Okay so my progression in reef tanks has gone from a nano tank to a full sized reef tank. My original idea was to get a JBJ 24 gallon tank. After doing some research I moved up to a 34 gallon Red Sea Max. After still doing more research I decided that I was going to get a 39 gallon Cadlight. Then still after further research and a great opportunity to get a 75 gallon (which barely fit in my apartment) I decided to finally pull the trigger and go for one. It took me about a week or so to get everything together but I finally got water in the tank along with roughly 135 lb of live rock (found a great deal on craigslist when a guy decided to break down his 215 gallon tank and gave me his live rock for less than $2.00 a pound). I have not completed my project yet still have to get a light for my tank (thinking a 4 bulb tek) and a few other odds and ends which will come in the next week or two. I completed my first tests of the water and the results were as follows.

Ammonia 0.00ppm
Nitrite 0.00ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
Ph 8.4

Temp is around 81 (planning to order a digital thermometer soon, right now all I have is one of those stick on thermometers) and the salinity is around 1.023. I need order the testing solution for my refractometer b/c I think its reading high. The (trusted) local fish store I go to hydrometer registered the salinity at 1.023 and my refractometer measured it at around 1.027. I doubt its that high (since I bought the water from them) and I plan on checking it against something more accurate in the near future.

I think my ammonia and nitrates are low due to the fact that the live rock I got is very well established (and I therefore had little die off) and due to a minor plumbing problem I was forced to put 40 gallons in yesterday and then add another 25 gallons today. I'm gonna wait a day or so and test the water again.

I'm currently running an oceanic plus series model 4 protein skimmer with an eheim 125 gph pump. I know you're not supposed to run a protein skimmer but everyone tells me that and then adds "but I ran mine during my cycle". Plus I anna make sure the thing is working well. I also have (roughly) a 900gph return pump (it was a used pump that was purchased with the tank so I'm not 100% sure of its exact stats). I'm also running 2 maxi jet powerheads and a third (unknown brand name) powerhead to assist with circulation. I'm planning on adding some activated carbon after the cycle is complete along with some cheato in my refugium (12 gallon roughly).

But enough talk onto pics:

Empty tank just moved in:


Empty Sump:


Protein Skimmer:


Filled Sump:


Filled tank:

135 Pounds of what kind of LR? Are you gonna reaquascape?

Following along...

Its all different kinds of live rock (tonga, fiji, etc), bascially the guy told me to take all the rock he had left b/c he wanted to finish breaking down his tank and he wouldn't charge me for anything over 100 lb b/c he wanted to get rid of it (ended up getting 159 lb and sold some of it to the LFS). I'll do some minor tweeking to the aquascape (I'm thinking I may take some rock out since I probably went a bit overboard with it) but I don't think I'll do any major changes unless I see a real problem with flow or something. Thats not a very clear picture (will get a better one once I have a light on it) but there are alot of cool caves and what not that I created.

Looks great, the cherry stand is awesome. I used to take every bit of information on this site seriously, to the tooth. But as I got more and more experience, I learned that every tank is different. Every scenario is different, I certainly ran my skimmer during cycling. And when I moved 45miles away, my 29gallon which has a deep sand bed, got disturbed. I had a huge ammonia spike with all of my live stock. I added an extra carbon bag, and got some prime which makes ammonia and nitrates non toxic. Never lost anything. And honestly your liverock looks like it has been in an established system for quite some time. I would test the tank everyday at the same time, for at least a week. If you don't see any rise in ammonia, I wouldent even worry about it. Looks like a great start!! Definitely staying tune for this build, feel free to check out my 72 gallon nightmare I just started to build yesterday.

Looks like you're off to a good start. I'm curious why you T'd off the drain though, any particular reason?

Duel filter socks on that Berlin sump.

Yeah the guy who I bought the tank from gave me the entire system for just what the stand alone would have cost. I was really excited about that b/c I wanted the tank to look good in my living room.

The guy I bought the LR from had, had his 215 gallon for years and years so I might not have as hard a cycle. But I wanna make sure before I go and put anything in the tank.

And yeah I'll check out your tank too...




Thanks...the guy who bult the sump and the tank T'd it off like that (he owns his own fish store now so I figure it was for a good reason) and the guy who had the tank before me just did some minor modifying and put the intake like it is now. We had to cute the pluming apart when I moved the tank (pain in the a$$ to rebuild) so I basically just went back and re-did the tank plumbing like it was before.

