View Full Version : EvMiBo's 55g Build
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 02:47 AM
After 8 months of waiting, saving money and then spending it... I now have saltwater in my tank :smokin:. This is my first saltwater tank, and in the preparation not everything went quite as planned but it has come together.
I mixed in the salt under 12 hours ago, so I feel I'll be able to give my first params sometime tomorrow. Until then I'll share with you the hardware and pictures. :)
Tank: 55g AGA w/ Mega Overflow (back of it and durso/overflow pluming painted black).
Sump: 30g Long w/ baffles siliconed in.
Protein Skimmer: Vertex IN100.
Lighting: 4x54w TEK T5 fixture from www.reefgeek.com (not pictured yet).
Return Pump: OceanRunner 2500
Powerhead(s): 2 x Koralia 2.
Heater: Eheim Ebo-Jager 150w.
ATO: Aquahub.com DIY ATO.
Sand: 90 lbs total of Sugar Sized Carib Sea Aragamax (5-10 lbs. in refugium).
Rock: 50 lbs of ECO-ROX from www.bulkreefsupply.com (plan on getting 10-20 lbs more of fist size for refugium and display).
Test Kits: Seachem Marine Basic.
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head right now. Heres a few pictures. It was a good day, filled the tank up and watched the super bowl with some friends :smokin:.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/DSCN0250.jpg
^Before water went it. After a few different aquascapes I decided that this one was my favorite.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day002.jpg
^With saltwater.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day005.jpg
^A little closer on the rock from bulkreefsupply.com
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day008.jpg
^Left viewing side...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day006.jpg
^And the right.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day004.jpg
^The return and refugium sections of my sump (no chaeto in there, yet)...
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 02:55 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day003.jpg
^And the Protein Skimmer section (Vertex IN100).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day010.jpg
^Overflow plumbing "Murdered out" with the flat black (any Rob & Big fans?). :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1st_Day009.jpg
^The aftermath, I still have some cleaning to do...
I'm hoping to get the setup very soon even though I won't be turning them on when the cycle is going. I need to go get some more water tomorrow to setup the ATO. My refractometer is saying 1.030 but it hasn't been calibrated by me yet (bought used, I feel like shipping could affect it though). I'm making a purchase from drfostersmith.com on a few things, the 53.0 mS Calibration Fluid (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18717) being one; I have a $5 off coupon so its a must ;).
I just realized how small the pictures are, from now on I'll bring them up a notch.
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 03:18 AM
A few plans are:
-RKL controller.
-Some more, smaller rocks.
-Some other stuff I'm forgetting..
jeffnsa
02/02/2009, 06:35 AM
everything is looking good. remember to take it easy and be patient when adding livestock.
Michael
02/02/2009, 06:42 AM
nice photos evan, any chance of a fts with lights on?
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 11:46 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14298798#post14298798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael
nice photos evan, any chance of a fts with lights on?
Thanks Michael, I plan on setting up the lights today. I'll pop some photos too :) .
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 01:24 PM
Did a few tests: (Seachem)
pH: 8.0 - 8.1
Ammonia: Couldn't detect any.
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 2
Alkalinity: 3
I still need to really jump start a cycle since I have all dry sand and rock. I'm going to go get a raw cocktail shrimp, toss him in an open plastic bag and put it in the tank. Any comments from anyone?
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 03:40 PM
TEK 4x54w
---front---
ATI Blue +
ATI AquaBlue
UVL AquaSun
ATI Blue +
The tank is still a little bit "foggy."
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/ee09707e.jpg
^ All lights on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/27ed1486.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/89faa193.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/fa15def4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/74844f18.jpg
^Actinics.
GatorEngineer
02/02/2009, 09:59 PM
lights make me jealous.
EvMiBo
02/02/2009, 10:01 PM
edges man, edges, just like the matrix :lol:
EvMiBo
02/04/2009, 12:49 AM
Even though it's early Wednesday, I did some tests Tuesday afternoon. Monday night I added a shrimp in a plastic bag to kick off a cycle. I'm pretty sure my skimmer has broken in completely, you can find a video of it here (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14314185#post14314185) in the vertex skimmer club
Parameters from Tuesday:
pH: 8.2
NH3: .1-.2
NO2: 1
NO3: 3
ALK: 3
EvMiBo
02/06/2009, 12:49 AM
Heres another if anyone is interested. Things have really cleared up in the tank.
sorry if the glass isn't completely clean. :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/213025a9.jpg
readings are still about the same as before except a little higher ammonia. I took out the shrimp this morning, do you think that was alright or should I have kept him in longer?
Rjukan
02/06/2009, 11:17 AM
Hey Evan, looks really good man. I like the aquascape, are the bottom rocks making contact with the glass, or they just on the sand? If they just on the sand you might want to set them on the glass, otherwise your more likely to have rocks shifting down the road.
