Nick's 345G Build

[this is me]

CWC has been running for over a month. Works great. I’m going to go ahead and put safeguards around it for permanent operation. Salinity is being monitored by conductivity. Over the past month with CWC, it barely moves.
For reference. 49.0 mS/cm is 1.0241sg. 50.5mS/cm is 1.0249sg.

Got a box of goodies from GHL for safeguarding the tank. Basically, they are level sensors to shut off stuff to prevent flooding and pumps running dry. Ie. Shut off skimmer when cup is full. Shut off CWC pump when new saltwater bucket is empty. Shut off return pump if display tank is overflow. Etc. etc.

 

[this is me]

The frag tank has been plumbed into the system for growing more macro algae.
Tank needed to be on a platform so that I can drain into the sump.

Metric to US standard plumbing conversion done with conversion unions.

Drain into the sump fuge which goes into the return chamber.

Fed by the same pump feeding the UV. The pump was throttled down to run the UV to the correct flow level. So why not use the same pump and tee it off.

Macros tank is filled. Waiting for the sand milkshake to settle then run it with the main system. I basically did a 60G waterchange today.

 

[absolutecarrot]

The frag tank has been plumbed into the system for growing more macro algae.
Tank needed to be on a platform so that I can drain into the sump.

Metric to US standard plumbing conversion done with conversion unions.

Drain into the sump fuge which goes into the return chamber.

Fed by the same pump feeding the UV. The pump was throttled down to run the UV to the correct flow level. So why not use the same pump and tee it off.

Macros tank is filled. Waiting for the sand milkshake to settle then run it with the main system. I basically did a 60G waterchange today.

Looking good

 

[this is me]

Took some pics at lunch.
Macros transferred and lit by two vipaspectra plant growing lights.
Giving this a try. So far, for the 6 weeks of having the fuge, the macros has double in quantity and size. Hence the upgrade of a larger fuge.

Sump fuge is now a rocks bio filter. The Oveflow box is reconfigured so that the half drain pipe is on the left side going into the skimmer. And the emergency drain goes into the rocks since I have the macros tank drain into the rocks and back to the return.

 

[this is me]

And let’s not forget why we’re here.

 

[Zirky]

That display refugium is awesome. Are you gonna put livestock in that tank? Pipe fish? Seahorses? serpent star? Will you be able to quantify phosphate reduction and ph benefits? I have so many questions. Can’t wait to see where that goes.

 

[this is me]

Joe,
No near-term plan of any livestock in the fuge. I have to see how they do since my PO4 is 0.01ppm and NO3 at about 5ppm.
In term of PH. The lighting of the fuge does help with PH. How much? I’ll let you figure it out from these graphs.
Data is very important. Keep good track of them and you’ll be able to tell what the tank is doing and will guide you hopefully the right direction.

Over a month of PH record. Daily swing of 0.1

The data you want to see is here. I run my main light from 2-10pm. Fuge light from 2am-10am.
Over 48hrs period, you can see where the fuge lights help flatline the PH and prevent it from dropping further. You can see a slight drop after the fuge lights have turned off in the hour from 10am-4pm. Then at 2pm. The main tank has slowly coming on. At 4pm, the PH is on the rise until they turn off and the cycle continues.

 

[MPevine11]

That tank is amazing!!!

 

[this is me]

Update on the Gem

 

[rock-n-reef]

Update on the Gem

Whatsup with the gem?

 

[this is me]

Wopps. Link didn't get copied.

Update on the Gem tang.
9/17

Looks pretty round now.

Gem and Sohal are like BFF.

 

[rock-n-reef]

Nice! great collection of tangs. How many do you have so far? And planning to add any more?

 

[this is me]

pretty aggressive tang load.
3 yellow
1 sohal
1 achilles
1 powder blue
1 powder brown
1 dejardini sailfin
1 gem
1 purple

I’m planning on a whitetail bristletooth and a Magnificent foxface to complete the big fish list.
Always looking to add more wrasses.

 

[Zirky]

Joe,
No near-term plan of any livestock in the fuge. I have to see how they do since my PO4 is 0.01ppm and NO3 at about 5ppm.
In term of PH. The lighting of the fuge does help with PH. How much? I’ll let you figure it out from these graphs.
Data is very important. Keep good track of them and you’ll be able to tell what the tank is doing and will guide you hopefully the right direction.

Over a month of PH record. Daily swing of 0.1
View attachment 149582

The data you want to see is here. I run my main light from 2-10pm. Fuge light from 2am-10am.
Over 48hrs period, you can see where the fuge lights help flatline the PH and prevent it from dropping further. You can see a slight drop after the fuge lights have turned off in the hour from 10am-4pm. Then at 2pm. The main tank has slowly coming on. At 4pm, the PH is on the rise until they turn off and the cycle continues.
View attachment 149583

Wow there doesn’t seem to be that much alge and yet doing the job. Great info thanks pie posting.

 

[rock-n-reef]

pretty aggressive tang load.
3 yellow
1 sohal
1 achilles
1 powder blue
1 powder brown
1 dejardini sailfin
1 gem
1 purple

I’m planning on a whitetail bristletooth and a Magnificent foxface to complete the big fish list.
Always looking to add more wrasses.

Holy moly! that is quite a tang gang!

 

[this is me]

6 weeks in. Can't complain. Happy to see some coralines on the rocks!

 

[Chlorinated]

Looks beautiful Nick!

 

[Patrick.S]

Looking awesome. How is the group of chromis doing? I love the way they look together but am concerned about the mortality rate.

 

[this is me]

I think with these smaller fish and you have a group of them, feeding is key. Finger crossed but I'm 8 for 8 on the chromis and 10 for 10 for the anthias in this tank.
I did lose 1 anthias and 1 chromi during the transfer from temporary tank to this tank. One anthias must've jumped during the netting and I didn't realize it until 3 days later. The chromi probably went into the rocks and got stuck and melt. Who knows.

 

[Zirky]

Thank you for sharing your stunning tank and All that amazing live stock.