ADA 90P reef build

[Fishnugget]

Hi everyone,

Its been a while since I have been on Socalireefs and wanted to post my new saltwater aquarium project. It seems the reef bug has hit me again and I had been mulling over turning my freshwater ADA 90P into saltwater. Its been stored for more than a year and I finally decided to set up an SPS system. A lot of the equipment I already own so I figure it wouldn't hurt my budget too bad.

So, here is my old freshwater set up...going reef now
Its got an ADA style stand, 4 bulb ATI powermodule, and AP electronic regulator which I plan to use for Ca Rx

Freshwater

Just an FYI, I really have broken the "holes diameter rule" for drilling the tank. I did a lot of research and I found many people drilling holes a lot closer together without any problems. Therefore, I bought some hole-saws and drilled my own holes. It was a little nerve racking to drill an all starphire tank but the results were a success.

ADA aquariums, imo, are one the the best aquariums out there in forms of aesthetic looks. I think the clear silicon is much better than the traditional black silicone most aquarium manufacturers are using. My reason is because clear silicon produces an edge-less/border-less look and it literally looks like you have water box floating. With that said and in trying to keep the aesthetics going, I did not want to have a massive internal overflow box inside the tank. I went with internal because external overflow boxes show all the plumbing, so drilling the back of the tank was not an option. Therefore, I drilled my holes as close together as I could without compromising the integrity of the tank and was very happy with the way it turned out. I can have a small internal overflow box using the Herbie method while hiding everything inside the stand.

and here is what I have so far for my Reef Ready progression...
Note: Overflow pipes not cut to final size

Stand-ADA style replica built locally by Jon, flawless work
Sump-20H sump by Advanced Acrylics, awesome work
DIY Herbie Style Overflow- Built by me,
24" LED Vertex Illumina
1X EcoTech Vortech MP40wes
1x Tunze 6025, eventually upgrade to vortech
Sea Side Aquatics Skimmer
AP Electronic Regulator
SMS122 PH Controller
Pinpoint PH Monitor
Geo 612 Ca Reactor
10lb CO2
2 stage Ranco Temp Controller
Eheim 1250 Return-Great pump, had it for years now
Dr. Tim's NP Pearl Pellets
CPR pellet reactor

Fish/Inhabitants

Potters Angel
Percula Clownfish (Onyx coloration)
Diamond goby
Shark nosed or Yellow striped neon goby
Six line Wrasse

Cleaner Shrimp
Fire Shrimp
RBTA anemone
Maxi Mini Carpet anemone

 

[Fishnugget]

Update: My Lighting arrived and I got to play with it on my Mac. It was nice to control it wirelessly. Its got so many things it can do including thunderstorms.

On another note, I was not able to set up my Ca Reactor because the Milwaukee sms122 would not power the solenoid to my regulator. I checked the voltage with a voltmeter and the wall would draw 125V but the female socket of the sms122 adapter would only draw 75V?. I called Milwaukee and was told to send it back so they could fix it. So no Ca reactor until next week, bummer.

I did buy some colored sticks and they are doing well. I did not take pics of them because I am going to shoot them with a better camera. My water still needs to clear up a little more.


Skimmer Nog

Vertex Lighting with final aquascaping

 

[Fishnugget]

3 week update

Hi everyone, just thought I would post an update with pics. Not much going on but its an update

Pics taken with Nikon D70 and 105mm Macro Nikkor lense

The tank is still in its cycle and I went through diatoms on the rock and sand bed the end of my first week. I used my diatom filter and a paint brush to help remove the diatoms off the rock, this helped a lot.

During the end of the second week came the green dust algae on the rocks and glass. During this time my skimmer started skimming much more and my copepods increased dramatically. I have done a 10 gallon water change every week with IO salt and supplement with Ca and Mg.

Now it appears the GDA (as pics show) is disappearing and am starting to grow small filaments (check out the potters pic, show some small hair algae) of hair algae. I think a CUC would be a good time now but I am hesitant because I dont like adding snails or crabs in my tank. I will monitor the hair algae and if it gets bad maybe I will borrow a tang from someone or buy a CUC. Also, read blennies are really good at hair algae.

I read about lanthanum chloride and began to use LaCl made by SeaKlear with my diatom filter. I never got my diatom filter to clog so I guess my phosphates were not too high. I am reluctant to buy a hanna phosphate test kit, I owned the old version and sold it because I did not really find it beneficial. I believe if I have algae, I have phosphates. I think most of my phosphates are coming from the dry rock I bought. I am hoping each time I use the LaCl it will lower my phosphates and cripple the algae. I am running the pellets but I have read they dont really kick in until the 4th week. After turkey day my tank will be 1 month old and hopefully the pellets kick in and begin to lower the nutrients.

I have tested my water and have no ammonia with very little nitrate. I am also running my alk, ca, and mg on the high side for algae control. The led lighting is at 10% for white, 50% blue, and 54% royal blue. I have it turned way down because I am trying to prevent algae outbreaks. Being able to control the intensity of led lighting is a nice feature.