You definitely made a good choice with the lighting, that last pic of the clear tank looks great! Is that 30g sump 36"? It's hard to tell from the pic. Also the murdered out piping, what kind of paint did you use?
It's going to be fun to watch you stock your tank, def take your time and enjoy the process!
EvMiBo
02/06/2009, 11:33 AM
Thanks Rjukan :)
The rocks are not actually touching the glass though they are very close. Everything seems to be very stable so far and hasn;t moved as far as I know. When I put them in there before the water I sort of dug them into the sand, I really feel that they're stable enough to not move, but only time will tell. Here's 2 pictures I shot last night when I took the latest picture (gives you a better idea from a side view).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/0520e32c.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/ab2965a6.jpg
Thanks on the lighting compliment, I'm actually keeping them off most of the day and only turning them on when I want to look around for a while and/or take pictures; since they're not needed during the cycle. Yup, the 30g is a 30g Long (36x12.75x17), a great size tank to baffle up :). For the PVC piping I used Krylon Interior-Exterior ULTRA FLAT spray paint. Here's a picture for you, it dries really fast and looks great IMO.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/779030c4.jpg
Thanks again!:D
Rjukan
02/06/2009, 11:55 AM
Nice! The only reason I said something about the rocks is that certain fish and other live stock like to dig under the rocks which can cause all sorts of problems lol. I just wouldn't want a top rock to fall off when a bottom rock sinks a bit.
Yeah the dims on that 30g are sweet, that was the tank I started with which is now my QT. Perfect for a sump on a 55gal.
Once that paint cures it's fine to be in the water right? I wouldn't have thought of doing that, I do like the look though.
Michael
02/06/2009, 12:37 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14330034#post14330034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
Heres another if anyone is interested. Things have really cleared up in the tank.
sorry if the glass isn't completely clean. :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/213025a9.jpg
readings are still about the same as before except a little higher ammonia. I took out the shrimp this morning, do you think that was alright or should I have kept him in longer?
wow, thats better, looks great, very clean as a new tank should be, good luck keeping it that way, plenty of clean water and keep the glass clean, i wipe my glass every day with a small sponge, even if algae isnt evident, keep up the good work:)
ecoreefer
02/06/2009, 12:59 PM
Evan -looking good man! Love the rockwork! That's not an easy feat on a 55. I know I must have played with my rockwork for about 4 hours when I set up my 55 a few years back. The depth makes it tricky, but you hooked it up! I'll definitely be tagging along for the ride.
EvMiBo
02/06/2009, 01:04 PM
Thanks for the compliments guys. The 55g is tricky to aquascape. The current aquascape you guys see was a last second change (I think for the better). I plan on getting 10-15 lbs of LR hopefully sooner than later to fill in a few spaces, accommodate the fuge, and seed the tank in general. I'll keep you guys update :D.
EvMiBo
02/06/2009, 01:44 PM
Alright well just took some tests. They haven't been much different over the course of the cycle. My ammonia seems to be rising still, but not by much. I'm using seachem tests, theyre the first and only tests I've ever used. It's pretty simple, but hard to give an exact amount (I've just been eyeing the color measures and the colors of the liquids.
heres my tests from today:
pH = 8.1
NH3 = 0.5
NO2 = .5
NO3 = 2
ALK = 2.5
SG = 1.023
Temp in display = 81
And here's another picture I just popped... Looks like some type of hair algae like growth. Any ideas? They're pretty small white/clearish hairs. Interesting to see at only 5 days.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/7f7b7cbc.jpg
EvMiBo
02/08/2009, 01:13 PM
No ideas from anyone?
EvMiBo
02/10/2009, 01:32 PM
Disclaimer* I know its too early to be putting livestock in the tank but this was given to me for free a few days ago at a monthly local meeting. The friend that gave it to me said he knows my tank is young/cycling, but he wanted to give me something since it was my first meeting, if it dies than oh well it dies.
So far it looks really healthy to me. (crossing fingers a bit tho lol). Was labeled as a Red Sea Xenia.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/9b3d44a6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/ba4d8df2.jpg
EvMiBo
02/17/2009, 01:22 AM
It's been about a week since the last update. The xenia is still trucking and seems to be pretty happy. I did a waterchange about ~6 hours ago (10%) since my ammonia amount was barely noticeable yesterday. I just finished testing and the ammonia is all gone (I figured the waterchange would help that out). Nitrites and nitrates were also not noticeable. I noticed that my pH got a little lower (from the 8.2 - 8.3 range to 8.0). For the past 4-5 days the tank has been getting a lot of nasty brown gunk in it. I started a separate thread on it and it seems that nearly everyone thinks it looks like a diatom breakout. Here's what it looked like in the first few days; it's a bit more thicker now and has really taken onto the rocks as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1ab0b17d.jpg
I would really like to get some snails in there by the weekend if possible, even though I'm absolutely broke after valentine's day weekend ;).
