Musho3210's reef log

Musho3210 · 07/06/2007, 09:39 PM

Hello, well a bit about how i started first.

On december 2006 my mom and i went to petsmart to buy dog stuff. As a joke i said "how about i get a fish tank for christmas" she very quickly said no. Well after the joke i thought about it and more and more i really did want a fish tank. So i brought up the topic a lot. We went to petsmart again another day and i was able to convince my mom to buy a fish tank. Oh boy was i excited, i planned freshwater of course. I bought a top-fin starter kit and a tank stand. The top fin kit included a top-fin 20 power filter, NO (normal output) fluorescent lights, and an all glass aquarium heater. I got all the equipment i needed including a book. I then joined a forum. Learning a lot of things i ended up buying more stuff for my tank since the original things i bought were no use. Mainly leaving the top-fin area for the more popular seachem and aquarium pharmacueticals etc. I upgraded my heater to a visi-therm stealth, i upgraded my filter to a bio-wheel, but i kept the lights. I upgraded my test strips to liquid tests. Not really paying attention i accidentally bought a reef test kit. Upon realising this at home i felt really bad since i felt that i wasted my moms money after all she had spent on me to start a new hobby. Very depressed i moved on without a liquid test kit. Then we got a coupon from petco where the liquid test kit was on sale and bought it then. After i bought the kit i started to want to upgrade tanks to a 55 gallon. I thought after i upgraded i would use the 20 gallon as a reef tank so that reef test kit wont go to waste. I started researching early january. I finally upgraded my freshwater tank to a 75 gallon and the 20 gallon was empty. I started buying equipment:

NON-LIVESTOCK:
20H gallon tank
100w Visi-therm Heater
Tunze Nano DOC skimmer
1 Maxi-jet 1200 with Flo attachment
150 watt 14,000k MH lamp (sunpod)
Milwaukee instruments refractometer
25-30 pounds live rock
0-10 pounds base rock depending what would look good in my tank
20-30 pounds Carib-Sea Ooltic sugar grade aragonite sand, not live, aiming for 2.5 inches
Reef Crystals Salt
Melevs reef RO/DI unit
Garlic Guard
Omega one saltwater flake food
phosban
garlic guard
API reef master test kit
API saltwater master test kit
AquaGloves
Kent turbo calcium
Kent marine buffer

I have everything there right now and will take a group picture of it all.

Here is what i plan on having as livestock

LIVESTOCK:
2 O. Clownfish
10+ Blue Legged hermit crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have
6+ Astraea Conehead Snail, amount will depend on how much algae i have
6+ Nassarius Snails, amount will depend on how much algae i have
1-2 Peppermint shrimp OR Scarlet Skunk Cleaner
0-1 Emerald Crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have
Mushroom corals
Polyp corals
Lots of LPS (want it to be an lps dominated tank)
Maxima or crocea clam
May include some macro algae.
Various hitchhikers i will be expecting from the live rock

So here is the start of my reef log, i will set up my RO filter tomorrow and my tank will get filled up tomorrow.

sugartooth · 07/06/2007, 09:57 PM

Wow, you got a good start! It's going to look great and it's so nice of your mom to get your tank for you. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

-=Efrain=- · 07/06/2007, 10:29 PM

Great start, keep us updated.. Welcome...

-=Efrain=-

-=Efrain=- · 07/06/2007, 11:04 PM

Great start, keep us updated.. Welcome...

-=Efrain=-

Musho3210 · 07/07/2007, 12:17 PM

Ive installed my RO unit under the sink and i am flushing it right now. It is very very easy to install, clamp it on your cold water copper pipe, turn a screw that pokes a hole in the copper pipe, attach the tubing to the clamp, unscrew the needle that pierced your pipe, and voila your done. Very easy. Had a few leaks but was fixed by tightening a few screws.

JPagliai · 07/07/2007, 02:59 PM

Congratulations on the new tank! Sounds like you've done the research needed to be successful and you've found the right forums to get help along the way. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Musho3210 · 07/07/2007, 04:58 PM

Thank you for all your comments, i flushed the first 5 gallons of RO water and then tested:

Before RO- 187ppm
After RO - 008 ppm
After DI - 001 ppm

Im gonna clean out the tank and fill it up now.

Musho3210 · 07/08/2007, 12:10 PM

ok i got some pictures of my equipment now:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0496.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0498.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0499.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0500.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0501.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0502.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0503.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0505.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0506.jpg

Rue · 07/08/2007, 12:21 PM

MUSHO!!!! Is that you?

Still have your betta?

Musho3210 · 07/08/2007, 12:28 PM

Rue lol, we saw each other on fish forums right? No dont have a betta

....

P.S. i got banned from fish forums, its not that i dont like it anymore, its that i have no choice lol.

How are you doing?

