44 corner, primer for the 125

[lildingy]

I thought I'd start a thread on our first SW tank. We built it pretty much from extra parts we have acquired over the years, and hope it will help train us and teach a few lessons before we finish the 125 build.

44 pent
20 +/-sump/fuge combo with 8" PC
diy 250w MH
100 gal rated external skimmer Deep fathom???

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hoping the cycle will kick off soon:) have 2 damsiles and 2 pieces of live rock and bout 3#s of lr rubble in the chamber for bioballs. Yall see anything I am missing so far?

[koa25]

Nice. Not a bad little setup. Look forward to watching both of them develop.

[lildingy]

Anyone got a recommendation for test kits i have 2 a Hagen and an API, I am getting different results from them on the same cup of water and its kinda frustrating. I would love to pick the results I want but that kinda negates the whole point of testing. Both test kits are not new either.

[allan]

How big is that skimmer?

No idea on the test kit. I've got a blue suitcase test kit... not sure who made it though. I've heard a lot of good things about Salifert though.

[lildingy]

The skimmer is this one http://www.aquariumpros.com/p-INNTF110A,INN.html. The Hagen is in a blue suitcase but i got it with some other stuff ond not sure how old it is. I have some issues with the skimmer tho the pump i am useing is about 4X what they recommend. So i think a different pump is in order.

[allan]

Does the reagents have an expiration date? I've had mine for quite some time... never bothered to check to see if it was still accurate. The colors never look right to me.

Michael (Koa25) has a 3' skimmer. Huge. I thought you might have a similar one.

[koa25]

That beast is about five feet buddy. It might look 3 to you. But to us normal sized people it is 5 ha ha.

[allan]

3'-5'... that's about the same height in my world. :)

Imagine how surprised I was when I discovered Jack was 6'1"... I had thought he was about 5'7" for the longest time.

[koa25]

Ha ha. How tall do you think I am?

[allan]

5'9"?

That's like last year's average male height, isn't it? I honestly don't see people's height, and the only time I'm reminded of it is when I hear statements (usually whispered) "Mom, he's tall!" "God, he's tall!" "Oh my god, did you see that guy?" "Wow, he's a white shaq!", or my new favorite which I just recently heard at Target and by a dude who didn't even bother to whisper it "****, did you see that monster?".

Oh, and when i see pictures of me with a group of others...

Back on topic though, sorry about that hijack, Clayton.

What are your readings?

[lildingy]

I think a lil more patience is in order, I am getting a little disheartened by my readings this morning. Tho i found a cool little water logger for my phone :)

lights been going for bout 6 hours a day no skimming

ammonia 4.0
Nitrates 10 ppm?
nitrites.25
PH 8.4

I added another 3#s of LR rubble into my sump with some Chato yesterday, may be part of the reason for the higher ammonia. But now my sump is bout how I want it, the bioball chamber is full to the waterline with LR rubble. I only have one larger peice of LR in the DT.

Ya did make me feel like a little kid at BassPros holding that monster skimmer and lookin up at ya tho :P

[allan]

Lol,

Patience.... It will come together.

[lildingy]

well no change in water prams, should i be doin water changes at all? still got 4.0 ammonia or just let it do its thing?

On a side note i am gettin coraline growth already from some covered shells that my lfs gave me :)

[allan]

Let it do it's thing. Am and 'trites... Best let them do their thing. 'trates. That's when you change water.

[lildingy]

too much lighting? Starting to get pretty heavy algae growth, should i cut the lights out till i get better water test? any thoughts?
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[allan]

New tank syndrome. Let her ride.

[lildingy]

Update, ammonia finally startin to come down a little bit, nitrites up and nitrates up. Its good to see it makin a change finally. :)

[RayAllen]

Nice corner tank, coming together nicely.

You have a diatom algae out break which is normal for a new tank. You really do not want to be running the lights now anyhow. No purpose without fish or coral. I run my new aquariums a good month without lights when I set them up while the tank cycles etc. Keep in mind once the tanks chemistry settles in you will slowly start adding live stock. A sudden large load of animals will create a whole new cycle and put you right back at sq 1.

[lildingy]

Ty vm Ray,

I do have 2 small damsals in there right now, and hoping to be ready for a itty bitty yellow tang shortly. Our plan for stocking this tank will be pretty small i think.

yellow tang
fire fish
micro gobies
and maybe a flame angel later on.