Here are the readings from tonight's test:
Temp: 80
pH: 8.0
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
Temp: 80
Sg: 1.025
Alk: 3.0
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 06:33 AM
Hey evan, yeah man don't worry about the algae for a while. It's going to get worse before it gets better lol. It's just how it is, after the brown algae you should get a covering of bright green. That will eventually fade away and soon after coraline will start to grow. At that point your tank should be past the algae stage and you can start adding some livestock.
EvMiBo
02/17/2009, 10:52 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14413835#post14413835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rjukan
Hey evan, yeah man don't worry about the algae for a while. It's going to get worse before it gets better lol. It's just how it is, after the brown algae you should get a covering of bright green. That will eventually fade away and soon after coraline will start to grow. At that point your tank should be past the algae stage and you can start adding some livestock.
Do you think it's ok to get a starter CUC in there sometime later this week?
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 11:32 AM
Probably fine, but I would wait as long as you can.
CoRPS
02/17/2009, 11:53 AM
If your parameters are pretty low then get your clean up crew. Trochus snails, nassarius snails, cerith snails, maybe some astreas, maybe a conch or two. Don't get any hermit crabs, you will slowly but surely begin to HATE them. I've got one left and I don't have the heart to throw him across the street like I want to.
As for your rockwork, it looks great. There is just ONE problem:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/0520e32c.jpg
Trust me when I say that you don't want such a small gap between your glass and rock. It becomes a real hassle to clean. I did the same thing and had 3 spots in my 55g that I had a hard time cleaning. I finally broke down and reaquascaped so that I had enough room to clean the glass. If I was you, I'd do it before you get much more corals.
My 55g, it's about 6 months old now:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk62/CoRPSx/DSCF0249.jpg
EvMiBo
02/17/2009, 12:40 PM
I hear ya. I'm going to wait at least until the weekend, keep monitoring params and make sure they're staying at zero. I would also like to do another water change (10%) on Sunday or Monday.
Do you think it's was ok that my pH went from 8.2-8.3 to 8.0 after the waterchange? I don't see it being a big problem or anything, just checking to see what you all think.
EDIT:
corps- thanks for the advice. I have a scrapper and a magfloat. The magfloat doesn't fit in the small spots (scrapper gets it though), I have been thinking about making it easier to clean (moving rock away).. I may try switching a few things around this weekend when I can really mess with it.
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 12:58 PM
I wouldn't be concerned with the ph dropping a couple points at your stage of the game. Just keep an eye on it and try to get it stable for a few days before you add the cuc. It dropped right after the water change? Did you check the ph of the new water before adding to the tank? Oh what salt are you using?
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 01:02 PM
Oh btw, I am in full agreement with corps about the rocks. I did the same thing and now all my rock is as far from the front glass as possible. I know it's tough with the 55 because you don't have much room front to back.
EvMiBo
02/17/2009, 04:17 PM
I did not test the pH of the water before putting it in, that will be a good idea for the future though. I'm using reef crystals. I let the saltwater mix overnight in a 5g bucket. Also, I just got home from classes and decided to test the water, my pH is back at 8.2 where it was hanging out before.
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 05:18 PM
Ahh, maybe its a night thing then. Ive heard of the ph dropping off at night, do you have the fuge light on when the DT light goes out?
EvMiBo
02/17/2009, 05:38 PM
Well, lol I actually test at night usually so I really don't think its that. Maybe just because I had the lid mostly on the 5g bucket when the water was mixing?? I keep the fuge light on when the display lights are off and vice versa so pH won't swing as much.
Rjukan
02/17/2009, 06:28 PM
I dont think the light on or off the mixing bucket would have any effect. Might just have been a bad reading?
Im not going to clutter your thread up with more silly musings lol, Im sure things are fine for now. I'll chime in again when I have some definitive info or I can help in some way.
GatorEngineer
02/18/2009, 11:04 PM
just had a bad algae breakout too man, your looks better than mine.
EvMiBo
02/20/2009, 10:39 AM
I redid my rocks a few days ago. It looks similar but now better IMO. It is cleanable on all front and side glass surfaces too which I'm really happy about; no more sticking my hand in there with a scraper for the close spots. My ammonia, nitrites and nitrates have still been reading 0 so last night I went and picked up 3 mexican turbo snails, 10 astrea snails and a green emerald crab :). I had fun watching them for a bit last night. I currently have no pictures because my girlfriend is borrowing my camera but I'll get some up soon. And actually I don't think I've mentioned it in here, but I also found 1 nassarius snail in my refugium from the live sand I was given at a local meeting. I plopped him in the display tank and he's running around with his siphon up, lol funny to watch. I'll try to get pictures up today!
