Darryl_V
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Dang skippy! ;D
Derek's Custom 180G SPS Reef Tank
- Thread starter spyd
- Start date
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
Eventually, the plan will be to replace the current water change tank w/ a tank that has the same gallons but a smaller footprint. I will then put a frag tank beside it. I decided to leave that for future expansion as you all ways have to have something to work on right!! :
I will start by building a DIY LED fixture for the frag tank.
Is the DSB overkill.... ;D I was thinking about that too but I didn`t know what else to use the fuge space for so I just filled it right up. I have several non-used compartments in my sump so I was going to fill one of them with chaeto and use a little LED light from my previous setup to keep it healthy. As for the other section.... Not too sure yet. I was thinking maybe some live rock and a power head to keep it from just collecting dietritus....
I will start by building a DIY LED fixture for the frag tank.Is the DSB overkill.... ;D I was thinking about that too but I didn`t know what else to use the fuge space for so I just filled it right up. I have several non-used compartments in my sump so I was going to fill one of them with chaeto and use a little LED light from my previous setup to keep it healthy. As for the other section.... Not too sure yet. I was thinking maybe some live rock and a power head to keep it from just collecting dietritus....
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
All right... Sand and Aquascaping is done. At least for now... I am sure I will tinker with it to no end but at least I have a start. I was going to use minimal rock in the display, but also want a lot of room for coral placement. So, I opted for more rock than less... I have piles of live rock that I am not using. I will put some in the sump and some in the fuge. The rest I will sell off. I left quite a few bare spots still in the sand for some nice LPS corals and a clam or 2... Anyways, let me know what you think and I am always open to ideas.
J
jones02
Guest
cant wait to see this done! looks nice! wish i had room for a tank twice the size!!!
Darryl_V
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Looks great IMO. I hear you about wanting minimal rock but still want lots of places to put coral.......coral wins in my case.
It doesnt look rammed though....lots of room. Man you are wise beyond your years in this hobby man.....you are setting this thing up amazing...dont think I could do it better myself.
It doesnt look rammed though....lots of room. Man you are wise beyond your years in this hobby man.....you are setting this thing up amazing...dont think I could do it better myself.
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
Thanks guys! I greatly appreciate the compliments. I don't think it's too packed either. I left lots of room up high so I can get some nice coral growth without worrying about them growing out of the tank like my current setup... : Lots of caves to watch the fish swim in and out of them as well. I have 2 large sandy coves in there for LPS and zoas, etc. I also have some nice low flat rocks for acans, chalices, favia, etc.
Thanks for the compliment Darryl. I am a huge fan of your tank and have seen your setup several times now. It has clearly worked well for you so I tried to mimic several aspects of this setup around yours. Water begins today and hopefully, everything will be running by the end of the weekend. Then, it is the hurry up and wait game as the tank cycles. I will be using Dr. Tim's One and Only nitrifying bacteria, combined with live rock. I will be using the raw shrimp technique to feed the bacteria. Open to suggestions as well though if that is the way to go or not.
Lots of caves to watch the fish swim in and out of them as well. I have 2 large sandy coves in there for LPS and zoas, etc. I also have some nice low flat rocks for acans, chalices, favia, etc.Thanks for the compliment Darryl. I am a huge fan of your tank and have seen your setup several times now. It has clearly worked well for you so I tried to mimic several aspects of this setup around yours. Water begins today and hopefully, everything will be running by the end of the weekend. Then, it is the hurry up and wait game as the tank cycles. I will be using Dr. Tim's One and Only nitrifying bacteria, combined with live rock. I will be using the raw shrimp technique to feed the bacteria. Open to suggestions as well though if that is the way to go or not.
C
Camps23
Guest
Wow.........
Thats a proper setup !
Thats a proper setup !
AdInfinitum
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2012
- Location
- Thorndale, Ontario
Love the equipment and rock layout!!
Just curious what the thinking is behind adding a commercial seeding culture when you have your own established and likely more bio-diverse micro-fauna cultures coming from your existing system?
You can easily seed a start-up with existing substrate/rock and never actually experience a measurable nitro-bacter cycle. Some old water carrying larval pods and some established algae for them to eat, fast tracks their development.
The diatom bloom is inevitable due to the free silicates if you use new substrate and rock, but of course it is a self-correcting non-issue.
"Livestock-free time" when I have set up seeded tanks was mostly to get flow issues sorted out and coralline growth well underway with high Mag (not that we used to test it...just added it). Actually I have always thought it would be cool to start a tank with all bare rock and seed it with only blue and red coralline (maybe some teal) and see if or how long before the pinks and purples take over...
Anyway...not being critical at all your results speak for themselves...just trying to learn something new...back in the day commercial cultures started to become available to speed the cycling process for people who were too impatient to wait and had no friends with saltwater tanks (both bad conditions for reef-keepers IMO), but they were never as effective as seeding from an established tank. Are these new products a bio-engineered "super culture"?
Just curious what the thinking is behind adding a commercial seeding culture when you have your own established and likely more bio-diverse micro-fauna cultures coming from your existing system?
You can easily seed a start-up with existing substrate/rock and never actually experience a measurable nitro-bacter cycle. Some old water carrying larval pods and some established algae for them to eat, fast tracks their development.
The diatom bloom is inevitable due to the free silicates if you use new substrate and rock, but of course it is a self-correcting non-issue.