Anybody have any idea's how to fix this, or if I should even be worried about it



The return (smaller pipe) is leaking very slowing (dripping in like 2 spaces and a small stream in another). All in all 90-95% its going right back into the sump (slight bit splashes off the pipes and exits the sump). I used a rubber washer when I set the thing up that apparently didnt work to well. I don't want to permamently adhere the pipe to the glass using sealer b/c when I do eventually move out of my apartment I will have to tear the tank down (pain in the a$$) and I'll never belable to get that pipe out (and therefore I wont be able to move the tank). I was thinking either leave it as is and let the water run back into the sump (and the few drops that splash out every once and awhile just clean up) or get another rubber washer, drain the return cut the washer and slide it around this side of the piping and then rescrew it. Any thoughts?

is it leaking from the bulkhead or the pipe? if its the bulkhead did u tighten a 1/4 turn past hand tight? also if its the bh u can drain just the overflow and replace it. nor u could do what i would do. wait like a week and see if the salt creep seals it up.

Its leaking from the bulk head. I can't replace the bulk head at this point without replacing the entire return piping system b/c I'd have to cut it apart due to the fact that its sealed with the other pipes (something I prefer not to do). Salt creep idea sounds kinda like good idea to me though...lol

Am I correct in assuming that if its leaking back into the sump it wont hurt anything though?

Yeah won't hurt anything. Salt creep won't seal it up though. Maybe check out reef safe aquarium grease. I saw that stuff somewhere and its supposed to do what you wanted. Temporarily seal it.

Try loosening the bulkhead and getting the washer to slide around a little and tightening it back down. I had a small chip on the hole I drilled for my return line and the washer didn't seal correctly the first time I tightened it down. I drained the water level to below the bulkhead (mines on the back glass, you can just drain you're overflow) and unscrewed, rearranged, and re-tightened the bulkhead. Been fine for 6 months now.

add about a tube of silicon to it!!!

Other than the minor leak looks like your tank is doing well. What are your plans for it?

As far as the leak I would use some reef safe silicone to seal it up. I know it is a pain to remove it when you move but it does not take long with a razorblade and a skilled hand.

+1. On both sides.


--bubbles

I think I'll try this method...I've already tried tightening the heck out of the screw and I'm afraid if I go any further I might break something (so don't wanna do that...I have nightmares about this thing flooding my apartment).

I'm planning on doing a reef tank. Several fish of course such as clowns, gobbies, bennys, wrasses, a flame angel (if I can get one that doesn't annoy my coral...I just love the way those things look) and I'm thinking a yellow tang and a hippo tang (possibly...I've read that a minimum tank for them is 55 so I might try it)...I kinda wanted a powder blue tang in place of one of the tangs (probably the hippo) b/c my dad loved those and he's the reason I got into salt water fish but I think it might be to big for the tank (I read those need like 125 gallon tanks or something). I was also planning on keeping nice corals but relatively simple ones, LPS, BTA's, Zoos, and possibly a clam or 2 (if I can keep the 1st one alive) and maybe some hardier SPS (towards the top of the tank). I haven't ordered my Tek lighting yet b/c a) nothings in my tank yet, and I haven't quite decided on a bulb combination. I was thinking 1-ATI Blue Plus, 1-ATI 12000k aquablue, 1-UV Lighting 10000K AquaSun, and 1-UV Lighting Super Actinic. I've been told by several people to replace the actinic with another blue bulb. I'm still batting this idea around and I was also thinking of replacing the 10000k UV aquasun with something b/c I'm not sure if I want that redish glow in my aquarium (from what I've been told about them). Not sure with what though. I might just do Maybe 2 12000k aquablues, 1 ATI blue plus, and 1 UV super actinic. I'm not to well skilled in the art of lighting yet so I'm not 100% sure on anything yet. Or possibly a 50/50 or a 75/25 actinic daylight bulb...gggrr...don't know yet...I kinda want a "clearer" look in my tank (therefore I prefer a "whiter" bulb rather than blue, but I don't wanna sacrifice power/lighting ability for coral). Any thoughts?

