SYED's 300 Gallon Reef tank - 2011 - (Saudi Arabia Reefer)

syedjilani wrote:Hi Guys,

I know it is little late to start my 300G thread on Marine Aquarium Society of the UAE (MASUAE). Any way here we go........

I will post every post from the begging. Plans, some work has done, some is on the way, a lot is coming time by time. Stay tuned……

Little Back Ground
My name is Syed and I have been addicted by Life under the Sea. After 15 years of freshwater tanks I decided to take the plunge into saltwater in 2001 and built, my first reef Aquarium in Bangkok – Thailand.

When I move to Saudi Arabia in 2004, the addiction of Marine life was very strong, which forced me to start again a Reef Aquarium. So in August 2007 I started again 120 G Aquarium.

27th August 2007
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In January 2010 I decided to upgrade my 120G to 300G Starfire custom-made. My current tank is 145cm x 41cm x 52cm custom-made with internal overflow box including a lot of gurgle and vortex sound. Lol…, which I sort out last year with playing with Ball valve.

First two years I was completely fail to keep SPS and LPS. Only able to keep Leathers zoos and mushroom. Last November a friend of mine force me to start SPS again, maybe this time I will get good luck and will able to keep them survive. Staghorn and stylopora coral.

Re-aquascaping in left side of the aquarium to place them.
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I took some colonies of Bird Nest, Pocillopora, montipora, Purple and Green Acropora.

SPS on the place.
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My current system is very simple. No calcium reactor until today, and will not in future because I am too much happy with Randy Holmes Two Part recipe for dosing calcium and alkalinity. But I keep space in my sump for Calcium Reactor in case.

After six months, I realized that this time I got good luck and able to keep SPS.

April 2010 - Left side
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Current Tank:

My current tank and equipment.
Lighting: 1 x 400W MH 10K.
2 X 150W MH 20k.
4 x Actanic Blue T5.
1 x Fuji Purple T5.
3 x VHO.
Protein Skimmer: Weipro SA2014 with Atman AT105.
Return Pump: Atman AT106.
Canister filter: ROWAphos 50grm - Activated Carbon 300grm.

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Plumbing washed out two nights in fresh water, and on it's place. filling first test water in sump. ;(
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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Thrill in love story..... :rock:

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Everything is working properly. no leakage at all.....

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Some more of Sump in progress.

Right Side
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Left side
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Return Pump
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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

I don't think that I will need more circulation pumps inside the tank. Return pump has very strong flow. it just need to use some Modular Pipe - Lockline to divert the flow.

Top of the tank.
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Overflow box
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:whew:

syedjilani wrote:
Yes, of corse divider will be there (You will see in future what is my plan to segregate illuminations between compartments)


Splash was a problem in overflow boxes. See the photo taken before made little changes. Instead of water falling and make noise, now it smoothly slide down without any splash and noise.. :rock:

Overflow before thin glass
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Overflow After thin glass
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Over flow After thin Glass water sliding
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:wasntme:

I like chang chai rock work. I will have similar like what he has done.

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Tank and sump filled with RO and some NSW. . Protein skimmer on it's place....

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:rock:

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Add one more cured live rock. What you think guys is it enough for artistic aquascaping......?

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Another view
I am keeping the rocks in more blue light in 14 hours for more coralline. you will see after three weeks how it ll looks like.

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Stay tuned ..... more update is one the way....

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Protien skimmer is doing well. Start to take out at least some thing.

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syedjilani wrote:Some more .... .. ..

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

It’s already 11 at night….. … dead tired …. ;( . .. . want to sleep,…… |-) . but need to finish rock work as soon as possible.. ^_^ …

So here it goes. I took out all rocks from bucket and place them to have a look, what I got after waste whole day, for my dream aquascape.

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

I love to have some escalated rockwork, but because of less height, I decided to have two big and one small island, where I can adjust 120G tank corals and new addition. After spending some little time i ended up on this…………

I prepare something which is totally away from back and sides glass......

[size=150]SIDE VIEW[/size]

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[size=150]FRONT VIEW[/size]

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|(

syedjilani wrote:Some more of rockwork.........

LEFT SIDE ISLAND

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[size=150]RIGHT SIDE ISLAND[/size]

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syedjilani wrote:Stick together rocks, like what I need, and keep rocks still wet, I need something that will not take more time to dry up, so I decided to use two part epoxy.

i bought two kind of epoxy, one for iron and another is for bricks.

Iron epoxy, which using time is 6 munities, I used for base rocks to attach them as soon as possible.

