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Christian's "Why didn't I just get a hamster?" 29g.


cpeterson07

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cpeterson07

Hey all,

 

So, I wanted to start a thread on NR about my first ever plunge into saltwater reefing. Like many others before me, I thought this would be a good way to maintain the quality of my tank since I'll have an endless supply of suggestions and critiques on here; plus, the motiviation to keep it looking presentable (haha). I've got a 29g standard display tank with a 10g sump/refuge on a homemade 4x4 stand (it's overkill, but I don't trust physics ;) ) that has been running since 3/31/12.

 

Water Log

 

Current Inhabitants

Firefish - "Sparticus"

Emerald Crab- "Murphy"

Nassarius Snails

Nerite Snails

Florida Cerith Snails

Dwarf Cerith Snails

 

Equipment (This is with an "intern's salary" :P ):

-29g standard Petco tank (Display)

-10g standard Petco tank (Sump/Refugium)

-DIY overflow box (Inspired by melcolm's "Cheap Overflow")

-2x Marineland 400 pumps (For flow)

-Rio 2100+ return pump

-Aqueon Pro (or Elite, whatever) 100w Heater (Propably isn't going to be used untill it gets cold again)

-Used 250w MH light with 2x PC's and 4 Moonlight LEDs (Ballast has been replaced and an Icecap model)

-35lbs Dry Rock

-20lbs Dry Sand (Nature's Ocean)

-10lbs Live Rock from LFS

-What seems like a small fortune of the nitty gritty stuff

 

Pics:

 

FTS - 4/7/2012

fts14712.png

 

Sump - 4/7/2012

Yes, I know that cheap filter sock isn't going to do much, but it is catching all the dang down feathers from my bed untill I come up with a better solution!

sump14712.png

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cpeterson07

Thank you,

 

The scape for the right side turned out exactly how I wanted it to, but the left is a little off. When I added the LR, I had to take a few pieces off the left side so I could place the LR on stable ground. In doing so it kind of made each piece more distinguishable from the next which was something that I was trying not to do.

 

Anywhoo, I'm just moving on to other things for a lil bit while this tank does its thing. My goal is to not fidget with it untill next weekend (that is, unless something dire comes up ;) ).

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cpeterson07

Just using this post to log water params:

 

3/31/2012- Dry Rock, Dry Sand, Water added

4/6/2012- Live Rock added

4/8/2012- Ammonia 1.0ppm, Nitrite 0.75ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/9/2012- Ammonia 2.0ppm, Nitrite 0.75ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/10/2012- Ammonia 1.0ppm, Nitrite .5ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/11/2012- Ammonia a tad <1.0ppm, Nitrite 2.0ppm, Nitrate 30ppm

4/12/2012- Ammonia 1.0ppm, Nitrite 2.0ppm, Nitrate 30ppm

4/13/2012- Ammonia a tad <1.0ppm, Nitrite 2.0ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/14/2012- Ammonia ~0.5ppm, Nitrite 2.0ppm, Nitrate 30ppm

4/15/2012- Ammonia 1.0ppm, Nitrite 2.0ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/16/2012- Ammonia ~1.0ppm, Nitrite 0.5ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/17/2012- Ammonia ~0.75ppm, Nitrite <0.5ppm, Nitrate 20ppm

4/18/2012- Ammonia ~1.0ppm, Nitrite ~0.0ppm, Nitrate <20ppm

4/19/2012- Ammonia ~0.75ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 10ppm

4/20/2012- Ammonia ~0.75ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 10ppm

4/21/2012- Ammonia ~0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate <10ppm

4/22/2012- Ammonia ~0.75, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate <10ppm

4/23/2012- Ammonia ~0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.0pp, Nitrate ~0.0ppm

4/24/2012- Ammonia <0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 0.0ppm

4/25/2012- Ammonia ~0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 0.0ppm

4/27/2012- Ammonia <0.5ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 0.0ppm

5/1/2012- Ammonia 0.0ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm, Nitrate 0.0ppm

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cpeterson07

Noticed first signs of diatoms today on the LR that I added. I will wait untill full coverage of both the live and dry rock before ordering my CUC. Also, about 5 feather duster HH have appeared. From what I've read, if these guys are hardy enough to endure the cycle, they are hardy enough to survive without special care once livestock is added.

 

Based upon my understanding of how my tank is cycling, it seems like it will be over quickly but the bioload that my tank will be able to handle will be very small initially. This is because the well-cured LR was added to basically a tank with very little organic particulates. Please chime in if you see any flaws in this thought.

