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Innovative Marine Aquariums

30 Gallon tank Journey


ndavis242

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Hi all,

 

Kind of newish here and my last thread died. FIgured I'd start one here with tank shots. I've finally gotten all the supplies am in now in the cycle phase, so here it goes!

 

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That's the tank after messing with the rock work a bit. Please ignore the glass, I need to get something to wipe it down >.<

 

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Corallife 65 Skimmer. I am really fighting with this thing. I can't get the flow down right, and if the water levels change at all it just constantly bubbles through the top into the overflow.

 

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A bit more of the sump and the protein skimmer.

 

And of course of the bad kitten that can't keep her hands away from the tank.

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Please let me know what you think so far! Also, any skimmer fighting tips would be appreciated!

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Chief Reefer

Tank looks nice, scape looks cool. What are your dimensions?

 

What sump is that? In my experience, skimmers need static water level. I'm currently tuning mine as well, and if the water lvl changes even a quarter inch, it throws the thing off.

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It's just a custom made one by the lfs I go to. Works decently well. As for the skimmer yeah, it's giving me fits.

 

Just tested the water though.

 

Ammonia 0. Nitrite 2 ph 8.0 and 0 nitrate. I don't think my cycle has even started. But then again there is nothing producing waste. I figured the live rock die off would, but apparently not. Hrm..

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've been fighting with the skimmer all weekend by dropping it lower into the sump. It wasnt even skimming the first night, but now its skimming rather well. The water level is a bit high but at least its doing its job.

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Just tested the water as I got home. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 20 ppm, and ph 8.0. I want to do a water change so bad haha.

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ndavis242

Just realized I havent updated this thread lately!

 

My cycle completed and I still have yet to catch the darn damsel. As of yesterday I reaquascaped, added a percula clown, a mushroom and some zoa.

 

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Nevermind the net in the tank. I am just trying to get the fish used to it so I can catch the darn damsel..

 

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The "mushroom"

 

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Some kind of Zoa I was told.

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I like your scape.

I also have a 30g tank I have plans for although I'm several months away from being able to get it started.

Your's looks to have the same dimensions as mine: 36x13x18h. I like the foot-print of this size tank.

 

I also have a kitten. A black 8month old boy named Magic.

I know exactly what your talking about because everything I do is for his personal enjoyment!

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this.

Chuck

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ndavis242

I like your scape.

I also have a 30g tank I have plans for although I'm several months away from being able to get it started.

Your's looks to have the same dimensions as mine: 36x13x18h. I like the foot-print of this size tank.

 

I also have a kitten. A black 8month old boy named Magic.

I know exactly what your talking about because everything I do is for his personal enjoyment!

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this.

Chuck

Thanks! Yes, I originally planned to start one in a 29 gallon. But I didnt like the height. I figured it was just farther for the lights to travel. So I saved up a bit and went with the 30 gallon long. Those are the exact dimensions. I love cats :P Mine is about 5 months old and she is a terror. But she is adorable, so she is allowed to live.

 

As for the lights, they are a Coralife t5 36 inch set. I believe the wattage is 79 watts I believe? I was told they'd be great for mostly soft corals etc. Though I am far from an expert on lights.

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My 30g will be my first attempt at corals, except the odd non-photo gorg I've kept a few times

I'm looking at keeping it simple to start; star polyps, clove polyp, xenia, etc.

I know some of the ones I'm looking at have a tendancy to take over large areas but that's fine for me.

 

I have a 29g and a 45g tanks that I can use later to expand my coral experiences.

 

Here's my trouble-maker, Magic...

5%20months-facing.jpg

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just a quick update with pics. Still can't catch the damsel sadly. And the clown doesnt move from the top left corner of the tank.

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Full tank shot. Currently at the "I want to add things, but likely shouldnt" stage.\

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An update! I have successfully evicted the evil damsel. Woke up saturday morning and he was really attacking my clown. I made it a job to get him out of the tank. It was hell, but the bottle trick and a net finally worked. Cornered him behind a power head and used the net to scare him into the bottle.


I traded the damsel in for a new clown. But when I got home the lfs accidentally gave me a larger ocellaris. My first mistake with this tank =/ I had planned to bring her back today if they didnt get along. They didnt, and my perc killed the larger ocellaris after lights out :(


I got it out of the tank this morning, checked paramaters and have since gotten a new smaller perc, and picked up a new power head. These two percs are definitely getting along better. Also my daughter is none the wiser about her "nemos".


I'll see if I can't get some pics up later. Even though the sand looks terrible with purple algae all over it.

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Back with pics .But after some research, it is not algae at all, but cynobacteria. I am hoping it will go away by adding a second powerhead for flow. But apparently it is part of "the uglies" all newer tanks go through. But anyhow, onto pictures.


