VannReefer87 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Hi everyone, I'm keeping this post as a diary for my first SW tank. I bought the tank and equipment last weekend and set it up the same day. Here is what I got: 37g AGA tank, Current USA 130watt lighting system with dual actinic and 10k and 7k daylights with lunar light buit in, a CPR refugium/protein skimmer as my filtering unit, 2 Maxi-Jet 600's for flow, Pro Heat 150w heater, digital temp gauge, 20lbs base sand, and seeded with 8lbs of live sand. 32lbs of various LR and various algae and LR rubble in the refugium. The tank has been running now for two weeks and when I took the levels with my Marine Test Kit and my levels were all zero except for Nitrate which was 20ppm. I had a nice algae bloom all over my rocks, glass and custom background and since the levels were low the LFS I go to and trust told me to do a 20% water change and pick up a few snails and crabs, so I did. 2 Cerith 2 Blue Legged Hermits 2 Astrea 2 Red Legged Hermits 2 Margarita Snails 1 Zebra Hermit My mom then decided to surprise me with a blue/green chromis pair two days later, which I liked but kinda knew the tank wasn't ready and didnt want to add them but I did and they are doing fine. Here are pics of my tank (still lots of algae) and any advice or comments are much appreciated. Thank you! Link to comment
HotRod68Camaro Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 what anemone is that? i dont think there is any anemone that will flourish under that amount of light. you should not do a water change untill the cycle is complete or it will prolong the cycle. im really digging the background looks good Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 4, 2006 Author Share Posted April 4, 2006 thanks hotrod, its a condy anemone that was given to me...again i know i should be stocking so early and i'm not going to do a water change until the cycle is complete. Anyone think i need more snails to clear up the algae? Link to comment
HotRod68Camaro Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 the algae will slow down once the cycle is complete so i would say just wait till the cycle and see if you already have enough to take care of the algae Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 4, 2006 Author Share Posted April 4, 2006 alright, thats what I was hoping...thanks again! Keep it coming! Link to comment
Kogut Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Just making sure, but you do know that the clownfish won't go in that condy, right? Otherwise, just take it slow(er) b/c you're off to a decent start. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 4, 2006 Author Share Posted April 4, 2006 Thanks Koqut, I was told that the clown would not go into the Condy, but the Condy was free and I was told it was a good starter anenome. I eventually will get a bubble tip for the clown and give to condy to a friend with a AP. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Hey, my mom called me today at school (college) and said that my tank had a brownish film on top of the water, the tank is still cycling and has a chromis and clown in it ( I know not a good idea, mom put them in there) anyone know what is causing this or how to fix it? Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 how much do those run?...cuz I have a protien skimmer running now...and the refugium takes up a lot of room on the back of the tank Could I hook it up to one of my power heads already in there? Link to comment
Obsessed Reefer Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 I'm pretty sure you could. And you only have 2 600's??? I have a 1200 on my 12G NC DX? Might want to add some. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 that would be great, maybe I could even hook it up to the intake to my protein skimmer and have it act as in intake and surface skimmer at once. As far as the two power heads, they might be bigger..I made this thread at college and don't have the boxes right in front of me, I'll def check that out tho. Thanks Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 no, they are both 600's I just looked at my pic and I can see the label that says "Maxi-Jet 600" Maybe I'll pick up a bigger power head this weekend for the one side and run the other maxi-jet down towards the bottom of the tank. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 This work for a surface skimmer? I plan on hooking it up to the intake of my protein skimmer/refugium Link to comment
Obsessed Reefer Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 YES one of the good ones Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 lol is that sarcasm...or are those really ok? Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 alright, thanks Reefer..ur tank up and running with livestock yet..i saw your thread earlier Link to comment
Obsessed Reefer Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 if you consider 3 snails livestock... lol not yet. im goin on a cruise in may and cant find someone to feed fish and all that so not till after that. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 well at least ur tank will be well cycled, unlike mine and you'll be ready to go Link to comment
Obsessed Reefer Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 HA. mine was cycled in like a week. if you look at when i first added rock and all the algea that was on it. no need for outbreaks lol Link to comment
Smada77 Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Seeing as this is your first foray into SW, and you have compact flourescent lighting, I would get rid of that Condy ASAP. If it dies, it will nuke your whole tank, killing all your fish. Call your LFS to see if they will give you store credit for the thing. Make sure you call BEFORE you go! Nothing like packing up livestock, driving to the store to find out they won't give you $$$ for it! Just a suggestion... You seem to be doing okay (going a bit fast, but you realize that) and we all want to see your tank thrive. Also, if you point (at least one of) your powerheads toward the surface, it should break up the water, helping your nastay film buildup. Not straight up, though... For a guide, look at the directions. Best of luck to you! Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Thanks alot Smadda!!..I agree the Condy probably needs to go, is there any way to tell if its going to die? He looks very well and he's been in there for 4 days, thanks everyone, I'll save this tank yet! Link to comment
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