 

EDIT: Oh! And I forgot to mention, I think I also have spaghetti worm HHs. I see about 1" white/transparent "feeler" tenticles coming from the LR that seem to be searching around for detris. I'm also going to move the rock with the feather dusters (it's the top left, dark rock in my FTS) away from the powerhead because those delicate little guys are getting blasted.

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cpeterson07

Gave the rocks a good turkey basting today. The diatoms were basically only on the LR pieces that I had put in the DT so hopefully that'll spread them around better and attempt is liven up my dry rock ;) .

 

Water params seem to be moving towards higher trites and trates.

 

HH's are still peachy.

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cpeterson07

So I was blasting my rocks with my turkey basting today; just fooling around (Well, I tell myself its to spread around the living organisms to my dead rock. But hey, whatever it takes to make me feel better). When suddenly, this little guy popped out of a crevice onto my sandbed!

 

starfish4132012.jpg

 

Couldn't be more happy! My girlfriend has been pestering me to get a starfish for the tank once it is ready, but I hadn't quite envisioned that for my modest 29g. SO, I am forever in debt to this little guy now for saving me years (hopefully) of nagging.

 

From my milisecond of research, I believe this to be a comet star? Picture is crappy, naturally, but he has a very sandy texture to his dorsal side and he's about the size of a dime.

 

Come on lil' buddy, hold on through this cycle.

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cpeterson07
Do you have any Prime/Alpha? That will help keep ammonia and nitrite at bay to help the little guy.

 

I do not, but will look into it. Thank you.

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nor_cal_nano
So I was blasting my rocks with my turkey basting today; just fooling around (Well, I tell myself its to spread around the living organisms to my dead rock. But hey, whatever it takes to make me feel better). When suddenly, this little guy popped out of a crevice onto my sandbed!

 

starfish4132012.jpg

 

Couldn't be more happy! My girlfriend has been pestering me to get a starfish for the tank once it is ready, but I hadn't quite envisioned that for my modest 29g. SO, I am forever in debt to this little guy now for saving me years (hopefully) of nagging.

 

From my milisecond of research, I believe this to be a comet star? Picture is crappy, naturally, but he has a very sandy texture to his dorsal side and he's about the size of a dime.

 

Come on lil' buddy, hold on through this cycle.

 

asterina

 

asterina

 

and what you see is probably its full-grown size.

 

Oh, and lastly, if you're looking to cover your rocks in coralline, you might want to scrap him. I'm pretty sure they're the reason I don't have any.

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jedimasterben
I do not, but will look into it. Thank you.

Get Alpha, in that case. It's more concentrated than Prime is (both are by Seachem, Alpha is under their reef specialty line called Aquavitro).

 

And it smells like ass, so don't get a good whiff of it lol.

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cpeterson07

Water param numbers looking like they're starting to trend downwards (refer to OP for link to post). Fingers crossed!

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coachfraley

First, Love the name of your journal!

 

Nice work putting most of your rock in the sump. Your display looks great!

 

+1 on getting rid of the asterina, they were a pest in my last tank, ate up all my corraline.

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nathanq.inc

I have a few asterina in my tank and I don't mind them eating my coraline. They don't make much of a dent in it tbh and they are pretty cool looking, mine are blue.

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cpeterson07

Thanks for the comments guys. At the moment, I am keeping the asterina. I've been keeping track of his behavior lately since he's the only "mobile" macroorganism in my tank that I've found :lol: . From what I've seen, he stays only within reaching distance of the hole he resides in when he's out to eat. At the moment, the only thing he has eaten/disturbed are the diatomes around his home.

 

I'm not too concerned with the possibility of him eatting my coralline. When I set up my tank, I wanted it to have the appearance of bright, shallower water. So, I like the look of the whiter rock with the blue background.

 

EDIT: I will however take'em out if there becomes a problem with anything I intentionally bought to put in my tank.

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cpeterson07

My numbers are starting to look very good. With less than 0.5ppm Ammonia, would it be ok to do a water change, then try adding a couple snails?

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I wouldn't. If you're ammonia levels are still reading higher than 0, you probably still have nitrites as well. I'd wait until those both hit 0, wait a few days to make sure they stay there, then do a water change to bring your nitrates down to an acceptable level. Once you're ammonia/nitrites are 0, and your nitrates are at the very least less than 20ppm, then it would be ok to add your clean up crew.

 

Tank is looking good B)

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