ReefKeeper89
Community Member
I removed the old post to actually make this my build thread since I bought a different setup than originally planned.
Tank- 90g Aqueon Reef Ready with Durso. I had originally wanted to convert the overflow to the Herbie style but I ended up just using what came with the tank as this was my first time using a sump and doing all the plumbing myself and I have gotten it fairly quiet or maybe my husband's rock tumbler just drowns out the sound haha. Also using return lockline to agitate the surface for gas exchange.
Sump- Trigger Systems Crystal 36 with 180g rated skimmer (can't remember the name ATM and have the living room blocked off to escape my 1 year old), air stones/pump (bubbles do not reach return chamber), 1050GPH Amazon return pump (works good so far...too good actually). I have had to turn it down to about 10% until I figure out how to maintain the water level in the return chamber. I know how evap works but this chamber is emptying way too fast and way too often for it to just be evap.
Lighting (for now)- 2 lamp T5, NICREW LED (was originally on my 36" tank) and a black box full spectrum RBG LED that I bought from a local reefer. Definitely open to suggestions on lighting.
Refugium- Chaeto and Ulva(?) The latter was not intentional. It was mixed in with the Chaeto I purchased from my LFS, Rubble/Crushed Coral (small amount/was hoping it would help stabilize PH), Coralife small LED aquarium light that I run opposite of the DT.
QT Tank- 10g with PVC, 1 fake cral cave, sponge filter/powerhead, air stone and HOB filter with only ceramic rings for bacteria .
This was an upgrade from my 45g and I used the LR from the 45 and added more LR from the original source and 10lbs of dry base rock. All new sand with the exception of a handful of previous sand in the sump.
Current Livestock-
Fish:
2 Maroon Clownfish
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
2 Blue/Green Chromis (started with 3 )
Inverts/CUC:
5 Nassarius Snails
1 Collonista Snail (so far HH)
3 Astrea Snails
1 Pincushion Urchin
2 Peppermint Shrimp
5 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits
5 Red Tip Hermits
1 Sand Sifting Sea Star
1 Green Brittle Sea Star (In Sump...he was rescued from a horrible fate and hand fed 2-3x a week)
Corals/Anemone's:
1 Green BTA
1 Eagle Eye or Scrambled Egg Zoas (wasn't told the name at time of purchase)-10 Polyps but started with 7.
1 Pulsing Xenia
1 Green Rhodactis Mushroom
So far the only loss (knock on wood) has been the 1 Blue/Green Chromis. All other tank inhabitants seem to be doing great, even Mr. Death Star in the sump. I was having high nutrients after the switch but have brought them down gradually with phosguard and adding Chaeto and weekly WC'S. I am not completely new to the hobby but left for a little over a decade and impulsively jumped back in when I had some extra doll hairs so I impulsively bought IO-Reef Crystals since that is what was available at Petco. I am at the bottom of the bucket now and intend on switching to the B-Ionic 4 part. I have not been dosing thus far but will in the future as I add more corals. Diatoms are slowly fading and my 3 new Astrea Snails are making my base rock not brown anymore pretty quickly lol. I do use RO water now but originally used tap water with water conditioner/prime until I was able to purchase the RODI unit and recently purchased a 32g brute trash can and lid after my 1 year old decided to break into the bathroom and stir my mixing SW with the toilet brush after it took me all night and half a day to get that water 
.
Water Parameters as of 03/09/22:
Salinity (refractometer) - 1.026/35ppm
PH (Fluval) - 8.0-8.5
Alk (Hanna) - 11.3 ~ down from 15 on 02/28/22
Calc (Salifert) - 490
Phos (Hanna) - 0.11 ~ down from 0.78 on 02/28/22
Nitrate (Fluval ) - <10
Mag (Salifert) - 1470
Ammo (Fluval+API ) - 0
I do plan on getting different tests/kits for Ammonia, Nitrates and PH and am open to suggestions. The Fluval one is extremely hard to read/differentiate the color chart and I am absolutely not color blind. I do have other Red Sea/Salifert tests that I got from a local reefer but plan to buy new. I do like how the Salifert tests you just have to watch for the change from one color to another and not try and match it to 10 different shades of the same color. I also do plan to get a 2 in 1 temp/PH probe as well. Thanks for checking out my build. Absolutely open to constructive criticism but no rude comments please. Also open to any and all advice and suggestions!
