Pura vida Reef project !

juanmanuelsanch · 06/20/2016, 06:02 PM

Hi all ! Well finally after many years of wanting a reef tank my project is finally here. The tank is located in Costa Rica !

I will post updates on how it goes and of course asking for some advice as events comes up.

Lets begin with the tank, its a 143 gallon tank (515 liters).

Equipment so far:

1) Octopus 150 NT classic skimmer
2) 2 Wavemaker jebao rw 4
3) 2 Prime AI LED lights
4) Jebao return pump up to 8000 liters per hour (2113 gallons per hour)

Now some pics:

I also did some decoration using expansive foam and dead corals from the local beach (they were on the shore away from the ocean) the sand used is also from a local beach.

The problem with the decorations is that it has a huge buoyancy. So the damm thing was floating the first time I set it up

After reading and using some creativity, I glued two pieces of glass to the base, and paste that base to the aquarium... it worked so far !

After two weeks of cycling using 4 dead shrimps that I got from the grocery store this are my chemistry levels, Im just using tap water so far... water is pretty clean here is Costa Rica

Any advises are welcome !

sfsuphysics · 06/20/2016, 06:43 PM

Is that foam going to be safe in the tank?

Also what type of corals (if any) are you going to keep? I would be inclined to use something more powerful than the RW-4 pumps (or more of them)

dave.m · 06/20/2016, 06:45 PM

Best get some books to start with. Also ask the moderator to move this to the reef forum as this tank is less than 180 gallons.

Dave.M

juanmanuelsanch · 06/20/2016, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfsuphysics

Is that foam going to be safe in the tank?

Also what type of corals (if any) are you going to keep? I would be inclined to use something more powerful than the RW-4 pumps (or more of them)

As far as I read there is no problem with expansive foam, just let it cure and do the cycling. I hope Im not wrong...

About the pumps. I have nice water circulation... I will post a video of it later, the return pump makes some nice currents too. And Im hoping to have all kind of marine life here (fish and corals) as many as I can hold.

pogie · 06/21/2016, 06:16 AM

Your post is making me nervous.

Costa Rica may have pure water but have you tested it? Water which may be great for drinking can be not even close to acceptable for a reef tank.

For stocking levels "as many as I can hold" tells me you really need to learn a lot more before you can be responsible for the inhabitants of a reef tank.

Please get better informed before you go further.

juanmanuelsanch · 06/22/2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pogie

Your post is making me nervous.

Costa Rica may have pure water but have you tested it? Water which may be great for drinking can be not even close to acceptable for a reef tank.

For stocking levels "as many as I can hold" tells me you really need to learn a lot more before you can be responsible for the inhabitants of a reef tank.

Please get better informed before you go further.

I already purchased a RODI unit, should be here by next week, I will use that water for water changes.

As far as the phrase "as many as I can hold" its a generalization, I know I cant overstock and I know there is a huge stress on a new tank.

juanmanuelsanch · 06/29/2016, 09:01 PM

well a little update. I bough a 4 stage RODI unit:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Working great so far...

Im having an issue and is that when I make water changes the skimmer goes nuts and starts overflowing. I have an overflow hose that goes to a 5 liters (1,5 gallons) recipent, it just fill it in minutes and makes a real mess in the floor. I have wooden floor, imagine how mad I was

This are the test results from the last days.

18 june 2016:

22 june 2016:

29 june 2016

This is how it looks now with the lights on:

timnem70 · 06/30/2016, 10:02 AM

I'm with Pogie. That foam is not good, get it out of there. Please read/research much more before you proceed. Those readings you are getting will kill anything you put in there. I wish you luck.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

parkinsn · 06/30/2016, 01:47 PM

There's nothing wrong with using expanding foam. Make sure you did the research on what kind you used though. I know Great stuff in the red can is fine. However the blue can have anti mold and fungus ingredients in it that are toxic. I've used the red can on many tanks with no problem, not in the quantity to make rock structures float though.

juanmanuelsanch · 06/30/2016, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timnem70

I'm with Pogie. That foam is not good, get it out of there. Please read/research much more before you proceed. Those readings you are getting will kill anything you put in there. I wish you luck.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

The foam so far is good, no problem with it. The readings of course are toxic, the tanks is still cycling.

