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View Full Version : 24 Gallon Aquapod Set-up


JRE83
05/25/2007, 02:58 PM
OK so here it goes. I have set-up a 24 Gallon Aquapod. Right now I am currently in the Army and am stationed over seas so I cant really take care of it at all, so it is up to my wife to do all that. So here are some pics.
New Tank
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927amber2_507.jpg
Tank after about 5 pounds Tonga Branch and a Little Bit of Rubble
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_023.jpg
Close up of my little peice of Tonga Branch
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_024.jpg

Its been about 2 weeks now since I put the rock into the tank so it has some growth on it. I am a newbie so dont really know any names of whats on it.

My wife put a Hermit of some kind and Some sort of snail in from LFS really I dont know what they are but I do have some pics of them will post later to get an ID from you guys if I can. I will be buying more of a CUC in next week or so to help in keeping my algae outbreak down.

Alright well there is the jist of it. I will post more pics later. Thanks for comments.

Musho3210
05/25/2007, 03:08 PM
you may want to get rid of those sponge prefilters, you dont want those to become nitrate factories, more live rock would be awsome

JRE83
05/25/2007, 03:14 PM
yeah sponge filters are gone and will put more rock in about a month or so. When I get back from overseas that is. Only used the sponges to get the crap from sand out of water and clear it up.

Zann
05/25/2007, 05:21 PM
i got the same 24 gal ap but i got it with the 150w mh

heres a pic
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z211/d_doug5/fishtank2.jpg

PaPa_Johnny
05/25/2007, 06:01 PM
Nice start, I guess I can quit lurking and start posting again. I'll get down there and take a look at the tank and see what's going on. I'll try to get the skimmer tuned up so it will help.

Pop.

JRE83
05/25/2007, 06:19 PM
I understand need to add more rock got that. Will get on it soon, but here is a one week update. I have a little algae problem, well not really little getting worse by the hour really. Any tips other than good CUC.
Tank's Left Side 2 weeks into it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Left_Side_2_weeks.jpg
Tanks Right Side 2 weeks into it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Right_Side_2_weeks.jpg
Tank Center 2 weeks into it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Center_2_weeks.jpg
I know I got a pretty bad algae outbreak but I bet it will be ok for now. Better than not having tank at all. :rolleyes:

Zann
05/25/2007, 06:23 PM
the brown algae is a problem for me also in my other tank but it is common in new tanks
get a clean up crew they will do wonders

are you useing ro di water

JRE83
05/25/2007, 06:23 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10015860#post10015860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zann
i got the same 24 gal ap but i got it with the 150w mh

heres a pic
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z211/d_doug5/fishtank2.jpg

Nice Tank! I would have to say so myself. I am going to upgrade to the MH one day but for right now what I got is what I got. Do you have a thread started? If so I will follow it. If not need to get one up so I can follow it.;)

Zann
05/25/2007, 06:28 PM
yeah im going to start a thread next week
i going to do a differant filtration system
just going to use tri base peletized carbon and right now bacteria

this stuff is suposed to remove all ammonia and nitrites and nitrates
from the water and also eats protien in the water
so i will not be useing a skimmer at all
i have the stuff coming tue
so by wed my water should be at 0 on all levels we will see

i also upgraded the pump to a 1200 and put a hydor on it
i added a magum 350 to it also thats for the carbon when i get it

JRE83
05/25/2007, 06:28 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10016187#post10016187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zann
the brown algae is a problem for me also in my other tank but it is common in new tanks
get a clean up crew they will do wonders

are you useing ro di water

Yeah Ro/DI water would help lots but no I am not and my dad has nice RO/DI filter in his house right up road from me but not hooked up. We are both too lazy to do. Getting bigger clean-up crew next week. Got a little Hermit and snail in it but they just arent the terminators I was hoping.

Zann
05/25/2007, 06:31 PM
Yeah Ro/DI water would help lots but no I am not and my dad has nice RO/DI filter in his house right up road from me but not hooked up. We are both too lazy to do. Getting bigger clean-up crew next week. Got a little Hermit and snail in it but they just arent the terminators I was hoping.

yeah you can go to one of the foster sites for fish and stuff they have a build your own clean up crew get 60 dollars or more and the shipping is free you cant beat it

JRE83
05/25/2007, 06:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10016244#post10016244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zann
yeah you can go to one of the foster sites for fish and stuff they have a build your own clean up crew get 60 dollars or more and the shipping is free you cant beat it

and they say great minds think alike. etropicals is exactly where i am getting from

Zann
05/25/2007, 07:05 PM
yeah it got to go there and get me some more crabs and stuff

JRE83
06/07/2007, 12:16 AM
So here are some updates.

My wife went and picked up two peices of 3# fiji LR from a LFS and one had a cave built in(you will see in the pics) well when she got it home and went to give it a quick rinse out pops a little Lawnmower Blenny. She wantred to hurry up and put a fish in there so guess she got her first.

Then we ordered a Build Your Own CUC from etropicals because of the amazing price 60 dollars shipped for 3-Red Footed Conchs 5-Nassarius Snails 4 Electric Blue Hermits 1-Peppermint Shrimp 1-Emerald Crab and 1-Brittle Sea Star.

Well I was debating the entire time on whether or not to put get the Sea Star but i needed 4 more dollars for the build your own package and I knew my step-son would get a kick out of it so I bought it. Well the poor little guy got messed up during shipping(looked like he tried to go through meat grinder) so we called Drs Foster and Smith and they were awesome, for the 4 dollar Sea Star we ended up gettin 39 dollars. I know right, I was hoping for compensation but not that much. Their costumer service and garauntee was absolutely out of this world and I highly recommend them to anyone.

Anyways here are some pics.
This is the rock with the cave in it.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927rock_with_cave.jpg
Lawnmower Blenny in cave(hard to see blends in very well)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927blenny_in_cave.jpg
FTS
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927tank_with_7_5_pounds_added_and_blenny.jpg

I will post pics of the CUC later not really much to see. They are all tiny.

JRE83
06/07/2007, 03:24 AM
Here are a few pics of the crew.
3-Red Footed Conch
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_131.jpg
4 of the 5 Nassarius Snails looks like they are riding marry go round.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_130.jpg
The Loner Nassarius chillin on a rock
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_133.jpg
Peppermint Shrimp
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_126.jpg
Cant really get a good Pic of the emerald crab he is too teeny.
It is my little slice of paradise:D

pbukow
06/07/2007, 03:32 AM
You might have overloaded your tank a little fast and combined with the regular tap water your using you're asking for an algae bloom. I would definately suggest getting some turbo snails, keeping your lights off, setting up that RO filter, and praying. In a tank that size it can quickly get out of hand. Just a heads up and my own two sense

JRE83
06/07/2007, 07:45 AM
Not real sure how it was over stocked too fast. I that too much of a CUC to put in all at once. Everything has been put in atleast 2 weeks apart. I had a real bad algae outbreak before I got the Crew that is why I added it.

Lytehouse
06/07/2007, 08:20 AM
Riding along....

Sounds like you know this, algae breakouts are common with new tanks while the cycle and start the bacterial growth needed to handle the nitrogen cycle. I think you'll be ok.

pbukow's idea of turbo's is a good one. The Nassarius are great for keeping the top layer of sand turned over and the crabs will work over the rock. The turbo's will work over your glass and rock scarfing down a lot of the stuff to avoid the algae.

Good luck with the tank and get home!

pbukow
06/07/2007, 11:11 AM
I don't mean to be that guy that says your doin somethin wrong or you don't know what you're doin, you can't type tones of voice unfortunately. I am just battling an outbreak in my tank and one of the reasons is bcuz i added too many fish while my tank is still so young, even though they were put in there weeks apart from each other. I just don't want anyone to go through what i am if it can be prevented is all. Good Luck with your aqua pod :)

JRE83
06/07/2007, 11:44 AM
Oh, No in no shape or form was I implying you were that guy. I was just wondering how I overloaded it. I am new at this. I wouldnt have added the Blenny at all but my wife wanted to keep it and well anyone married knows when the other one wants something they get it. I do it to her all the time i.e. the nano tank.

Anyways thanks for the comments. I will be back from overseas next month so I will be hooking up the RO/DI unti then and we will then begin to change the water. Thanks alot.

I got electric blue hermits too but they are on backorder so they will be here one day.

JRE83
06/08/2007, 08:07 AM
Here is a pic of the blenny sittin on rock and the shrimp with a mouth full of food. You cant really see the shrimp but he is on the other end of the peice of flake food.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_136.jpg
Here is a pic of the tiny emerald crab.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/154927Saltwater_tank_140.jpg