My 90g -> SW Conversion

 

The old tank ready for a bath.

 

 

Good help is so hard to find!    Actually, my kids and the neighborhood kids were happy to come help get wet.

 

 

Making the plenum from egg crate.  Thanks Bob for the DIY.

 

 

I decided to use tile spacers to create the gap under the screen.  It's a lot smaller than what Bob did, so I hope it works.

 

 

 

 

I used the extra egg crate to make the gap larger towards the back.  I figured the sandbed was going to be sloped anyway.

 

 

My old light setup for FW was 2x96w PC.

 

 

I cut out a section between the studs to run my canister hoses.  I used primer to help make it more resitant to water/salt damage.  The channel may also help me push cool air to my lights.

 

 

The new light setup = 4x96w PC.

 

 

Bulbs are 12k, 50/50, 6700, 50/50.  The 12k is new, the others are over a year old and need replaced.  PM me with suggestions of what to put with the 12k.  I'm thinking mixing 12k with Actintic.  Good idea?  I'll be buying replacement bulbs from reefgeek.com - the 12k I got from there is WAY bright.  It's upside-down in that pic.

 

I know that PC lights are the red-headed stepchild in SW lighting, but this setup is very bright and I'm confident it'll do for the reef system I want to do.  I'm sure many are thinking "rookie" and "noob" but I think 384w of PC can't be tremendously inferior to 216w of T5.  Bulbs are about 6" off the water.

 

 

Bob never said how hard it was to get the screen in place and to keep it there.   We used some aquarium silicone to hold the spacers in place.

 

 

Ready for sand.

 

 

 

First batch of SW!

 

 

 

 

 

When you cut the plenum screen, you cut it a bit larger than the eggcrate so it would overhang, right (looks like you did)?

 

Did you remember to cut a 1" or so 45 degree 'slice' into the screen at each corner, this way the screen wouldn't "bunch up" in the corners when you try to install it?

 

No big deal if you didn't... other than it would just be harder to keep it in place

 

How are you mixing up your SW? You can just run the water line (RO or tap) right into the tank, fill it up, then add the salt after the water is in...

 

The Morrills (FrednWilma) have a really nice reef setup with PC lighting; it was TOTM in January (I think) so I wouldn't be too worried about not going with T5s.

 

Besides, everybody knows that even the most high-end T5 setup is still inferior to a proper MH setup anyway

 

Keep up the good work!

 

 

 

 

 

That's called a plenum:

 

http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24146&PN=2      (Step #4 on page 2 of the Thread).

 

 

But let not your heart be troubled - many here at the WMAS are not "wise in the ways of the plenum" and know not of the benefits of PNRT (Plenumed Nitrate Reduction Technology) and the peace and harmony it can bring to your Reef...

 

You have much to learn, grasshopper... much to learn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BTW have you checked the temp in the little cubby above the tank?  Be careful what you store up there, I bet it gets too warm to keep dosing stuff.

 

On another note, I pulled out the Salifert Alk test and thought to give it a try and see where I'm at.  Well, to be brief, I'm kinda tired and decided I'd tackle that project another day.  Using that kit, from the instructions, could be good for upper division credit for a Chemistry degree at the University.  It sure makes buying some kind of digital probe sound appealing.

 

On a sad note, most of my Codium isn't looking so good.  Lots of algea is growing, so hopefully it turns around.  If it starts to lose peices, I'll pull it and try it again later.  I thought macro algea was an early tank necessity  but apparently I'm missing something.  Oh well.  Not panicking yet.

 

Save yourself some headaches and go to PetSmart and ask for the "Reefmaster" Test kit from API... it has nitrate, phosphate, alk and Ca all in the one kit. Around $25, which is the cost of just 1 Salifert. IMO just as good, and much much easier to use.

 

You can spend the "big bucks" on a Mg kit from Salifert later (not too many people make Mg kits)

 

As far as pH any name brand is fine

 

Then you are pretty much covered for test kits

 

 

 

 

 

I would take a small container of SW (like a bowlful) out of your tank, place the Codium in it and gently try to remove some of the algae. Then return the "cleaned" Codium to the tank, and discard the bowl of dirty water...

 

She continues to decend into the bowels of brown (rust) algea, but everything I've seen seems to indicate this is normal cycling.  I'm keeping the front glass clean, but other than that I'm letting it go.  I'm probably going to do as Bob suggested and get the API test kit at Petsmart and see where the nitrates are at.  Might need to do a WC if they are skyrocketing.  They could be high from the FW algea some of the rocks had I put in that wouldn't scrub off.

 

If the API test kit is decent, I'll be posting the Salifert ones for sale.