CoRPS
02/20/2009, 11:44 AM
Can't wait to see a picture of the new aquascape.
Here's a before and after when I changed mine. I too like the new setup much much more.
Before:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/58528tank10.jpg
After:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk62/CoRPSx/DSCF0249.jpg
The first picture was taken at like week 2ish
EvMiBo
02/22/2009, 04:41 PM
Hey guys. Got some pictures of the tank today. I added snails on Thursday night (3 turbos, 10 astrea) and they have really cleaned up the tank already.. So much so I hope theres still enough in there for them all. My turbos (you can kind of see it in the pictures) have cleaned off the powerheads, pretty crazy! I also have little white bug looking guys (too small to get a good picture of) all over the glass. I believe they're copepods, but not sure. Here are some pictures, readings have been fine :).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/00b1a242.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/354c967a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/0f73148b.jpg
snails
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/55e6f3b0.jpg
emerald crab named heine
:p
EvMiBo
02/22/2009, 05:11 PM
Forgot, here's the FTS to give you an idea of the aquascape.
Before:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/213025a9.jpg
After:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/90ab81a0.jpg
I still want to get a piece of really established live rock for one or two spots in there. But overall I like it much more. Its kind of hard to see but there is a little cavern-like spot right in the middle, can't wait to have fish in there.. I may just wait until after spring break to get fish though, because I'm going to be gone and having a friend watch the tank and I'd just be worrying a lot probably :lol:.
EvMiBo
02/23/2009, 10:18 AM
The snails even cleaned the wire from the powerheads thats submerged, crazy! Everything is looking good still.. Hope the snails have enough to munch on, the rock looks really clean.
Rjukan
02/24/2009, 05:52 PM
Hey man, things are looking really nice there. That small change in the rockwork really makes a difference, and the cave in the center will def become some fish's home Im sure lol.
I would wait till getting back from break before buying a fish if I were you. You dont want to waste any energy thinking about it while your supposed to be out doing all those things in the MTV spring break shows ;)
Whats your current light cycle? Odds are your producing enough algae for them, unless your running a shortened light cycle still.
EvMiBo
02/24/2009, 11:21 PM
Yeah no doubt going to wait to get a fish until after break. I'm broke as it is so the tank will probably be the same until after break (3 weeks or so) when I have more money. I really want to get a brain in there, something like a favites, not a huge fan of the open brains.
The current lighting cycle (just got timers a few days ago so it's more permanent): Actinics on at 1:00pm, Daylights on at 2:00pm - Daylights off at 10:00pm, Actinics off at 11:00pm. The fuge light is on whenever the actinics are off (11:00pm to 1:00pm).
BTW- I haven't cleaned my glass in about 3 days because there must be THOUSANDS of copepods. They have two whiskers in front, and one, maybe two spike looking things in the back. Unfortunately they're too small to get pictures.. They're all over the rocks and the largest ones are in the fuge where they were originally seeded from through chaeto and the live sand I was given. I've noticed a few different looking ones that seem to be star-shaped but who knows.
Zestay
02/25/2009, 02:20 AM
nice for a 55. they are a hard tank to work with. and remember, just because you have a 4ft long tank. doesnt mean you can add a tang =)
IridescentLily
02/25/2009, 04:27 AM
That's a lovely tank there.
rbtwo4
02/25/2009, 10:15 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14302255#post14302255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
TEK 4x54w
---front---
ATI Blue +
ATI AquaBlue
UVL AquaSun
ATI Blue +
The tank is still a little bit "foggy."
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/ee09707e.jpg
^ All lights on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/27ed1486.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/89faa193.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/fa15def4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/74844f18.jpg
^Actinics.
Question...any reason why u picked this bulb selection?
EvMiBo
02/25/2009, 11:56 AM
Question...any reason why u picked this bulb selection?
This is my first experience with any lighting on an aquarium besides having a little 10g freshwater when I was younger with pc's :lol:.. I really had no clue about bulb combinations so I read for a while about the differences between t5 and MH. I came to my own conclusion that T5's are right up there neck to neck with MH's when it comes to par values (30"+ height you might want to think about MH though). I also liked that they're a little bit more energy efficient and cooler running. I knew that I wanted to have a mixed reef: SPS, LPS some softies etc. I ended up asking "the grim reefer" (RC member) what bulb selection would look nice for that type of aquarium and that I'd be getting the 4x54w TEK fixture. And what you see is what his response was. I'm sure it's still around but there's a huge thread in the lighting, equipment, etc forum where a lot of people ask tgr or other "T5 experts" those types of questions.