I tested my water yesterday again and came up with the same results as I did my first day:

Ammonia 0.00ppm
Nitrite 0.00ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
Ph 8.4

I ordered some calibration fluid for my refractometer so I can get an exact salinity test (since I've been messing with the water level in my sump a little and I'm pretty sure my refractometer is off). One of my friends is getting me a calcium test kit for Christmas (yes Christmas not, "the holiday season") so I should know what range that is in soon enough, and I just ordered a digital thermometer from marinedepo.com so I should have an exact temp measurement soon. Right now I think the temp is hovering around 81 degrees according to my little sticky thermometer thing.

I'm going to continue to test my water for about another week or so to see if the levels change but I'm starting to think they may not due to the fact that the live rock was from such an established tank. I may go to my LFS this weekend and along with flirting with the hot girl that works there (lol) I'll pick up some cheato to help lower my nitrates. I'm also toying with the idea of removing alittle bit of live rock; 135 pounds I think is a bit much and I don't have much of a sand bed showing right now. I think my CUC may appreciate alittle bit of an exposed sand bed. Plus I like watching the nassarius snails going through the sand. Any thoughts here?

About the LR problem:

Instead of having it all spread out, try cementing the LR vertical. with this.

I'll be trying this "vertical LR placement" technique with my 170+lbs in my 125g. it creates a lot of "shelf" space for corals and what not.

good start..

Okay so I need some suggestions. I wanna put in some moonlights for my tank and I'm torn between this one:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=15551

(I would buy 3 of them)

or this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-4-LED-Bar-Beam-Moonl...%3A1%7C294%3A50

I'm alittle wary of the ones on ebay b/c I think they may put out to much light. I'm also torn if I should get white or blue. I'm kinda leaning towards blue b/c I think it'll be alittle darker and give a more natural moonlight appearance. Any thoughts?

Both have pro's and con's. The ebay ones are narrow beam. Or so they claim. It would be like a spotlight of led light. Actually they both look to do the same thing. maybe a N-r.com member by the name of Evil66 can help you out. He's pretty good with LED technology.

Personally I would be looking at these: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=12760

Yeah I do like the looks of those but I wont be able to make them work with my tank.

Okay photo updates:

Much clearer picture and alittle bit of aquascaping done also



Sump is still running well:



My levels have yet to change since day one. I'm thinking I'll wait about another week and then maybe add some cheato or something and see what happens with the nitrate levels.

got enough glue on the valve? i think you missed a spot

haha...yeah that was a fix that I had to do...Ace Hardware sold me a part that "fit" but didn't seal (the screw in top). I had already put the tank together and didn't want to cut apart the plumbing again, so I just added more sealant to the plumbing and it fixed the problem. It'll be a pain to take apart now I'm sure though. I'll still have to cut it apart when I do eventually move (however many years down the road that may be) but now I only have to do once as apposed to twice. Hopefully I didn't get any pvc cement on the bottom screw in cap so I can get that one off when the time comes...

Okay I know this is an AWFUL picture but I was trying to get a close up shot (I'll try this again once I get my light up and running). But can anyone tell if these are just feather dusters...They're look like tiny tubes that are covering some of my live rock. I've seen 1 or 2 that appear to have the feather duster heads but I just wanted to double check with everyone....



EDIT: Actually upon closer inspection they appear A LOT like feather dusters...If anyone thinks any differently let me know though...

Okay update time. I recieved some new toys in the mail today.

RO Unit (hopefully I wont need DI since I'm only going to use it as a top off)...Thank you SteveT and $0.01 Petsmart for that...



Cooling fan (sucker is loud but puts out a lot of air...had to put it in my sump to quite the thing down some).





Thermometer (yes I know the temp is low I had just placed it in the tank...waiting for a couple hours before I adjust).



Added some Cheato this weekend also. Hopefully that'll help pull some of my nitrates down. They're still at 20 ppm (everything else looks good though).



On a side note it appears (going to triple check) that my salinity was a bit high (refractometer seemed to be right this whole time). Right now my salinity is about 1.026-1.027. I wanna bring it down to about 1.024. The LFS I go to usually keeps their's around 1.023 but I requested him to get mine a bit higher (1.024) and I think he went overboard (plus they only use a hydrometer to check their water). My plan was to pull about a gallon of water out and replace it with RO water. And repeat as needed ever few hours (after triple checking my refractometer with another LFS of course). Does this sound like a good idea?

Also, my hellolight.com 8 bulb lamp should also be arriving soon. I'll get picks of that when I get it also.

1.026 is what I keep my tank at. It's perfect for me.

