My 180 gallon sps dominant build.

dfm34 · Sep 1, 2015

Rob reef said:
It may be a dum question but what is with the raw shrimp?

Thanks.
I used the raw shrimp to start the cycle. As it decays it produces ammonia. To me it it works faster. But that's just my opinion.

Dan

dfm34 · Sep 1, 2015

Battle coral shipment should be coming Thursday.

BC Secale
E-City Table
Copps miyagi
Bennet yellow
Red planet
milli of Adams choice

So far my experience with Battle Corals has been fantastic. Pics to come

Rob reef · Sep 2, 2015

dfm34 said:
Thanks.
I used the raw shrimp to start the cycle. As it decays it produces ammonia. To me it it works faster. But that's just my opinion.

Dan

Wow!!
You learn something new everyday
Thanks Dan

nick12881 · Sep 3, 2015

Raw shrimp cycling is the way to go. We also use a bottle of Fritzyme Turbo Start 900 to start the biological too. Works great together.

Rob reef · Sep 3, 2015

I have used Fritzyme before,
I'll probably use both on my next tank.
Thanks for the info, and great build by the way

nick12881 said:
Raw shrimp cycling is the way to go. We also use a bottle of Fritzyme Turbo Start 900 to start the biological too. Works great together.

dfm34 · Sep 3, 2015

Thanks glad to help fellow reefers God knows I have needed over the years and I am sure I will again.

dfm34 · Sep 8, 2015

Still battling GHA and contemplating an Algae scrubber. Anyone have thoughts on this good or bad??

dfm34 · Sep 20, 2015

I decided to try the algae scrubber to beat the GHA here are some photos of my build

First I ordered an acrylic box form an online retail specializing in retail displays

Then added a 1" drain on the bottom and a 1" Emergancy drain on the right about 8" from the bottom.

Drilled out a grove on top for the 3/4" spray bar

Attached the lights which are 2 9w led strips with 8 red and 1 blue each.

Placed the scrubber over the sump

I am using a Jebo 1200 dc pump for flow. I will let you know how it works.

dfm34 · Sep 29, 2015

ATS has been running fur three days on the second pic you can see brown specs of algae staring to grow on the mesh.

dfm34 · Oct 12, 2015

Two weeks of growth with the ATS not too bad. I am starting to notice o difference in DT as well. I decided to do three days lights out this week end so hopefully there will be some good changes.

dfm34 · Oct 20, 2015

Just released my newest addition to the DT. A Powder Blue Tang and three Dispar Anthias (one male two female) all eating like champs. I will post pictures this weekend

dfm34 · Oct 27, 2015

As promised here is my PBT

So far a very aggressive eater and stating to take over the tank

Two of the three Dispar Anthias

dfm34 · Nov 9, 2015

So I a became a little inpatient and it cost me!! I was very frustrated by my corals lack of color (very brown) my parameters we very consistent always (Salifert and Hanna UL PO4)

CA 380
KH 8.3
MG 1400
NO3 < 1
PO4 .15

Since I have been beating back hair algae I assumed my PO4 levels were the cause of my brown sps. And also wanted to get CA to 420.

I decided to take action. I went and purchased Red Sea NO3 PO4 X and Kent Turbo CA.

After dosing on Fri I woke up on Sat to a cloudy tank. Realized it's a bacteria bloom I re read the Red Sea directions and realize I overdosed.

I do an emergency WC but it's too late for my male Anthias.

I do a water test and my KH is now 9.3 and Ca is the same. One frag is lost (rtn) due to the KH change I assume.

Good news is PO4 is now .3

I sat back and looked at my log book and although I have been building the tank for almost a year live stock as only been in tank since July!!! The tank is still very new and settling in and I rushed things and paid.

I guess it could have been worse

dfm34 · Dec 26, 2015

Been a while since I posted and that's because I have no good news to posted. I have lost all my fish to ich and am about to start 72 days fallow. Good news is corals seem to be looking good and gaining color. Anyone with advice on running tank fallow I would appreciate it. Thanks