Atomic081's 225 Gallon Reef w/ Basement Fish Room

[Sonicboom]

Nice, I was going to order one but won a tunze on ebay for 99.00.. add a filter sock and it will clear right up.

[Atomic081]

I messed with the tank a little bit tonight.




I installed the wavemakers. Im getting a good 3/4" wave with the highest settings. I was kinda expecting more.




I changed the Rockwork. Its still not complete because of some holes to fill in to cover the pvc. Suggestions still? Something still seems like its missing. Maybe separate the 2 islands?








I took all the leftover pvc and created some structure for my QT tank. I felt like the fish were hiding in the corners and within a few min of putting this in, they were all over the place.






I finally Cleaned the basement and organized all my misc fish stuff.

[Sonicboom]

Looks good all around, it will look crazy until the rocks color up to match. You sure you have the pumps on S1?

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Sonicboom

Looks good all around, it will look crazy until the rocks color up to match. You sure you have the pumps on S1?

Yup they are on s1

[Sonicboom]

Dang, I keep mine on reef mode (last option) and S1 during the day then S3 at night and I have tons of movement

[Sps Dream]

Following

[Newbie Aquarist]

Tank is coming along well and I love the aquascape also. Hve you thought about using some putty over the pipes and adding rubble? Just an idea.

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Tank is coming along well and I love the aquascape also. Hve you thought about using some putty over the pipes and adding rubble? Just an idea.

What type of putty do you use? Its a great idea.

[Sonicboom]

Newbie that's a brilliant idea! Lol he can use aqua stick or any two part, crush a couple rocks with a hammer and then press them into the putty once it's in place.

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by Atomic081

What type of putty do you use? Its a great idea.

I used a two part and putty on my aquascape. With the putty you can use rubble rock to form shapes and it kinda makes it look like a sponge. With the two part I use rubble and the dust from breaking the rock to apply on the two part.

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

I used a two part and putty on my aquascape. With the putty you can use rubble rock to form shapes and it kinda makes it look like a sponge. With the two part I use rubble and the dust from breaking the rock to apply on the two part.

Do you think I can do this with the rock still in the tank?

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by Atomic081

Do you think I can do this with the rock still in the tank?

You can depending on the type of structure you're trying to achieve. I don't think it'll work on a bonsai type of structure in the tank. You definitely need to build it outside and let it cure.

[Sonicboom]

If you use aquastik you can knead it in your hand and apply it in the tank, then add bits and pieces of rubble to it but you will have to wait about 4 min for it to start to harden. Of course it is easier outside of tank.

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Sonicboom

If you use aquastik you can knead it in your hand and apply it in the tank, then add bits and pieces of rubble to it but you will have to wait about 4 min for it to start to harden. Of course it is easier outside of tank.

This is exactly what im looking for!!! I was search for it as you posted! Thanks!!!

Now can i get it in bulk? HAHA I might need alot and my skimmer is gonna go CRAZY!!!

[Sonicboom]

Anytime! Had you posted a day earlier I could have done a few pics of a rock structure I made by fragging a large rock, redoing it with aquastik and covering it with rubble. Of course it's back in the tank and hidden now...

[Atomic081]

I have always used JB Waterweld (I think they are similar) to hold my frags together, but its kinda expensive. The AquaStik is reasonably priced and the grey and red colors are amazing. Now i gotta stock up on it and frag plugs......

[Sonicboom]

I usually order my aquastik from amazon for 10 bucks with free shipping and the frag plugs I recycle from frags I have bought. If course after I dip and soak the plug in fresh water.

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Sonicboom

I usually order my aquastik from amazon for 10 bucks with free shipping and the frag plugs I recycle from frags I have bought. If course after I dip and soak the plug in fresh water.

I just ordered 4 4oz packages of the Aquastik of amazon and also got 50 Black frag plugs.

[Sonicboom]

Suggestion, if the black ones are plastic cancel them and get the ceramic or stone ones, not sure what they are made of. Anyway the plastic ones are much thicker at the base opposed to the ceramic ones. What you can do with the stone ones is drill a small hole in the rocks about1/2 inch and slide the plug right in. I think the plastic black ones are 3/4 inch think and need a bigger hole. Also some most porous rock already have 1/2 inch spaces and you can work the stone plugs in without drilling. I like doing this because I can not only rotate the coral in the same spot if you want to change where the light is hitting it and if you want to swap it's location you just pull it out of the hole and pop it in another.

Just a suggestion

[Atomic081]

Originally Posted by Sonicboom

Suggestion, if the black ones are plastic cancel them and get the ceramic or stone ones, not sure what they are made of. Anyway the plastic ones are much thicker at the base opposed to the ceramic ones. What you can do with the stone ones is drill a small hole in the rocks about1/2 inch and slide the plug right in. I think the plastic black ones are 3/4 inch think and need a bigger hole. Also some most porous rock already have 1/2 inch spaces and you can work the stone plugs in without drilling. I like doing this because I can not only rotate the coral in the same spot if you want to change where the light is hitting it and if you want to swap it's location you just pull it out of the hole and pop it in another.

Just a suggestion

I appreciate the suggestion! They are ceramic. I will only buy the ceramic ones. I once tried to drill all my rock but I didn't do it this time. Im considering draining the tank and using the epoxy and drilling holes as fast as possible to make sure I dont have die off.

[Sonicboom]

I didn't do mine in the beginning, I just kept wasting glue rearranging corals so figured I would leave them mounted to plugs and pop them in and out of rocks until I found a spot they and myself liked. Problem was snails would knock them over or the power heads so I needed a deeper hole that would fit the plug stem, this way they couldn't get knocked over, so I pulled as many rocks as I could to the surface of the water and drilled 2 or 3 holes in random spots, I did mine right in the water and only the masonry drill bit was in the water. It got cloudy but cleared up in about an hour. Here is a one I just relocated this morning.

[Atomic081]

Finally got My ATO installed today. Now my parameters can start to stabilize.

[Atomic081]

So this weekend is my local Clubs Frag swap. I have been trying my best to have the tank up and running so i can atleast stock my frag tank and place the corals later.

1. Im stilll going to drain the tank on Wednesday night
2. Use the Aquastik puddy to cover the PVC
3. then drill some holes for frag plugs.
4. I also get all my CUC from Reefcleaners that day!!
5. Ill do a 50 gal water change later that night
6. another 50 gal change on Friday morning.
7. Im then going to transfer over my Purple Tang, 2 clowns, my Watchman goby and my Manderine Goby
8. Saturday Night Ill Dip all the corals and add them to my frag system.

I hope its not too early, but the rock and sand has been cycling in the sump for over 2 months and in the tank for 3 weeks.

[Atomic081]

My CUC came in today!!

1 Quick Crew w/Hermits (90 Gallon)
1 Brittle Star*
1 Florida Fighting Conch*
10 Nassarius Vibex
2 Reef Pods
5 Thin Striped Hermit*
2 Chaeto
1 1 Penny Macro Algae
1 Ulva (Small)
1 Red Gracilaria










I also got bored and installed the UV sterilizer

[Sonicboom]

Coming along nicely! , no ammonia detected?