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Just want to say hi :)


johnnyvega252

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johnnyvega252

Hello everyone,

My name is Johnny Im coming back after five years of not reefing. I decided to do this again as it relaxed me and i really really enjoyed it. Im starting my tank back up fresh with some stuff I had that I never opened because school got in the way. So I'm starting fresh. Still debating wether to use my H2Ocean sea salt i have on hand or going with reef crystals by instant ocean. I really enjoyed using this community back in the day and since i lost my login I'm forced to start from scratch. Anyhow just want to extend my hello to everyone.

CURRENT SETUP

Aqua Japan 15 gallon cube AIO
Hydor Koralia 240 gph

Via Aqua heater 100 watt
Stock return pump

Thermometer Time and Temp

LEDTRICK Twenty K 18 watt reef lamp

Air Water and Ice Mighty Mini Reverse osmosis
Submersible light for Chaeto

 

Current Life
15 lbs of BRS dry rock

Getting sand tomorrow and fixing a leak in my faucet that preventing me from using my RO/Di

 

Supplies & Testing

Marine Depot Refractometer

Getting Red Sea Test kits tomorrow

 

Current plan

Add 2 Ocellaris Clown Fish

Skunk Shrimp

Some snails

A lot of softies

Colt Coral

Zoas

Mushrooms

Frogspawn

 

an assortment of Tangs.... JK :) maybe one day when i can afford a bigger tank.

 

I have not even started cycling but since I'm using live rock I think I'm going to use Bio Spira it has worked really well for me. Wish me luck you guys!!! Im excited

 

A little bit about my self I'm 23 full time worker and full time student majoring in Business Finance. I live in California and love to eat and watch TV and of course Reefing.

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Welcome back to N-R.com.

 

If your salt mix is five years old, it might have precipitated some inside the packaging (and won't fully dissolve). If that's the case, I'd buy some Reef Crystals to replace it.

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Cencalfishguy56

Welcome back to N-R.com.

 

If your salt mix is five years old, it might have precipitated some inside the packaging (and won't fully dissolve). If that's the case, I'd buy some Reef Crystals to replace it.

I agree

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johnnyvega252

Hey guys thank your for all the warm welcomes sorry i wasn't able to upload a pic last night. Im having my dad fix my bathroom because it is leaking and can't use my RO/DI until then. However i was thinking of going out and getting the RO/DI water so I can start mixing it what do you think? Also I'm going to run it with no lights whatsoever for a whole month and test it until day 30th I'm in no rush at all. Here is the pic not much but will be something some day.

2qcfmnn.jpg

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johnnyvega252

So i have a predicament in the back of the Aqua Japan 15 gallon there are two filtration chambers the first has a big black sponge and the second a bag of white chalky looking stuff in the shape of cylinders. Should i keep it stock to start the tank out or what other options do you guys recommend?

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HarryPotter

I was thinking of doing filter floss and live rock/chaeto in the back, would that be a bad idea?

 

Careful the live rock does not fill up with detritus/poop.

 

I also recommend 'blue

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You'll want to make a DIY media basket out of egg crate (similar to an inTank media basket):
IMG_7769-Direction2.jpg

In the second chamber you could make another basket for Chaeto. I would also leave the rock out of this chamber (you don't need the additional bio-filter, pods can take refuge in the Chaeto, that chamber will be easier to maintain without rock, and there will be more room for the algae).
I like the idea of a skimmer in chamber two instead, but I'm not sure if it's large enough for one.

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Don't put live rock in the back chambers. Impossible to clean and it really won't do anything other than trap crap. Live rock belongs in the DT. Do as seabass suggested and change the floss every couple three days (that means not more than a week).

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johnnyvega252

Don't put live rock in the back chambers. Impossible to clean and it really won't do anything other than trap crap. Live rock belongs in the DT. Do as seabass suggested and change the floss every couple three days (that means not more than a week).

Yeah i decided against it and for now while it cycles i have some filter floss from in tank the blue one and some regular floss. I went ahead and mixed the salt water last night and placed it in the tank this morning. We will see how everything goes. Thank you guys for all your help. Ive decided I'm going to wait 30 days then start testing. And then wait another ten before adding my first coral. I want to take it slow. Im quite patient with my bonsai trees so I'm going to be patient with this tank.

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I tend to not count days or give myself some number of days until a cycle is complete--it will happen when it happens. It could take 11 days, it could take 63.

 

I would not bother with the bio spira if you are getting live rock.

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johnnyvega252

Tank update I went ahead and filler her up but noticed an ever so slight sag in the wood on top of my dresser. My dad will be building a custom stand for me on sunday I'm hoping it won't give while he builds it lol. Anyhow here is how she looks I'm really happy with the scape.

Current Predicaments

- Without a heater my water is at 80 - 83 degrees F ( Thinking of getting a chiller ) what other recommendations do you guys have It seems impossible for me to run it without one I'm not running any lights or heater and its still reading 80 - 83 degrees crosschecked with other thermometers and I'm getting the same error.

 

- Im thinking of getting a controller and an ATO unit

 

- Also i want one of those glass protein skimmers from Japan since i have a japanese tank i figure it will be good buy

 

-Finally i would like to replace my return pump it is a 15 gallon tank so what do you guys recommend.

 

- Also i have LEDtric light bulbs that are brand new and never used should i use only one or use both they are 20k 18w lamps?

 

- Finally I'm doing a live sand dry rock combo i heard people add food to the aquarium to get the cycle going should i or should I Wait?

 

Here is a pic of the tank. Also thank you guys for all your input this is one of those hobbies that requires you to learn regardless of how experienced you are I'm still a beginner and though I've had many successful fish tanks in the past including salt water I am always humbled by the amount of information and dedication that goes into the tanks.

2jdfm2b.jpg

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Looks good. Even 83° isn't too hot if kept stable. A more efficient return pump might add less heat. Also, I might consider a fan versus a chiller.

 

For the cycle, I'd get DrTim's One and Only and use DrTim's Amonium to feed the bacteria (it's a cleaner way to feed the bacteria).

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johnnyvega252

Looks good. Even 83° isn't too hot if kept stable. A more efficient return pump might add less heat. Also, I might consider a fan versus a chiller.

 

For the cycle, I'd get DrTim's One and Only and use DrTim's Amonium to feed the bacteria (it's a cleaner way to feed the bacteria).

Sea bass that actually what i ended up using my LFS had it and told me it was a way better option I don't have ammonia so ill have to buy that sometime this week. Probably tomorrow. Thank you for your response.

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I tend to not count days or give myself some number of days until a cycle is complete--it will happen when it happens. It could take 11 days, it could take 63.

 

I would not bother with the bio spira if you are getting live rock.

^ +1. I cycled my tank with live sand, live, uncured rock and some base rock. I had a really quick cycle (less than a week) and didn't trust it, but all has been fine. It will all depend on what you've got going on in there.

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