I got everything that i talked about on fish forums, got the bigger freshwater tank and as you can see im working on this saltwater

.

Im turning into the off topic crew even though i am the OP.....

Rue · 07/08/2007, 12:33 PM

How did you get yourself banned? You're such a pumpkin!

I'm fine! Tanks are all fine! Still doing what I can to get all bettas into nice, warm, planted 5g tanks...

...and am into my first SW tank ever! So exciting! Even the algae is exciting...although not quite as exciting as when I first saw it...think I'm going to have to do some harvesting by hand...

Musho3210 · 07/08/2007, 12:38 PM

Cool, good to see more saltwater people...

Well i did get banned but i used this program where you dont have an IP adress and got back onto the forum. Im youtubefind, its to complicated to use the program so i gave up on the forum. I just asked admin why i was banned (didnt tell him that i was me) and he said too many people complained about the way i talked. He said he didnt want other members to be angry that i got banned so he didnt tell anyone and kept my member status at platinum member rather than banned.

Good to see my betta post worked with some people

. I remember that post since admid told me to right it so i did and after i wrote it he banned me.... Dont think it was a coincidence.....

Anyway it was blue (i think called lupin now) that asked admin to ban me since whatever i did blue thought it was wrong and pmed me about it.

How did you find me here?

Got any more pics of your tank?

Rue · 07/08/2007, 02:32 PM

...I tried to PM you! But it says your mailbox is full! Empty it...and I'll try again...

Musho3210 · 07/08/2007, 04:40 PM

do you mean the one on reef central? I deleted a few..

Musho3210 · 07/09/2007, 03:53 PM

Some long awaited pics...

Tank and stand

Protein skimmer: Tunze nano DOC 9002

Heater: Visi-therm stealth 100 watt heater

Musho3210 · 07/09/2007, 03:53 PM

Maxi-jet 1200

Light: 150 watt sunpod 24"

RO/DI unit:

Musho3210 · 07/09/2007, 05:05 PM

getting live rock tommorow

Musho3210 · 07/11/2007, 06:47 PM

Still a bit cloudy from the sand but you can see the live rock a bit.

jski711 · 07/15/2007, 04:41 PM

more pics please.

Musho3210 · 07/15/2007, 05:23 PM

sorry, i have 3 logs going on on 3 different forums, getting all mixed up:

Musho3210 · 07/15/2007, 05:25 PM

Musho3210 · 07/15/2007, 05:26 PM

well i think i found a nice and small brown mushroom on one of my bottom rocks:

Some other nice rocks:

I gave up with the hydor flow, got jammed with sand and it cut down the flow a lot, plus it didnt give that random wave patterns so its sitting in my junk section.

Musho3210 · 07/23/2007, 07:57 PM

ooo its been a while since an update, sorry everyone:

I got my cleanup crew since my cycle finished and algae was showing up. 6 astraea snails and 6 blue legged hermits. My hermits took care of my rocks and my snails took care of my glass with a little encouragement. My diatoms and hair algae are at a minimum now.

Phosphates were a little high acording to my lfs who tested my water with liquid test for free. He said it was ok since my tank just started and the live rock is probably leeching phosphate since i dont use tap water. Its lowered a bit so my phosban is working.

Skimmer is all good

I downgraded my MJ 1200 to a MJ 600, but i also got a hydor koralia 2. Hydor is at one side of the tank pointing down, MJ at the other side pointing up. I feel that i am getting good wave patterns.

Other than that not much to say....

Musho3210 · 07/23/2007, 11:50 PM

ok ok i apologize, i cant be an update without pictures, plus i did change my aquascaping a little bit.

5 dollar fan i bought at target that i thought should have been worth 20 dollars since it is silent, works better than my fan that came with the sunpod, and has an on and off button which, ive noticed, that many things in this hobby doesnt have.

A clearer pic of my shroom before the rescape

FTS of my new scape which looks a lot like the old one.....

My pumps

Snails:

And skimmate

Unfortunately no hermits came out to the camera.

Snowboarda42 · 08/05/2007, 11:07 PM

Looking great!

How's the parameter's doing right now?

