My 170 gallon reef tank. Startup

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:19 PM

In this Journal, i will post pics of my progress and post questions about chemistry hitchhikers corrals and more. Hope you like it!

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:26 PM

Here are some pictures of when I first bought the tank. It's a Red Sea max 650.

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:31 PM

I called inn two friends and my dad to help me carry this bad *** to the second floor. It was some interesting moments, but we got it in the apartment.

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:34 PM

Her the tank is in its place filled with the salt.

It took approximately four days to fill the tank.with water.

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:38 PM

I really want to keep some SPD and LPS corrals in this tank. Anny ideas on cool stuff to put inn there?

On the fish side, I want some tangs and maybe some dwarf angels.

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 01:39 PM

Yesterday the sycle started for real! What to expect this next days?

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 08:15 PM

Quick pic from today.

I'm thinking of adding some more live rock. But I'm wondering what is the best way to build and secure it in a tank filled with water.

DSREEFER · 03/19/2016, 10:25 AM

I would take what you have in there out and build the rock scape outside the tank. And use either the drill and dowel method or use a reef safe epoxy. Once you have it built you could just clear some sand away on the bottom and place the rock in. I would also suggest using egg crate (if you haven't already) on the bottom to help keep the rocks more secure. Looks like it's going to be an awesome tank!

Gravis · 03/19/2016, 03:52 PM

Thanks you so much DSReefer!
For some reason, I like to build "in tank". I bought some more live rock today. 21 kg I think it is about 42 pounds. This is what it looks like after one hour of moving around today

homer1475 · 03/19/2016, 04:55 PM

How many pounds of rock do you have total?

It looks a little light to me. The general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pounds per gallon.

Love the red sea tanks, they are so crisp and clean looking.

DSREEFER · 03/19/2016, 05:49 PM

I have a 75g and I have about 60 lbs of rock and a shallow sand bed. I only have 4 fish and a good size cuc but it processes the bio load just fine. From what I've read the 1-2 lbs per gallon is a very loose rule. I agree that yours would look better with a little more rock of build the rock scape to your liking and you will probably find that it's plenty.

That's my tank and I think the rock fills it nicely

champion6sigma · 03/19/2016, 10:48 PM

I second the egg crate recommendation.

Gravis · 03/20/2016, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

How many pounds of rock do you have total?

It looks a little light to me. The general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pounds per gallon.

Love the red sea tanks, they are so crisp and clean looking.

Hi Homer

In total I have 40/kg a little over 80 pounds I think? I will also move some rock from my old tank, when my new tank is ready for housing the "old guys" and coral. Here is a pic of the old tank

Gravis · 03/20/2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

How many pounds of rock do you have total?

It looks a little light to me. The general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pounds per gallon.

Love the red sea tanks, they are so crisp and clean looking.

And thanks for the compliment on the tank it self!

Gravis · 03/20/2016, 07:07 AM

Can someone, post a picture of this egg crates? I live I Norway and or eggs comes in cardboard boxes

DSREEFER · 03/20/2016, 07:10 AM

You can get it in the lighting section of your local home improvement store

Gravis · 03/21/2016, 08:06 AM

Thanks! Do i put them under the rock it self?

DSREEFER · 03/22/2016, 05:24 AM

Yes, you want the egg crate between the rock and the bottom glass. This keeps the rocks much more stable after you put sand in around it because none of your critters can burrow underneath it

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 06:46 AM

Problem, is the rock and sand went in a week ago. Would you suggest to take the rock out and the go for the egg crate now?

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 06:52 AM

Wouldn't it become circulation problem? With the vertical walls surrounding the sand bed? I have a quite deep sand bed hoping to help the Nitrogen cycle.

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 06:58 AM

The joys of live rock... As some of you guys now I bought 80 pounds live rock from one of my fish guys. And now it is swarming with aptasia... Hoping my peppermint shrimp would keep up when I put him in may be a week from now.

I also found a new critter in the tank.

Can someone ID him? If he is not harmful I will keep him because I think he looks cool.

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 07:20 AM

I also got my self a new equipment!
The Red sea c-skim was so noisy that even I was annoyed (not even starting on my girlfriend)... I changed it with a REEF-skim 1500 and so far i couldn't be happy'er. it is as far as i am concerned silent. only problem is that now, my return pump sounds like a train

thanks for tagging along.

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 07:20 AM

Gravis · 03/22/2016, 07:32 AM

To days water levels are:
Salt: 1.018
NH4: 0,25
No2: 0
No3: 0,1
Calsium: 385
Po4: 0,8
Magnesium: 1110
Alkalinity: 2,1

I hope you guys can help me with getting the optimum water values.

One thing i am most concerned about is my salt levels. I took my refractometer to my local fish store and got it calibrated. this shows my salt levels are to low. How would you guys get it higher? how would you ad salt?

Cheers Kristian

selektone · 03/24/2016, 12:47 PM

I usually make these adjustments during water changes. I do not add salt directly to tank, but instead add more saltwater than I take out. As the freshwater evaporates the salt is left behind thus increasing your salt level.
Continue this until the desired salt level is reached. This prevents wild fluctuations in parameters and slowly ramps up to your desired SG level. This way your livestock will acclimate slowly to the new levels as well.

