160G mixed reef tank

[N3mo]

Hi Guys

Here is my build thread all the way from south africa.

First il start of with some history. A small snippet from my tank of the month feature on our local reef forum of the previous nano tank.

I started the hobby in December 2019. It has always been a dream to have a marine tank and with my little boy turning 1 and loving the aquarium I decided to get a small tank. I bought a small new system from a guy who was supposed to help me set up and run. Knowledge at that time was that marine tanks take saltwater and that was it. After the first 1 month of setting up I realised I wasn't getting the best deal and care from the “shop”, I decided to takeover and start to learn the hobby to maintain the tank on my own.

The first intention was to have just some clowns and basic soft corals, but after taking over myself I decided to go more into depth and add LPS and eventfully SPS. First LPS was added in the 2nd month and 2 weeks after a birdsnest and monti frag was added. At that time there wasn't much thought into scape as I was still finding my feet. At this time I started getting used to dosing manually to try and maintain alkalinity.

Currently the system runs with bubble magus curve 3.5 skimmer and a fuge with chaeto. There is no dosing of any sort to control nutrients. There is an algae scrubber that gets switched on when needed.

Return pump is a bubble magus WP2000 which is rerouted into sump for fuge flow as well as the algae scrubber. Wavemaker I run a Tunze 6040.

There is an STC controller to manage the heater and a TECO TR15 cools the tank down. Tank is set to run at 26 degrees.

Tank initially started off on T5 lighting with DIY led but was switched over to 2 x zetlight 6600 in front of each for better spread.

-Lights come on at 11am, 1230am sunrise and 2pm Full sun.
-Lights start going off from 8pm, sunset until 9pm, moonlight until 10pm

A 10 % Weekly water change is done, carbon is changed monthly and skimmer is cleaned weekly. Pumps get cleaned every couple of months.

Dosing is done daily via Doser. All red sea additives are used. I dose Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium. Weekly dosing of red sea colours is also done.
Currently feeding 2-3 times a day planktonyx frozen foods for the fish and corals also catch a bit. Nightly dosing of phytoplankton and weekly spot feeding of coral frozen foods. Red sea AB+ is also dropped in now and then.

Corals:

-Various Acros, mille, digis.
-purple stylophora.
-Birdsnest
-3 colours of montis
-leptoseris
-hammer corals(black, green)
-Torch tonga gold
-green tip frogspawn
-Duncan coral
-Acans
-open brain
- donut coral
-green elegance
-5 x colours of candy canes
-lobo brain coral
-favias
-pulsing xenia bush
-pincushion
-zoas

Fish:

-1 x Manadarin
-2 x clowns
-5 x chromis
-1 x pyjama cardinal
-1 x bangai cardinal
-1 x yellow watchman goby

Other livestock and tank parameters:

-2 x cleaner shrimp
- various snails and other critters
- monthly adding of pods for mandarin which also cleans up rockwork

* Tank Dimensions: 800 (L) x 350 (W) x 500 (H)
* Sump Dimensions: 500 (L) x 400 (W) x 300 (H)

* Display Tank Volume: 125(L)
* Total System Volume: 175(L)

* Temperature: 26 degrees Celsius
* pH: 8.2
* Salinity or SG: 1.026
* Ammonia: 0
* Nitrite: 0
* Nitrate: 5
* Phosphate: 0.03-0.1
* Calcium: 450
* KH: 9
* Magnesium: 1350

 

[N3mo]

Now for the upgrade..

Last year July I started to plan the new build and in October I started to buy the rocks and substrate to start the build. Items were slowly bought and evn up until now items are being upgraded.

The scape was made and left to cycle in buckets. I used planktonyx bacteria starter which did the cycle in 2-3 weeks. I then added fish and corals along with lighting. Shortly after I added chaeto to the system. You could say I had a fully functional tank in buckets.

 

[N3mo]

The scape that was made was full negative scape design, I wanted because of the look but most importantly have that extra bit of space for fish to play in. I always wanted a regal tang and even though the new tank would be a Lil less than required size, I figured the added swimming space with holes and loops would make up for the swimming space.

Scape was also posted by BRS as I used their NSA video as Inspiration. The scape also has pvc pipes with plugs that I made to click over it for corals to be stuck on.

 

[N3mo]

At the end of January this year, the tank got delivered. I had the biggest size I could fit in the area I had made up, 1400x600x600 with a 1000x500x300 sump.

I wanted to use the same recipe I used on the nano for this tank as well. Huge chaeto fuge with no dosing for nutrient control. I know this was achievable because of the foods and advice I always get from @Planktonyx, Bilqis has been the greatest help in terms of understanding bacterias, foods and tank health. She is truly remarkable in her field and a great asset to our local reefing community.

 

[N3mo]

On the 6th of February the display tank was filled with the water and the scape and sand was added. The sump wasn't connected as yet as I needed to sort the plumbing out.

A whole lot of rocks and everything that that goes into the the sump was added, chaeto with lighting kept nutrients at bay. There was no skimmer or Mechanical filtration n up until the nano got moved.

 

[N3mo]

During this 2 week settling phase I was moving easy corals over as well as dosing stupid amounts of pods from planktonyx to build up the population for my mandarin. I also painted the stand just for peace of mind and wrapped the sump, then managed to get a simple flow going to start with the next phase. Putting the skimmer online and start with mechanical filtration, as well as let that fuge start building up. Very pourous rock was placed at base of fuge and lots of chaeto was added.


During this time I also tested the water regularly to make sure there is no mini cycle or anything bad happening. Nutrients were low and params were in check.

 

[N3mo]

About a month after initial fill up I moved across all Livestock. The last stuff to Move was the SPS because I needed to get the chiller plumbed correctly to new tank which the switchover of the chiller could only take place on the day. Plumbing was a bit of a maze but I managed to get it to where I was happy..

 

[N3mo]

Now for some tank pics..

Some fish pics, some are from nano and some are new..

 

[N3mo]

Most of the equipment I got it 2nd hand, only the return pump was a brand new item.

Sobo DC return 10000L
Curve 7 skimmer
Idol Marine filter roller
Glamorca gyre
Tunze nanostream 6040

Lighting I'm not that happy with and it will be changed in the future. Currently have 2 x zetlight 6600 and 4 x T5s.

 

[N3mo]

There is still Plenty left to do as with any reef tank build. It never ends. I will try my best to keep this thread up to date..

 

[noobreefer2]

Great tank! What refugium light do you use?

 

[N3mo]

Great tank! What refugium light do you use?

I use a PAR38 grow light.

 

[noobreefer2]

I use a PAR38 grow light.

Thanks! I do too.

 

[N3mo]

Some weekly testing

Tank alkalinity intake keeps rising every week.

Nutrients are In check, currently feeding frozen foods 4 times a day with nightly dosing of our local planktonyx phytoplankton and pod feed.

Very happy with the way things are. Just got a slight diatom bloom on the sandbed but nothing major.

 

[N3mo]

Did the normal weekly routine:

-tested water
-cleaned skimmer
-cleaned glass
-swirled the sand
-cleaned fuge glass

Took the dslr out for some pics

 

[N3mo]

 

[Patientman]

VERY NICE!

 

[N3mo]

Little one enjoying the tank at night, he loves standing on a small stool and looking in.

 

[N3mo]

Nothing much to report, going through a bit of an ugly stage. Diatoms, but letting it ride itself out.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Are you using.copper.pipe.fittings?!
D