Chris' 40g breeder upgrade

[Otto99]

Completed the sump, fixed and finished the stand, and just received my eheim compact 3000 return pump. I made the return section in the sump larger than planned because I don't have an ato system yet. Also painted the background. Wanted something a little lighter than black, since that's what I've had on all my other tanks. The color is called Oceananic Blue.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Had 30 gallons of new salt water mixed up for a couple days, so decided to move 40lb of existing live rock from my 29g into the new tank last night, along with 40lb of new CaribSea Dry Aragonite Figi sand. Put an in a powerhead and heater I had laying around. I also received the CPR100 deluxe overflow I ordered. I plan on running plumbing either tonight or tomorrow to bring the sump online. I have another 10lbs or so of existing LR to add to the refugium section and also 1/4lb of Cheato algae.

My concern right now is that I still don't have an in-sump skimmer. There's not enough room under my stand to hang my hob skimmer on back. So, are there any issues with using the hob skimmer on the display tank while also using the overflow/return/sump setup?

Noob mistake, I know, my impatience got the better of me.

 

[navaljonf]

No issue, just doesn't look as nice IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Up and running!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[navaljonf]

You going to get a filter sock for the sump?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

You going to get a filter sock for the sump?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Yes, and a protein skimmer too. I was going to use my hob skimmer, but with only 4 fish I don't think the bio load will be overbearing until I get an in-sump one.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

I need to get the equipment soon though, I can't wait to start adding corals and more livestock.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

First corals added!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

First corals added!!!View attachment 263579View attachment 263580


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

So my new system has been up and running for almost 3 weeks. Fish are happy and the frogspawn and zoanthid are looking great. Water parameters are good (zero ammonia, trites, and trates), ph is 8.0. Ordered a Reef Octopus NWB110 skimmer and should be here Wednesday.

My concern is the cheato algae and evaporation. First the cheato. It's breaking apart when ever I turn it every other day and some spots are a pale brown color and very stringy. I have my light about 10" away and it runs from 12am-6am. It's a 5k cfl in a 6" grow lamp. Am I not providing enough light time wise or should I move the lamp closer to the cheato? Or maybe since I only feed every other day and tend not to overfeed it's not getting enough nutrients?

As for evaporation, I'm losing about a gallon a day. Does that seem appropriate for my system? My sump cabinet is fully enclosed with little to no air getting on or out. Should I still some holes in the back to allow for air flow? Here are some pics. Any help is appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Big shipment came in today. My Reef Octopus NWB110 is up and running and already pulling dark brown dry skimmate. Also received an order from Live Aquaria: Giant Green Polyp Duncan and Candy Cane corals, and a Black Axil Chromis! It was like Christmas morning! Only sad note is I also ordered a Six Line Wrasse, but he was DOA. Going to keep that store credit with LA and put towards something down the road.

Had to rearrange aquascape for better coral placement. Frogspawn is looking great. I accidentally broke the Zoa frag in half rehoming it, so it's not too happy right now. Anyway...on to the pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Newest additions and FINAL re-aquascape. Added 20lbs of cured live rock to DT, a Peppermint Shrimp, and a Six Line Wrasse. Also picked up a Toadstool Mushroom Leather coral and a Flower Pot coral. I admit the Flower Pot was an impulse buy and only after getting it home did I find out it's fairly difficult to keep in the home aquarium. So far it's thriving, but I still feel like a noob for buying something I didn't do my homework on.







Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Update time! Sorry for potato quality pics from my phone. Turned the blue lights off for better resolution.

Picked up a Birds Nest a couple weeks ago. It's already starting to grow new branches:

View attachment 268824

Frogspawn growing back after I damaged it when I reaquascaped:
View attachment 268825

Three head Duncan looking good:
View attachment 268827

Gonipora doing well so far:


Toadstool growing bigger:


Torch; concerned it hasn't opened up since I got it. Once lights go out its polyps extend so I'm not sure what could be wrong:


FTS:



Any thoughts on why the torch/candy cane isn't opening up more? I just ordered a Red Sea Reef test kit. Could it be an alkalinity or magnesium issue? My phosphates were at .25ppm, before a 10g WC.




Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Otto99]

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[navaljonf]

The candy cane looks normal to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[bgmann12]

Yeah candy canes/trumpets will always look like that and will not put out long tentacles. The tentacles you see when the lights are off are its feeding tentacles.

 

[Sniperhank]

The only concern you should have with that candy cane, which is a very nice one btw, is to get the polyps on the bottom out of the sand. That will kill them off and make a nice looking coral not as nice.

 

[Otto99]

Took your advice Sniper and moved the candy cane off the sand bed.

In other news, been battling what I'm 99% sure is dinoflagellates . I meant to take a pic before latest cleaning/WC but forgot. It grows pretty bad on the sand and has spread to almost every rock. Tried the lights out for 3 days, but came back with a vengeance a couple days later. At first I thought it was just a diatom bloom from the last addition of cured live rock a month ago. Will get a pic when it comes back.

Here's a pic from tonight, 24 hours after water change.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice