filekv5 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Hello, So I decided to start this new hobby. I'm a scuba diver and I just love reef's and decided to keep my own Tank: was a 20 gal - 24L x 16H x 12W I modified it a bit, built in a overflow box (my sump and fuge) 15 gal (actual size) 5 gal (overflow sump) Return pump: is tunze silence, I had to clog the return nozzle because it was a Bit too powerful The skimmer: Hydor Slim skin nano Power heads: 2x Hydor Koralia 240 gph Light : Current USA MARINE ORBIT LED 24-36" 23 Watt 48 Dual Daylight/48 Dual Actinic LEDs, 96 LEDs Total ( I might get the second one it all depends what will I decide to keep ) Heater : Jager 150 W Salt: Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Live rock ( well they only had seeded rock 7lb Dry Rock 9lb ( my LFS is not really well stocked) Live sand: Bio Activ Argonite 20lb (http://www.livesand.com/Aquarium-Sand-for-Saltwater-Aquariums/aquarium-sand-white-sand.html) So That is my setup: http://imageshack.com/f/ipnAQjAUj'> And the sump, I'm going to cover it with black foil or spray paint it so it doesn't look so ugly. Chamber 1 holds the skimmer, second chamber will hold my poly filter, chemi pure, and some phosguard, then there is my pico refugeum where i threw small piece of LR and will add Cheato algae and then the return pump. I know I did a butcher's job on the silicone So This is already day 2 of the cycle. I added 60 ml of One and Only DrTim's Aquatics nitrifying bacteria to help start off whatever was on the seeded live rock. So far I tested my water and here is what I got: Ph: one meter says 8.5 but the other says 7.9 I will have to calibrate them better but I believe the second one more so I would say ph of 8.0 Salinity: 1.024 Amonia 0 (testet with elos test kit - have to admit they are really nice) Nitrate 0 (tested with elos) Nitrite 8ppb (hana checker) Phosphate 0.25ppm (hanna) Alkalinity 200 [11.2dhk] (hanna) Calcium 490ppm (hanna) So I'm waiting for that amonia spike, so far I can't tell that the cycle started The sand said instant bacteria add fish right away, but I'm a skeptic I know I need to build the ecosystem. For now that is all, Post any comment's ideas and Tips. Thanks Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 If you have not already bought that light..... DON'T!!!!!! Koralia 240 gph are pretty weak... I would get the next size up if you haven't already purchased them. Link to comment
filekv5 Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Well, I already got everything bought and set up. What is wrong with the light? I have seen pretty good reviews from people. I know it wont handle any sps but other than that should be fine. For the powerheads yea they are not the strongest but I was hoping they will be fine for a small tank like this. They ware pretty cheap so I might upgrade if need be. Thank you for the Input, I will think about the lights Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Well, I already got everything bought and set up. What is wrong with the light? I have seen pretty good reviews from people. I know it wont handle any sps but other than that should be fine. For the powerheads yea they are not the strongest but I was hoping they will be fine for a small tank like this. They ware pretty cheap so I might upgrade if need be. Thank you for the Input, I will think about the lights It's not too bad of a light for a shallow tank. There are just some other options out there to consider at around the same price range that wouldn't limit you on what you could keep. No worries! That AIO compartment is pretty slick! Link to comment
ABC Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Nice AIO compartment, I ran the same skimmer and powerheads with a Aqua Clear70 seemed to work great, but I like your DIY design. Link to comment
filekv5 Posted October 4, 2014 Author Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thanks, just wish I had done a better job with silicone, should have used masking tape, but I started all wrong and glues the black divider first. After that I realized I dont have that much space to work with : ) I think I am going to add some more live rock like a branch maybe because the left upper section looks a little too empty. Even though the tank is empty I just like to sit there and stare at it : ) BTW: Does anyone know how to code the links to imageshac pictures right? I tried but couldnt do it and I dont like that you have to click on the link : / Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 like above? in imageshack page, click Get Links, change size to be bigger (i think cuz i am not owner, i only get thumbnail), change dropdown from HTML to Forum, copy and paste here. Link to comment
filekv5 Posted October 4, 2014 Author Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thank you so much Ninjamyst. Apparently Imageshack wants you to pay $3.99 a moth if u want big image links, but I just changed the size myself in the code and its free Thanks again Link to comment
filekv5 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 So it is day 12, just wanted to make a quick update: amonia: 0 Nitrate 1 Nitrite 30 Alkalinity 9.07dkh phosphate 0.07 Salinity 1.026 ph 8.07 calcium 448 Never seen any amonia spike, But I'm guessing its because of the live sand and the whole bottle of Dr. Tim one and only bacteria I added. I added a piece of shrimp to the tank at day 6, and have been ghost feeding the tank with some flakes after that to keep the bacteria population alive since there is no bio load. Added some black background to hide the cables as well as covering the side of the overflow that was visible from the front. Added the chemi pure elite, some phosguard and some poly filter. My phosphates ware going high at 0.48ppm after adding phosguard next day it was down to 0.07 this stuff works like a charm Started to run the protein skimmer, I like how quiet it is : ) So even though I never saw the amonia spike, it looks like I'm having the nitrite spike, so all that's left now is to wait for it to turn into nitrate and then do my water change. The clean up crew I'm planning to get is as follows: 1Scarlet Hermit Crab*1Blue Leg Hermit Crab*1Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crab*3Dwarf Cerith2Florida Cerith2Nassarius Vibex4Nerite Snail1Pods+2Zig Zag Periwinkles 1Chaeto Link to comment
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