I just can't hardly wait to see the corals Allen is holding for me. I am hoping to won't be too much longer, I am starting to get green alege also.

I am very excited

[lildingy]

Ok so whats the best way to mount a leather, i think it is a devils hand. pretty decent sized.

[allan]

Use a rubber band, lightly applied so as not to cut across the flesh. Then let it sit under some flow. This will prevent the build up of the mucus that they exude.

The DH and that I have was tied to the rock with a bit of twine. Because of the texture of the twine I was never able to pull it out and now is part of the inside.

[lildingy]

Awesome Allen ty, I don't think we are too far away from being ready for the others now, can get them outta your way. ammonia was 0 :)

[allan]

Cool grow. They are nice frags. Think you will be pleased.

[lildingy]

well the DH leather not lookin so well, I may have jumped the gun may be over reacting a little bit. it dropped a "finger?" I moved the power head away from it a little bit seemed a little bit happier.
I ran the skimmer I got for about 3 hours and it pulled out about 3 gallons. I am having a hard time getting it set to work properally. Do you think to big a pump would cause it to act so finiky?

[lildingy]

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[allan]

Dude,
When mine isn't happy it can take up to a week or two before it starts extending its polyps.

But it does need a little flow to keep it free of the build up jelly.

[lildingy]

Its pretty cool watchin the leather testing out all of its little fingers, Its been pickin up one at a time I think its gonna be ok, still got quite abit of green algae going on but i hope it will settle out after a little while.

I have one little shell with some strange growth on it, kinda looks like microscopic dandlylions, should i get rid of it?

[allan]

Microscopic? Well if you can't see it with the naked eye I wouldn't worry about it. :)

Your frags over here looking good.
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Don't get any crazy ideas about the real and orange Leps. Those are mine and the lrg acans are ben's.

[lildingy]

My goodness the purple on is huge,I ment to ask if your coming down for the collection trip.
If not I need to plan on going up soon to get them outta your hair. I cant hardly wait tho I am nervous to take em :)

[allan]

The tricolor tyree purple valida that belongs to you is the smaller, more vibrantly colored one, to the left. The large stand up one to the right is a purple valida that I am rehabilitating for my daughter.

Trust me, after seeing yours... Mine is really quite boring. If you want a frag of the regular valida I can set one aside for you. It's got a really purple tips... But the rest leaks that coloration the robs has.

I'm not coming down to the collection, but perhaps one of the other members can take them down for you?

[Scutterborn]

I'm headed down early. I can transport them.


-Ben-

[allan]

There you, if you're ready for them. If it were me I'd have been asking for weekly pictures to verify growth. :)

[lildingy]

That would be awesome ben if its not too much trouble. Verify growth? I so petrified that I gonna kill em soon as there In my custody I dont want any evidence :)
thank you so much allen for all your help with everything

[allan]

Nah, no problems, bro. You owe me about an 8th of a tea spoon of kalkwassar :)

[lildingy]

Haha, ill send it in a ziplock and an envlope to the base hehe

[Scutterborn]

Oh, that'll go over well....


-Ben-

[allan]

LMBO :)

[lildingy]

We are headed to SA tomorrow morning, anyone wanna suggest some "can't miss" shops for marine life and whatnot?

[reefreak]

what side of town are you going to be on?

[lildingy]

we are going up north so by the end of the day but besides that no real plans

[reefreak]

North huh? Hmm on the northwest there is phenomenal aquatics Alamo aquatics and south sea aquatocs all on bandera

[allan]

There's aquarium design on 281, north of downtown and a little west. Then there is elegant reef to the west of 281, two exits south of aquarium design. I'd definitely look up elegant reef.

[lildingy]

Bad green algae I dunno what to do :(
May have just jumped the gun, my leather not lookin to happy but gsp are fine

[Scutterborn]

Gsp is super hardy. Shoot, I've probably got some growing in my backyard from the last time I trimmed back. Leathers are also pretty tough. It's a normal cycle that new tanks go through. How much are you feeding? Excess DOC can really get hair algae going. That's why so many folks run macro algae to compete with the micro algae.


-Ben-

[lildingy]

I am really not feedind at all, maybe once a week right now, and I am running chato, under 24 hour light in the fuge. I hopin it will go away. Should I be cleaning it regulary or just let it go.

[Scutterborn]

I would first switch to a reverse light cycle in the fuge. The macro needs a photorespiration period. The reverse light cycle will also help with PH swings.

What clean up crew do you you have? Any snails, hermits or whatnot?
I feed everyday. If you have a good food source and a good CUC, they will limit any dissolved organic content and help to keep your water column cleaner. That will help to starve off nuisance algae.


-Ben-

[lildingy]

Only havw about 5 lil hermits, no sails yet.

[Scutterborn]

I would suggest snails. Reefcleaners has a great site and will describe the benefits of certain species. Personally I like nassarius, astraea and cerith snails. If you have a lot of frags or semi loose rock I would avoid turbo snails. They are great algae eaters but, kinda like lil' bulldozers... Stomatella snails are also great.


-Ben-

[lildingy]

Thank you guys again for all the help yall have not only been a great source of info but also a great comfort knowing i have some back-up on this whole experience. I was thinking about setting up the big skimmer on the little tank for a few days and hoping it may help out my little algae problem, any thoughts? I do not have a skimmer currently working correct on this tank so i havn't been skimming at all.

[Scutterborn]

I don't see it hurting anything. It's only gonna pull out stuff your algae is feeding on. Keep in mind that this stage of hair algae is normal and do not be discouraged. Sounds like you have your cycle in full swing!

I have two 28g nano cubes. One is all sorts of fancy stuff. ( UV sterilizer, skimmer, chemi pure elite, carbon, bio rings and chaeto). The other one is very basic. (chaeto). The one with chaeto only is full of hair algae. It's receding as the chaeto grows but it's not fast. Kinda like my own little experiment.

-Ben-

[lildingy]

15668

can we repeat after me O V E R K I L L

[Zack]

I run a skimmer rated for 180 gallons on my 10 ;)

[lildingy]

Well I feel the tank may be turning the corner, tho I think my chato may be dying. But over all the nasty green is slowly subsiding. It seems to build up during the day with the lights on but is almost gone compleatly by morning. I think between running the skimmer and swiching the fuge light off during the day, something is working better. My DH leather still doesnt look too happy, gonna retest everything when I get home and probally do a 50% water change, I have only done one since startup. I need to get a rodi but budget wont allow it now so I may go to the windmill or somthing this go round.

[allan]

ought to pony up the extra ducks for a RODI unit. Makes your life much easier.

Man, I'm on the fence with skimmers and macro. Your macro will really grow a lot with extra nutrients, but that's what your skimmer is taking out. There's an oxygenation effect that plants have, respiration? But your skimmer does this as well with all of the bubbles... providing you have enough oxygen in the room.

My personal view on macro is that you truly do want a lot in a big system. If you have a little, it will grow, and take out a little of the stuff that it's responsible for. But if you have a lot, you will pull a lot, providing that you don't have so much that some of the cheatomorpha is starving. I like the macro for the added bedspace for pods and starfish to wrangle out detritus food bits and stuff, and the mechanical filtration that it provides.

Are you running your skimmer wet? Maybe dial it back a bit?

I wouldn't do 50% unless you detect some dangerous levels. Mike did 5 gallon weekly changes on the 190 gallon tank, I did none for six months at a time, but lately I got into doing 20 gallons once a week. That's what I do on the 350 gallon tank now. Even if I skip a week. Of course I'm dosing kalk so I don't worry about calcium depletion. In a tank your size, if you are truly heck bent on doing the water changes, I'd do 4 gallons a week, or a one gallon change every third day or so... you don't have to really hit it hard.

That is, of course, if your nitrates aren't off the chart. That would require more frequent/volumn to be changed.

[lildingy]

test are in
ammonia 0
natrites 0
nitrates 10 ppm
ph 8.4
temp a low 74
new heater may be in order
any ideas besides the temp that i need to be looking at?
all the help i can get, i am so nervous

[Scutterborn]

'Trates are looking good. Looks like your on the downhill side of your cycle. You'll want to ideally see nitrates at or under 5ppm. I'd just do a 10% water change then enjoy the fruits of your labor!! No need to fret. Temp does need to come up a tad.


- Ben -

[Scutterborn]

ought to pony up the extra ducks for a RODI unit. Makes your life much easier.

Remind me to ask Russ how many ducks he would take for their 150gpd 6 stage, Allan.