Fish

Potter's Angel

I really like the Potters Angel and found one at a LFS. Years ago I kept one for about a year until it went carpet surfing. The key with them is to get them to eat at fish stores. I saw it eat frozen mysis at the lfs so I took it home. During the first week of introducing it to my tank it constantly grazed the rock removing the diatoms and GDA. It ignored the mysis, spirulina flakes, and spectrum. I was never concerned because it was fat and would constantly poop. Its been in my tank for 2 weeks now and it is now eating frozen mysis, frozen angel food, and spirulina flakes. I am pretty happy about this. I believe I have a female. Males have much more pronounced blue coloration. Maybe I will look for a male in the future.

Percula Clownfish

I have always liked the percula clownfish. The pair I bought had alot of black marking similar to what they label onyx clownfish.I initially had a pair but one of them went carpet surfing. This urged me to buy the clear 1/4" netting from bulkreefsupply and build my own screen. I don't want to lose this guy.

Shark nosed Goby or Yellow striped Goby

I always like this little guy, bought him for cleaning purposes but it hasn't done anything.

6 line wrasse

Constantly swimming and hangs out with my potters angel. Also, see him constantly eat copepods.

Diamond Goby

Bought this guy to clean up my sand bed. It did a nice job then I noticed it starting breathing very rapidly. I thought it was going to die but it has since recovered. I really like it and is now one of my favorite fish to watch. I read that crushed coral in the sand bed is not good for them but I read many people keeping them with crushed coral? So I dont know if I am safe? I am not sure why my fish was breathing so hard. Its doing good now so hopefully I don't have that concern anymore.

Some sps frags

Green cap, came with a lot of algae but I burned it with peroxide when I dipped it to remove the algae. Its rebounding quite nicely and is growing on the back side.

Setosa lightened up in my tank but it is doing well and growing. I guess the led lighting is strong enough because I read they lighten up with high light.

Triicolor, not very good pic, sorry.

I did loose a blue tenius that bleached when I was dialing in my Ca Reactor. I found out I had to run the CaRx at its lowest setting to keep the alk stable. At this point a Ca reactor is overkill but once they grow I am sure I will use more of it.

I am going to add more sps tomorrow. ORA red planet, hawkins, orange monti cap, undata, pink birdsnest, and superman monti should arrive tomorrow. All thanks to Kbra.

I added another cpr reactor to run purigen. So far its working good but will mod the cpr reactor to avoid using a bag to trap the small purigen and to allow it to move more freely inside the reactor.

Please feel free to ask questons, critiques, or leave comments.

 

[jessesoto33]

Sweet!!!

 

[dorkymk3]

Great setup you have there so far. Looking real good!

 

[Tangwich]

that is a sick setup you have there....how are you liking the vertex light so far? am thinking of getting the illumina for my next upgrade.

 

[evad1]

ADA tanks are very nice
clean setup!

 

[Cgonzalez]

Really really like ur set up

 

[Fishnugget]

Sweet!!!

Thanks dood :top:

 

[Fishnugget]

Great setup you have there so far. Looking real good!

Thanks, cant wait to finish the cycle

that is a sick setup you have there....how are you liking the vertex light so far? am thinking of getting the illumina for my next upgrade.

Thank you LL Cool Reefs, so far I really like it. I like the control-ability and the slim profile. I will probably lower it and increase the light intensity once my tank finishes the cycle. These are all nice features about the unit. I want to get one set of zoas to see if the light really is intense. If the zoas start reaching for light that means its not strong enough. If they are clumped together and bright, that means they are receiving enough bright light at the bottom.

ADA tanks are very nice
clean setup!

Thanks evad, I was little scared to drill it because it was expensive and really nice. Did not want to mess it up.

Really really like ur set up

Thanks Cgonzalez, I was tempted to add a UV sterilizer but with my diatom filter, I think I should be ok. I will use the diatom filter everytime I do water changes. Keep all the detritus from settling.

 

[teecee909]

I love your tank... Really nice!

 

[GoReef165]

Really nice setup. It's cool seeing such nice photos and detailed captions. Keep them coming.

 

[Fishnugget]

I love your tank... Really nice!

Thanks teecee

Really nice setup. It's cool seeing such nice photos and detailed captions. Keep them coming.

Yeah, trying to put a story on every pic.

I got more pics yesterday but the color was really off. I am going to try and work with the white balance and get some better pics in a few days.

 

[Fishnugget]

2 Month Update

Sorry for lagging on the updates, I've been real busy at work and the grave yard shift really wears me out.

Here is what has happened since my last update...


