36g BF build

[Xsjadolateralus]

The tank is full, the skimmer/fuge is running and it's the first day of my first saltwater build.


http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/003.jpg

So, naturally our little snowpoof had a long day of relaxing and was approaching his time to lay on someones lap and take a nice long kitty nap. Unfortunately, there were no laps available, so he had to hang out until we were done.



Filling...:hmm6:

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/023.jpg


The center brace modification I did, so the light loving corals won't have to endure a nasty shadow cast upon them. It's about half inch thick acrylic, with nylon bolts. VERY strong, at least 10x stronger than the original brace. I know this is an issue with some people who have a center brace and don't know what to do, or it broke and they have to fix it. I highly recommend getting some acrylic, nylon bolts (home depot) and doing it yourself, it isn't hard at all. Just make sure the tank is completely empty, of course. I also made the pendulum for the fixture.


Before

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/tank1.jpg

And after

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/005.jpg



The rock took a while to get to me (6 days to be exact) but it looks like there are a few little gooey bits still alive. It didn't smell too bad and i cycled it in the buckets first, especially to get rid of all of the styrofoam clinging to it from the packaging (which had holes poked in it and was extremely filthy.... Fedex, don't use um...).

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/033.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/035.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/036.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/039.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/040.jpg


Anyways, thanks for reading/viewing. I will keep this updated as much as I can.

I'm going to try to broadcast my tank as much as I can here ---> http://www.justin.tv/xsjadolateralus#r=DALS1VE~ .

[Xsjadolateralus]

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/037.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/038.jpg

[Soferik]

:thumbsup: Looks great so far, good idea on the center brace, much better than having a big shadow in the middle of the display!

[new2salt09]

looking good! and dont worry the cat will love it, something new to watch

[Xsjadolateralus]

Yeah, so far they haven't been too interested (yes there are two, the black one is shy) but I'm sure once I get something in there they can follow, it will be on like donkey kong.

I was wondering how you thought my rock looked, should I do anything to initiate the cycle? The rock is pretty much dead I think.

Thanks

[jenjen]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>


It's difficult to tell from your pics - do you have enough space on either end to get a mag float glass cleaner in there? If no, you may consider adjusting the rocks now, before you get a bunch of stuff in the tank.

Is/was it live rock? If yes, you shouldn't need to initiate the cycle. Patience will take care of it.

[Xsjadolateralus]

Yeah, I just meant the rock and the color, but yeah, you can't really tell from the pictures. The rock was placed in there when it was really foggy, as I was filling the tank. I had planned to do an aqua scape. It's done now and I think the rocks came together nicely. I also added some purple up to the mix. Yes, it was live rock, it took a week to get to me, though. There have been three bristle worms and some nice spots of coraline spotted.

Also, I was wondering, with my hob fuge/skimmer, do I need to attach the small hose (it came with the pump) to the nozzle on the side of my skimmer pump? There's a small hole that fits the hose up by the collection cup. I'm not sure if that is what it's for. Does the skimmer need bubbles? And finally, does the skimmer cup need to be touching the water, above the water, or what.


TYVM!!:bounce3:

[Xsjadolateralus]

Today is day 3 of my tank build. The stream is up ----> http://www.justin.tv/xsjadolateralus#r=DALS1VE~

salinity 1.024
temp 78

Not testing anything else at this point.

I did a new aquascape last night and the water is clear today!

I added a little bit of Kent purple tech (basically purple up) last night as well.

There are cave systems in both structures of rock.

Also, I might have a slight problem, I didn't realize there was a packet of bio-magnet bacteria clarifier in my sand, not realizing it I poured it right in with the sand. Now I'm not sure where it is...... will this give me problems later? will the plastic slowly dissolve and reek havoc on my tank??

Thanks

[Xsjadolateralus]

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/005-1.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/006.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/011.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/012.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy108/xsjadolateralus/017.jpg