Yes, but I'd rather have some play either way with my salinity so if it drops alittle the tank will still be okay and if it goes up alittle the tank will also still be okay...Its my OCD side....lol

Okay so update time. Finally got my lights (and bulbs) from hellolights.com (awsome deal). I mounted the legs and put everything on today. Here are some pics:

Lights on:







Lights off:



Drilled holes:





bolted the legs:





Ta-Da!





I am however now having some trouble with my temp (now keep in mind I've only had the light running like 2 hours). Had to turn on my cooling fan and that seems to be helping some. Still running in the lower 80's though (seem to fluctuate in the 81 degree range). I'm toying with the idea of getting another cooling fan to put ontop of the tank.

I also got my RO/DI unit. Still testing that out but I will post pic's shortly.

Nice leg work. Do you have a second thermometer or just the corallife? I had three "drift" on me in a bad way. I recommend picking up an old school $2 glass one to verify.

I may do that...It was drifting from 81.1 to 81.9 up and down for about 2 hours...I do have one of those sticky thermometer that's on the side of the tank (that came with it). I don't trust it to much though...it was saying my temp was like 85 or something.

Just a recommendation, but you should peel that sticky thermometer off and throw it away...it just tells you how hot or cool the outside of the glass is, not the water inside....Glass has pretty poor thermal conduction properties.....

Yeah I don't really pay much attention to the sticky thermometer...

Okay got some pic's of my RO/DI unit. Had the water tested and it had a TDS of 2. I think its going to go down over time though since I just got the unit:





It was becoming a major pain to have to take my sink apart every time I needed some RO/DI water so my (very inventive) maintenance man told me one day, "Why don't you just run the water from your laundry room faucet?". I thought this was brilliant so it was off to Ace Hardware after this. I bought a 4 foot extention hose (in order to distance the splitter from the nosel itself...didn't feel comfortable with the seal I had), got a splitter and split one line to my laundry machine and the other line to my RO/DI unit. Whenever I need fresh water I just cut the water off to my laundry machine and turn the water on to my RO/DI unit, MAKEING SURE not to forget I'm filling my RO/DI water jug (again) since its out of the way at this point.

It also appears that my cycle may have started (or an error with the testing kit). I was testing my water today (after 2-3 weeks of the tank being up and running) and I got an amonia of .25? My nitrites were still zero and my nitrates had gone back up to 20 (from 15). I find this slightly bizzar but okay I guess. Could this possibly be b/c I finally got a light going ontop of my tank?

Does your RO filter have an Auto shut-off valve?

I have this waterjug and I have both openings over the open basin of my washing machine.


I'd rather not say how many floods I had before I figured it out though.

nice thread, i am moving my 75 gallon hex into a standard 75 myself, its been a FW tank for a while, not reef ready so...

ordered this 1500gph overflow kit
http://www.glass-holes.com/product.sc?cate...amp;productId=7

drilling two 1.5" holes in the back upper corners for the return bulkheads and locline

picked up the 4x54W 48" hellolights fixture myself, missed the 8x54W sale by a day or so, should be fine though

already had most of the rock and sand but ordered another 50 lbs of non-live white marine sand from fijisandman on ebay to deepen the sandbed

all in all it looks like it will be fun, should be drilling by this weekend and moving it in the apartment

The only shut off valve I have for it, is at the splitter. I caused 1 minor flood when (about a gallon or so) the first time I used it but it was pretty easy to clean it up. I just have to make sure to keep my laundry room door open now so I remember that I'm making RO/DI water and don't cause another flood.

Forgot to mention in my last post that I drain the waist water through my washing machine. Just hit the spin cycle for a minute or 2 and the water is gone. I'm sure my water bill is going to go up next month though along with my electric bill...lol

oh, you can use the waste water for laundry too btw.

Really?...hhmm...now there's a thought that could save me some money....

What did you pay for your lights if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking for a good deal right now!

$200.00 shipped from hellolights.com

That light fixture is not avalible anymore though (they sold out of it)...The 4 bulb combo is still avalible though...

Found this thread today

Okay so update time.

After running my lights for 2 weeks I tested my nitrates today and they were 0 (woohoo! cycled finished). I've also noticed a diatom bloom so my plan is to go this friday/saturday (after I get paid) and get a CUC. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe 5 red legged hermit crabs, 5 blue, a couple of turbo snails, and a pair of nassarious snails, and a emerald crab and possibly a sally lightfoot crab?