-RIP Diamond Goby Basically wasted away despite eating mysis shrimp, will never buy another
-Added SPS Frags (pics below)
-Bought another Percula Clown
-Added a half dollar size yellow tang (Algae Control)
-Added tuxedo urchin for algae (Algae Control)
-Added 3 emerald crabs (Algae Control)
-Growing small specks of corralline algae
-Bought a Hanna Phosphate meter (0.03-0.05)
-Bought a Red Sea K+ Test kit (K+ within range 390ppm)
-Modded another CPR nano reactor to hold purigen

So, the bio pellets seemed to be working, nitrates are very low, but I am getting hair algae. I think my dry rock is leaching phosphates. Every time I test with the Hanna photometer I get 0.03-0.05 reading. I did add GFO to another CPR nano reactor but the corals got more light and the algae looked to still be growing. I have not had good success with BRS GFO. I have used ROWAphos before and it works much better imo. I may add ROWA later but not right now because the sps seemed to lighten with GFO.

To get rid of this algae I bought a small tang that I will eventually get rid of once it gets too big. Also, some corals look on the lighter side so I am going to add more fish eventually, prob. another wrasse or maybe anthias? Recommendations welcome.

I do want to say that I had to change the color of the leds in order to get decent pics. Its much harder to take pics with LEDS. I have to make my light look like a 10k bulb to get the true colors of corals. Otherwise they tend to looks too blue.

Pics taken with Nikon D70 and 105mm Micro Nikkor


FTS @ 2 months

The LED lighting has surprised me. I have been running it at 20% white, 50% Royal Blue, and 50% Blue and I have managed to color up most of my sps. My montis have not done well but they seem to be getting better. I will soon run 30% white, 100% RB, and 100% Blue now that I have the Tang.

First shot I took of the six line came out good. A Miracle.

My clean up crew. Added 3 of these guys for hair algae control. I do want to add I am growing corralline now. Small tuxedo also added but no pic taken.

My battered Tang saved from the LFS. Very skinny I am sure it will fatten up with all that hair algae.

My fat Potters Angel. Eats the hair algae and everything I throw in the tank. She sure has thickened up. Thinking about adding a male, maybe they will breed.

New clown

Existing Clown

New Clownfish is smaller but beats up the larger clownfish.

Setosa macro

Seems to be doing well under LEDs running at 50%. It has grown and extends polyps when I feed. Its more lighter (pinkish, thus my reason for looking to add more fish)

Lokani of some sort under bluer spectrum

Same Lokani under 10K spectrum

This sps is coloring back up. It has a green body with blue coloration. It had browned out a few weeks ago but is slowly recovering. I have not removed that corraline growth at top of tips in hopes that it spreads to my tank.

This ponape birdsnest is on steroids. It literally grows every day. It has really colored up well at 50% LED intensity. When I bought it, it had slightly pink tips. I am sure it will get more pink tips as it gets bigger.

Arrived brown but has colored up nice and pink and is growing rapidly.

First shot is a pic of my pink stylophora at bluer spectrum, second is under 10K like spectrum. I am curious to see if its pink coloration increases when I run the LEDS at full strength.

Brown Montipora Digitata...I thought I was going to lose this because it had polyps retracted for a really long time. They are now starting to show and the brown is slowly fading away. It did rtn a little at base so I am keeping a close eye.

Also, have a Monti Cap that is not doing well, its still not dead, but hopefully it recovers. I am having a hard time with montis.

Bonsai or tricolor, not sure. These are not good pics, could not get accurate color pic. The tips are purple and the rest of the coral is light purple. I am hoping it colors up with dark purple.

Humilis Colony that came with acro crab. Its turned more of a green than yellow. I am sure once the tank stabilizes it will color up to more yellow.

Brown Bonsai, waiting for this to color up, its been about 3 weeks.

Red planet, lost its green sheen but is growing.

Green cap, still fighting the algae, hopefully the tang helps it.

Very bright purple encrusting monti. I recently got it, hopefully I have better luck with this one.

Recent addition as well. When I got it I thought it was a rainbow granulosa now I am not sure. The body has a nice teal color while the tips turn blue then purple up at top.

Random Shots

 

[dorkymk3]

nice update..... your clowns are gorgeous

 

[OGFrenchHorn]

very nice set up man!

 

[deaclauderdale]

Sweet tank, very clean setup underneath the stand. Have you replaced the Tunze yet?


Sent from my iPad using My fingers!

 

[vinny409]

Oh my gash this tank is sick! Nice!

 

[Fishnugget]

nice update..... your clowns are gorgeous

Thanks dorkymk3, FYI, I bought them at socaltropicalfishoutlet. They said they are from ORA.

very nice set up man!

Thanks dood

Sweet tank, very clean setup underneath the stand. Have you replaced the Tunze yet?


Sent from my iPad using My fingers!

No, I havent replaced the Tunze. I want to add another MP40wes. Those vortech pumps are really nice but $$. Maybe when the frags start getting bigger. I am going to add more frags.

Oh my gash this tank is sick! Nice!

Thanks vinny glad you like it.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

sweet looking tank!