Thanks, Evan
rbtwo4
02/25/2009, 12:11 PM
Its a nice tank I was just curious cus I have to buy some new bulbs for my t5 fixture & I like the way yours looks. But curious to know if its good for like u said mixed growth
EvMiBo
02/25/2009, 12:15 PM
I'd say definitely use ATI blue+ for your actinics. I love them and really can't speak of any other lighting experience but I've seen them on a lot of other sweet t5 setups. As far as the middle goes you can probably mix it up if you want but I really like the color I'm getting from this.. Shoot the grim reefer a PM if you'd like, he knows all when it comes to t5 :lol:.
EDIT: here are some pictures of the new timer, etc I got. I setup my fan to turn on and off with actinics, daylights are on their own timer an hour after and hour before the actinics, and the fuge light is timed to be on whenever actinics are off. Also.. Here's a fairly good (one of the best I could get on macro setting) of what I think are copepods.. Like I said before they seem to have two whiskers in front 180 degrees from one another and 1, maybe 2 whisker-like things in the back pointing directly behind it.. Some also have pouches on their butts, pregnant?? Anyways, there must be thousands of them..
believe it or not this is organized. :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/b4d1f2c6.jpg
actinics just turned on a little bit ago, checkout the fan.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/32fb7159.jpg
fixture and fan.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/f9c48106.jpg
copepods?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/a5141fa2.jpg
Thanks for looking.
CoRPS
02/25/2009, 12:48 PM
Dude, get those outlets away from your tank! All it will take is one "oops" and everything will get fried.
asmujica
02/25/2009, 01:30 PM
Do you have a GFCI installed?
EvMiBo
02/25/2009, 02:33 PM
GFCI is installed but I really can't put the outlets much further away from the tank. I know it isn't ideal but my options are really limited since the tank is in my room. Suggestions?
GatorEngineer
02/25/2009, 06:07 PM
that electrical setup looks pretty treacherous but i don't know of a better solution for you right now.
perhaps we could set up something on the opposite side of the tank on the wall? but the tank looks good.
and hey, i got a small duncan plug today, looks sick. you should stop by sometime this week.
reiko1078
02/25/2009, 08:36 PM
tank looks good. that light is sexy looking. i should stop by sometime a peek it.
EvMiBo
02/27/2009, 02:26 PM
What do you guys think? Cyano? Should I try scooping some of it out?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/0d8cc8fa.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/25033628.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/789a1000.jpg
Just realized my cameras exposure was a little lower than I would have liked it to be, but you guys get the idea I hope.
jdrabek
02/27/2009, 04:18 PM
Tagging along since I have a 55 also.
Looks like it could be cyano, but hard to tell with the light.
How do you like the Korilia 2's that you are using? I found that with the amount of rock I added that I did not get good flow until I added 3 Korilia 4's and I still have 2 Korilia 1's in the tank. I hope to be switching out to a vortech MP40.
I was getting cyano mostly on the ends of the tank.
EvMiBo
02/27/2009, 04:44 PM
Yeah, what I think is cyano is in the two front corners. I don't mind the K2's but really only have a xenia in there coral wise so it's hard to judge if I'll be keeping them or not. SPS will be the determinant of that most likely. So far they're fine, but I may end up switching out one for a K3, who knows, we'll see in time :).
I called the LFS today. I really want to start the tank out fish wise with 2 True Percs. They sell them for $75/pair which is slightly cheaper than liveaquaria.com (+shipping, etc). I might be able to find some locally but just decided to go through the LFS (Ocean Exotics for you Gville People). I have a pair reserved for when I get back in town from Spring Break. What do you guys think about adding a sixline wrasse at the same time? Why or why not? I'm trying not to rush as much as possible but it is tempting! Haha. Have a good weekend.
rbtwo4
02/27/2009, 05:41 PM
Six line wrasse is the devil in disguise.
EvMiBo
03/01/2009, 02:52 PM
update picture of cyano?.. its getting worse.
:rolleye1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/98852c57.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/caffe954.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/9cb8c606.jpg
CoRPS
03/01/2009, 03:12 PM
I'd guess that's cyano. It's most likely due to a cycling tank, however if you want to get rid of it it's as easy as siphoning it out and raising the flow in that area :)
jdiddy8384
03/01/2009, 05:23 PM
Looks perty good. Hows everything doin now. I like this saying. Anything that happens fast in a reef tank is usually bad!! Im still fairly new to the saltwater world but this is very true.
akopley
03/01/2009, 05:57 PM
The cyano will continue to return unless you increase your flow. To help rid it for the time being siphon as much as you can out at night. Koralia's are cheap and pretty weak pumps IMO. I have a 2 K1's in my 24 gallon nano along with a maxi 1200, and a maxi 900...you can never truly replicate the flow you find in the ocean but in all my experience the more movement the better. Also, if you plan on keeping SPS your going to need way more flow than what your currently packing.
akopley
03/01/2009, 06:00 PM
If your thinking about switching pumps, consider the vortech if you can afford it, next would be the tunze line, and lastly go with koralia. I like the look of koralia but the specs on GPH are hard to believe. Especially considering you can barely feel the flow a foot in front of the pump.