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The new clown addition. Not near the amount of fighting that there was yesterday.


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Mexican turbo snails puting in work. Also my zoas and a mushroom.


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Unknown leather coral i saved from Petco, as well as my other mushroom on the otherside of tank.


There is also a sixline wrasse in the tank now, but he hasnt stood still enough to get a decent shot.

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Switched over to LED lighting today. It makes the tank look beautiful, but I am worried it is not fully lighting the tank. What do all of you think?

 

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What light did you get?

 

Switched over to LED lighting today. It makes the tank look beautiful, but I am worried it is not fully lighting the tank. What do all of you think?

 

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Here is a bit better pic with the lights fully on. The back right of the tank looks a little dark. Not sure how much that will truly effect, though.

 

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Thursday I lost my sixline wrasse. When I got home from work it had somehow jumped the overflow and took a ride down to the sump. If I had a filter sock it likely would have made it, but sadly I have a tray system and he died. :( I have since added a diamond goby. He's pretty neat. I think if I ever add a 5th fish it will be another sixline wrasse, though.

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HarryPotter

Thursday I lost my sixline wrasse. When I got home from work it had somehow jumped the overflow and took a ride down to the sump. If I had a filter sock it likely would have made it, but sadly I have a tray system and he died. :( I have since added a diamond goby. He's pretty neat. I think if I ever add a 5th fish it will be another sixline wrasse, though.

Oh man that stinks, sorry for your loss. Do you think you can DIY a cover?

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Thanks Harry. That's the problem. The drain line goes right into the middle of the lid. Directly under it are 3 trays for filter media. I just have a filter pad there. He was still wet, but obviously not enough to stay alive. I'll pick up another one in a month or so.

 

In hind sight he was actually kind of mean. Picking on my clowns toward the end a bit. Noone picks on my clowns :D

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Full tank pic update shot. The frogspawn is growing like a weed. Diamond Goby is putting in alot of work on the sand. Lost my flame angel to..something today. Expensive fish down the drain. Will not be putting one back in. Got another six line wrasse today though. I'm at a stopping phase. Nothing is going to be added for quite some time at this point. Water paramaters are all great. Etc. Time to let stuff grow.


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HarryPotter

Thanks Harry. That's the problem. The drain line goes right into the middle of the lid. Directly under it are 3 trays for filter media. I just have a filter pad there. He was still wet, but obviously not enough to stay alive. I'll pick up another one in a month or so.

 

In hind sight he was actually kind of mean. Picking on my clowns toward the end a bit. Noone picks on my clowns :D

 

Hmmm.... Bummer.

 

I have a rimless tank and am hoping to get a pair of clowns soon. Im worried that they'll jump! Maybe a DIY mesh cover? But its a rimless bowfront :(:wacko::excl:

 

Yeah if anything picks on my favorites they're kicked out too. A Coral Banded Shrimp was nipping the mantle of my clam- HELL NAW. Back to the LFS he goes!

 

Full tank pic update shot. The frogspawn is growing like a weed. Diamond Goby is putting in alot of work on the sand. Lost my flame angel to..something today. Expensive fish down the drain. Will not be putting one back in. Got another six line wrasse today though. I'm at a stopping phase. Nothing is going to be added for quite some time at this point. Water paramaters are all great. Etc. Time to let stuff grow.
20150530_135611_zpscb9wo9di.jpg

 

 

Looking great! I would recommend running some Chemi-Clean to get rid of the CyanoBacteria on the sand though! Its really easy, safe, and quick!

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Hmmm.... Bummer.

 

I have a rimless tank and am hoping to get a pair of clowns soon. Im worried that they'll jump! Maybe a DIY mesh cover? But its a rimless bowfront :(:wacko::excl:

 

Yeah if anything picks on my favorites they're kicked out too. A Coral Banded Shrimp was nipping the mantle of my clam- HELL NAW. Back to the LFS he goes!

 

Looking great! I would recommend running some Chemi-Clean to get rid of the CyanoBacteria on the sand though! Its really easy, safe, and quick!

 

 

I tried red sea slime remover. It worked..a bit. I'm going the natural route and added a third power head and repositioned my other two. We'll see how it goes. As for the mesh top I had my LFS design me one for my tank. Not sure if you have an LFS in the area that can do the same. But from what I've read it's not to hard to make. Check out a youtube video?

As for my clowns, If only I could get them to stop hosting the darned mag float and host the lovely frogspawn, or RBTA that'd be great -.-

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HarryPotter

My problem is that my tank is a rimless bowfront. I guess I could make a square cover and just leave 2cm on the front bare, but that might look weird.

 

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