- Ben -

[lildingy]

I know a great joke bout a bunch of ducks, a genie, and a 10" pianist.

[allan]

Do you really think I asked for a 10" pianist???

I haven't heard that one in 30 years.

[Scutterborn]

Do you really think I asked for a 10" pianist???

I haven't heard that one in 30 years.

Lmbo!!


- Ben -

[lildingy]

Got a smaller yellow tang couple days ago, and wow he is doing a number on the algae on the tank walls. His color is amazing.

Ben, think you will still be able to bring those corals down from Allen? I would be happy to rembarise ya fer any cost via beer, cash, prefered method :)

[Scutterborn]

No need for reimbursement, buddy. I'm headed down with the fam on Wednesday. Staying in Port A. It'll be crazy with the kiddos running around and what not. Will you be able to meet in Port A?


- Ben -

[lildingy]

For sure I work on the island,as well as the wify. My # is 361-438-0470 feel free to call any time.

Thank you, Clay

[allan]

Y'all should meet at the Crazy Cajun. :-)

[lildingy]

They my think I doin some strange dealins :)

[Scutterborn]

My neighbors are already used to seeing little baggies coming and going!!


- Ben -

[Scutterborn]

Also the bill millers bean cup from time to time!


- Ben -

[lildingy]

So awesome had my little whisker coral eat a marine flake that i squirted on him a sec ago!!! sorry its the little things that get me all excited in this :) Now that is out what the hell am i supposed to feed him hehe. also strange i took it on a huntch to move my leather up in the tank, it is looking so much better I think he may like a little more light then i thought.

[lildingy]

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[lildingy]

do yall think i should add some more rock in preparation for the sps that will be coming on wed? I guess my question is do you think that they will get enough light at the top of my scaping?

15767
I am getting a little nervous as i have never kept any sps and their reputation is that they are difficult. It will be fine putting dead live rock in without letting it cycle in the fuge?

[Scutterborn]

If you put "dead live rock" anywhere in the same system, it will still cause an ammonia spike. The amount will depend on how clean the rock is. If there is a lot of decaying matter it will be a bigger spike. I'd cure it in a separate tub of salt water with a powerhead. When the ammonia goes down, then add it to the system.


- Ben -

[Scutterborn]

Oh, yeah. SPS are dependent on high light requirements and really clean water. Critical parameters.


- Ben -

[lildingy]

well i guess i am kinda in a catch 22 situation then, i think i may clean as best i can some more rock and add it now, i would hate to weaken them with low light and then add a bunch of rock and make it worse. hell i dunno i guess i'll start em cleaning if nothing else.

[lildingy]

what would be the best way to clean the rock? dishwasher? just scrubb it down?

[Scutterborn]

If you don't have a pressure washer, then a scrub brush. With clean water. No chemicals.


- Ben -

[lildingy]

well tested again and got no ammonia no natrites, but 20ppm nitrates which may be part of my algae problem so i did bout a 10% water change and ticked off my lil whisker. think i gonna go ahead ad add some more rock tonight since he already mad :)

[lildingy]

I just wanted to thank alan and ben for all your guys help getting me all my new lil critters down here. Everything is in and just about everyting has opened up nicly. Ill try to get some pictures up soon.

[allan]

Hey Clay,

That purple tip valida started to grow onto my frag rack... so I may have a frag of the good stuff now. :)

Oh, and no problem.

[lildingy]

My leather likes to be fondled, sounds strange, but when ever t touch or move him he puffs all up real pretty. Anyone know of any clowns that tend to house learhers, I think it may make him real happy.

[allan]

Dude,

Get a starry blenny. He won't "host" it, but I found mine loved to sleep on my devils hand... Do you have polyp extension?

[lildingy]

No polyp extension as of yet, at least I havnt seen any fingers type of things :( the acro I got was out in full glory not 10 minutes after I moved him in last night :)

[allan]

I was looking for a picture of the hand leather with its polyps extended... couldn't find one. But they are white, almost looks like snow on top of the leater. When you touch it, is it all slimey, like is it coming off when you touch it? I've got mine under almost direct flow to keep its surface free of the jelly that forms on it.

As I wrote that I started thinking, you know my blenny would cop a squat on the leather hand, but the toadstool is where it would hide and sleep amongst the polyps.

[Scutterborn]

No pics, no fun!!

I'm really glad they did well. I'm always worried about transporting them that long a period.