CoRPS
03/01/2009, 06:21 PM
I think the problem with the Koralia is the wide outlet. So instead of being very directional it ends up spreading everywhere. However, if you have the little add-on to the front of the koralia the flow is much more directional.
I lost that part and now I'm sad.
EvMiBo
03/01/2009, 11:54 PM
As far as flow I'm thinking about getting adding a K3 or two.. Or maybe one Tunze nanostream 6045. I'm using the clip-on front piece on one of the Koralias it does make it a bit more directional. Is there a device that measues flow/movement of water? I'm curious what these K2's are pushing...
Vortech is way out of my price range; the tunze is more reasonable but a the K3's price is still what is most attractive to me. Besides the 2 K2's feeling a bit weak I can't complain, they're quiet I haven't had any on/off problems.
CoRPS
03/02/2009, 09:07 AM
the koralias are great. I have a single k3 in my tank with no issue. Recently I added a MJ1200 but only because I had it sitting around. I may add another k3 someday.
eb8919
03/02/2009, 09:40 AM
I don't think there's a way to measure the gph, only the rating on the manufacturers box. I believe the K2 is rated at 600? I love them too and plan on using them in my 90 gallon. As far as the cyano goes, don't sweat it. Flow will help and it is also part of the joys of a cycle. My first tank was a 50 gallon and i recall having outbreaks of algae and thinking WHEN does this END. Sure enough the tank took care of itself and the true fun began. Nice thread, the tanks looking great, can't wait until its stocked. Good luck.
EvMiBo
03/02/2009, 07:19 PM
More pictures :)
you can kind of see them, they're about the diameter of a pencil lead and seem to be star-shaped.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1738b79a.jpg
green growth on the rock. This rock seems to be covered the most. Is there a relationship between this and coraline algae? I've heard it turns a light green before it turns purple sometimes.. Any ideas? --- BTW the xenia seems to be really happy - It has doubled in size.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/6e92147c.jpg
EvMiBo
03/04/2009, 06:54 PM
I took some more pictures tonight for family and thought I might as well throw a couple up on here :D
fts
Not too much going on besides that green growth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/1c70cf20.jpg
sideview
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/c9dae587.jpg
emerald crab and astrea chillin :smokin: reefin
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/4fc44103.jpg
CoRPS
03/04/2009, 10:28 PM
awww I miss a clean, new tank.
Rjukan
03/13/2009, 06:13 PM
Hey Ev, hows it going? Any updates?
EvMiBo
03/14/2009, 12:17 AM
I'm on spring break right now away from the tank (its being watched though).
Before I left I got 15lbs of liverock and some corals (couldn't wait any longer lol).. I got an orange cap coral, pearl bubble, a brain frag, torch and they gave me a piece of gsp for free (didnt plan on gsp but it was free so i couldnt say no lol). I took some pictures but won't be able to post them up until next week. I identified flatworms on the glass when I came back to my apartment for a night before leaving again (no good). I don't know if they're from the rock I got or frags.. But, when I get back I'm going to treat the tank with saliferts flatworm eXit and then run carbon after (ordering a BRS carbon/gfo reactor this weekend hopefully).
we'll see how it goes, i'm supposed to have a pair of true percs going in the tank on thursday or friday.. would like to have the flatworm situation settled before that.. gees this hobby eats the little money i make haha.
EvMiBo
03/25/2009, 06:22 PM
Well over the past 3-4 weeks I've added a number of things to the tank.
Before spring break (as mentioned before) I added about 15lbs of rock to the system which I believe added some flatworms to the tank that I've been finding lately (I bought some FWE but am going to wait a bit and see if a yellow/canary wrasse can put a dent in them). I also added the orange cap coral, pearl bubble (with 2 hitchhiker zoas, now 3), a brain frag, torch and a gsp. When I got back from break I was moving the bubble around a little bit and heard a snap, I looked up and found that I had hit a chunk of the cap coral off. I was pretty ****ed at first :lol: but then just thought of it as a new frag, epoxy'd it up and it looks pretty good. When I was home for spring break I also kayaked out around the mangroves by my house and picked up 2 floating red mangrove pods to stick in the fuge (a little experiment I have going).