"Livestock-free time" when I have set up seeded tanks was mostly to get flow issues sorted out and coralline growth well underway with high Mag (not that we used to test it...just added it). Actually I have always thought it would be cool to start a tank with all bare rock and seed it with only blue and red coralline (maybe some teal) and see if or how long before the pinks and purples take over...
Anyway...not being critical at all your results speak for themselves...just trying to learn something new...back in the day commercial cultures started to become available to speed the cycling process for people who were too impatient to wait and had no friends with saltwater tanks (both bad conditions for reef-keepers IMO), but they were never as effective as seeding from an established tank. Are these new products a bio-engineered "super culture"?
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
The only reason I am not using my existing rock is because of the aiptasia on it. I really don't want to start out with an issue like that right off the bat. I will be moving some of my established live rock that is sitting in my current sump setup as it will be hitchhiker free. I will moving that into my new sump. Also, I will bring some live sand over from my existing display to seed my new sand bed. I decided to go with a shallow sand bed in this setup so I used a larger grain size so I can siphon it properly when needed. The sand in my current setup is too fine and would not work properly.
I will also be moving over a good chunk of chaeto over from my current setup that is covered in pods.
I will also be moving over a good chunk of chaeto over from my current setup that is covered in pods.
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
Well aquascaping is done for now and tank is finally running. It is dead silent!! I love it. Bio-pellets are running and I put some LR in the sump. I just have to finish the fuge area and it will be online tomorrow. So now the cycling begins....
davesolo29
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2012
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
lookin good Derek. I might be heading out your way for a ride shortly. You up for a visit?
J
jones02
Guest
Love the way all the rock is placed! I keep looking at these pics and at my tank and I don't like mine anymore lol.
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
So..... Here's an update....
Everything is rocking. I had a little work needed on my refugium but that is done now and ready to be connected to the main system. Aquascaping and live rock is done. Tunze powerheads are in place and have been tested. I just want to form some bacteria in the bottom to prevent sand blowing everywhere.... I know it is going to move quite a bit regardless as it is like a hurricane in there!!! Those Tunze powerheads sure are powerful units!!!
So all is well and good until this morning....................... (See pic below)....
Yep... That would be yet another leak in this tank!!!! Bottom corner of the overflow... It is so small. Probably a couple drops a day. Needless to say I went off the deep end. They are coming tomorrow to fix it at my place. However, I need to drain all the water and cut my plumbing so they can move it off the wall to repair it. I am absolutely pissed off right now that I can break something....or drink heavily... which may be the better of the 2 options right now.
Everything is rocking. I had a little work needed on my refugium but that is done now and ready to be connected to the main system. Aquascaping and live rock is done. Tunze powerheads are in place and have been tested. I just want to form some bacteria in the bottom to prevent sand blowing everywhere.... I know it is going to move quite a bit regardless as it is like a hurricane in there!!! Those Tunze powerheads sure are powerful units!!!
So all is well and good until this morning....................... (See pic below)....
Yep... That would be yet another leak in this tank!!!!
Bottom corner of the overflow... It is so small. Probably a couple drops a day. Needless to say I went off the deep end. They are coming tomorrow to fix it at my place. However, I need to drain all the water and cut my plumbing so they can move it off the wall to repair it. I am absolutely pissed off right now that I can break something....or drink heavily... which may be the better of the 2 options right now.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
- Location
- Sarnia, Ontario
im afeared ....i have not set my new miracles up yet ...
Darryl_V
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Thats not gonna happen.jerry_doucette link said:
Personally I would fix it myself because I would be so frustrated. Im sure you could drain the overflow and fix it with out moving the tank......it just might not be pretty. And than after I make this work I wouldnt deal with them anymore and I let anyone who is willing to listen know about your experience.
Thats not gonna happen.Darryl_V link said:
Personally I would fix it myself because I would be so frustrated. Im sure you could drain the overflow and fix it with out moving the tank......it just might not be pretty. And than after I make this work I wouldnt deal with them anymore and I let anyone who is willing to listen know about your experience.
[/quote]
That should be exactly why it should happen, word travels quick. Any company that has customer service knows this, the WORST thing for them is doing business and the customer not being happy with the work done.
You are probably tearing your hair out by now, I would ask them tomorrow casually how often this happens.
--just read some earlier posts and noticed some of the things you said about the company. How they are higher quality then miracles, and how they forgot black back pane. I would also bring these both up to them, seems like they are screwing everything up.
spyd
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Location
- Kitchener, Ontario
I know... They showed me all the things they do differently than Miracles and he really sold me on their quality. Now, with multiple leaks, I am definitely retracting my statement. This is extremely frustrating!! It should be an easy fix so I may just do it myself tonight. It is easy to get the overflow cleared up and a bit of air blasted in the corner should dry it out. Add some silicone and call it a day. The only issue is I don't want to "VOID" my 1 year warranty. Looks like I may need it!! :?
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
- Location
- Sarnia, Ontario
When I picked up my tank at miracles. ...I told Derek about yur leak ..he said everything has a problem..that's what warranty is for ...he said a car or truck or bike or everything can have a problem when they get it ..he said there warranty is replacement tank and carpet replacement
Darryl_V
Super Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Thats the problem.....its too late for that. Aside from giving the tank to him for free I dont think they can make up for the headaches they gave him. Collateral damage. Sometimes its just easier to move on to the next customer and forget about your past mistakes. Rightfully or wrongfully businesses are always going to have their cheerleaders and their haters. In this case Derek is in the right being a hater.