got most of those done over Christmas, so I should have more time to work on the tank in the coming weeks. I have made some progress on my lighting, I hacked up my LED heatsinks and strips, and soldered together a 24-light square to go around my MH pendant. I've gotten a bunch of materials together, and conceptually I'm getting closer to knowing what I want. I don't think it will take too long to get it all together Also, my 120 is now officially gone, which gives me more working space in my work room, and also funded the purchase of a new mitre saw, which is making everything easier.

 

[teebone110]

Slowly. I've been mostly trying to get other projects done that are on the pre-tank priority list. I got most of those done over Christmas, so I should have more time to work on the tank in the coming weeks. I have made some progress on my lighting, I hacked up my LED heatsinks and strips, and soldered together a 24-light square to go around my MH pendant. I've gotten a bunch of materials together, and conceptually I'm getting closer to knowing what I want. I don't think it will take too long to get it all together Also, my 120 is now officially gone, which gives me more working space in my work room, and also funded the purchase of a new mitre saw, which is making everything easier.

sounds link you have made some serious progress, we needs pics

 

[teebone110]

quick update… found some "inside time" due to the cold weather..

Caught a few fish and added them to the tank, no problems as ammonia levels remain undetected. Continuing to add Seachem Stability to continue the establishment of nitrifying bacteria and feeding regularly. Focused on some wire management and fastened controllers and modules into a dedicated panel. Here is a pic of my progress to date, I'm happy with it so far, but still have a few final touches before complete…



Also, wired up my ATI fixture and built something temporary until I figure out what Im going to do for a canopy. Here is a current full tank shot as things stand today. (Notice the water level due to my wave box ).



I will be getting a sump made, so I should have it soon. Just have to figure out my baffles, etc.

Thats it for now

 

[jroovers]

That indeed looks like progress! Love the look of your electrical, did you buy a box for it, or did you make it? What is the material, metal with felt on it? Or is it painted wood (hard to tell from the pics)?

sounds link you have made some serious progress, we needs pics

I wouldn't call it "serious" progress, but some progress. Its not moving near as fast as I'd like, but making progress. I dismantled my MH fixture and have sanded it down, going to paint it an off white to match the rest of my stand. I have a few pics already and will be taking more, hopefully more of an update later this week

 

[teebone110]

Love the aquascaping idea to maximize lighting for SPS something i will look into in the future! Great progress pics. Can't wait to see this thing filled.

Thanks, Im hoping that once I actually start adding sps and it grows in, the aquascape will meet its purpose to maximize lighting and flow.


Needed to add a little light under the tank, so I picked up some LED under cabinet lighting with a motion sensor to activate power on/off.




..and here's how things look..



Also have added 3 fish (Kole Tang, Cherub Angel, and Lemon Chromis), a hammer frag, and a Flame BTA and things have been good so far. I am hoping the Flame BTA stays on its own island, as it will be the only way that it will keep its longterm lease in my tank

My plans are to add a few more lps and from my old system over the next couple weeks if the new additions continue to do well. Here is an action shot…



I have also added more flat rock behind the islands so they can be seeded and assist in managing the bioload. I will eventually move these pieces down to the sump where they will be out of site and easily tucked away because of the narrow plate shape.



…And then a little mishap…. just minutes after I took these pics, a family member came running telling me that water was shooting all over the place under the tank

Apparently the line came loose from the return pump and water was everywhere. Luckily we caught it fast and could cut power and get things cleaned up. I thought the connection was secure, as I had made certain things were tight on the barb/hose fitting. I added some more reinforcement and will have to think of another way to ensure that this NEVER happens again, as things could have been much worse

It was also coincidence that I was asked just minutes before this happened by another reefer (jroovers) what paint I used to waterproof the inside of my stand. I sent this pic of the product to him and here's anecdotal proof that this stuff works…

 

[jroovers]

That is too funny Tyler in terms of the timing, good to hear you caught it and avoided a bigger mess. I guess I'm picking this stuff up today, as I'll be painting my stand in the evenings this week I'll try and avoid salt water testing it when done, given that you were nice enough to already do so

 

[teebone110]

added some pods, coraline flakes, some more fish, and a few frags

here are some pics..

Top view


Side view


Kole Tang


Lemon Chromis


Mystery Wrasse


Cherub Angel


Gladiator Clown


Other Gladiator Clown and Flame BTA


"Survivor" acro frag


Pink/Green Hammer


Emerald Burst Torch


Kryptonite Torch (aka Todd's Torch)

 

[monizb]

Looking great

 

[teebone110]

Looking great

Thanks Brian,

Its been a long process, but finally starting to fill with some "select" livestock.

Very strange, my Nitrates have climbed to 20-50ppm! Considering its a new tank, I didn't think this was possible to have such a high level so early. My current bioload being on the lower end and using new rock. Jroovers came over and we checked with his test kit and it was consistent. Looks like its time to implement a regular water change schedule.

I managed to get my phosphates downn from 0.10 to 0.03ppm, so I am happy about this. Looks like the time and effort that I put into "cooking" my rock has paid off.

Also added a bottle of Doc's Eco-matter to start growing out the pod populations

Actually added a sandbed too, after I was debating going barebottom. I decided there is more life diversity that can benefit from a sandbed, including sand dwelling wrasses (which I have a history of keeping)

 

[saltyair]

minwax is a great product - but because of salt i used helmsman poly it has stood up well

great thread

 

[jroovers]

It is definitely a beautiful set-up, had a serious case of tank envy (also Phil's isn't helping with that either). Hopefully you get the nitrates nipped in the bud, I'm still uncertain as to why your nitrates would be so high, you aren't overfeeding and your rock has been in your tank for long enough that I would have though any spike should have happened several weeks ago. Only other explanation of further thought is maybe the sand you added, but you didn't add too much really, only maybe the Eco Matter - would that cause issues if there was a bunch of die off or the product had gone bad? Just sort of thinking out loud at this point.

 

[Marz]

Yes it looks fantastic. Love the left hand shelf...will have to think about this when I do my next build!

 

[AdInfinitum]

It takes a lot longer for the anaerobic bacteria to establish deep within rock and start to do it's thing even when added to a live system. So with all dry rock (something I haven't done since after my first SW system was established) it may be a while before the system really starts processing Nitrate.... Just an opinion since I've never done it.....

 

[teebone110]

Lol, it probably was a bottle full of dead pods. Just thinking out loud, but that would have probably caused an ammonia spike and the nitrifying bacteria I had been adding could have converted it I nitrates?
I can't undertstand it either???

 

[jroovers]

Lol, it probably was a bottle full of dead pods. Just thinking out loud, but that would have probably caused an ammonia spike and the nitrifying bacteria I had been adding could have converted it I nitrates?
I can't undertstand it either???

Its definitely within the realm of possible. I don't know what else it could be... you really aren't feeding that much, so while the rock won't be processing it yet, you are still skimming and you still have almost all NSW... either way, probably a water change and backing off adding anymore of that stuff for the time being is probably a good idea.

 

[teebone110]

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