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Things are getting real..... :clap: ... my dream come true... :rock:

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

haaa, haaa....neeed to sleep... 3 o clock at night....

i finished rock work. Tie-up with nylon 2mm thread from different angle…… for lifting and holding rock and placing them inside the tank, I used shoe laces to tie-up quite strong and place them inside the tank.

Rock is inside….cutting nylon thread…..

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syedjilani wrote:Right side ended up with ......

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syedjilani wrote:Left side island..... ..... . .... ]

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

I was taking out stuff from 120 gallon and was giving to Ahmed for inspection; he had all surgery instruments in his surgery room to take out craps, aptasia, majano anemone and other unwanted creatures.

after inspection he was transferring stuff to Nick, he who added 5 stars in my 300G, so we ended up on this......after spending 4 hours...........

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Middle Left. Monti..

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Middle Right... Green Zoos.

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

At last we moved sand...... everywhere were sand.....

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Anddddd we ended up with thisss......... :rock:

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

since there were no lighting...... Nick you have done gr8 job....... Thanks sorry....this one...

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

|-)

:wasntme: ,

So here we go....., so let me just quickly post that the DIY reflectors arrived, canopy installed. Its looks amazing. Pic are coming right now........

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Reflectors are little dirty. I cleaned with white plan vinegar. It is clean like glass.

syedjilani wrote:Some more about Reflectors.

I bought 0.6mm thickness Stainless steel glass finishing sheet, drawing given to the factory where they cut steel sheets with laser. I chose laser cutting because of don’t want to have cutting folds with cutter. It little expensive but I got cutting pieces without any fold on it. Took these pieces to another factory to bend them and join with gas welding. After spending three days I ended up with this……. What you guys think about DIY reflectors……

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

So here it goes, first shot with canopy and lighting ........

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From Left to right is
first Reflector 400W XM 10K
Second Refelctor Phinox 150W 14K
Third Reflector Gassiman 150W 21K


400W will not change
Second and third reflector MH will change, according to coral requirement.

Nothing changed in last five days colors are fine, not as it was in 120G.

Nitrate, No2 and PO4 ll check today......

syedjilani wrote:another FTS with half stand closed. protien skimmer is doing amazing.......
:rock:
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Sorry, for un-tide mess of electrical extensions and wiring around tank. electrical panel will be installed today. all wires and extensions will be tied up nicely..... I ll post pics one it get done......

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

People who were too much worry about my protein skimmer........... See the result..... Should i need better then what is coming in collection cup..........


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Another close up

It was really very thick sludge coming out....... . .. . . . . .

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Another one…… wow
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This all is a day or two collection......

syedjilani wrote:Some more tank shots......

What you guys and girls say............... :$

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FTS, sorry for bad quality pic. I wil post some more clear shots......

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syedjilani wrote:Some close ups. Almost after 8 days.

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syedjilani wrote:[size=200]UPDATE[/size]

How it was looking before testing water parameters on 3rd August...... 400W was closed....

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Compare photos between 3rd August and yesterday photos...... at lot of different..... you will see the progress....

Pics i will post later.....

stay tune.....

syedjilani wrote:I have changed 400W 10K to radium 14K. how it is looking.....????

[size=200]
400W XM 10K on the left side.[/size]

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[size=200]400W Radium 14K onthe left side.[/size]

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Pineapple brain, monti, clams, Randiautus malu are looking much colorful....

syedjilani wrote:Here it goes......

After acclimation, they start their work, finding food source in each corner of the tank......

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syedjilani wrote:[size=200]UPDATE[/size]

[size=150]Fish List[/size]

7 x Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis)
2 x Clown Fish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 x Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
3 x Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea)

[size=150]Some Invertebrate[/size]
2 x Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) Mated Pair
1 x Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
1 x White Spot Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis)
3 x Tiger Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus)
1 x Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
1 x Abalone, Tropical (Haliotis sp.)

[size=150]a lot of [/size]
Trapezia Pocillopora/Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)
Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus)
Zebra Turbo Snail (Turbo sp.)
Brittle Sea Star, Red (Ophiocoma sp.)
Brittle Sea Star, Brown (Ophiocoma sp.)
Brittle Sea Star, Black (Ophiocoma sp.)

[size=150]Some more:[/size]
2 x Maxima Clam, Blue - (Tridacna maxima)
1 x Squamosa Clam-Tridacna squamosa

[size=150]Some more:[/size]
1 x Longspine Urchin, Black (Diadema setosum)
1 x Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides)



[size=150]Some live stuff added.......[/size]


Too know about A - Z of water quality i decided to keep a pair of Dragonface pipefish. Good indicator of water quality..... this fish is quite hard to keep, very sensitive. Except one is expert. Also good for reefer to know the water quality of their tanks......

