Prez1
10/28/2010, 02:32 PM
Tank Age: a bit over 3 months
Basic Params: Ammonia (free/combined)= 0, Nitrite = 0 Nitrate = varies 2-5 (highest ever was 10) pH = 8.1 Temp = 80-81 -- steady over the past 2 1/2 months
13lb Cured Live rock and 20lbs Live Sand added on day 1
Livestock:
1- True Perc Clownfish (in after 1rst week)
1- Yellow Watchman Gobie (in after 3rd week)
1- Tiger Pistol Shrimp (in after 3rd week w/ goby)
1- Xenia (w/brown mushrooms were part of the rock when purchased and they were small dots) (in after 6 weeks)
1- Cluster of Zoanthids w/new growth the past 2 weeks (in after 6 weeks w/ xenia)
3- Sexy Shrimp (newest)
1- Green Tipped Bubble Anemone (newest)
5- various clean up crew (in after 1rst week)
- Some hitchikers on/in rock are 3 small crabs, brittle star fish, worms, 2 urchins (were smaller than a dime day 1!)
- Bunch of Chaetomorpha and small bunch of Caulerpa (now has a bunch of copepods and other small long white "nit" appearing bugs)
Modded:
- Removed stock light ballast/frame, installed PC 50/50 and led white strip light.
- Used stock filter up until last week, had removed bio-wheel two weeks prior to that and nitrates dropped even further and no mini cycle.
- Was using Magnum 350 with micron cartridge once a week to polish water but began using daily since pistol shrimp just loves to move the sand bed under the rock. Now, using the Magnum 350 with Purigen (in micron bag) placed inside refillable media container and poly fiber sleeve. Flow was always reduce just a bit from full using the quick disconnect valve on return.
I perform water changes bi-monthly, in between the water gets diluted when I clean the Magnum 350 and refill the canister with new saltwater prior to priming (restarting) it -- equals about 2 quarts. I use a RO/DI unit (Water General model RD-106, with the resin stage removed) with Reef Crystals for water changes and Instant Ocean for diluted mix. Main food source is New Spectrum pellets and PE Mysis. Recently began adding small amounts of Rotifers once in awhile. Will begin using Silversides for anenome.
Ok, well I really wanted to just post some pictures of the tank and it's inhabitants and ask if all appears ok to you. Before you comment, I completely understand the risks that I have taken by adding some livestock earlier than the recommended "age" of the tank. Please be gentle with any criticism. I am diligent with this and any tank I have ever owned and they were/are have been successful with no major disasters. Yes, it's probably just dumb luck.
Thank You!!! :lolspin:
So, here are some pics:
Basic Params: Ammonia (free/combined)= 0, Nitrite = 0 Nitrate = varies 2-5 (highest ever was 10) pH = 8.1 Temp = 80-81 -- steady over the past 2 1/2 months
13lb Cured Live rock and 20lbs Live Sand added on day 1
Livestock:
1- True Perc Clownfish (in after 1rst week)
1- Yellow Watchman Gobie (in after 3rd week)
1- Tiger Pistol Shrimp (in after 3rd week w/ goby)
1- Xenia (w/brown mushrooms were part of the rock when purchased and they were small dots) (in after 6 weeks)
1- Cluster of Zoanthids w/new growth the past 2 weeks (in after 6 weeks w/ xenia)
3- Sexy Shrimp (newest)
1- Green Tipped Bubble Anemone (newest)
5- various clean up crew (in after 1rst week)
- Some hitchikers on/in rock are 3 small crabs, brittle star fish, worms, 2 urchins (were smaller than a dime day 1!)
- Bunch of Chaetomorpha and small bunch of Caulerpa (now has a bunch of copepods and other small long white "nit" appearing bugs)
Modded:
- Removed stock light ballast/frame, installed PC 50/50 and led white strip light.
- Used stock filter up until last week, had removed bio-wheel two weeks prior to that and nitrates dropped even further and no mini cycle.
- Was using Magnum 350 with micron cartridge once a week to polish water but began using daily since pistol shrimp just loves to move the sand bed under the rock. Now, using the Magnum 350 with Purigen (in micron bag) placed inside refillable media container and poly fiber sleeve. Flow was always reduce just a bit from full using the quick disconnect valve on return.
I perform water changes bi-monthly, in between the water gets diluted when I clean the Magnum 350 and refill the canister with new saltwater prior to priming (restarting) it -- equals about 2 quarts. I use a RO/DI unit (Water General model RD-106, with the resin stage removed) with Reef Crystals for water changes and Instant Ocean for diluted mix. Main food source is New Spectrum pellets and PE Mysis. Recently began adding small amounts of Rotifers once in awhile. Will begin using Silversides for anenome.
Ok, well I really wanted to just post some pictures of the tank and it's inhabitants and ask if all appears ok to you. Before you comment, I completely understand the risks that I have taken by adding some livestock earlier than the recommended "age" of the tank. Please be gentle with any criticism. I am diligent with this and any tank I have ever owned and they were/are have been successful with no major disasters. Yes, it's probably just dumb luck.
Thank You!!! :lolspin:
So, here are some pics: