My 90 Gal Corner tank

[betiuminside]

Hello,
I just wanted to share that I am back! :)
I had to sell like 2 years ago my 100gal tank that was Soft Corals and Fish. Now that I am a little bit more settle I had the opportunity to be back! :) <-- Happy!
I bought the system from a very nice lady that she moved from Florida and she had to let go her tank.
This is a 90 gal / Bow Front / RR tank! It has around 100lbs of live rock! Also she had a mixture of black (70%) and white sand (30%). It looks good! Never had a tank with a mixture.
Makes what ever is in the water to stand a little bit more. Also came with 2 Koralias power heads, probably one is #8 and the other #7... not sure... but they move a lot of water!
It came also with a Coralife Skimmer; not sure which one is it... but it's like 2.5 feet tall! And right now it is skimmer pretty good! :)
It came with a Wet/Dry that I was not crazy for but I will slowly move to a sump with refugium in it. It came with also with the canopy!
I had to replace the doors knobs because all 8 had a lot of oxidation and I just did a paint touch up ( it had a lot of scratches the Canopy and Stand.
I am very happy right now and I wanted to share this with you!

[betiuminside]

I forget to tell you guys that I am only running a single white t5 light stip that was given to me as well... not sure what kind of lights I will be using in the future.
Even though I had a very good deal I think.. I ran out of money... so the lights will be the last thing I will be buying. Also I am planning to do FOWLR aggressive tank.
My friends at aquarium designs are babysitting an eel for me... She is black with yellow but not sure what type is it. It also came with the tank. :)

[Cammed_02]

Wow that is a sweet tank! what else you throwing in besides the eel?

[Europhyllia]

very cool tank shape!

[betiuminside]

I really don't know! I believe with all the moving and because I took the sand out and in, the tank will cycle, correct?
I feel like a newbie all over again, Do I need to do a water change while the tank is cycling?
-
I will ask when the time comes; what type of fish would be nice to have ( aggressive ) and will have a lot of movement too!
-
By looking at my thread I see that I should have taken pictures while I was putting together, more like a building proyect... :(. I got carried away and very exited that I didn't think about it. Sorry!
- Update:
I bought yesterday 3 yellow tail damsels and one of them died. The hermit crabs are having breakfast today...I am not going to strees figuring out why did he died.
My readings today are:

Amonia: .50
Nitrite 0
Nitrate: .40
PH: 8.6

[betiuminside]

So... I had an opportunity to get a good LED set from my friend Shane but because of work and my wife leaving me alone all afternoon with out car. :(
So I just finished my work proyect and I am back in the forums reading and reading! Love it!
And the tank is doing okay on his second day! LOL. Here's 2 pictures of the aqua space and full tank shot.
On a different note: My Nitrates are pretty high huh? And the best to beat Nitrates will be a water change and sump with refugium ( Macro Algae) , correct?

[justahobby]

Great looking tank! welcome back to the hobby.

Are you still showing ammonia? Any testable amount is harmful so be sure not to add anything else if it is. If it is just your nitrates (no nitrite either) do a water change. Find out what type of eel you have and we can help with plenty of stocking suggestions :-D

[betiuminside]

Justin,
Thank you for your post! :) I got .50 Amonia this morning so that's why my eel is at aquatics designs... I will call them tomorrow and ask them if they can give me her type.
I will do a 20 gal water change tomorrow... I am also looking for a sump for my refugium, anyone has one? I post my dimensions needs on the wanted items.

[betiuminside]

Update!
Everything is okay... Amonia is reading now at 0! yeah! But Nitrates still at 40... hmm hmm.
Tomorrow I will do my water change! And hopefully by tomorrow or Wendesday I will have the sum with macro algae! :)
Also I was able to upgrade my lights! Even though right now, for what I have in mind I don't need them, it's always good to have 2 PC 65W Actinics and 1x150HQI. Probably I will just run them for about 4-5 hrs per day just to create some Coraline Algae.
And i got the lights used, not new but in very good shape! :) Photos and a little video with my iphone in Youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPN0PCCEYQY
Watch it in HD! :)

[justahobby]

Congrats! Sounds like you are close to the finish line. I'm really impressed at how well that 150w lights up your tank!

[betiuminside]

Thank you Justin! You are the only one keeping up with me! LOL. Not sure why, but I am still enjoying this like a little kid! :)

[justahobby]

Trust me, plenty of people follow along without posting comments. So don't be discouraged if you feel like you are talking to yourself occasionally.

Did you convert the wet dry into a sump? Don't hesitate to ask other members for some macro as soon as you're ready for it. The compact flourescent spotlights grow chaeto really well. If you check out Lowe's the brand is Bright Effects. Have you had a chance to find out what kind of eel you have?