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A pair of Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster – White belly damsel
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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

As per my planning last week, I worked on lighting. Tight up wires, installed 3 x 28w Actanic blue. One 400W MH.

So now from right to left is 400W Radium - 150W Phinox - 400W XM. ( guys just for your information "if your tank water parameter is not stable then don't ever and never use XM10 on your tank, it will blow up algae") and you will not realize what is happening with your tank.......

Under 400W XM the back glass is covered with green slim algae, where other hand 400W Radium the back glass is crystal clear....

I need maroun to come my place and take some professional shots for you guys to see how XM boost algae..... :nod:

Now tank is under:
[size=150]3 x 28W Actanic Blue T5.
1 x 400W XM - 10K Left.
1 x 150W Phinox - 14K middle.
1 x 400W Radium - 14K Right.[/size]

Sorry for bad photo... i will try to get better shots..... Really if you see tank in real,..... I cannot say anything just....wow..
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I made little changes according to corals lighting requirement. Moved Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral, Brown (Sarcophyton sp.) little up it requires moderate to high light, but not too strong, ll burn the leather and polyps will not extract.
Moved down Yellow Fiji Leather Coral (Sarcophyton elegans)it requires low to high light……
Clams are moved to under 10K 400W XM, of course they need very strong light special maxima (Tridacna maxima)…..

syedjilani wrote:

syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

So here it goes, first shot with canopy and lighting ........

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From Left to right is
first Reflector 400W XM 10K
Second Refelctor Phinox 150W 14K
Third Reflector Gassiman 150W 21K


400W will not change
Second and third reflector MH will change, according to coral requirement.

Nothing changed in last five days colors are fine, not as it was in 120G.

Nitrate, No2 and PO4 ll check today......

syedjilani wrote:Acropora Coral, Blue
(Acropora sp.)

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Some more addition

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syedjilani wrote:Maxima Clam, Blue
(Tridacna maxima)

It old from 120G. Almost 3 years going to complete.

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syedjilani wrote:Acropora Coral.
(Acropora sp.)

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syedjilani wrote:Another Acropora Coral, Little Pink
(Acropora sp.)

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syedjilani wrote:My Zoos world......

Colony Polyp, Orange Spot
(Zoanthus sp.)

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syedjilani wrote:Blue Damselfish
(Chrysiptera cyanea)

back side is full of zoos Red, Green and pink....

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syedjilani wrote:Montipora Plate Coral
(Montipora capricornus)

It lost the greenish on it, but within week came back and geeting more stronger in green, corners and turning blueish, purple.

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syedjilani wrote:My lovely Ocellaris Clownfish,
(Amphiprion ocellaris)

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syedjilani wrote:Colony Polyp, blue Zoanthus
(Zoanthus sp.)

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syedjilani wrote:Brain Coral, Pineapple
(Favites spp.)

it lost it bright green color.... it will come back soon.....
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syedjilani wrote:[size=200]FTS[/size] as of 13th August 2010

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syedjilani wrote:UPDATE

Yesterday I got spare time to finalize installation of Tunze wave make controller and Digital Aquatic Controller RKL. i will update this RKL to RKE some time later.....


I am not using Tunze Wavebox, just using Tunze wavemaker pump, it works better without box, also box itself take a lot of space. You can see FTS in my previous post. Left side tunze wavemaker pump is working, making good waves.

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Tight up all wires around. RKL is working....
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syedjilani wrote:I have read an excellent thread (No Lights for 3 Days Every Couple of Months Works Wonders!)
Here is the link: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Also some more information is here:
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thread is :Cyanobacteria - What is it and how can I get rid of it?


Must read.

Always my target is to keep my tank clean as much as I can. Last week I about to control cyno and micro algae blooms. Since my tank is only 31days in age. Cyno is taking place all over the sand.

[size=150]Photoperiod:

Actanic ON 10:00 AM
MH 400W ON 12:00 PM
MH 150W ON 2:00 PM
MH 150W OFF 5:00 PM
MH 400W OFF 8:00 PM
Actanic OFF 10:00 PM
Moon Light ON 9:55 PM
Moon Light OFF 5:00 AM[/size]

I read above mentioned thread and start my first day lighting OFF on Monday.

[size=150]So how I started…[/size]

I closed MH around after one hour of photoperiod and keep running Actinic ON all the day until they close by my RKL at 10:00 PM. Moon light ON exactly 5 minutes prior to actinic OFF, and ON 7 hours until 5:00 in the morning then five hours completely dark.

[size=150]Tank under Moon Light only:[/size]

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syedjilani wrote:Tuesday morning Skimmer condition.

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