My Upgrade Diary with Pics

[Coolguy818]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, since I got my first tank on Valentines day. The addiction has become a part of life. I recently upgraded from my 29g Reef to a 70g Reef.

I am completely new to RC and I love what I see.

I have many pictures of my old tank, but I won't put that into this thread, just one picture of the tank before I tore it down.

Here are some specs on the new tank.

Tank:
70g Oceanic - 36"x21"x24"

Filtration:
125 lbs of LR
90 lbs of LS
Dual Overflow Box (1000gph)
Dual sump design

Sump #1 (30g):
200 micron Sock
Refugium
20 lbs of LS
Calupera Algae
Cheato Algae
10 lbs of LR
5 Hermits
17w Flourescent Light
Lifegard QuietOne 3000 (760 gph) - return

Sump #2 (20g)
200 micron sock
Coralife Super Skimmer 65
Coralife Turbo Twist 3x 9w - Maxi Mini (106 gph)
Rio 10HF (300 gph) - return
Jager Heater

Circulation:
2 Maxi-Jet 1200 = 590 gph
Sump #1 Return = 600 gph
Sump #2 Return = 200 gph
Total of 1390 gph of flow = 19.85 turnover rate

Lighting:
Retrofit 2x175w MH SE 14k by JBJ
Retrofit 1x39w 18k T5 HO
Retrofit 1x39w 6700k T5 HO
Total of 428w of lighting = 6.11 watts per gallon

Inhabitants:
1 3" Midas Blenny
10 Hawaiian Zebra Hermits
10 Blue Leg Hermits
10 Brown Leg Hermits
5 Scarlet Hermits (getting more in 2 weeks)
15 Nessarius Snails
20 Nerite Snails
10 Cerith Snails
4 Emerald Crabs (getting more in 2 weeks)
1 Peppermint Shrimp (getting more in 2 weeks)

35g Saltwater Mixing Tank
10g Freshwater Holding Tank (Top off)

2 DIY Built-in to the canopy Computer fans

The first picture is the old 29g I tore down to setup the 70g, then the rest of the pictures are from the new tank.

Enjoy and please comment. I hope the pictures work.

Here is the before


And the After


Here is the Lighting


Here is the Sump setup


Here it is fully setup


With the UV Sterilizer

[Coolguy818]

Some more pictures.

Current View


Side View


Other Side View


Random Snail


Hawaiian Zebra Crab (mondo)

[Aquaman]

welcome to the madness! Don't worry, it gets much worse

[Coolguy818]

Some more pics

Canopy fan #1


Canopy fan #2


Midas Blenny


Thats it for now.........

[Coolguy818]

Originally posted by Aquaman
welcome to the madness! Don't worry, it gets much worse

Thank you. I am with other forums as well. But I think this one is the biggest.

[Coolguy818]

I forgot to insert the sump design.

[Lagger]

Looks nice! Where are you in S. California?

[Coolguy818]

Porter Ranch........ Costa Mesa isn't that far.

[Lagger]

Cool. I just set-up a similar tank, 70 tall.

You planning on adding additional flow or upgrading your skimmer?

[Coolguy818]

Originally posted by Lagger
Cool. I just set-up a similar tank, 70 tall.

You planning on adding additional flow or upgrading your skimmer?

The Flow I am actually worried about.

I do have more plans for example a Calcium Reactor, Kalk Reactro, Phosban Reactor, possibly 2 tunze 2600 with controller.

[ServantSoldier]

Really nice looking setup.. I'd be pleased. I would be a bit concerned with flow too. Have you looked at the mj mods for a cheap upgrade for the time being? mjmods.com Also, I would have the smaller pump in my fuge for more water/macro surface time. Good luck with the new setup!

[Coolguy818]

Originally posted by ServantSoldier
Really nice looking setup.. I'd be pleased. I would be a bit concerned with flow too. Have you looked at the mj mods for a cheap upgrade for the time being? mjmods.com Also, I would have the smaller pump in my fuge for more water/macro surface time. Good luck with the new setup!

Thanks, i'll look into mjmods.com and you are correct i might switch the return pumps.

But I was told that Cheato likes flow?

[ServantSoldier]

With so many people trying different things, I wouldn't be surprised if there were people using and recommended high flow through their cheato. However, its not the general consensus.. I've not seen a test to prove one or the other more beneficial. If you're nutrients are low and stable, I'd stick with whats working for you.

[Coolguy818]

I'm functioning at a Nitrate level of very close to 0 at all times.

[Coolguy818]

I made a few new additions last night.

2 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Purple Firefish

Hot Pink Zoas
Sunburst Zoas
Eagle Eye Zoas
Christmas Zoas

Pink Zoas with an encrusting Monti frag on it.

I will post more pictures when i get home tonight.

[Coolguy818]

Here is an update, got some of my corals back yesterday, also purchased a few new ones....

Tell me what you think.

Pinkish Blue Milipora (T5 only)


Pinkish Blue Milipora (T5 + MH)


Purpleish Blue Milipora (T5 only)


Purpleish Blue Milipora (T5 + MH)


Need ID SPS (T5 only)


Need ID SPS (T5 + MH)

[Coolguy818]

Here are some more...

Golden Maxima (T5 +MH)


Sunburst Zoas, Eagle Eye Zoas (T5 + MH)


Close-up of Sunburst Zoas (T5 + MH)


Hot Pink Zoas (T5+ MH)

[Coolguy818]

And Finally a Full Tank Shot.


Comments are always welcome.

[coldwaterreefer]

Nice clean look.

[Coolguy818]

Thank you..........

[Criminal#58369]

That is one sweet setup!

I am not sure if anyone welcomed you but:

To Reef Central

[Coolguy818]

Thank you very much.....

I was waiting for that welcome sign....

[Snowboarda42]

Very Nice!

[Coolguy818]

Thanks to everyone for their comments.......

I went to the LFS today, and found a whole bunch of new SPS corals.

I think I got this very rare piece, maybe someone else can shed some light on it.

Montipora Combo!!!!! Rare (T5 + MH)


Purple Monti (T5 + MH)


Orange Monti (T5 + MH)


As you can see they are both on the same Coral Plug!!!! How Cool!!!!!!!

Purple FireFish

[Coolguy818]

Here are some more......

Green Fuzzy Horn (Hydrnophora) (T5 + MH)


Green Acropora (T5 + MH)


These two where brown and had lost their color, I thought I could bring them home and try to save them...

Need ID (T5 + MH)


Need ID (T5 + MH)


Once again all comments are welcomed....... Thank you...