Adam's Awesome Flu-val Edge

[hotshot619]

Welcome one and all!

 

This is my slice of the Flu-val edge reefing community.

Today I had a snow day from classes so I decided it was the right time to get my tank up and cycling.

 

First, I wanted to thank EVERYONE on this site, your insights and personal threads have been incredibly useful. Here is a shout out to a bunch of sites I found useful in my two month or so long research:

 

My personal Inspiration

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=224629

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...p;#entry2813328

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=224144

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...2&hl=fluval

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...l=fluval%20edge

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...237832&st=0

http://www.nano-reef.com/articles/

http://www.cvreefers.org/showthread.php?13...-Edge-Nano-Reef

http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/articles/119

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/reefing-edge-part-i

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...p;#entry2771518

 

Anyone starting this tank this is my complete list I have:

Flu-val Edge 6 gallon Tank-78$

8 lbs of Cured Fuji Live Rock-60$

5 lb bag of Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand-10$

5 lb bag of Ultra Reef Marine Sand-3$

A Instant Ocean Hydrometer-11$

25 gallons worth of Oceanic salt-12$

A generic thermometer-3$

A Koralia Nano 240gph power head-31$

An API salt water and reef master test kit-27$-22$

Poli-fil for filter

10 gallons of Distilled water-10$

Timer for my lights-7$

50w Jager heater-24$

A pair of long cuff neoprene gloves-5$

2 Turkey Basters-3$

Thongs-3$

Small piece of acrylic for splash guard- 3$

5 gallon Bucket from Home Depo with cap-4$

Small no name power head for mixing water change

25 watt tetra heater for mixing water change

Mag-Float mini cleaner

Future gear I want to get:

NIMBLE NANO!!

Better Lighting when I have $ to burn:

Coralife 50/50 10 watt mini compact-16$

2x 15 blue LED strips (moonlighting)

MR 16 bulbs that most people have running in the edge- 20$

Some small T5 set up, or Par38, or nano tubers custom, or DIY Cree

 

Hopeful future Live stock:

Pair of Ocellaris Tank Raised Clowns

Blood Shrimp or Pacific Cleaner Shrimp or Sunken Shrimp plus a Sexy Shrimp

2 snails and 4 hermits

Nerite snail, Cerith snail, and Blue Leg Hermit, or possible Scarlett Reef or conch

Still have time to think about my CUC

Looking into Soft Coral but again still have lots of time

 

The main thing I have learned about this hobby is that it requires:

LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS......AND LOTS of Patience, .......and money

 

Now for Pictures

 

[hotshot619]

Oh and to explain myself:

The filling and setting up my tank went a little haywire. (mostly cause I got to excited to be starting finally)

I had it all planned out but then didn't put the rock down first, then the sand then the water. I washed the non-live sand and then dumped in the live sand and then realized my mistake. Took a bunch of water out, mixed the sands, placed the rocks on the bottom and then re-filled and then ran the filter to take out all the particles and slowly but surely its clearing up, but I really need to get a magnet cleaner ASAP to get all the stuff off the glass.

Also the light is off my 90 gallon tank a coralife 50/50 just cause my other lights are not here yet.

 

Noob mistakes...No one can avoid them

[bruce922]

It looks good so far. Keep us updated with more pics when u get a chance.

[SAV602]

Man these things are popular, it's looking good so far. Where did you get it at? Mine was on sale for $99. I can't wait till my cycle is over in 2-3 weeks. I just ordered my nanocustoms edge light last night, I'm looking forward to see some algae growth

[hotshot619]

Yeah, I got it from Petco, online it was $99 but I went on eBay and found some guy selling $100 gift cir. for $70 so with shipping it was $78 That nanocustoms light looks so cool, but don't really have any dough left to spend for now.

[tmhasara]

Yeah, I got it from Petco, online it was $99 but I went on eBay and found some guy selling $100 gift cir. for $70 so with shipping it was $78 That nanocustoms light looks so cool, but don't really have any dough left to spend for now.

 

You should take a look at some MR-11 LED bulbs. They would be fairly inexpensive and give you a nicer / bluer look since you aren't planning on corals for a while.

[picoD]

Hey Adam,

 

I wanted to tell you it is VERY cool that my Edge is considered an inspiration to you!

Best of luck with your build!

 

Please feel free to PM me with any questions!

 

danielle

[hotshot619]

Thank you for the best wishes. I keep trying to re-scape my tank. Think I like it now.

More Photos:

[hotshot619]

Another day by, still looking into what exactly I want as my CUC. So happy to have finally started this. Another test done. Hope it cycles fast.

[hunggi74]

I'm 5 days into my cycling as well. I'm showing 0.6 ammonia and no nitrates or nitrites. PH is 7.5-8.0. I'm going to get a damsel if I don't see any changes after this weekend.

[hunggi74]

What are you using for filter? I've got some Chemipure in between filter floss. Do you know if the stock carbon that came with the tank is okay for filtering a saltwater tank? I gave up on the stock halogens and put a swingarm light above my tank like PicoD did hers. I'm still trying to decide which Par38 bulb to buy.

[tako]

I'm 5 days into my cycling as well. I'm showing 0.6 ammonia and no nitrates or nitrites. PH is 7.5-8.0. I'm going to get a damsel if I don't see any changes after this weekend.

 

You shouldn't if you have any ammonia showing. Be patient.