Don't forget to sign up for the Christmas meeting -
www.maast.org/showthread.php?68524-December-Meeting-Holiday-Social

[BSJF]

:) lovely

[betiuminside]

Hello! Quick update!
Visually everything looks good! No visible algae on the display. Today I had added a filter media bag with Carbon and a bag from fluval called clearmax that traps phosphate, nitrite and nitrate. I also did a 20 gal water change and after doing all this and let it ran for 3 hrs my readings are:
PH 8.4
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
Nitrates are very high, but no algae it's not visible on the display tank! I believe that because I have a wet dry with bio balls all the high nitrates are there and that's my problem! I am still looking for the sump that would fit under my 90gal corner tank. I have requested Louis with Elegant Reef to quote me a sump! But they are very expensive!. So here's my dilemma! Sump or RO/DI. I believe me having a RO/DI it's extremely important due quality water. And to prevent almost weekly trips to the LFS! So I guess I am still hoping to get a cheap sump ( for now) and get rid of the Wet/Dry and add macro algae before it shows in my display tank. And hopefully by the weekend I get my RO/DI.
Question: Where to get the RO/DI? Internet? or LFS?
Everything else looks good and my tank it's been up for 5 days. (But remember this was a established tank FOWLR that I bought from a lady and I had to remove the sand to move the tank.) So I think that's why the cycling was pretty quick.
Question 2: Since this is going to be right now a FOWLR ( aggressive ) Can I start adding fish with Nitrates being at 40?

[aquaman72]

Nice tank! Good luck

[aquaman72]

I have a friend selling an R O set up . PM me and I will give you a call and see if it will work for you. It is a very good price. I may be interested in your wet/dry as well.

[betiuminside]

Hello! Update!
Tank readings are good now... just .10 nitrates! everything is 0 and PH 8.2.
I ordered my RO/DI unit last Saturday and it will be here on Friday! YEah!
I am still hunting for that sump that would fit under my corner stand but everything is okay right now. I am going to Petsmart or Petco tomorrow morning, because they told me that sometimes they have tanks for dollar per gallon.
If I am lucky enough to find it, then I will start doing my research to DYI sump ideas and make it happen!
I have also picked up my chain moray eel from the LFS and she is having a blast! She is swimming and swimming and eating very good! She looks like a happy baby! I have also acquired a Picasso Trigger and he is a blast too! and a sweet lips grouper! She is BEAUTIFUL FISH! I picked it up at Elegant reef and he is doing GREAT! eating and eating! But most likely as I have read more about them, he will outgrow my fish tank and I would have to trade him or sale it. Hopefully not.
No other changes have been made to the tank at this moment. I am just waiting for my RO/DI so I can make another 20% water change ASAP! I am big fan of water changes and this unit will make my life much easier!
I am planning to get a dwarf lionfish and a clown or niger trigger and maybe a dog face puffer. And that would be all! What do you guys think?

One video...
http://youtu.be/eZq6onLMpfY
Second video...
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150493010384880

[allan]

Dude,

First... Nice! Love the rockwork.

Two... Have you thought about turning that wet/dry to a sump/fuge? I've seen these a lot, my neighbor's sump/fuge is an old wet/dry.

He put rubble rock in place of the bio balls, and a small box was made that sits atop the sump portion with a small pump to feed water to it, the return is directly to the sump where his return pump and skimmer is.

[allan]

Just peeped your sump pic, youve got room for a very tiny fuge box, but would have more if you move the skimmer out of the sump... If you the room under the tank to have the skimmer on the back.

You'd place four small acrylic blocks inside the sump near the top to hold your fuge box.

The box would have a feed in, and a outlet with hose to the sump water level to prevent splashing as the water is returned to the sump area.

A simple box is much easier to make than a whole sump/fuge system.

There are plenty of folks here that will assist in showing you how-to, and many of them would hang around from start to completion.

I'm not an expert, but you live near me, I would be more than willing to assist... for... uh... a... "stay thirsty, my friend" ;)

MAAST did an acrylic building class last summer to build top down boxes (may have been early this year), the concept is similar.

[betiuminside]

Update!
Per Allan's advice I have changed my Wet/Dry into a sump with a little 9" fuge! I let everything dry for 48 hrs and that's why took me so long to update. I was able to get the acrylic I needed at Regal. They also cut it for me which it was nice. The problem I faced when I was trying to glue with acrylic cement is that the acrylic bends with time and when I put the baffles in there I had to really put pressure on the sides and on the bottom to close the gaps I had. So I decided that add silicon as well to make sure water flow the way I wanted. And it came out nice! Very nice to be my first time doing all this... No big mistakes were made and I am very happy with the sump. It's not the cleanest of jobs but I will get better at it.
Also I got my RO/DI unit from Louis yesterday and I was able to make very nice water overnight and put everything back together and the sump is working great! I have not added the fuge (Sand and Macro Algae yet). I just wanted to check how everything would look first. I am posting a picture from before and after...