Here are some updated pics:

I added my wooden top back on the aquarium b/c the light was so blinding it was giving me a headache when I sat on my couch next to it watching TV. I then moved my fan up to the top of the aquarium in order to get better air circulation. I think that and toying with my heater (lowering it mainly) helped to control my temp issue. Its now holding at around 77 degrees. I also chose to go with a glass thermometer to double check the digital I have. I also plan on getting a second fan for the other side of the tank for summer time


Close up...Ah algea!!!

Okay so update time. Since all my parameters (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) were reading 0.00 I decided to put life into my tank finally. I went to my LFS and picted up a CUC and two fish.

The CUC consists of

2 red legged hermit crabs
2 astria snails
2 nassarius snails

I plan getting alittle bigger CUC but I wanted to start small at first b/c I'd rather get to little and have to add more than get 2 much. I'm also thinking I may either add a sally lightfoot crab or an emerald crab (or both) to combat my hair algea problem that is beginning to grow.

I also picked up a false percula clown (that I swear has ADHD...wont sit still for 1 second) and a firefish clown goby.

Now for pics.

Acclimation time:



Firefish Goby:



False Percula Clown (this was the best pic I could get seeing as how he hasn't stopped darting around since he's been in the tank):

Any thoughts anyone (Am I completely screwing up or still going along well)?

I think you're doing fine. One turbo would help clean that large a tank. I also think it's coral time.

Really? Coral time already? Its only been 1 month I thought you were supposed to wait like 6 or something?

I'm also planning on adding a few more things to my CUC. I'm thinking a Sally Light foot Crab, and an Emerald Crab (probably both). And maybe 1 or 2 more snails.

I had corals in mine within 3 weeks of startup. My tank soft cycled in 5 days and I added CUC + 2 clowns and a small midas blenny. A week later I added 2 shrimp, pom pom xenia and a torch euphyllia.

I think yours looks great, but you'll need a larger CUC. I would highly advise AGAINST blue leg hermits if you choose to go with nassarius snails. I HAD 5 nassarius snails that were AWESOME at keeping the sand clean of detritus and food and then I added 5 blue leg hermits because I read they eat cyano. Now all my nass snails are dead and my blue leg hermits are wearing their shells.. ####ers..

I have a rather large CUC in my 20H. I've got 10 scarlet reef hermits, 8 astrea snails, 2 trochus snails, 2cerith snails, 5 blue leg hermits and 5 nassarius snails. I still get a good green film on my glass, but for the most part everything stays clean and I run skimmerless. I've also got 3 koralia1's for some really good flow for the clowns and blenny.

The emerald crab is fun to watch, but I've heard the red mitrhax is better for algea and just as personable. I was re-arranging my father-in-laws rockwork today (because he just bout 40lbs of LR and just threw it in there forcing all the fish to the left side of the tank in his 55).. I pulled out a piece of rock and after a few mins realized the emerald was on it. I let him crawl in my hand and he crawled around for a little bit before I put him back into the tank. It was pretty entertaining.

You're lights are awefully high above the tank, can you adjust the legs so they're lower and you have less spillover into the room and more into the tank?

you're doing great, and the tank is looking good! but, it's no where near coral time. you need to wait a bit to ensure STABLE parameters. this might take another 2 or so months. note; putting coral in a tank at the 3 or 4 month mark is still half of what most people would advise, but it's still doable. I just wouldn't rush into it if I were you. nice progress though. keep it up!

I didn't know that about blue leg hermit crabs. I guess I'll stick to red. I'm planning on adding a few more snails and crabs. Whats best for the hair algea I have growing like crazy right now (both green and brown)?

I can adjust the lights (I'm only running 4 of the 8 bubls right now since I don't have any corals) but I was told to keep the light 6-8 inches off the water? So I'm confused now.

Any advise on how I can get my firefish goby to start eating (I know its only been 2 days but I haven't seen him eat and I kinda feel bad for him). Right now I'm feeding them Prime Reef Flakes but I'm thinking I may need to switch over to mysis shrimp since thats what they were fed at the LFS and they may not know what flakes are (the clown eats the flakes but doesn't seem to enthused about it). I'm thinking it also may be that they were just put into the tank.

I added corals a month before I added fish. Fish waste and improper feeding will disrupt the stability of a tank much more than corals will. Now, I wouldn't go the SPS or anemone route, but I think softies would be fine at this point.