[Neet]

Good luck, looks like you're having a great start. My only advice is to never rush things and always do a lot of research.

[hotshot619]

Thanks for the advise, hope everyone is enjoying the Superbowl.

 

Yesterday:

 

 

Today, after looking at what might be a small worm that my girlfriend found, then she spotted a star fish hitchhiker!! SO happy to be assured that my tank is maintaining life in it I took a million photos as this little guy crawled over my rock. Very pleased that there is visible life to reassure me I'm not doing everything wrong.

 

Today:

 

 

Also REALLY hoping this might be a feather duster, but I will have to wait and see.

[hotshot619]

What are you using for filter? I've got some Chemipure in between filter floss. Do you know if the stock carbon that came with the tank is okay for filtering a saltwater tank? I gave up on the stock halogens and put a swingarm light above my tank like PicoD did hers. I'm still trying to decide which Par38 bulb to buy.

Right now I just have the white sponge it came with in, but I will be running poli-fil, and possible get Chemipure Elite, I'm sure the carbon is fine, but no need if you have live rock in it. IMO. As for the lighting I still got a week to decide, I think I'll drop in some MR16 leds, and then its a choice of going with a mini coralife 50/50 CFL , the 2 PAR38 bulbs which I do like, nanotubers custom, or try and make a CREE custom build. Don't really wanna spend a ton of money thought so IDK.

Good luck with yours :-)

[hunggi74]

Right now I just have the white sponge it came with in, but I will be running poli-fil, and possible get Chemipure Elite, I'm sure the carbon is fine, but no need if you have live rock in it. IMO. As for the lighting I still got a week to decide, I think I'll drop in some MR16 leds, and then its a choice of going with a mini coralife 50/50 CFL , the 2 PAR38 bulbs which I do like, or try and make a CREE custom build. Don't really wanna spend a ton of money thought so IDK.

Good luck with yours :-)

 

I found some hitchhikers on mine too. I believe I have a red feather duster, a black bristleworm and a red one. Cool that you got a starfish!

 

I got a cheap pair of MR-11LEDs from a local store, and when I put them in they started making a buzzing sound...took them out because I was afraid I'd fry the fixture. If you're going the PAR 38 route, wait to see if you like the Orphek PR25 that are coming out soon. I found them by accident on another forum but it says that they'll be available soon. There's a nice custom fit LED from Nanotuners, but the price is way too steep for me. It'd be hard to convince the wife to let me drop $300 for lights on a $100 tank

 

A full week in and no signs of ammonia rising or anything like that. I couldn't tell by your pics, are you're levels rising at all?

 

 

here's a shot of my tank cycling. Also, my bad, not a red feather duster that I have...

I don't know what this little guy is...

[hotshot619]

Levels seem to be staying the same, gonna keep checking every day, from research I know it can take anywhere from 1.5 weeks to 1.5 months, so gonna be patient. I took a look at those Orphek PR25 lights or well the semi review, looks interesting. I'll have to decide if they look like they are worth waiting over, its not the intensity of the lights that worries me, its the spread especially since my rock makes it all the way to the corners.

[hotshot619]

Looking into a custom T5 set up, in my head all day I was thinking about some cool ideas.

 

Today's readings

 

[GreenNoober]

Keep up the good work! Nice starfish

[hunggi74]

Looking into a custom T5 set up, in my head all day I was thinking about some cool ideas.

 

Today's readings

 

 

is the water in your hydrometer up to the fill line? I use a Coralife one and the fill line is almost at the top of the meter. i find that I have to top up the water in my tank every other day. I thinks it's due partly to evaporation and partly to me doing all those test with the water. I find my hydrometer reading between 1.022 to 1.024.

[hotshot619]

When i measure it, its filled up to the top, after that I pour some into the tubes to test. I keep mine at .025-.026 and topping off is pretty common, esp when trying to avoid micro bubbles.

 

Today:

[hotshot619]

Starting to notice a lot of green hair algae all over the place, hopefully I can pick up a emerald crab this weekend, also noticed a feather duster worm today pop out of the rock. Still indecisive about what I want to do with the lightning, but that nanotubers set up looks so nice. REALLY don't wanna spend that kind of money, maybe I'll email them and see if they were ever willing to do a group buy.

[hotshot619]

Offically have a diatom bloom going on my sand bed. Its been exactly one week of cycling, my only worry is that my lighting, A 50/50 is causing this huge growth of green hair algae. Hope I hit 0,0,0 soon so I can drop in some CUC and put those suckers to work.

 

Todays pics:

Levels look done, SUPER FAST cycling. Gonna wait another day or so to be safe after WC. Then CUC!

Tank got some Diatom bloom action going on. CUC will have to get right to work

Green hair Algae starting to take over, but hopefully will get eaten up with my CUC.

Star fish is doing well, keeps roaming this same rock. Soon to have some buddies.

[inferno2113]

I love your rockwork. Hopefully you can get a CuC in there soon to take care of that algae. I would invest in a refractometer if you can eBay has some for around 20 bucks.

[hotshot619]

Thanks I was very indecisive about it, but I think it looks good finally. I am actually thinking about trying to pull the rocks off the wall an inch or so for better flow around the backside. I am really excited to be putting some CUC in there and being able to watch them go. As for the Refractometer, I have seen them but for now I am just trying to pull as much money as I can for the best lighting set up and then I'll look into getting more specific and easier gear.