5 Months In...Almost

Livie the cat

Carolyn the niece

10.12 Pics and Video!!

Under Blue T5 Lamps


Under T5's and Metal Halides (10K)


Video link just after main lamps came on.

3 Months In

8.30.09 Views

The plants in the refugium have really started to grow, and you can't even tell there used to be plants in the main tank. The nutrient absorption through the plants has dramatically reduced the workload on the skimmer and created crystal clear water.

Update

Only took four days and the Tang has destroyed most of the plant growth.

2 Months In

Here are some full tank shots from above and below. Finally after 2 months the tank is relatively self-sufficient. The auto top off system works great! I would say with the amount of evaporation I have it pumps in about 1.5 gallons of freshwater every two says.

I purchased a yellow tang to try and reduce the plant growth.

LiveStock Review

LifeReef Sump

Pictures to come once installed, should be by Monday 8/3....

Up For Build!!!

This can also be viewed by clicking the LifeReef link on the right...

3 Weeks

Moved things around a little bit, but this is looking good going on 3 Weeks. Pretty high maintenance right now, can't wait for the sump to finish things off. Only reason I could place some of these corals in here is the live rock has maintained perfect water conditions since the beginning. 0 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, almost 0 Phosphates, might have to wait for the sump until I add anything else at this point. We'll see....

New Inhabitants

Starting from the top a Watchman Goby whose made his home in what will be the return pipe from the sump. Hope it doesn't get too comfortable. Fire Shrimp (middle), Percula Clownfish (bottom)

R/O Water

Something I learned from the last time around. R/O water really makes a huge difference. Along with my unit I have a TDS meter (Total Dissolved Solids) to ensure it is running correctly. The EPA has a max contaminant for tap water set at 500 ppm. Tap water in South Bend comes in at 438 ppm (avg US Tap 200:400), after running through the R/O unit 0 ppm. For those of you with a Brita filter the range is 50:100 ppm. Or if you are like me and do not change the filter often enough 300:400, or basically worthless!

First SPS (Small Polyp Stony Coral)

Live Rock

I came across an individual who was unfortunately leaving the hobby, and took advantage of some prime Live Rock. There are also some Green Zoanthids that hitched a ride.

Filler Up

The tank has been filled, and the salinity has been brought up to the appropriate level at 1.023 ppm. Currently circulating the water through a simple carbon filter and will add the first fish and live rock sometime this week to begin the nitrogen cycle. Pictures to come soon...

A look ahead at the sump...ny skimmer below will eventually sit below the tank in the model shown below.

Lighting

The pictures really do not do it justice. 2 X 250 watt 10K metal halide lamps with 2 X 39 watt blue T5 lamps.