Seth's 150g DD SPS dominant reef

[sethsolomon]

I put the rock in first, then sand, the add water slowly. It helps some. The first time I did it, I added water first then sand and it was a total mess.

Can't due to supplies available out here. Had to do ro/di then add salt then sand and rock soon. I don't have any water storage.

You can do it in that order for small tanks but not big tanks.


Edit: well not in the timeframe I have.

 

[Skrappy]

If you have to add sand after water for some reason, set the unopened bag into the water and then once it is in the bottom of the tank cut a slit the entire length of the bag on its side, then slowly lift out the plastic bag. Your sand will be all in one spot and it will still be a tiny bit cloudy, but it wont look like a tank with tan water, and it will settle and separate much faster than just dumping sand in the water.

 

[ReeferMatt]

If you have to add sand after water for some reason, set the unopened bag into the water and then once it is in the bottom of the tank cut a slit the entire length of the bag on its side, then slowly lift out the plastic bag. Your sand will be all in one spot and it will still be a tiny bit cloudy, but it wont look like a tank with tan water, and it will settle and separate much faster than just dumping sand in the water.

Very good tip!

 

[sethsolomon]

So the light stand is now built!

 

[sethsolomon]

Also, I have decided on how I am going to put my rock. It has been hard because I rilly like Josh's rock stack but due to my livestock choices I will not be able to do a frame like rock structure. I will have to have piles so there are plenty of hiding spaces for all the anthias.

 

[sethsolomon]

I may cement together those other pieces in the back into a small archway and incorporate them somehow.

 

[sethsolomon]

Also, The Colorado guys rock! this build thread has 5x more views than the DC thread. Its awesome how active this club is!

 

[ReeferMatt]

So are you planning on skinning that light rack?

 

[sethsolomon]

So are you planning on skinning that light rack?

Maybe but I doubt it

 

[ReeferMatt]

Maybe just a front panel to cut down on the glare when you look at the tank.

 

[Shaunv]

The branch stack on the right is sweet. It will look really good full of coral

glad ad to see you got the sand and water in there! Nice job on the light rack too. I think skinning it would look good too.

 

[sethsolomon]

The branch stack on the right is sweet. It will look really good full of coral

glad ad to see you got the sand and water in there! Nice job on the light rack too. I think skinning it would look good too.

Thanks! Yah I am not sure when I will get arround to skinning that. The 8020 stuff is pretty darn expensive.

 

[sethsolomon]

Got rock into the tank last night!

 

[sethsolomon]

Unfortunately all my rock that I epoxied broke. Not sure what happened.

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

The Tonga piece on the top left looks like a pair of arms reaching out....kinda freaking me out! But I like the middle section a lot, does that form an arch or is it touching the sand in the back or something. Looks awesome!

 

[sethsolomon]

There is a rock holding it up but that would be could If that could have been an archway

 

[sethsolomon]

Well fixed the other halide and wired up the VHO's. All thats left is hanging my led chips and mounting my reefbrite.


Went the pee in the tank route since I could not find the bottled bacteria I was looking for. Did some water tests this evening and came out with: Ammonia: 0ppm , nitrite 1ppm, nitrate 25 ppm phosphate 0.05 ppm. So looking good so far.

I am not liking Instant Ocean as a salt. Used 3 complete bags and at a salinity of 1.024 I was getting calc 360, Alk of 10.5, and a mag of 1200. So time to start looking for a better salt that is available out here.

 

[SynDen]

Looking good man. Honestly surprised they dont have more options for saltwater stuff available

 

[sethsolomon]

Looking good man. Honestly surprised they dont have more options for saltwater stuff available

Yah the fish stores near me are pretty crappy and expensive. $14 for a blue damsel.....

 

[ReeferMatt]

Regular instant ocean or reef crystals? Regular IO is going to be low on trace, and RC isn't much better. I used to order red sea coral pro salt from Dr. F&S with free shipping. Pricing was reasonable, and the salt was decent.