Seano's 29G Reef

Update on build

I was at my sister's for 2 weeks in the end of June. I came back to a bad tank...diatoms all over the glass, coraline algae dead....almost completely wiped out. The tank was at 92.5 degrees F. 3 of my 5 hermit crabs died. Here is one of the two lone survivors.


...and when I came home I imediately unplugged the heater. it's been warm enough lately that the controller has a water temp. reading of 77* F. It's been pretty steady around that temperature since I unplugged the heater nearly two weeks ago.


Surprisingly enough, the water is still crystal clear. I only have a skimmer on the tank for filtration. I haven't been doing water changes and I don't run carbon.


Then a few days ago I eneded up shattering the back wall to my 75g tank while attempting to drill it(didn't realize it was tempered). Here it is today after I cleaned up the mess. The duct tape edge is where the glass is stuck in place still. So I put tape on it so nobody would get hurt on it as they waked by.


Here is the 10g sump I will be using. I just need to silicone in the glass. The Coralife 125 won't fit in it so I will let it hang on the back of the sump, in the cabinet.


A new cabinet will be built as soon as I can get some wood to build it. More about the cabinet later.

 

The skimmer is running great. I should probably just clean out the airline tubing to the pump.


You can kind of get a look at the diatoms in this picture....it's mainly along the edges of thee glass and on the powerheads.


This rock on the right was entirely covered in purple coraline algae.


Here are white spots where coraline used to be growing.


Lastly, here is a FTS I just took a few m inutes ago.

 

The skimmer will go on the left by the filter sock and the right side will be my return. I have another 10g which will be my refugium tank. I just need to find a place to put it as it won't fit inside the new stand.

 

What about possibly running Ecobak rather than a refugium? It is basically care-free, and does not take up much space. I don't plan on having fish that require pods for food.

 

I would think EcoBak would be a good choice. I pondered it as well but ultimately went with dosing BioFuel (via 1.1mL doser) because I had used that product before, and it has worked wonders for me. I PM'd you about lighting. What skimmer are you using? I got a great deal on a Bubble Magus NacQQ...the skimmer works great, pulls a ton of stuff! Your setup looks good man.

 

Thanks. I run a Coralife 125 skimmer. I got it back in February for the 75 so I just ran in on the 29g

I did get your PM. I am not sure on lighting yet, though I've looked into many LED options. I'd like to be able to dim, which I could with what you showed me, and that is a less expensive option than all the others I've considered for the 29g(BoostLED PAR30s, Mu135w fixture, 2 Kessil A150Ws).

 

Honestly...it is probably going to be your most cost effective way to light for SPS. I am pleased with mine, but I wish I could get 12K LEDs (hint hint Orphek!) at a reasonable price for DIY applications.

 

I am not getting a lot of skimmate, but that is because I don't have much waste at all being produced. I get a lot of gunk up in the main cylinder part though; I have to clean it out probably once a week because it gets so gunked up.

 

I still want some SPS, but I am gonna go for a mixed reef. I want lots of LPS and some zoas and ricordias as well.

I did notice that when I saw some corals that had been growing under Cree LEDs, they had excellent growth, but the coloring wasn't all that great for the blues and greens.

 

A BRS reactor is just fine for running EcoBAK, correct?