Still a week or maybe a week and a half.

bfrench · 07/02/2016, 08:36 AM

Will be cool to see this build progress.

Subscribed

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

juanmanuelsanch · 07/07/2016, 05:53 PM

Another update ! Finally got a diatom bloom, the tanks is starting to have brown and green algae. Even the foam is starting to be invaded by it... I also found a "coral plant" in the beach the other day (it was on the shore). I put it in the tank but I dont think it will make it. Since it disintegrates...

The ammonia levels are near zero but all the others are on peak.

juanmanuelsanch · 07/17/2016, 10:39 PM

Well after almost 2 more weeks of cycling. This are the levels now, all at zero. The most impressive thing is that then came to zero in almost 3 days, there were almost no changes and suddenly everything went down.

My question is. Do I still need a water change?. I will have my first 2 fish on Wednesday!

juanmanuelsanch · 07/19/2016, 07:49 PM

Finally got newcomers !

I got a powder brown tang which is shown in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_N4LtwuWU

And I also got angel coral Beauty (this guy is really shy) so I dont have a pic of it at the moment.

I also got a coral (if someone can help me identify it I would appreciate it). It seems to be happy and adapting.

bigzman · 07/19/2016, 08:18 PM

Looks like gsp. Be carful as it can over run a tank. I would keep on a rock that is not near main rock work so it does not jump. It stings other corals and can over take it. Wonderful looking but if not watched can be a pain later to deal with. Very hardy I tired killing that stuff and it would always come back.

Soy tico. nací en San José

juanmanuelsanch · 09/08/2016, 04:44 PM

Well its time for an update. Sadly my first 2 fishes died. A Powder brown tang and a coral beauty RIP.

Here is a video of the guy when it was still alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_N4LtwuWU

My new stock (3 months later) is:

1 Yello eye kole tang
1 Mandarin
1 Flame angel
1 Six line wrasse
1 Bicolor Blenny
1 Purple tip anemome.
2 Cleaner shrimps

And of course cleanup crew (got them from the local beach)

The tank also got some upgrades.
I got 2 Jebao PP-15 900-3400 GPH Wavemaker
Also some carbon filters, bio balls and ceramic for the sump along with some Xenia.

Here are some pics and of course a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4VjLAPY9yc

06/20/2016, 06:02 PM	#1
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	Pura vida Reef project ! Hi all ! Well finally after many years of wanting a reef tank my project is finally here. The tank is located in Costa Rica ! I will post updates on how it goes and of course asking for some advice as events comes up. Lets begin with the tank, its a 143 gallon tank (515 liters). Equipment so far: 1) Octopus 150 NT classic skimmer 2) 2 Wavemaker jebao rw 4 3) 2 Prime AI LED lights 4) Jebao return pump up to 8000 liters per hour (2113 gallons per hour) Now some pics: I also did some decoration using expansive foam and dead corals from the local beach (they were on the shore away from the ocean) the sand used is also from a local beach. The problem with the decorations is that it has a huge buoyancy. So the damm thing was floating the first time I set it up After reading and using some creativity, I glued two pieces of glass to the base, and paste that base to the aquarium... it worked so far ! After two weeks of cycling using 4 dead shrimps that I got from the grocery store this are my chemistry levels, Im just using tap water so far... water is pretty clean here is Costa Rica Any advises are welcome !

06/20/2016, 06:43 PM	#2
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Is that foam going to be safe in the tank? Also what type of corals (if any) are you going to keep? I would be inclined to use something more powerful than the RW-4 pumps (or more of them) __________________ Mike

06/20/2016, 06:45 PM	#3
dave.m Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canadia Posts: 4,276	Best get some books to start with. Also ask the moderator to move this to the reef forum as this tank is less than 180 gallons. Dave.M __________________ My Gawd! It's full of corals! Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.

