Kong's Restored BB (90g)

King-Kong · #1 07/04/2007, 09:31 AM

Well, I've had a "BB" tank for 2 years now, but it's only in the past month that I actually had a real BB tank. That is because (i feel) I had too much rock, poor flow patterns, and def. not enough fish, or skimming.

Here was my tank at it's worst:http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/56-fulltank.jpg

Note the hair algae on the rocks, and the dirty faux-sand bottom. I had tons of rock, not nearly enough flow (maybe 2400gph), and a few fish. I also only had an ASM G-2 skimming.

A few revisions later, new hardware (ATI BM250 skimmer), more fish (still adding more!), and a lot less rock (I am probably at 40-50lbs max now) we have this:

---------------------

My old bare bottom was a faux-sand bare bottom that had a 2part epoxy (dried hard and clear) filled with sand. It gave the appearance of sand, but a hard bottom. The bad was: i cut it too large, so it barely fit in, allowing detritus to fit on the side cracks, and allowing detritus to get underneath it, since it rod higher up on silicon edges. I also feel the epoxy leached silicates into my water, because I battled brown diatoms for the entirity of it's use (and, according to test kits, high silicates in the water). No wonder I was able to grow beautiful sponges!

It is now replaced by a 1/2" starboard, cut 1.5" shorter on all edges, with a 45 degree bevel on the edge so flow isnt slowed down.

Flow is taken care of by my eheim 1262 return pump, and my 3 vortechs (3000gph x3) on full blast, all along the back wall. Skimming is done by the ATI BM250. Pic here: http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/a08-bm250-2.jpg

Current fish list is:
3x Bartletts Anthias (getting 4 more)
2x Chromis
2x Cinnamon clown
1x Purple Tang
1x Lineatus Wrasse (juve)
1x Laboutei's Wrasse
1x Peppermint Hogfish

I feed 2x a day, each serving being very heavy (probably 4-5 cubes total, daily); always some mysis, and then either cyclop-eeze, flake, pellets, formula frozen, etc. My fish are all quite fat and I'm proud!

Only supplement I use is kalkwasser through my ATO (Aquamedic Kalk Stirrer)

Lighting is taken care of by my 2x 48" VHO actinics, and 2x Ushio 14k 250w DE HQIs.

Thanks for looking!

deansreef · #2 07/04/2007, 09:49 AM

looks great

E-A-G-L-E-S · #3 07/04/2007, 09:54 AM

KK....nice rockwork, now I understand what you were saying

No CR though? Kalk keeps everything good on its' own?
Those 3 vortechs in a 90g has got to be the ultimate flow!

vessxpress1 · #4 07/04/2007, 09:55 AM

Three Vortechs!

I'm surprised the fish aren't pinned to the front glass!

You must be pretty happy with them?? What power level do you have each set to?

Tank's looking great!

King-Kong · #5 07/04/2007, 09:59 AM

Dean : Thanks for the love

Eagles : aye.. no calcium reactor. Alk and Ca are at or ABOVE NSW levels. BB tanks can get away with a lot less because we dont have a big ol' carbon hog in that sandbed. Also note, I have 3 clams who are always willing to eat up my Ca.

vessxpress1 : 100%

Thanks for the compliment. The fish DO avoid being directly in front of them, most of the time. However, my tang still enjoys messing in that crazy flow, and at times even eats from my grill protectors! Crazy tangs...

E-A-G-L-E-S · #6 07/04/2007, 10:03 AM

I need to look into a kalk reactor pronto then....and kalk's effect on alk/ca.
By the way tank looks super clean, exactly how I like them!

Absolute Reef · #7 07/04/2007, 10:06 AM

Very bold!! I love it!

lvpd186 · #8 07/04/2007, 10:10 AM

Looks good! I'm not a real big fan of the bb look, but your tank does look good (besides with all that flow you would probably have a constant sand storm if you had any in there

).

jasontg99 · #9 07/04/2007, 10:36 AM

Good looking tank. I also am not a fan of BB, but you made it look great.

wrott · #10 07/04/2007, 10:43 AM

Very nice tank, and you gotta love the flow. I want to get some Bartlett's when I upgrade--yours are amazing.

mile sq. reefer · #11 07/04/2007, 11:04 AM

King Kong, great set up, Good job with the bare bottom minimal rock work. It will fill in nice when the colonies grow and mature.