But also I have a problem... my water that is coming down into the sump is creating A LOT OF air and bubbles! I am posting a link with the video I took... Can you guys tell me why this is?

http://youtu.be/KIfIM8N7txw

[betiuminside]

No response yet, but I been reading and watching videos and the problem is that my pump is not matching my drain capacity... but not sure what the solution is... do I need to close it a little bit? sigh...
I lowered my durso pipe and it looks like it's not that crazy anymore... but still annoying!

[betiuminside]

I managed to put the media bag that I had with carbon inside the tube of the drain and it's working! And basically is helping move the carbon inside the filter bad up and down! so... It's fixed! :) Happy!
But another tragedy, my skimmer pump would not start! so... I have ordered a new skimmer from Louis at Elegant Reef! Is a bubble magus NAC-6!
Hopefully gets here on Monday! I did basically a 35 gal water change today! And my nitrates are lower than ever! GOOD! I only have 10 ppm. Everything is at 0 ad PH is at 8.4. I don't have a phosphate tester... I will get it tomorrow or Monday.
Last question and hopefully I will get something...
For my fuge: Should I use dry sand? Live sand from the LFS in a bag?

[allan]

I wouldn't worry about those bubbles unless they are making it to the return pump which would send them to the DT, which isn't cool.

I'd personally use the live sand from the bag, try to get a nice deep sandbed.

Looks nice dude.

About the pump, did you clean it? Take it apart down to the impeller? If so, I have a pump that I use for my water changes and to stir my kalk. It never starts. I use a little skewer stick to nudge the impeller. Once it starts moving, it runs fine. Kind of like those old planes that Darwin would have to manually turn the propeller to get the engine running.

[BSJF]

I managed to put the media bag that I had with carbon inside the tube of the drain and it's working

I wouldn't ever put something in the tube of the drain. It could clog and then you will have a flood.

Have you tried running an air tube that would let air escape? Usually the problem you are having is a result of air being trapped in the drain tube.

I don't understand your system enough to offer any other advice, but hopefully someone else can.

[betiuminside]

@ Allan: I did took everything apart and like you said, it may be the impeller and not the pump. I am going to find out who or where I can borrow an impeller to compare. At this moment I am exited that I am going to be replacing the skimmer. And most likely will sell this one.

@ BSJF: You are totally right!!! I didn't think of that! Thank you very much! I will remove it right now...

The system overall it's way more quiet today... I guess it needed time to adjust. Thank you all for your comments. I will be posting an update when I get my skimmer or when I add the sand to the fuge.

[FireWater]

For my fuge: Should I use dry sand? Live sand from the LFS in a bag?

Either would be fine. You can also ask for some small amounts of sand from other's tanks to seed the new sand in your fuge with. I don't mind giving you some of mine and some chaeto to get you going.

[betiuminside]

Update!
Well... Remember I put the filter bag with carbon in the drain... well yesterday I picked up from Louis my Skimmer and a filter sock so I could get better mechanical filtration... Today... The skimmer and the sock were FULL of Carbon Dust!
I mean BLACK! ... Not fun!! So I have learn the hard way... when you mess with carbon, the water flow HAS to be slow... otherwise it will destroy the carbon and make A LOT OF DUST! This heroic act ran like for 2 days before I got my skimmer... because I wanted to get some type of filtration using carbon!! YIKES!
Actually, I noticed that my tank in the past few days was very cloudy and I thought it was because bacteria was building by no running an skimmer... NOT. I guess it was all that carbon in the water running loose!! Crazy!

I was very mad in the morning... mad enough for me not to take a picture of the sock... IT WAS BLACK!
So what I did is take my pressure washer and hit it... it came out nice!! like new!! I am glad I was able to remove all that dust from the sock. I am thinking that's going to be the way to clean that sock from now on...
I am adding a video ( after all has been cleaned ) on how the skimmer is doing and the way it works... it's rated for 100-160gal of water and I have a 90 gal corner tank with a 18gal sump. BM-NAC6AS
http://youtu.be/gyRr0aMKWj4

Next Proyect:
Add more fish, add sand, Invite people to my house to see the tank! (beer included)

[edshas2]

Looks good, is this going to be a reef tank also or just fish. Your making good progress

[betiuminside]

Edshas2- No plans to get any corals right now. I am doing an Aggressive FOWLR tank. So far, Picasso Trigger, Porcupine Puffer, Chain link Moray Eel and 2 damsels that I don't know if they will survive.. LOL
Looking for a Lion and Niger Trigger.... If I get to put corals, would be very inexpensive for free, like GSP or mushrooms, etc. I do have the lighting for them, but I want movement in my tank.