I thought the tank needed a fish or two when I got back so I picked up a blue/green chromis and a chalk basslet. The chalk basslet died within 24hrs, the cause is unknown - though I believe it was sick when I got it, oh well :( it happens. I float acclimated them for ~45mins adding a cup or two of my water after 30mins. The LFS may be refunding me so we'll see. The chromis is lively and seems to have A.D.D., his colors have really started to look nicer too.
I just recently (couple of days ago) picked up a pair of true percs. They're pretty calm and like to stay together in one corner of the tank. I'm having a bit of trouble feeding them flake and frozen food, but they love live brine shrimp. Over the weekend I added a few zoa patches and a small green cap from a local frag sale/swap.. Haven't tested since the weekend but I'm still getting zeroes for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates and am doing a waterchange either every week or a little over (10%). I had the LFS test my water for calcium and it read 420 (they used an API testkit). I may get a few SPS soon (no acros until I have flatworms under control).
Enough talk, here's some pictures I just snapped a little bit ago.
FTS!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/907208e3.jpg
True Percs & GSP
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/cd82b51d.jpg
True Percs + Blue/Green Chromis
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/9ef97719.jpg
The original cap placement (broke off a piece), brain and bubble
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/fad12e99.jpg
EvMiBo
03/25/2009, 06:26 PM
Broken off piece epoxied in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/98203713.jpg
Another picture of the caps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/f948ec30.jpg
The "Xenia/Zoa" rock
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/5fe84e0e.jpg
I came back from spring break to find that the Xenia had separated itself, pretty neat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/00f7a194.jpg
EvMiBo
03/25/2009, 06:29 PM
Zoas!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/21136e8a.jpg
A little closer..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/3ee41911.jpg
A couple more
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/f91f4de0.jpg
Fuge with mangrove pods and MONSTER copepods
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/19222b99.jpg
GatorEngineer
03/25/2009, 06:43 PM
all totally lame.
i got some new zoas you should check out the new setup.
Rjukan
03/26/2009, 12:34 PM
Wow man looks really cool. I like those zoas you have a lot! Your tank is well on its way to being a show stopper.
I dont have any personal experience with them, but from what Ive heard you better watch that xenia. Before you know it that rock is going to be covered, same thing with that GSP patch. Are those def GSP? I have something similar that I thought was GSP but they dont really look like GSP lol, instead of a smooth tentacle these are more like barbed ones. Think they are considered clove polyps?
Cool mangrove experiment, definitely interested in how that turns out. Are they supposed to be fully submerged? I thought the tops of them were supposed to be out of the water.
EvMiBo
03/26/2009, 01:03 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14697203#post14697203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rjukan
Wow man looks really cool. I like those zoas you have a lot! Your tank is well on its way to being a show stopper.
I dont have any personal experience with them, but from what Ive heard you better watch that xenia. Before you know it that rock is going to be covered, same thing with that GSP patch. Are those def GSP? I have something similar that I thought was GSP but they dont really look like GSP lol, instead of a smooth tentacle these are more like barbed ones. Think they are considered clove polyps?
Cool mangrove experiment, definitely interested in how that turns out. Are they supposed to be fully submerged? I thought the tops of them were supposed to be out of the water.
Thanks Pete,
I actually traded gatorengineer part of the xenia for a few things and I'm definitely going to try and keep it in check. I too have seen different looking gsp, this one does have little hairs on the polyps, not smoothe.. But its green so I consider it gsp lol.. It has definitely grown since I got it so I'll have to keep my eye on that as well. You're right about the mangroves, someone on my local forum said the same thing (its something I should have realized) so I pulled them out last night and they're floating now.
Henryreef
03/26/2009, 02:25 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14481031#post14481031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
GFCI is installed but I really can't put the outlets much further away from the tank. I know it isn't ideal but my options are really limited since the tank is in my room. Suggestions?
I would mount a sliding shelf, like you would for a computer under your tank, so it is safe from water, yet you can slide it out for easy access .
BTW your tank is very nice :)
EvMiBo
03/31/2009, 12:48 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14697963#post14697963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Henryreef
I would mount a sliding shelf, like you would for a computer under your tank, so it is safe from water, yet you can slide it out for easy access .
BTW your tank is very nice :)
I know what you're saying but my two front doors don't go to the ceiling of the inside of the stand, making it difficult to mount such a thing.. I think I may build a housing type of thing for my wire bundle.
nickbme06
04/07/2009, 08:21 AM
Any updates? Hows algae?
Henryreef
04/07/2009, 08:35 AM
I would LOVE AN FTS(full tank shot) :)
EvMiBo
04/07/2009, 12:07 PM
Well I moved a bit too fast, I think. Got a yellow coris wrasse and the female clown didn't make it. There have been signs of ich on the clowns since I got them. I've really just been focused on getting them to eat more than treating the ich with a temporary chemical solution.. (I plan to hospital the fish when I move through hyposalinity).
