ScubaSteve's new Tank Build - The Coral Cube Redux

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Hey Denny, quick question for you. Did you use long spread clamps or just use tape to hold the edges together as it cured? I'm definitely using corner clamps to keep the whole shmozzle square but have been debating whether I really need the big spreaders on a tank this size. What are your thoughts?

hey sorry just noticed this, i used tape and small clamps in the corners to keep the glass from falling inward, corner clamps are a good thing to have but i couldnt find any in newfieland lol glad to see your on the way with the build ill be following along cheers buddy

[ScubaSteve]

So by tank upgrade I apparently meant "start from from scratch, including livestock". I've done transfers and rebuilds in the past; this was the smoothest and yet things are really not happy (though getting better). I think I ended up having a far bigger cycle than expected for some reason and that took out a lot.

Params:
pH: 7.8 (at night. Won't go up no matter what I do... could be do to acids from cycling)
Alk: 9 dKH
Calc: 440 ppm
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm (Test kit old and I don't trust it)
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Temp: 79-80F

Just did a 20% water change because I found my pistol shrimp dead in the sump and didn't want another cycle (and nitrates were at 10 ppm).

So far the losses over the past 2 weeks are:
All my blue millies
Blue tenuis
6" Flower petal monti
Pistol shrimp (just found him in pieces in the sump. WTF?)

My bonsai is receding a bit on one area. My tabling acro (sp?) was receding at the base but stopped. Rainbow montis receding a bit. Big green milli has no polyp extension. Sent the expensive frags to a friend's tank for safety. Really happy on that call.

Sigh... F***.

Zoas are doing well though... so you know, that's good.

Tank looks gorgeous. I'll post pictures up once things settle down (if they settle down).

[kien]

You didn't post what your phosphates are at?

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by kien

You didn't post what your phosphates are at?

My bad. Again, having trouble with this one cause 0.25 mg/L looks pretty much the same as zero. I'd say less than 0.25 mg/L but I have similar sentiments about this test kit as the nitrite kit.

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Tank looks gorgeous. I'll post pictures up once things settle down (if they settle down).

Have things settled down? I'd love to see some photos.

[ScubaSteve]

Oh baby have they ever! Well, I guess I should say that with a caveat. I've got a bloody mantis shrimp roaming the tank, picking off my prized reef denizens... You know.. Always somethin'...

The SPS are growing like mad and now that I'm a few months out from the swap over all the new reef hiccups are going away **knock on wood**. I've been meaning o post some picks of the build and where the tank is at now. I'll try together something up this weekend. I'm still lecturing until the end of the week so I'm short on time but it is the last week of classes! I don't know who's more excited for the end of term: me or the uni students.