Tank- 90g Aqueon Reef Ready with Durso. I had originally wanted to convert the overflow to the Herbie style but I ended up just using what came with the tank as this was my first time using a sump and doing all the plumbing myself and I have gotten it fairly quiet or maybe my husband's rock tumbler just drowns out the sound haha. Also using return lockline to agitate the surface for gas exchange.
Sump- Trigger Systems Crystal 36 with 180g rated skimmer (can't remember the name ATM and have the living room blocked off to escape my 1 year old), air stones/pump (bubbles do not reach return chamber), 1050GPH Amazon return pump (works good so far...too good actually). I have had to turn it down to about 10% until I figure out how to maintain the water level in the return chamber. I know how evap works but this chamber is emptying way too fast and way too often for it to just be evap.
Lighting (for now)- 2 lamp T5, NICREW LED (was originally on my 36" tank) and a black box full spectrum RBG LED that I bought from a local reefer. Definitely open to suggestions on lighting.
Refugium- Chaeto and Ulva(?) The latter was not intentional. It was mixed in with the Chaeto I purchased from my LFS, Rubble/Crushed Coral (small amount/was hoping it would help stabilize PH), Coralife small LED aquarium light that I run opposite of the DT.
QT Tank- 10g with PVC, 1 fake cral cave, sponge filter/powerhead, air stone and HOB filter with only ceramic rings for bacteria .
This was an upgrade from my 45g and I used the LR from the 45 and added more LR from the original source and 10lbs of dry base rock. All new sand with the exception of a handful of previous sand in the sump.
Current Livestock-
Fish:
2 Maroon Clownfish
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
2 Blue/Green Chromis (started with 3 )
Inverts/CUC:
5 Nassarius Snails
1 Collonista Snail (so far HH)
3 Astrea Snails
1 Pincushion Urchin
2 Peppermint Shrimp
5 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits
5 Red Tip Hermits
1 Sand Sifting Sea Star
1 Green Brittle Sea Star (In Sump...he was rescued from a horrible fate and hand fed 2-3x a week)
Corals/Anemone's:
1 Green BTA
1 Eagle Eye or Scrambled Egg Zoas (wasn't told the name at time of purchase)-10 Polyps but started with 7.
1 Pulsing Xenia
1 Green Rhodactis Mushroom
So far the only loss (knock on wood) has been the 1 Blue/Green Chromis. All other tank inhabitants seem to be doing great, even Mr. Death Star in the sump. I was having high nutrients after the switch but have brought them down gradually with phosguard and adding Chaeto and weekly WC'S. I am not completely new to the hobby but left for a little over a decade and impulsively jumped back in when I had some extra doll hairs so I impulsively bought IO-Reef Crystals since that is what was available at Petco. I am at the bottom of the bucket now and intend on switching to the B-Ionic 4 part. I have not been dosing thus far but will in the future as I add more corals. Diatoms are slowly fading and my 3 new Astrea Snails are making my base rock not brown anymore pretty quickly lol. I do use RO water now but originally used tap water with water conditioner/prime until I was able to purchase the RODI unit and recently purchased a 32g brute trash can and lid after my 1 year old decided to break into the bathroom and stir my mixing SW with the toilet brush after it took me all night and half a day to get that water
. Water Parameters as of 03/09/22:
Salinity (refractometer) - 1.026/35ppm
PH (Fluval) - 8.0-8.5
Alk (Hanna) - 11.3 ~ down from 15 on 02/28/22
Calc (Salifert) - 490
Phos (Hanna) - 0.11 ~ down from 0.78 on 02/28/22
Nitrate (Fluval ) - <10
Mag (Salifert) - 1470
Ammo (Fluval+API ) - 0
I do plan on getting different tests/kits for Ammonia, Nitrates and PH and am open to suggestions. The Fluval one is extremely hard to read/differentiate the color chart and I am absolutely not color blind. I do have other Red Sea/Salifert tests that I got from a local reefer but plan to buy new. I do like how the Salifert tests you just have to watch for the change from one color to another and not try and match it to 10 different shades of the same color. I also do plan to get a 2 in 1 temp/PH probe as well. Thanks for checking out my build. Absolutely open to constructive criticism but no rude comments please. Also open to any and all advice and suggestions!
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