-Ben-

[lildingy]

1579915800158011580215803

Wish i had a better camera but here are a few pics, it is amazing how much more it feels alive

[Scutterborn]

Very nice!


-Ben-

[allan]

Clay, that frag in the first pic was my favorite. You're a reefer now, bro. :)

[lildingy]

scared lil reefer

[lildingy]

Ok I freaked out a little, my baby hippo was still is freakin out on the acro, wont get out even tho he has, just flashin all over it. Help please15805

[Scutterborn]

Is he chillin in it? Whats he doing exactly?


- Ben -

[lildingy]

He was flashing it alot last night, he is still there this morning. Rubbing all over it real fast. I guuess i'll see if he comes out ttonight for food.

[allan]

I think he's just using it as shelter. My chromis and other little fish tend to hide in my branchy acro.

[lildingy]

I hope so maybe I am a little bit paranoid :)

[lildingy]

well lost my little fire fish today, afraid i might have beat him to death when i installed a powerhead yesterday it blew up everything in my tank :( . I thinking i might need to move all my hermits to the sump, as they keep knockin over all my frags. Live and learn, i think i still may need another powerhead in there, tho the tank is looking as clean as it ever has :)

[allan]

I like the little crabs although they do get bigger. You're glueing down your frags, right?

[lildingy]

oops didnt really know how or that i was supposed to, should i cut them off of the plugs?

[Zack]

Frag plugs have a cylinder of that material, I like the hit that with a hammer to make the circular disk as short as possible vertically, than put some GEL super glue on the bottom of the frag plug, then dip it in the water for a few seconds to haze the glue, then put another layer of glue, and then put this where you want it. Push it into the rock, and twist slightly.

[lildingy]

How tolerant are the branchy corals to nitrates, mine doesn't seem to be bleaching or anything but the glowing color is not quite what it seemed to be last week. The test showed 20 ppm nitrates so a water change is in order and will be done today. Also does regular lighting schedule have alot to do with it also?

[lildingy]

Monicas new venture, 2gal live rock and sand from lfs, water from our tank. Hoping cycle wont take too long.
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[allan]

I like my coral on a very regular schedule. I can't tell with the sps, but the softies and lps seem to anticipate night when the schedule is normal.

Good thing that it looks like Monica has the bug. She'll be more tolerant of your expenses. :D

[lildingy]

new pictures :) no noticable growth but i couldn't help myself

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[lildingy]

think this may be 2 blue for the 2 gal ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20W-Super-Actinic-Blue-Over-Heat-Protection-LED-Floodlight-Aquarium-/270865803345?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f10dc2851#ht_6208wt_905

[reefreak]

could possibly add a small white led to the sides...

[lildingy]

they also have a 16k? scared cause it is not dimmable tho

[reefreak]

if they had a 12k that would be good.

[Zack]

think this may be 2 blue for the 2 gal ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20W-Super-Actinic-Blue-Over-Heat-Protection-LED-Floodlight-Aquarium-/270865803345?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f10dc2851#ht_6208wt_905

For that much you could do a 5 led fixture with a bit of soldering. 1 5w neutral white, 2x 3w royal blue, 2x 3w blue

[lildingy]

I am really leaning to the mulitchip either 2x 20w or 2x10w for keeping it small. I may need to buy a dimable driver but I think I am gonna start with a cheeper non dimmable one. Mabe a 10k and a hybrid royal blue. Any thouggts, I think I will make the order this afternoon

[lildingy]

I think that 40w of led in 2 galons may cook everything, I guess i'll start with 1 10 watt 10k and a 10 watt royal blue hybrid. Wish me luck hehe, ill try to take some pic when they get here

[lildingy]

16035 16036 16037
Ordered my leds for the pico, 10w 10k and a 10w royal blue. I'll post some pictures and cost when they come in. Its gonna be a test bed for the big tank.

[lildingy]

Whoo hoo, my wisker is growing a new head!!! first thing i think i have seed that really grown so far!! yea me :)

[Scutterborn]

No pics, no fun, bro!


-Ben-

[lildingy]

16488
Sorry for the bad photos i got junk fer cameras

[lildingy]

Yall think it would be a bad idea to put my 2 10watt leds in my MH pendent? they both have heatsinks with small fans, but i am not sure they would stay cool enough even tho i think they are rated for like 190 degrees or somthing of the like?