Chris' Braceless Zeo Reef

[chr15_8]

Thanks

To be honest on the times ive visited Kev at the reef shack. I didn't really pay much attention to the fact he had a Vortech (Now you mention it I can remember it on the right hand side) He's tanks are only 14 inch deep or there about aren't they?

The Vortech is around 4-5 inches from the top of the tank already so will be nearer 4 inch once's it full, so cant really move it up any more.

 

[chr15_8]

The ammonia is now reading 2.0mg/l. I've put in the same amount of flake I would feed my current fish as the shrimp is starting to disintegrate so might take it out tomorrow instead of leaving it for 48 hours like I had planned. If I do take it out tomorrow I will also add another pinch of flake to compensate.

 

[seffieuk]

How are things going Chris?

Seffie x

PS ooohh nearly forgot, would you nip over to my thread ' I have been thinking' and see if there is something you would like to do?

 

[chr15_8]

Getting there slowly lol.

Hopefully my order from Osmotics will be he on Tues to deliver a new 100gpd membrane + booster pump. Then I can fill the tank up

My rock is still in the old sump cycling at the moment but ive been advised to put it into the tank and start the 14 day zeo cycle. So hoefully within 2 weeks it will be stocked with a couple of fish + some corals

Also I decided this morning (Sunday) I wanted a battery back up for my Vortech so decided to make my own. It cost me under £50 and I bought all the stuff today.

The real Vortech battery back up has 1x 18 Ah battery giving an mp40 up to 36 hours. The twin spot has 2x 7 Ah (14 Ah) so hopefully mine should give up to 28 hours.

Emergency twin spot light fitting - Toolstation
1.3mm DC power jack - Maplin
Plug top with 3 amp fuse - Toolstation
1m Flex - (already had laying around but can get from electrical shops)
1 stuffing gland - (already had laying around but can get from electrical shops)
2+m of twin cable (already had laying around but can get from electrical shops/maplin)

Need list
1x Twin spot emergency light
1x 1.3mm DC Jack
twin cable from battery box to 1.3mm (i used thick speaker cable)
Plug top
Flex

Twin spot light

The 1.3mm DC Jack

Once the front cover is opened it will look like this inside.

Disconnect the 2x spot lights (The 4 cables on the top left) and take the 2x bolts holding the lights off.

Solder the wire to 1.3mm plug. This can be bought already attached but maplins don't have them.

Attach the other end of the cable to the terminals you removed twin spots from.

Attach the flex with the plug top on the end to the supply terminals. (Right hand side)

Then plug in it and charge the batteries (I would recommend 24 hours before you turn it off for the first charge)

Took less than 1 hour after I collected all the materials.

I will update this with how long the back up will last if a powercut was to happen.

Thanks
Chris

If you decide to do this its completely down to yourself. I will not be responsible for any damages.

 

[chr15_8]

I dosed all the magic blue bottle last night and also started to test my battery back up.

So far the battery back up has lasted for over 16 hours so I am please with that at the moment.

 

[seffieuk]

So far the battery back up has lasted for over 16 hours so I am please with that at the moment.

Nice one

Seffie x

 

[chr15_8]

Battery has finally died on my battery back up. It lasted 27 hours 15 minutes. My prediction was only 45 minutes out so am really happy with the results.

 

[chr15_8]

Got a couple of picture of the tank tonight.

Im currently on day 6 of 14 of the initial 14 day cycle.

Full tank shot

The weir wall

Island

View though the tank. Still not 100% clear

Thanks
Chris

 

[seffieuk]

So, your Zeo plan?

Seffie x

 

[chr15_8]

So, your Zeo plan?

Seffie x

Below is a copy of my daily Doses. After day 14 of the doses is what need to be continued.

6th march
ZEObak: 20 ml
ZEOstart: 40 ml
Sponge Power: 12 ml

7th march
Pause

8th march
Pause

9th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

10th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

11th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

12th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

13th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

14th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

15th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

Add 0.4l of kz carbon.
Add first fish
Add harder corals.

16th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

17th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

18th march
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

19thmarch
ZeoBac 4 drops
Sponge Power 4 drops
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml x 2 daily

20thmarch
ZeoBac 4 drops 2-3 x weekly
Sponge Power 4 drops daily
ZeoStart2 0.4 ml 2 x daily



Just tested the basic parameters which look great. Also tested the phosphate which is a little high. So might add some rowaphos to help with the Zeovit.

Ammonia - < 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

Phosphorus - 25
Phosphate - 0.076

I plan to add my 2 clowns as well as 0.4l of KZ carbon on Wednesday. I was going to leave the corals until the phosphate is a bit lower.

Thanks

 

[seffieuk]

Chris, wondered if you fancy explaining zeo to our newer members?

Seffie x

 

[chr15_8]

Yea I can do no problem.

I still haven't got round to righting one for the lighting yet so will do this after.

Really busy at the moment thought but will do the lighting first.

Haven't been getting home till late and been generally busy.

 

[chr15_8]

Finished the 14 day cycle yesterday. I bought a yellow tang, this will be the last fish to go in for around 5 weeks as all the others will be going though 5 weeks of quarantine.

Put a few corals in the tank now from the old tank and also bought a yellow/green acro tenuis. Coral looked healthy in the shop but the minute I pulled it out of the bag it didn't look to good.

Tested the phosphate level before buying the coral and it has dropped down to 0.076 again.

I'm currently dosing the recommend which is
ZeoBac 4 drops 2-3 x weekly
Sponge Power 4 drops daily
ZeoStart3 0.4 ml 2 x daily

 

[chr15_8]

Not much been happening really just letting the tank settle a bit. Yesterday I added all my frags from my old tank mainly Monti's. I dipped all the monti's for a whole week (Dipped each day for 7 days) in the hope of killing all monti eating nudibranch. I had read on 2 different articles that the think the eggs take 4 days to hatch. So fingers crossed I have killed all (couldn't see any nudibrach after the 2nd dip).

Over the last 4 days the tank has sufferd alot from diatoms which appaer to be on there way out:dance:

Really happy with how the BM NAC 6 has been doing so might get another and run two along side each other although the ATI powercone does look very nice i would rather have a back up if anything was to go wrong while I'm away etc.

Only 2 clown and 1 yellow tang. There should be much rubbish of the rock as it was clean and dipped in acid.

Tested my phosphate twice today which measured 0.018396 using the hanna checker I'm very happy with it and didn't believe it first time which is why i checked again.

I still have 25ml of rowaphos in which I put in before the corals so am going to pull that out and see how the zeovit copes.

Cant decide on which fish to put in next out of (order I think they should go in) any opinions?

5 - red spot cardinals (Apogon parvulus) - 7 inch total
4 - lyretail anthias - 20 inch total
1 - six line wrasse - 3 inch total
1 - kole tang - 7 inch total


Thanks
Chris

 

[seffieuk]

Wow, look at that crud

Any chance of a photo?

Seffie x