Anyways, the female clown didn't make it, after adding the wrasse she was covered in ich and hiding behind rocks most of the time. The wrasse wasn't being an ***hole from what I saw, either. Anyways I now know I should have waited a little longer before adding the wrasse, lesson learned.
Here are a few pictures for everyone. Algae is no longer a problems, I messed with flow a little to get rid of cyano. Today actually I'm adding a K3 to the setup (already have two K2s).
Recent additions since the last update:
Purple Haze Encrusting Monti
Branching Montis (I cut 1 piece into two and one half wasn't happy, he's recovering now though).
The yellow coris wrasse I mentioned
edit: apologizes for the darkness of the first two pictures, my exposure was a little low there, adjusted it for the next 3 though..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/f1d22514.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/2c880b4e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/d79648e1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/ae1f8ae7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/b86224e0.jpg
EvMiBo
04/08/2009, 02:47 PM
Added a K2 yesterday instead of a K3, picked up an acro too (not sure what kind..?). It seems happy, pictures soon.
EvMiBo
04/08/2009, 03:05 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/15badccd.jpg
...cyano found a new happy spot :rolleye1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/a3c35d21.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/0e12f07a.jpg
nickbme06
04/08/2009, 03:11 PM
Go GATORS!!!
CoRPS
04/08/2009, 03:42 PM
Tank is looking good man. Any coralline growth on any of the glass yet?
EvMiBo
04/08/2009, 04:22 PM
Spring game is next weekend!
No coralline on glass that I can find, though the powerheads are starting to have little growth spots. Also, I'm finding little patches of faint purple on the rocks. Slowly but surely!
Rjukan
04/08/2009, 04:56 PM
Hey Ev, that latest FTS looks really nice! You definitely did a great job with the aquascape, I forget thats a 55g because it looks so much bigger with all that rock. The extra 15lbs really fills it out nice.
How are the mangroves doing?
Henryreef
04/08/2009, 06:23 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14787762#post14787762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rjukan
The extra 15lbs really fills it out nice.
Yeah I agree.. Nice tank :thumbsup:
EvMiBo
04/16/2009, 11:31 AM
Thanks guys :)
I got lucky with these rocks, I can't say enough how glad I am that I chose bulkreefsupply.com with them. The mangroves really haven't done too much.. Though, one is long enough to sit in the sand and have his head pop out. The other is a little shorter and fatter, I have him floating around so hopefully he'll extend some and be able to sit in the sand eventually.
I lost my male clown last friday.. He had a large ich breakout thursday but seemed to be fine, was eating and very active throughout the tank. Found him friday morning. Do you think I should get some ich treatment for the tank for a temporary treatment for the others? They look fine but feel it may be a matter of time, the ich seems to be picking one off by one.
current music: disarm, smashing pumkins.
toddc76
04/16/2009, 01:38 PM
My understanding with ich is that copper treatment is the only thing that works well and that would kill your corals and inverts. So a QT is needed and you should keep your tank fallow for at least 5 weeks.
Refer to this thread for more info on the dreaded ich.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1500214
toddc76
04/16/2009, 01:40 PM
Oh BTW, nice job with the Aquascaping, my first venture into reefing was with a 55, I did not like how shallow front to back it was so I took it down. You accomplished what I could not. /bow
EvMiBo
04/17/2009, 09:42 AM
Thanks for the kind words Todd,
I've read that ich can stay in a substrate for up to 11-12 weeks in some cases. I would like to keep the tank without fish for that long just to be sure (fish in a QT). Right now I'm trying to figure out where I'm going to be for next fall, wherever it is I'll be setting up a QT right when I move in for the fish. Thanks for the article :)
EvMiBo
05/21/2009, 02:26 PM
It's been a little while, here's a couple pictures of a few new things to the tank. Everything is pretty young but I like seeing it grow. I accidentally broke off a nice ORA frag from the plug, so I stuck it in some epoxy and for the past month it has been slowly losing color at the base where the epoxy touches. Do epoxy and acro flesh not go well with one another? The plug piece is thriving, I'm thinking about breaking off a few pieces from the epoxy piece to "save" it. The fish are doing wonderful, I feed every other day and they seem to be just fine. I've started to see coralline growth take off on my overflow box too. Here are some pictures, enjoy.
New acro frag (my favorite), ORA plug, choc chip monti cap
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update001.jpg
New acro frag, some though it was GARF but the mother colony was way too chunky imo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update002.jpg
Flame Scallop
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update005.jpg
Duncans (3 heads)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update006.jpg
Acro in epoxy
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update007.jpg
Brain feeding at night time
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update004.jpg
FTS!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/EvaN8/may21update008.jpg
FiSHy sAy HeY
06/24/2009, 07:40 PM
Update?
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