Bubble Magus Curve 7

Changed out my skimmer today for the Bubble Magus Curve 7.
This is a very quiet skimmer that gives off a very low hum in the sump. The best skimmer so far I have ever owned, compared to Reef Octopus Extreme 200, H&S 150, AquaC EV90, AquaC Remora and a bunch of crappy skimmers. The cone/curve design makes a difference and the compact size is great for my sump.

 
However, in their warranty paperwork, there is some strange stuff written.  

Upgrading Lighting

Decided to upgrade my lighting, because of a huge algae break out and I wanted to save on electricity and buying bulbs.
Changed all my filters for my 5-Stage RO/DI unit. 

Swapped out my T5's for Two LED Kessil A350W's. 
Built my own DIY open top canopy LED mount, customized for these lights. 

 Built from all wood glued

 Painted black and stained

 

 

- Major thanks to Jason for helping out.

- Big thank you for my wife Monica for being patient and her support.

One Year Anniversary :: 120 Gallon Reef

120 Gallon Reef Tank - 1 year old

 

Performed 21.6 gallon water change / Removed Algae / Cleaned powerheads

Temp: 78 F

Salinity: 1.025 / 34

Nitrates: 0 ppm

Phosphates: 0 ppm

Vodka: 2.2 ml

Fish list:

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)

Two Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var.)

Randall's Goby (Amblyeleotris randalli)

Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

Inverts:

Rose Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)

Two Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab (Clibanarius sp.)

Cerith Snail (Cerithium sp.)

Nerite Snail (Nerita sp.)

Nassarius Snail (Nassarius sp.)

Margarita Snail (Margarites pupillus)

Rose Anemone split twice

 

 
Coral list:

Bicolor Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia paradivisa)

Galaxea Coral (Galaxea sp.)

Green Flowerpot (Goniopora sp.)

War Coral (Favites pentagona)

Fire and Ice Zoanthids (Zoanthus sp.)

Tubs Blue Zoanthids (Zoanthis sp.)

Yellow Green Zoanthids

Red Pinkish Zoanthids

Neon Green coral?

FTS

Caught! No mercy for the rude.

Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus)

 This is what happens when you pick on other fish. Karma.

Thanks for cycling the tank for me.

With all good byes, we have new arrivals!!! 

Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

Thanks babe for the gift!

Update

Did a 19 gallon water change finally, hopefully this will help with the brown hair algae.

A week ago I was in LA and bought some new corals(seven species). Pictures coming soon.

Fish and Coral list below after parameters.

Temp: 78 F

Salinity: 1.025

pH: 8.2

Nitrates: 0 ppm

Phosphates: 0.03 - 0.1 ppm

Calcium: 440 ppm

Alkalinity: 8.4-9.8 dKH

Vodka: 1.8 ml

GFO phosphate reactor run 24/7

Carbon reactor same

Will be testing more after the water change.

Fish list:

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)

Two Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var.)

Randall's Goby (Amblyeleotris randalli)

Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus)

Inverts:

Rose Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)

Two Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab (Clibanarius sp.)

Cerith Snail (Cerithium sp.)

Nerite Snail (Nerita sp.)

Nassarius Snail (Nassarius sp.)

Margarita Snail (Margarites pupillus)

Coral list:

Bicolor Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia paradivisa)

Galaxea Coral (Galaxea sp.)

Green Flowerpot (Goniopora sp.)

War Coral (Favites pentagona)

Fire and Ice Zoanthids (Zoanthus sp.)

Tubs Blue Zoanthids (Zoanthis sp.)

Yellow Green Zoanthids

Red Pinkish Zoanthids

Neon Green coral?

Parameters

Parameters of today.

Temp: 78 F
Salinity: 32 / 1.023
pH: 8.1 (lights were off)
Nitrates: 0.2 ppm
Phosphates: 0.25 ppm
Calcium: 380 ppm
Alkalinity: 3 meq/L (8-9 dKH)

Cut down the dose of vodka to 1.4 ml from 1.8 ml.
GFO phosphate reactor run 24/7

Phosphates still running a minor issue in tank.

Progression

 Rose Anemone finally moving up higher for light on the rock.
Blue Tang in the background, around 4 inches.

 Bicolor frogspawn in the morning.

 Snail laid eggs on the powerhead.

 This is Randy (Randall's Goby). This fish never comes out due to the dottyback.

Frogspawn & new fish

Added a blue tang last week pictures coming soon

pic update

Vodka dosing 1.8 mL

Cleanup and Fish

Currently in Tank:

15 Cerith Snails
10 Nerite Snails
6 Margarita Snails
4 Nassarius Snails
25 Red Dwarf Hermit
2 Cleaner shrimp
Naso tang
Purple Dottyback

Cleanup Crew cleaned up all the algae in this shot.

FTS with barely any algae left.

Cleaner Shrimp on the Naso

Parameters - Food Types - Lighting

Parameters:

SG: 1.025

Temp: 78F 

Old test kits:

API pH: 8.2

API Ammonia: 0.25

API Nitrite: 0

API Nitrate: 10-20

API Calcium: --

New test kits:

Salifert Nitrate: 25-50

Salifert Phosphate: 0.5

Food:
PE Mysis Shrimp

Frozen Brime Shrimp

Garlic extract

Cyclop-eeze

Spectrum Marine Pellets

ATI Bulbs - Front to Back:

Blue Plus

Purple

Coral Plus (Replaced a Blue+, which ups the Par and brightness of the tank)

Aquablue Special

Blue Plus

Aquablue Special

Blue Plus

End of Cycle!

.: FTS :.

Finally got some updated test kits, refractometer and carbon for the reactor. 

Installed a 3rd baffle last week for removal of all microbubbles.

Skimmer collection after one day.

 

Tunze Nanostream 6045 vs Hydor Koralia 3 or 4 (version 2008)

- Tunze: Not impressed.. really!! .. overpriced.. I might mod this. I don't see significant flow better than the Hydors and these are from 2008.

Parameters and Update

Parameters

pH: 8.2

Ammonia: 0.25

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 15-20

Temp: 78 F

SG: 1.0245

Microbubbles - I drained out the sump and added a 3rd baffle to completely eliminate any chance of microbubbles coming back to the display tank.

Added T5 ATI Bulbs with this combination front to back:

Blue Plus

Purple

Blue Plus

Aquablue Special

Blue Plus

Aquablue Special

Blue Plus

I am planning to add an ATI Coral Plus T5 HO Bulb in replace of a Blue Plus.

Microbubbles, Upgrading Skimmer

The typical issues that come along with a reef tank.
Microbubbles: I removed one of the return pumps to one and create an emergency drain on the unused standpipe. This would only allow 3x the tank volume for my Display to Sump with one return pump. Adjusted the drain lines to be a shorter pvc with an elbow on the outlet and switched back to felt filter socks. Modified the outlet pipe for the skimmer to more of the middle of the drain sump area and added a felt filter sock. Result: Almost no microbubbles, I believe some are from the return piping from the anti-siphon hole or the dual locline. either way its annoying and I'm done.
Upgrading Skimmer: Footprint too big and prefer a cone style skimmer.

2/14/2012 - Parameters:
pH: 8.2
NH3: 0.25 ppm
NO2: 0.25 ppm
NO3: 20ppm
Temp: 78 F
SG: 1.028 

The good news is the Bio Cycle is going. Researching LED lighting, Bubble Magus cone skimmers, Tunze nanostreams and Zeolite method.


FTS and more!!