07/19/2016, 08:18 PM	#15
bigzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Tampa FL Posts: 2,807	Looks like gsp. Be carful as it can over run a tank. I would keep on a rock that is not near main rock work so it does not jump. It stings other corals and can over take it. Wonderful looking but if not watched can be a pain later to deal with. Very hardy I tired killing that stuff and it would always come back. Soy tico. nací en San José __________________ 330g SPS - LED/T5 - EShopp S-300 Skimmer - 4 x Jebao PP20- reefkeeper elite Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef lps sps

06/21/2016, 06:16 AM	#5
pogie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 141	Your post is making me nervous. Costa Rica may have pure water but have you tested it? Water which may be great for drinking can be not even close to acceptable for a reef tank. For stocking levels "as many as I can hold" tells me you really need to learn a lot more before you can be responsible for the inhabitants of a reef tank. Please get better informed before you go further.

06/29/2016, 09:01 PM	#7
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	well a little update. I bough a 4 stage RODI unit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Working great so far... Im having an issue and is that when I make water changes the skimmer goes nuts and starts overflowing. I have an overflow hose that goes to a 5 liters (1,5 gallons) recipent, it just fill it in minutes and makes a real mess in the floor. I have wooden floor, imagine how mad I was This are the test results from the last days. 18 june 2016: 22 june 2016: 29 june 2016 This is how it looks now with the lights on:

06/30/2016, 10:02 AM	#8
timnem70 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 462	I'm with Pogie. That foam is not good, get it out of there. Please read/research much more before you proceed. Those readings you are getting will kill anything you put in there. I wish you luck. Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

06/30/2016, 01:47 PM	#9
parkinsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	There's nothing wrong with using expanding foam. Make sure you did the research on what kind you used though. I know Great stuff in the red can is fine. However the blue can have anti mold and fungus ingredients in it that are toxic. I've used the red can on many tanks with no problem, not in the quantity to make rock structures float though.

07/02/2016, 08:36 AM	#11
bfrench Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 50	Will be cool to see this build progress. Subscribed Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

07/07/2016, 05:53 PM	#12
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	Another update ! Finally got a diatom bloom, the tanks is starting to have brown and green algae. Even the foam is starting to be invaded by it... I also found a "coral plant" in the beach the other day (it was on the shore). I put it in the tank but I dont think it will make it. Since it disintegrates... The ammonia levels are near zero but all the others are on peak.

07/17/2016, 10:39 PM	#13
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	Well after almost 2 more weeks of cycling. This are the levels now, all at zero. The most impressive thing is that then came to zero in almost 3 days, there were almost no changes and suddenly everything went down. My question is. Do I still need a water change?. I will have my first 2 fish on Wednesday!

07/19/2016, 07:49 PM	#14
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	Finally got newcomers ! I got a powder brown tang which is shown in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_N4LtwuWU And I also got angel coral Beauty (this guy is really shy) so I dont have a pic of it at the moment. I also got a coral (if someone can help me identify it I would appreciate it). It seems to be happy and adapting.

09/08/2016, 04:44 PM	#16
juanmanuelsanch Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 408	Well its time for an update. Sadly my first 2 fishes died. A Powder brown tang and a coral beauty RIP. Here is a video of the guy when it was still alive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_N4LtwuWU My new stock (3 months later) is: 1 Yello eye kole tang 1 Mandarin 1 Flame angel 1 Six line wrasse 1 Bicolor Blenny 1 Purple tip anemome. 2 Cleaner shrimps And of course cleanup crew (got them from the local beach) The tank also got some upgrades. I got 2 Jebao PP-15 900-3400 GPH Wavemaker Also some carbon filters, bio balls and ceramic for the sump along with some Xenia. Here are some pics and of course a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4VjLAPY9yc