InnerSpark's 29g Reef Build

[innerspark]

Well it about time I start documenting my reef build. I should have
done this during the sump/refug and skimmer build but that just means
I get to make some improvements and share those along the way.

About The Tank:
It's a 29 gallon standard glass (maybe 30 but not 100% sure). It has a
10 gallon sump/refug that I've build along with a custom skimmer. As
far as lights I am running a Cadlights 50 watt LED fixture I picked up
from MRMR.

The Inhabitants
1 Clown Fish
1 Bicolored Blenny
1 Royal Gramma

Coral
Star Polyps (Donation from MRMR)
Pulsating Xenia (Donation from MRMR)
Button Polyps (LF)
Toadstool (Donation from MRMR)
Zoes (unsure what's the name of them) (Donation from MRMR)
And a lil Green Long Mushroom (LF)

I would also like to throw out some good reef karma to MRMR for not only giving me a great deal on the lights but most of my coral frags are from him to help me get up and running. He has really made it easy for me to get back into the hobby and shown me what the community is like. Thanks

 

[Lexusman25]

Nice start so far!

 

[innerspark]

Update:

Just went to check on my Skimmer that's been up and running for a week. I had to shorten its chamber a few inches today as I noticed it was not bubbling up high enough. Anyways here is a few photos. It's been running at this configuration since noon today.

Before shortening.

After

 

[innerspark]

This was the fist dump out of my DIY Ventturi Skimmer I built. I wish I had some build photos to show of the final version but here is one when I was test fitting in the beginning stages of its build.

 

[innerspark]

OK so since my last post I have been doing a lot to the tank. I've had issues with PO4 which I have now gotten under control, pluming leaks, and issues with my ATO system, and I added a small strip of RapidLED's (UV,UV,R,UV,UV). I have also added some fish and coral as well. I think my tank is about as stocked as I am going to get it. So here is an updated list.

The Inhabitants
2 Clown Fish
1 Bicolored Blenny
1 Royal Gramma
1 Firefish Goby

Coral
Star Polyps (Donation from MRMR)
Pulsating Xenia (Donation from MRMR) - Lost them in a salinity swing do to ato over filling my sump
Button Polyps (LF)
Toadstool (Donation from MRMR)
Unknown Zoes (Donation from MRMR)
Captain America
Bam Bams
Blow Pops
Sunny d's
Pink zippers
Birds of paradise
Birds Nest
and a Green Slimmer

 

[jesuses]

Looking good. Im glad everything opened up right away.

 

[innerspark]

Looking good. Im glad everything opened up right away.

Thank you so much. Now I just need to find their permanent homes on the rocks. They do seam to like it down low but I'm going to try and speed them out to different rocks.

 

[innerspark]

Added a Red Dragon Acro Frag last night. Made some adjustments to my skimmer and now it seams to be doing a much better job. Oh and moved some rocks, and relocated some corals in the tank. Will post some update photos tonight.

 

[innerspark]

Created my own little frag racks tonight. So far so good and it got my frags off the sand tell I figure out where I want to put then.

 

[innerspark]

So I should updates this since I've had a lose. So over the weekend I noticed my green slimmer never really recovered from my ATO issue and high phosphates I had a few weeks ago had caused it to fully bleach . I was bummed as I really liked the looks of that guy but I guess I'm lucky that out of the 2 SPS, 2 types of Zoas, Xenia's, and my fish I ha,d all I lost was the Xenia's and the Green Slimmer. So time to update the stock list.

SPS: Birds Nest, Birds of Paradise, Red Dragon

Softies: Button Polyps, Unknown Zoa's, Caption America's, Bam Bam's, Sunny D's, Pink Zipper's, Blow Pop's, Green Toadstool, Star Polyps

 

[innerspark]

Just did a water change today and figured I would post some photos of my reef scap and progress. Just added a Kydor Smart Wave a few days ago and so far liking it. Also I'm sure everyone has seen me picking up corals all over the place.

From the top before water change

From the top gate water drain

Tank shot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[innerspark]

Well I started redoing my Aquascaping last night after my new rock has been cycling for a week and a half. So far so good. Got one side done and going to do the other side later this week so that I don't spike anything in the tank to much. My goal is to get a nice 2 island setup going that allows for nice swimming space on the top half of the tank as well as many places to stick all my frags I've been collecting. I try and get some photos up soon.

Other then the Aquascaping I've been collecting a ton of Zoas and some acro's. I seam to be having some issues with a few of the acro's as I can't seam to keep a green slimmer and my red dragon is starting to bleach. I'm unsure of what it could be as everything tests perfect as you can see in my signature but these two frags are mind boggling. I have a Birdsnest that's doing great tho.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[innerspark]

Update: added some new SPS this week and replaced my 2 Korea Hydro pumps for a single Jerboa WP-25. I'm getting some good flow now.

Birds Nest Colony that my original frag came from.

Branching Hammer

Blue Tipped Slimmer

Purple Birds Best

And last but not lest, I ended up with 4 frags of the Green Birds Nest during the move.

 

[Reefomeez]

Looks great Mile! I gotta stop by some time for a look.

 

[innerspark]

Looks great Mile! I gotta stop by some time for a look.

Thanks man. I need to get that tank up and running that I picked up from you. I'm running out of space in my display for all these frags. Needs to start growing them on to some rocks.

 

[innerspark]

 

[Rrocky]

Nice tank!

 

[innerspark]

So after installing the WP25 and tuning it I'm pushing about 53x (1,874 gph +/-) my total water volume per hour. Hmm not bad at all for this 1 lil pump and my return.

[video=youtube_share;ccKQWEr8kGQ]http://youtu.be/ccKQWEr8kGQ[/video]

 

[TH64]

Tank looks nice! How are you slowing down that pump? I cant seem to figure out how to stop it from blowing sand everywhere.

 

[innerspark]

Tank looks nice! How are you slowing down that pump? I cant seem to figure out how to stop it from blowing sand everywhere.

If you look at your controller you will see your wave setting on the left and your speed on the right. S1 is 100%, s2 is 75%, and s3 is 50%.

Here are my settings for my tank.

Also look at the way it's placed in your tank and where it's pointing. I had to make some adjustments to the direction it's pointing.