07/06/2007, 09:39 PM	#1
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Musho3210's reef log Hello, well a bit about how i started first. On december 2006 my mom and i went to petsmart to buy dog stuff. As a joke i said "how about i get a fish tank for christmas" she very quickly said no. Well after the joke i thought about it and more and more i really did want a fish tank. So i brought up the topic a lot. We went to petsmart again another day and i was able to convince my mom to buy a fish tank. Oh boy was i excited, i planned freshwater of course. I bought a top-fin starter kit and a tank stand. The top fin kit included a top-fin 20 power filter, NO (normal output) fluorescent lights, and an all glass aquarium heater. I got all the equipment i needed including a book. I then joined a forum. Learning a lot of things i ended up buying more stuff for my tank since the original things i bought were no use. Mainly leaving the top-fin area for the more popular seachem and aquarium pharmacueticals etc. I upgraded my heater to a visi-therm stealth, i upgraded my filter to a bio-wheel, but i kept the lights. I upgraded my test strips to liquid tests. Not really paying attention i accidentally bought a reef test kit. Upon realising this at home i felt really bad since i felt that i wasted my moms money after all she had spent on me to start a new hobby. Very depressed i moved on without a liquid test kit. Then we got a coupon from petco where the liquid test kit was on sale and bought it then. After i bought the kit i started to want to upgrade tanks to a 55 gallon. I thought after i upgraded i would use the 20 gallon as a reef tank so that reef test kit wont go to waste. I started researching early january. I finally upgraded my freshwater tank to a 75 gallon and the 20 gallon was empty. I started buying equipment: NON-LIVESTOCK: 20H gallon tank 100w Visi-therm Heater Tunze Nano DOC skimmer 1 Maxi-jet 1200 with Flo attachment 150 watt 14,000k MH lamp (sunpod) Milwaukee instruments refractometer 25-30 pounds live rock 0-10 pounds base rock depending what would look good in my tank 20-30 pounds Carib-Sea Ooltic sugar grade aragonite sand, not live, aiming for 2.5 inches Reef Crystals Salt Melevs reef RO/DI unit Garlic Guard Omega one saltwater flake food phosban garlic guard API reef master test kit API saltwater master test kit AquaGloves Kent turbo calcium Kent marine buffer I have everything there right now and will take a group picture of it all. Here is what i plan on having as livestock LIVESTOCK: 2 O. Clownfish 10+ Blue Legged hermit crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have 6+ Astraea Conehead Snail, amount will depend on how much algae i have 6+ Nassarius Snails, amount will depend on how much algae i have 1-2 Peppermint shrimp OR Scarlet Skunk Cleaner 0-1 Emerald Crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have Mushroom corals Polyp corals Lots of LPS (want it to be an lps dominated tank) Maxima or crocea clam May include some macro algae. Various hitchhikers i will be expecting from the live rock So here is the start of my reef log, i will set up my RO filter tomorrow and my tank will get filled up tomorrow. __________________ Ryan

07/06/2007, 10:29 PM	#3
-=Efrain=- Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,895	Great start, keep us updated.. Welcome... -=Efrain=- __________________ Reefing! Complicated enough to tickle my brain but not complex enough to give me a headache. ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> •´¯`•.¸. , . .•´¯`•.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 125 GL, Mixed Reef, Yellow, Hippo, Sailfin, Powder Blue, Kole Tangs, 2 Onyx Clowns, 4 Firefish, Midas Blenny, Malenarus & Yellow Coris Wrasse 3 250W MH 14K DE, 250Lbs LR, 150 Lbs LS, 2 Korilias 4s, 45g Sump/Fug, Carbon Reactor, Cal Reactor, Skimmer

07/06/2007, 11:04 PM	#4
-=Efrain=- Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,895	Great start, keep us updated.. Welcome... -=Efrain=- __________________ Reefing! Complicated enough to tickle my brain but not complex enough to give me a headache. ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> •´¯`•.¸. , . .•´¯`•.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 125 GL, Mixed Reef, Yellow, Hippo, Sailfin, Powder Blue, Kole Tangs, 2 Onyx Clowns, 4 Firefish, Midas Blenny, Malenarus & Yellow Coris Wrasse 3 250W MH 14K DE, 250Lbs LR, 150 Lbs LS, 2 Korilias 4s, 45g Sump/Fug, Carbon Reactor, Cal Reactor, Skimmer

07/07/2007, 12:17 PM	#5
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Ive installed my RO unit under the sink and i am flushing it right now. It is very very easy to install, clamp it on your cold water copper pipe, turn a screw that pokes a hole in the copper pipe, attach the tubing to the clamp, unscrew the needle that pierced your pipe, and voila your done. Very easy. Had a few leaks but was fixed by tightening a few screws. __________________ Ryan

07/07/2007, 02:59 PM	#6
JPagliai Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Round Lake Beach, IL Posts: 673	Congratulations on the new tank! Sounds like you've done the research needed to be successful and you've found the right forums to get help along the way. Good luck and enjoy the journey! __________________ --Jane Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. - Eleanor Roosevelt Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube w/AI LED

07/06/2007, 09:57 PM	#2
sugartooth Reef bully Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: IL Posts: 2,832	Wow, you got a good start! It's going to look great and it's so nice of your mom to get your tank for you. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

07/07/2007, 04:58 PM	#7
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Thank you for all your comments, i flushed the first 5 gallons of RO water and then tested: Before RO- 187ppm After RO - 008 ppm After DI - 001 ppm Im gonna clean out the tank and fill it up now. __________________ Ryan

