Tanks I maintain in Des Moines

I keep online journals of the tank that I maintain on the side, in my spare time.  99.9% of the time, no one can actually go and see these, but since a lot of people on here are in the Des Moines area, I figured I should go ahead and post the journal threads here, and you can go check them out if you like.  You may have already seen a few!  Keep in mind, these are works in progress, and since I now have a full-time day job, I have a hard time posting new updates on the threads.  When I do update them, I'll post here to let you know.
Also, I'm not posting the full threads here because it would be a pain.
The first one is my favorite tank by far, it's a 120g Acrylic Reef (at least it is now) at Grove & Platt Dental in Grimes.  I originally didn't know the history behind the system other than what the owner told me, but from speaking with the person who was maintaining it before me, it wasn't totally his fault, nor the owners fault, that the tank was in bad shape.  Overstocking and overfeeding definitely had something to do with it, but the tank definitely needed more attention than either had time to do.  There are a couple posts in the beginning where I express my opinion about the maintenance of the tank, so if you're the guy that was maintaining it before, take that with a grain of salt /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/crazy.gif - it was just my observation at the time, and I didn't know the whole story until I talked to you. 
Many thanks go to tje22 for the last batch of LR, corals and fish, and to all the sellers are the Spring Reef Reef Fest.  The owner love this tank, as do I.  I can only hope to have a tank of my own that looks this good.  But I think after working on his, I know exactly what I want.


http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f11/tank-journal-125-reef-125546.html
The next tank is one that I took over about the same time, it's located at China Garden in West Des Moines, right as you walk in the door.  Huge eyesore originally, had to water change done in 3 years, just top-off.  I estimated the Nitrates at over 800 and Phosphates over 16 and Cyano everywhere.  If you go in there today, it is overrun with GHA but I haven't done much with the system in a few months - going to clean it this weekend if my back gets better.


http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f11/tank-journal-135-fowlr-124418.html
The last one was a major project, and a major pain for 2 weeks (before I started my current job).  It's the 180g acrylic tank at Taki Japanese Steakhouse in Urbandale.  Similar story to China Garden, no PWC for 3 years, Nitrates over 800, Cyano everywhere.  Also, someone had used a magfloat and got a rock under it, which chiseled grooves up and down the inside - a big zig-zag pattern about 2' high and across the whole length of the tank.  If anyone wants to know how to remove those (or more specifically, what you DON'T need to do) contact me.  I am now an expert.  It took 2 weeks working 2 hours a day, and it should have taken about 1/3 that time had I known the trick.  None of the fish survived, the Yellow Tang died about a week before I bought 14 fish from Seascapes.  Due to some conflicts and possible sickness, only 2 remain, but they're doing great, no deaths for about 2 months.  Still battling a tank temp issue, and the cyano seems to be making a comeback.


http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f45/tank-journal-225-sw-fowlr-possible-future-reef-127906.html
As you'll notice in some of the threads, I am designing Algae Scrubbers for each of these systems.  I haven't read of anyone else who is using one of these, so follow these threads, it's going to be something different from what you've ever seen before.  Old technology, better application.  No skimmers, bio-balls, refugiums, filter pads/socks, and the best part - no water changes (at least not for the purpose of reducing Nitrates and Phosphates).

 

Thanks for the tip Irish, do you know if that was a FW or SW tank at the Kavanaugh House?

 

Cubs Fan sorry I didn't see your post. In the China Garden tank, I siphoned off the top layer of substrate (for many reasons), scrubbed the overflow towers, took all the LR out and scrubbed it with a brush (gag), and then ran a diatom filter for about 3-4 days a week (a couple days down time to clean the cartridge), put the lights on a timer so they were only on from about 11-2 and 6-9, I blacked out the end of the tank, and did 30% PWCs about every 10 days for 2 months and that knocked it out pretty well. Had the owner cut way back on feeding too. Now have tons of GHA though. ATS will be online in a few weeks so we'll see how fast that works.

On Taki, I tore it down, put the LR in FW in my tub (for 2 weeks), partway through that I sprayed w/straight bleach, let sit for a minute, then sprayed w/hot water via hose from utility sink (really, really hot) then sprayed w/prime (lots and lots of prime) and soaked in tub w/3 power heads for several days. Replaced substrate. Added filter pads (then had none). Put lights on timer 11-2 and 5-10 w/actinics on only at night and 1 hour shorter. They are getting some Green and Red slime but not so bad, the tangs & triggers keep it under control on the LR but they have to turn the sand over weekly.

It's one of the hardest things to get rid of, especially if it's not your tank & you can't control the feeding. If you're in DSM I could help you...

 

Check out the Grove & Platt thread. Re-arranged the tank and it looks tons better. Added pair of black & white clowns, sailfin tang, tail spot blenny, green chromis, peppermint shrimp. The blenny has vanished and the shrimp was seen once. Will get more pics soon.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f11/tank-journal-125-reef-125546.html

 

PS this tank will soon have a Algae Turf Scrubber installed and running...will post some pics of the build in the thread above. Should be going for the tank tour and if the owner gives it the go ahead (and if I can find time to participate) this tank will be on the tour.