03/18/2016, 01:19 PM	#1
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	My 170 gallon reef tank. Startup In this Journal, i will post pics of my progress and post questions about chemistry hitchhikers corrals and more. Hope you like it!

03/19/2016, 04:55 PM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	How many pounds of rock do you have total? It looks a little light to me. The general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pounds per gallon. Love the red sea tanks, they are so crisp and clean looking. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/19/2016, 10:48 PM	#12
champion6sigma Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: texas Posts: 538	I second the egg crate recommendation. __________________ My initial build page - soon to be updated when its not an embarrassment :) http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2538593

03/18/2016, 01:26 PM	#2
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Here are some pictures of when I first bought the tank. It's a Red Sea max 650.

03/18/2016, 01:31 PM	#3
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	I called inn two friends and my dad to help me carry this bad *** to the second floor. It was some interesting moments, but we got it in the apartment.

03/18/2016, 01:34 PM	#4
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Her the tank is in its place filled with the salt. It took approximately four days to fill the tank.with water.

03/18/2016, 01:38 PM	#5
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	I really want to keep some SPD and LPS corrals in this tank. Anny ideas on cool stuff to put inn there? On the fish side, I want some tangs and maybe some dwarf angels.

03/18/2016, 01:39 PM	#6
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Yesterday the sycle started for real! What to expect this next days?

03/18/2016, 08:15 PM	#7
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Quick pic from today. I'm thinking of adding some more live rock. But I'm wondering what is the best way to build and secure it in a tank filled with water.

03/19/2016, 10:25 AM	#8
DSREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 20	I would take what you have in there out and build the rock scape outside the tank. And use either the drill and dowel method or use a reef safe epoxy. Once you have it built you could just clear some sand away on the bottom and place the rock in. I would also suggest using egg crate (if you haven't already) on the bottom to help keep the rocks more secure. Looks like it's going to be an awesome tank!

03/19/2016, 03:52 PM	#9
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Thanks you so much DSReefer! For some reason, I like to build "in tank". I bought some more live rock today. 21 kg I think it is about 42 pounds. This is what it looks like after one hour of moving around today

03/19/2016, 05:49 PM	#11
DSREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 20	I have a 75g and I have about 60 lbs of rock and a shallow sand bed. I only have 4 fish and a good size cuc but it processes the bio load just fine. From what I've read the 1-2 lbs per gallon is a very loose rule. I agree that yours would look better with a little more rock of build the rock scape to your liking and you will probably find that it's plenty. That's my tank and I think the rock fills it nicely

03/20/2016, 07:07 AM	#15
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Can someone, post a picture of this egg crates? I live I Norway and or eggs comes in cardboard boxes

03/20/2016, 07:10 AM	#16
DSREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 20	You can get it in the lighting section of your local home improvement store

03/21/2016, 08:06 AM	#17
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Thanks! Do i put them under the rock it self?

03/22/2016, 05:24 AM	#18
DSREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 20	Yes, you want the egg crate between the rock and the bottom glass. This keeps the rocks much more stable after you put sand in around it because none of your critters can burrow underneath it

03/22/2016, 06:46 AM	#19
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Problem, is the rock and sand went in a week ago. Would you suggest to take the rock out and the go for the egg crate now?

03/22/2016, 06:52 AM	#20
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Wouldn't it become circulation problem? With the vertical walls surrounding the sand bed? I have a quite deep sand bed hoping to help the Nitrogen cycle.

03/22/2016, 06:58 AM	#21
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	The joys of live rock... As some of you guys now I bought 80 pounds live rock from one of my fish guys. And now it is swarming with aptasia... Hoping my peppermint shrimp would keep up when I put him in may be a week from now. I also found a new critter in the tank. Can someone ID him? If he is not harmful I will keep him because I think he looks cool.

03/22/2016, 07:20 AM	#22
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	I also got my self a new equipment! The Red sea c-skim was so noisy that even I was annoyed (not even starting on my girlfriend)... I changed it with a REEF-skim 1500 and so far i couldn't be happy'er. it is as far as i am concerned silent. only problem is that now, my return pump sounds like a train thanks for tagging along.

03/22/2016, 07:32 AM	#24
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	To days water levels are: Salt: 1.018 NH4: 0,25 No2: 0 No3: 0,1 Calsium: 385 Po4: 0,8 Magnesium: 1110 Alkalinity: 2,1 I hope you guys can help me with getting the optimum water values. One thing i am most concerned about is my salt levels. I took my refractometer to my local fish store and got it calibrated. this shows my salt levels are to low. How would you guys get it higher? how would you ad salt? Cheers Kristian

03/24/2016, 12:47 PM	#25
selektone Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 13	I usually make these adjustments during water changes. I do not add salt directly to tank, but instead add more saltwater than I take out. As the freshwater evaporates the salt is left behind thus increasing your salt level. Continue this until the desired salt level is reached. This prevents wild fluctuations in parameters and slowly ramps up to your desired SG level. This way your livestock will acclimate slowly to the new levels as well.