Mastiffsrule’s 180 Build. Now with colony growth pics.

[Mastiffsrule]

Update on present status.

Got some goodies. Was expecting 200 little cleaner guys today also. Wonderful postal service didn’t show. Expecting lots of bags of dead inverts Friday from 3 days of them in bags and heat. Oh well.

plumbed up my vertex 1.5 reactor. Also drilled out the weir to allow for more flow. My my return was overpowering the drain weir so I took a 1/4 inch drill bit and used it like a file. Didn’t have a dremmel, but same concept. Made the slots large enough now handles the flow.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

The battles has begun
Will the cats rule all,
will the Dogs save the fish,
will the birds eat everyone,
Is anyone following along or care?

Stayed tuned..or not

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I did not do anything last night, well not true. I exposed the seedy underbelly of this forum. It’s called the Naughty lists

Today was a bit more productive. Got to the gym for a change. And then played with the wiring. Need to get organized to get my dosers in.

Still no crabs I ordered last week. But as said oh well..

 

[Mastiffsrule]

This was the last step of staring my new build. The thread started with me gutting the cabinet and redoing sump and plumbing. Then redid the tank totally.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

started working on doser set up. Never used one, this is the most high tech I have gone ever. I may do a quick help thread on its use. I got 3 kamoer x1 since they looked the easiest. I think I got the basics, but the jugs came with wires for the float sensors. The units don’t have plugs so I am guessing the sensors were designed for a different model? Once I figure it out I am only going to put just enough in the jugs so if I mess up the amount will be limited

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I can’t believe how easy this was. I wish I did this long ago. $180 for 3 dosers, 45 for the 3 containers. Easy to calibrate and program all 3. Now just hope it works long term. Time will tell

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I got my build contrib badge and didn’t even know it, yay

So, got the doser set up and running. Like them so far. Easy to set up, easy to program. The 1 flaw I found so far is if the power goes out they have to be recalibrated. No biggie for me.

Now working on getting large CuC in to fight algae.

Update pix latter ....

Peace out, and peace river

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Slow week. Ordered a wave maker. Got Dino mostly gone and cyano. Now I am blessed with crazy turf algae. CuC has arrived and put to work.

Oh and apparently there is a sale at Ulta

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I got the CuC in and have been dosing Vibrant and Microbacter to fight the Dino that started this whole rebuild. The Dino began to recede, cyano and turf showed up. I left the turf in the hopes it would starve out the Dino. Seems to have worked along with the Vibrant and micro.

Now just need to get over the turf and diatoms from new sand. Got my trusty canister out. Loaded it up with fine filter pads, carbon and GFO. Water is now clear. Been picking the turf off. About 2/3 there. Once turf is gone I can finalize my scape and start the restocking.

This is a pain, but kinda fun

 

[Caruso86]

I can’t believe how easy this was. I wish I did this long ago. $180 for 3 dosers, 45 for the 3 containers. Easy to calibrate and program all 3. Now just hope it works long term. Time will tell

Really like this doser setup! Keep us posted. Would be super interested in longevity!

 

[Salty Lemon]

Slow week. Ordered a wave maker. Got Dino mostly gone and cyano. Now I am blessed with crazy turf algae. CuC has arrived and put to work.

Oh and apparently there is a sale at Ulta

Did most of them live through it?

 

[Katrina71]

I can’t believe how easy this was. I wish I did this long ago. $180 for 3 dosers, 45 for the 3 containers. Easy to calibrate and program all 3. Now just hope it works long term. Time will tell

Please update on what you think about this.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Did most of them live through it?

Kinda disappointed by that. Followed the instructions vendor included. Maybe 30-40% I estimate made it. But still averaging out less than if I buy at LFS.

Please update on what you think about this.

I really like them. Only in use about 2 weeks so experience is limited

First impression when I opened the box was the felt solid. Not plasticky ( is that a word?) or light weight. Each unit was 59$, each container 17$, the holder is actually a file holder from staples. It worked perfectly turned on its side. It even has a hole that I put the tube and wire thru. I cannot emphasize enough how easy setup and calibration was. It took me 10 minutes to get set up. if I did it in 10, that is 5 for everyone else. It has stayed calibrated since set up.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Progress is a good thing, even slow is better than none. I would say 3/4 of the way back to normal, good looking tank.

