New home for three musketeers - Marineland 93G cube reef build

[#1Reefkeepr]

Nice Cube I would luv one for a frag but less shallow!!!

 

[mimosa]

Luisse25, got around taking some new pics long after frag swap... It was nice to meet you and many fellow reefers. Hope the zoas and frags are doing well. They started to grow out of bounds in my tank, since then I swapped/sold quite a few big pieces.

Here are some recent pics. Quite different than about a year ago when the tank was new and almost empty. After I added a Ca-reactor, SPS really covered the whole tank, montis started to grow on tank glass walls and floor. Time to frag whole bunch, may be whole colonies.

FTS:

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1055.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1055.jpg" border="0" alt="Full Tank Shot - 2013/04/21 photo IMG_1055.jpg"/></a>

Neon green hydnopora (sp?). One of my favorites.

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1063.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1063.jpg" border="0" alt="Neon Hydnopora photo IMG_1063.jpg"/></a>

Some unknown SPS, light teal body with lavender polyps, looking very nice (grew from a light brown bleached frag, surprise we all like):

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1066.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1066.jpg" border="0" alt="Unknown SPS photo IMG_1066.jpg"/></a>

Left side FTS:

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1069.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1069.jpg" border="0" alt="Left View photo IMG_1069.jpg"/></a>

Of course GARF Bonsai...

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1115.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1115.jpg" border="0" alt="GARF Bonsai photo IMG_1115.jpg"/></a>

Sunset monti:

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1118.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1118.jpg" border="0" alt="Sunset monti photo IMG_1118.jpg"/></a>

Cool looking deep blue monti with neon green polyps (is this poker star monti?):

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_1125.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_1125.jpg" border="0" alt="Poker star monti? photo IMG_1125.jpg"/></a>

 

[mimosa]

glweek, I do not quite follow the names of the zoas, but these were sure in high demand during frag swap.

 

[nata]

Beautiful tank,corals and growth..amazing!!!

 

[mimosa]

Macro and Crop Fun

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_11252.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_11252.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_11252.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_11222.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_11222.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_11222.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_11182.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_11182.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_11182.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_11052.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_11052.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_11052.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_10922.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_10922.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_10922.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_10862.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_10862.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_10862.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_10792.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_10792.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_10792.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s52.photobucket.com/user/mimosareef/media/IMG_10782.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/mimosareef/IMG_10782.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_10782.jpg"/></a>

 

[luisse25]

really nice growth and loving all the sps! if u ever frag the garf bonsai let me know

 

[mimosa]

I have been delinquent posting updates and pictures. Got 3 Kessil 350's, some eye candy under these lights as of now:

Full tank shot:


Right side:


Field of Greens:


Acropora Tenuis:


GARF Bonsai:

 

[jschulst]

Makes me want a cube tank for my next project!

 

[mimosa]

I made some changes in lights. Now all lights are LED. I made an adjustable rack using drawer slides and some wood strips, mounted to the wall behind the tank. It looks like floating...

 

[mimosa]

Main tank LEDs: 2 x Kessil 350s in front, and 1 Nova A8 (custom spectrum) in the center.

 

[mimosa]

Calcium Reactor setup

Few pictures and details of the Calcium reactor setup... I am quite happy with this one.



I decided on using an industrial regulator, Harris 15 PSI. It is a bit spendy, but it can control between 0 and 15 PSI. With this fine granularity of control, I do not use a needle valve. Once I set it, it stays with no fluctuation in pressure and flow.



I have a 20lb Co2 cylinder. I refill it about every year, so it is cost effective and worry free. Since the regulator is very heavy (not like a hobbiest type), large cylinder works well (so it does not tip over).

For reactor itself, I use Precision Marine. I had some issues with Sicce pump leaking, so modified the plumbing to use a Panworld external pump. Now it works great, with much better flow and no leaks. For feed, I use a small feed (T connection) from my frag tank return pump. As long as no pressure build up in the reactor, works great.

Calcium level stays at 400ppm and Alk at 3.20meq/L. I test Ca and Alk about once a month, but check pH level daily using the pH monitor, which stays ~8.05-8.2.

I have tons of SPS. They grow almost out of bounds of tank. Especially encrusting montis are a bit out of control.... They are covering the walls of the tank.

 

[mimosa]

Sump room : Sump and skimmer

 

[mimosa]

Frag tank

I built a frag tank using 3/8" acyclic. This was my first experience with building acrylic, turned out fine. I used braces around inside corners, with no rim on top. Since it is shallow (30x22x7), it is holding pretty well. I have a corner overflow in left back, where I put some macro algae.

 

[rainydave]

Very nice!

 

[mimosa]

Thanks David.

Here is a closer pic of Acropora Samoensis. I got this as an Aussie coral long ago, and now it is the center piece of the tank, plating out like a table:




It likes lots of light and random flow.

 

[mimosa]

Idaho Grape on the left side of tank, forming steps along the side of the tank, covered most of the top overflows and now started to grow down back into the tank from top. About 30" diameter. I was going to chop it, but kind of started to like the look. Fish take refuge under and around the steps, cool to watch. Pump at the back wall is a Vortech MP40 for scale.

Excellent beginners coral (grows like a weed), and under proper lighting turns an amazing lavender purplish hue, with growth rims light lavender/blue.