[betiuminside]

New Fish!:bigsmile: His name is Spikes ( Wife name it :blushing:) Very pretty! :bighug:


http://youtu.be/Yz_wSpH2GJk

[Tommy]

Sweet fish bro. By the way you are never alone with the build, like Justin mention we made not be posting comment, but we following your build.

[betiuminside]

@ Tommy: Thank you! I know that now! thank you for the support!
Update: Bad news, the sweet lips didn't make it. After one week he passed away... He didn't really ate a lot. He didn't got sick or anything... but died RIP: Spots ( sweetlips grouper )
Also skimmer is not really skimming... it's a brand new skimmer and it's been working for 2 days. It did skim a lot of carbon dust! But junk yet... I will let it run for another couple of days...
Other than that it's okay...
The sand is still pending to add and more fish... Niger would be next... Any suggestions? Would a maroon clown would be okay? I guess I need semi aggressive - aggressive tank mates.

[CoryDude]

Also skimmer is not really skimming... it's a brand new skimmer and it's been working for 2 days. It did skim a lot of carbon dust! But junk yet... I will let it run for another couple of days...
Other than that it's okay...
The sand is still pending to add and more fish... Niger would be next... Any suggestions? Would a maroon clown would be okay? I guess I need semi aggressive - aggressive tank mates.

Dude, sorry I missed this build thread. Pretty sweet lookin' corner tank. The mixed black/white sand is super nice. I think you've got a great foundation for a really nice tank.

Any updates? Any new additions?

How's the bubble magus skimmer doing? New skimmers always take a week or two to break in. I'm assuming you're getting a nice thick skimmate now?

[betiuminside]

Hey Cory,
I totally forgot about this post! :at_wits_end:
Anyways... I am loving it... I have added more white sand and I believe it looks even better.. I think right now it's a 50-50... I am planning to add more white sand to make it 80 white and 20- black.
This will give it a very interesting look.
The skimmer is doing a very good job! The only problem that I have is when I am feeding it goes crazy and it starts skimmer super wet to the point that fills the cup half way up! I am feeding sea food mix that I did and what we got from yesterday's meeting. I thought It would not do it with the meetings food, but it did! ( I thought I did something wrong with the food I did). Usually the skim mate goes down with my previous skimmers but on this one the skim mate goes UP!
I guess I am going to need to turn it off while feeding or decrease the water volume which sucks, because I don't like to be messing with the level.

Additions or Fish list:
Emperor Angel! - CRAZY! right? well good for me, he grew on a 90 gal corner tank! So I have had not problems with him stressing out. He is very very nice and he is the king of the tank! 4-5"
One spot foxface - Same story of the emperor, he is a very good looking fish 4-5"
More craziness: Undulated, Niger and Picasso Triggers! Oh Oh!
The undulated was a bully at the beginning but they are all good tank mates right now... they do get into fights sometimes but nothing to worry about... no bleeding so far LOL... I guess that's what aggressive tank means, right?
Chain Link Moray Eel - She is a swimmer and she is very nice looking one.. Get’s a long with everybody and nobody is messing with her.
Porcupine Puffer - He is like me! Easy going and a BIG eater! He is nice to everyone and no one messes with him...
I have a couple of blue damsels which are the ones I started the tank with and another damsel, bigger bicolor; yellow and blue and has one blue spot on his top fin. He was a bully on Sherita's tank, but he is all calm in here! LOL
I am still doing 20 gal water changes every 2-3 weeks. I have not added the sand to the refugium yet.. just cheato in there...
I feed heavy so everybody is in a good behavior, because I read and heard on the MAast meeting that starvation was on of the reasons of aggressiveness. So I keep them fatty...
Next: Save money to upgrade the lights to LED's. And it's not because I am going to grow corals right now, but I want that coralline algae in there... I have no algae! nada!! Not even brown, but it looks without color.
I am looking for dead color corals... do you know where I can get some? Is there such of thing? Or they paint them?
The lights, I turn them on only 4 hrs per day and the MH only 1.5 hr per day. And the main reason is because they are old bulbs, or unknown age. And I don’t want algae blooming because of this.
And last, I had a black sea urchin but didn't make it... the triggers messed with him way too much and ended up upside down with the inside empty. RIP.
Thank you for reviving this thread!

[betiuminside]

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFeIdTo7d6s&feature=youtu.be