Genin · #12 07/04/2007, 11:36 AM

is your large cinamon clown hosting a clam?

plyle02 · #13 07/04/2007, 12:48 PM

Kong,
Looking really nice! I especially like the that huge tabling acro on the right side....really sweet. I run BB as well, and appreciate your insight into BB philosophy. I have read alot of your posts, and have used some of your ideas on my sps BB tank. I still have way too much LR, but as my colonies grow, I will eliminate more. Good luck, glad to hear about your successes....
Perry

uhuru · #14 07/04/2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King-Kong
Eagles : aye.. no calcium reactor. Alk and Ca are at or ABOVE NSW levels. BB tanks can get away with a lot less because we dont have a big ol' carbon hog in that sandbed. Also note, I have 3 clams who are always willing to eat up my Ca.[/B]

That's great to know. Hopefully I can get away with just the kalk as well.

CeeGee · #15 07/04/2007, 01:43 PM

Where do all those fish sleep?

King-Kong · #16 07/04/2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by E-A-G-L-E-S
I need to look into a kalk reactor pronto then....and kalk's effect on alk/ca.
By the way tank looks super clean, exactly how I like them!

Kalk is called a "balanced solution". When mixed, it offers a proper ratio of alk to Ca, so there really isnt anything to do with it.

It also precipitates phosphates, which is great for our tanks.

Thanks!

specialkb · #17 07/04/2007, 02:20 PM

Looks good glad to see another Gainesville reefers tank. Do you go to Ocean exotics? Tank looks really good im working on my 55 right now.

King-Kong · #18 07/04/2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lvpd186
Looks good! I'm not a real big fan of the bb look, but your tank does look good (besides with all that flow you would probably have a constant sand storm if you had any in there ).

Thanks! I know BB isn't for everyone, but I think it's important to show what different theories can accomplish!

Quote:

Originally posted by jasontg99
Good looking tank. I also am not a fan of BB, but you made it look great.

Means a lot. Thanks for being objective and thanks for the compliment!

Quote:

Originally posted by wrott
Very nice tank, and you gotta love the flow. I want to get some Bartlett's when I upgrade--yours are amazing.

Thanks. Bartletts seem to be some of the toughest Anthias out there, but there are issues related to them all turning males (or mostly turning male). There is a good thread about this issue here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1132189

Quote:

Originally posted by mile sq. reefer
King Kong, great set up, Good job with the bare bottom minimal rock work. It will fill in nice when the colonies grow and mature.

Thanks! I'm hoping this next leg of my tank will give it what it needs to bring it into another league!

Quote:

Originally posted by Genin
is your large cinamon clown hosting a clam?

Yes

. Shes been hosting it for a long time now (I think over a year). She nearly killed it, too. It became so stressed it spawned. I had to cover it with an eggcrate cage to keep her away, but she never gaveup.

Quote:

Originally posted by plyle02
Kong,
Looking really nice! I especially like the that huge tabling acro on the right side....really sweet. I run BB as well, and appreciate your insight into BB philosophy. I have read alot of your posts, and have used some of your ideas on my sps BB tank. I still have way too much LR, but as my colonies grow, I will eliminate more. Good luck, glad to hear about your successes....
Perry

Thanks Perry! While I dont claim to know a lot, I at least have a couple of years experience with my tank (which WASNT a properlly setup BB tank, so I know first hand!). Good luck with your tank!

Quote:

Originally posted by CeeGee
Where do all those fish sleep?

The Bartletts and the wrasses like to wedge themselves into something when they sleep, and they can still do that (enough spots). The tang just hides behind the rock a long w/ the clown. The chromis sleep in some of my larger corals.

King-Kong · #19 07/04/2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by specialkb
Looks good glad to see another Gainesville reefers tank. Do you go to Ocean exotics? Tank looks really good im working on my 55 right now.

I am at OE at least once a week, sometimes more. Look for a skinny cuban who shows up on delivery day named Carlos

BWine · #20 07/04/2007, 05:33 PM

King-Kong very nice tank! You have a great eye for aquascaping.

specialkb · #21 07/04/2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King-Kong
I am at OE at least once a week, sometimes more. Look for a skinny cuban who shows up on delivery day named Carlos

Were you the one that was there the day that i brought back my Flame hawk?

King-Kong · #22 07/05/2007, 07:14 AM

Dont remember being there for that...

was he eating your shrimp?

osprey77 · #23 07/05/2007, 08:41 AM

where did you end up getting your starboard

King-Kong · #24 07/05/2007, 08:44 AM

Aquatic Ecosystems; http://www.aquaticeco.com/

Trigeek · #25 07/05/2007, 09:16 AM

Kong,

Beautiful job, man!!! Well done. What other fish are looking to add?