mystersyster Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Quick Sunday update. My tank has cleared up a lot! Still pretty cloudy though. I guess I have to be patient with such fine argonite. The salinity is about 1.028, trying to get down to 1.026 slowly over the next few days. Live rock has been added, and some more dry/live will be added to the refugium. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 After researching for a some I have come to hold the opinion that royal grammas can be successfully housed together. I believe it is a misconception they are overly aggressive to their own kind in nano tanks above 20 gallons. I have only found cases where, when introduced together, a pecking order is established and they live in harmony. Yesterday I added my first fish to the aquarium. A pair of juvenile Royal Gramma. More pictures to come after they get more comfortable coming out. I tried to keep things as clean looking as possible with an iron openstand. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 7, 2015 Author Share Posted September 7, 2015 It took less than a day for them to come out. They eat like pigs, and aren't afraid to stay out when I'm next to the tank. I'm feeding them a frozen carnivore diet. Now that they are settling in I'm already thinking about the next fish. I really want a wrasse other than a six line or possum. Anyone have any experience with pretty wrasse in a tank around my size? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks! Link to comment
righttirefire Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I know you're at that critical time looking at a blank canvas. But give your tank a couple weeks to a month. Definitely start looking and researching your next fish. But establish good habits now. Maintance schedule. Proper feeding. Check your levels. You bioload is in Flux right now. It'll need to cache up and balance again Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 I know you're at that critical time looking at a blank canvas. But give your tank a couple weeks to a month. Definitely start looking and researching your next fish. But establish good habits now. Maintance schedule. Proper feeding. Check your levels. You bioload is in Flux right now. It'll need to cache up and balance again Hey thanks fire. I'm in total agreement with you. I'm probably going to wait at least a month. I get 15 pounds of dry rock in a couple of days ill be adding. I really want that rock to start hosting bacteria before I add anything else. By that point I'll have about 35 pounds of LR. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Current FTS. What do you all think of the scape? Keep it? Link to comment
righttirefire Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Do you have more rock coming? You're missing a lot of usable light. By having the middle so open and no elevation. It looks most your rock is in lower light places limiting coral selection Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 I have another 2 medium large pieces. Trying to keep it clean. I'm going to play with it some more Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Got the two pieces in the back to the front. I would be concerened about the lighting but I can raise it up way higher and its at 15 percent whites and 35 percent blue. So I have room to brighten. And I want a clam up front. The thing that regret as well is the overflow placement. Wish I had put it on the left side Link to comment
righttirefire Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Really? I was thinking I wanted to use a center overflow in my next build, 40 breeder. But you'd prefer a corner overflow? My 20 long has a left corner overflow and right corner return. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Really? I was thinking I wanted to use a center overflow in my next build, 40 breeder. But you'd prefer a corner overflow? My 20 long has a left corner overflow and right corner return. The two reasons being is that is messes with the aquascape. I don't like my rocks pushed forward. And the second would be the plumbing. It pretty much would go straight down. Something I can live with though. And it will look nicer once I have a black background. Link to comment
righttirefire Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Are you thinking just 1 corner over flow? Or both? Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 Just one with two holes drilled. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 So I decided to build my own stand. Love the look of my steel stand, however, I don't love it with the sump. Nor does my wife. Built the main guts of my stand today! Will be reinforcing the top frame with four more 2x4 studs. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Been working hard, getting the stand all dressed up Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Crown molding is a pain in my ash. More stand pics coming tomorrow. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Looks great so far! Hey thanks! I've gotten some trim on it. Huge learning experience. It has not turned out as nice as I had hoped. Hopefully it will look better with the stain. Its going to be weathered grey. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Pre water change parameters: Calcium: 160 Alkalinity: 7 Nitrate: 5ppm Salinity: 1.026 No corals yet. Anyone have an idea as to why my calcium would be so drastically low? I do 5 gallon water changes every Monday. I use instant ocean salt (not the reef crystals). Magnesium test kit will be here wednesday. Would this explain die off of coralline? Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Pre water change parameters: Calcium: 160 Alkalinity: 7 Nitrate: 5ppm Salinity: 1.026 No corals yet. Anyone have an idea as to why my calcium would be so drastically low? I do 5 gallon water changes every Monday. I use instant ocean salt (not the reef crystals). Magnesium test kit will be here wednesday. Would this explain die off of coralline? Test again Link to comment
mystersyster Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Dude, I just knew this would be here from you lol. Tested twice. I'll try again. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Test again 3 tests. Same results using an Api test kit. 160 ppm. 8 drops turn test solution blue. You use Api tests right? Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 3 tests. Same results using an Api test kit. 160 ppm. 8 drops turn test solution blue. You use Api tests right? Naa... They're prêtty much the least accurate test kit out there from what I've heard. I use Salifert. Link to comment
mystersyster Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 I could swear I've seen you recommend it. Yeah that's what people say but from what I've researched it gives similar results to salifert or red sea. I'm using nyos for my magnesium test. I'll confirm with my lfs. Link to comment
Benny314 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Ditch the API test. Complete waste of time for anything other than ball park figures for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. If you need accuracy you need another brand, my LFS use salifert, I've been using royal nature test, but they seem to have some funny ideas sometimes too. Next time I'm feeling rich I'll be buying salifert kits to replace my current ones. Link to comment
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