210G Build Thread: Lotta pics

[bguile]

I wouldn't think that your refugium is causing the problem, but that is just me. What are you thinking of redoing when you go to replace the bad bulkhead?

I'm not sure I saw this earlier, but what I planned to do is re-partition the sump so that most, if not all water that enters the sump has to go through the skimmer to get to the next area which will house chaeto then move on to the return section. Then I was thinking of moving the return pump to make room in the equipment room.

[Steve McKay]

Looks like you did a very good job setting up the tank.Sorry to hear about your losses.I hope this year brings you better luck,looking forward to seeing your tank filled with corals.Don't forget the photos.

[mike007]

No problem Mike. Thanks for the compliment. I'm battling a bit of cyano and I think what appears to be diatoms that bloomed after I installed new bulbs.

I actually never used any purple up, I just placed one piece of LR that had a good bit of coraline on it and used Randy Holmes Farley's Two Part solution.

Ok. Thanks. Would you happen to know how to get rid of diatoms? I recently set up a 90 gal and am in the middle of a bloom.

[bguile]

Looks like you did a very good job setting up the tank.Sorry to hear about your losses.I hope this year brings you better luck,looking forward to seeing your tank filled with corals.Don't forget the photos.

Thx. This time Ive learned to be much more patient when adding fish AND corals to the display. I now have a QT for inverts and corals and a seperate QT for fish. I try to buy fish thatve already been QT'd but still watch them for at least two weeks. Fish from other LFS's get an inital 4 weeks. I have an Auriga Butterfly that just made it to the display after being purchased on 11/29. Almost 3 weeks into QT it had a HUGE ich outbreak, so I've treated with Cupramine and observed for several more weeks after the end of the treatment period.

[bguile]

Ok. Thanks. Would you happen to know how to get rid of diatoms? I recently set up a 90 gal and am in the middle of a bloom.

Yep in fact I do! and the answer is...Wait. Diatoms are one of those things that EVERY tank goes through and there's not much to be done about it. If it gets too out of hand you might try removing a little by brushing and siphoning it from the LR and water changes. but I wouldn't invest too much into trying to get rid of it. It's just a part of the recurring cycle. I say recurring b/c a display with go through several cycles throughout it's existence due to changes at different points. I believe I'm now going through a diatom cycle due to installing new MH's. Now that I think about it, it's the first time I've installed brand new bulbs since it's been setup, which I'm sure is a big part of why I have a cyano bloom also.

[mike007]

No problem Mike. Thanks for the compliment. I'm battling a bit of cyano and I think what appears to be diatoms that bloomed after I installed new bulbs.

I actually never used any purple up, I just placed one piece of LR that had a good bit of coraline on it and used Randy Holmes Farley's Two Part solution.[/QUOTE]

Yep in fact I do! and the answer is...Wait.

.......you actually had me so excited, i thought there was some sort of deeply kept reefer secret that i was about to be enlightened about...
Im sure that's illegal in some states and if not its definetly against the R.K.E.M. handbook! (Reef Keeper's Etiquette and Manners) ;)

Diatoms are one of those things that EVERY tank goes through and there's not much to be done about it. If it gets too out of hand you might try removing a little by brushing and siphoning it from the LR and water changes. but I wouldn't invest too much into trying to get rid of it. It's just a part of the recurring cycle. I say recurring b/c a display with go through several cycles throughout it's existence due to changes at different points. I believe I'm now going through a diatom cycle due to installing new MH's. Now that I think about it, it's the first time I've installed brand new bulbs since it's been setup, which I'm sure is a big part of why I have a cyano bloom also.

Thanks for the advice and I hope you get rid of that bloom soon. (or should i say i hope it gets rid of ittself )

Tank looks great! Keep the pics comin'!

[Bloodydecks]

Enjoyed your Build thread. Very nicely done. Good luck witht eh Cyano. As you stated, the new lights are what may has brought out the bloom. That is always one of my fears when i change out the lights.

How are your phos. and nitrate levels?

One way to syphon I siphon cyano out with out doing a "water change" is to hook up a micron filter bag to my siphon hose, and place it in the sump, and just siphon it down into the sump, where it will be trapped by the filter bag.

ALso, good water movement will help also.

Anyway, nice set up, and I hope you get the bugs worked out.

[Bloodydecks]

I'm not sure I saw this earlier, but what I planned to do is re-partition the sump so that most, if not all water that enters the sump has to go through the skimmer to get to the next area which will house chaeto then move on to the return section. Then I was thinking of moving the return pump to make room in the equipment room.

This is a good idea. IMO, the skimmer should be the first part of the filtering system that he water makes contact with. The skimming will be more efficient as the water will, one have the most pollutants/waste at that time, and two, the water will have been less disturbed, allowing for better skimming of the organics.

[RJ]

AMAZING Thread and build. Your tank looks great and the story was so exciting to follow. My sympathy for the huge loss. Thanks for being so diligent about posting. I feel that I've learned a lot from your experience. I'm in the process of reworking my 75 gallon fresh water aquarium to a Reef. After your experience, I'm actually having 2nd thoughts. My fresh water experience has always been positive with no real problems. I've set my grand-daughter up with a small fresh water tank and transferred my fish to her and another tank. Salt and sand arrived last weekend. (a friend is contributing a 5 gal bucket of his live sand for seeding the sand) and a diamond bit drill is on its way to drill my tanks. I was going to set up my refugium and sump this week and get everything in place and working. I am planning to get a pump and order live rock on Tuesday.

I have to leave town for 4 weeks and was planning to let the tank cycle with a friend doing some partial water changes while I was gone - Now I'm wondering if that is something I shouldn't do. I thought the initial cycling could be nearly finished when I returned.

Any advice you have (or others) would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to your pictures and wish you the very best with your tank.