Recap.

Got leak in 10 year old plumbing. Redid plumbing and new sump.
Had Dino for years. Replaced 10 year old gravel with Fiji pink.
Had ugly rock wall. Redid scape.
Dosed vibrant and microbacter to combat Dino. New sand sparked diatoms and cyano started showing up. Used chemiclean. Cyano gone, Dino gone. Turf algae hit. Beefed up CuC.
Now algae mostly gone. Set up dosers and pulled kalk stirrer.
Got T5 hybrid to add to my hybrid.
Upped flow with jbj wave pump and 2 hydor pumps to go with MP 40

Seems like a lot.

Home stage, got my canister out running phosban, gfo, carbon cycling each.
Once the turf is gone

Decision time. Go fish only and get my triggers and parrot or rebuild coral?...?.?..?.

Before...

After

 

[Katrina71]

I vote coral!

 

[Peace River]

Progress is a good thing, even slow is better than none. I would say 3/4 of the way back to normal, good looking tank.

Recap.

Got leak in 10 year old plumbing. Redid plumbing and new sump.
Had Dino for years. Replaced 10 year old gravel with Fiji pink.
Had ugly rock wall. Redid scape.
Dosed vibrant and microbacter to combat Dino. New sand sparked diatoms and cyano started showing up. Used chemiclean. Cyano gone, Dino gone. Turf algae hit. Beefed up CuC.
Now algae mostly gone. Set up dosers and pulled kalk stirrer.
Got T5 hybrid to add to my hybrid.
Upped flow with jbj wave pump and 2 hydor pumps to go with MP 40

Seems like a lot.

Home stage, got my canister out running phosban, gfo, carbon cycling each.
Once the turf is gone

Decision time. Go fish only and get my triggers and parrot or rebuild coral?...?.?..?.

That was a lot of work, but the results speak for themselves - the tank looks good! My guess is that you are already leaning one way or the other so follow that sense - either way it will be a nice tank!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Getting close to the end,I think. Got rid of all the aptasia with my file fish. 3/4 thru the turf algae gone.

Lost most all coral, have 1/2 a pagoda cup hanging on and of course palys. The 1 thing I wanted to get rid of the palys, growing back.

And, found a clamp left on from the test fittings, pulled that out

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Finally seeing progress on the revitalization of my tank. I am getting closer to being algae and Dino free than I’ve been in years.

I also got a new family member Friday. I call him nosey, long nose butterfly . He is super camera shy, but he looks awesome and eats like my Vlamingi. My meany purple tang is harassing him though, so I’m a bit worried about stress.

Shout out to @Bleigh and @Silver14SS for a nice but brief meet up.

Hoping to start rebuilding my coral by October

 

[Bleigh]

Finally seeing progress on the revitalization of my tank. I am getting closer to being algae and Dino free than I’ve been in years.

I also got a new family member Friday. I call him nosey, long nose butterfly . He is super camera shy, but he looks awesome and eats like my Vlamingi. My meany purple tang is harassing him though, so I’m a bit worried about stress.

Shout out to @Bleigh and @Silver14SS for a nice but brief meet up.

Hoping to start rebuilding my coral by October

Hopefully I’ll have some corals to share with you by then!

@cromag27 has some acclimation boxes that you may want to consider to stop some of the bullying.

 

[Bleigh]

Getting close to the end,I think. Got rid of all the aptasia with my file fish. 3/4 thru the turf algae gone.

Lost most all coral, have 1/2 a pagoda cup hanging on and of course palys. The 1 thing I wanted to get rid of the palys, growing back.

And, found a clamp left on from the test fittings, pulled that out

How do you get rid of plays? I have some that I’d be cool with if they went away. People complain about gsp and pulsing Xenia, but my palys grow 3 times faster.