07/08/2007, 12:10 PM	#8
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	ok i got some pictures of my equipment now: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0496.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0498.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0499.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0500.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0501.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0502.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0503.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0505.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t=CIMG0506.jpg __________________ Ryan

07/08/2007, 12:21 PM	#9
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	MUSHO!!!! Is that you? Still have your betta? __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

07/08/2007, 12:28 PM	#10
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Rue lol, we saw each other on fish forums right? No dont have a betta .... P.S. i got banned from fish forums, its not that i dont like it anymore, its that i have no choice lol. How are you doing? I got everything that i talked about on fish forums, got the bigger freshwater tank and as you can see im working on this saltwater . Im turning into the off topic crew even though i am the OP..... __________________ Ryan

07/08/2007, 12:33 PM	#11
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	How did you get yourself banned? You're such a pumpkin! I'm fine! Tanks are all fine! Still doing what I can to get all bettas into nice, warm, planted 5g tanks... ...and am into my first SW tank ever! So exciting! Even the algae is exciting...although not quite as exciting as when I first saw it...think I'm going to have to do some harvesting by hand... __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

07/08/2007, 12:38 PM	#12
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Cool, good to see more saltwater people... Well i did get banned but i used this program where you dont have an IP adress and got back onto the forum. Im youtubefind, its to complicated to use the program so i gave up on the forum. I just asked admin why i was banned (didnt tell him that i was me) and he said too many people complained about the way i talked. He said he didnt want other members to be angry that i got banned so he didnt tell anyone and kept my member status at platinum member rather than banned. Good to see my betta post worked with some people . I remember that post since admid told me to right it so i did and after i wrote it he banned me.... Dont think it was a coincidence..... Anyway it was blue (i think called lupin now) that asked admin to ban me since whatever i did blue thought it was wrong and pmed me about it. How did you find me here? Got any more pics of your tank? __________________ Ryan

07/08/2007, 02:32 PM	#13
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	...I tried to PM you! But it says your mailbox is full! Empty it...and I'll try again... __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

07/08/2007, 04:40 PM	#14
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	do you mean the one on reef central? I deleted a few.. __________________ Ryan

07/09/2007, 03:53 PM	#15
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Some long awaited pics... Tank and stand Protein skimmer: Tunze nano DOC 9002 Heater: Visi-therm stealth 100 watt heater __________________ Ryan

07/09/2007, 03:53 PM	#16
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Maxi-jet 1200 Light: 150 watt sunpod 24" RO/DI unit: __________________ Ryan

07/09/2007, 05:05 PM	#17
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	getting live rock tommorow __________________ Ryan

07/11/2007, 06:47 PM	#18
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	Still a bit cloudy from the sand but you can see the live rock a bit. __________________ Ryan

07/15/2007, 04:41 PM	#19
jski711 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arlington Heights Posts: 1,781	more pics please.

07/15/2007, 05:23 PM	#20
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	sorry, i have 3 logs going on on 3 different forums, getting all mixed up: __________________ Ryan

07/15/2007, 05:25 PM	#21
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	__________________ Ryan

07/15/2007, 05:26 PM	#22
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	well i think i found a nice and small brown mushroom on one of my bottom rocks: Some other nice rocks: I gave up with the hydor flow, got jammed with sand and it cut down the flow a lot, plus it didnt give that random wave patterns so its sitting in my junk section. __________________ Ryan

07/23/2007, 07:57 PM	#23
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	ooo its been a while since an update, sorry everyone: I got my cleanup crew since my cycle finished and algae was showing up. 6 astraea snails and 6 blue legged hermits. My hermits took care of my rocks and my snails took care of my glass with a little encouragement. My diatoms and hair algae are at a minimum now. Phosphates were a little high acording to my lfs who tested my water with liquid test for free. He said it was ok since my tank just started and the live rock is probably leeching phosphate since i dont use tap water. Its lowered a bit so my phosban is working. Skimmer is all good I downgraded my MJ 1200 to a MJ 600, but i also got a hydor koralia 2. Hydor is at one side of the tank pointing down, MJ at the other side pointing up. I feel that i am getting good wave patterns. Other than that not much to say.... __________________ Ryan

07/23/2007, 11:50 PM	#24
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	ok ok i apologize, i cant be an update without pictures, plus i did change my aquascaping a little bit. 5 dollar fan i bought at target that i thought should have been worth 20 dollars since it is silent, works better than my fan that came with the sunpod, and has an on and off button which, ive noticed, that many things in this hobby doesnt have. A clearer pic of my shroom before the rescape FTS of my new scape which looks a lot like the old one..... My pumps Snails: And skimmate Unfortunately no hermits came out to the camera. __________________ Ryan

08/05/2007, 11:07 PM	#25
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	Looking great! How's the parameter's doing right now? __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.