element9540 Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Hey all. Wanted to start a build thread of my new tank. Would be nice to keep a record of its progress. So here is a list of the equipment:- 40 breeder tank- 50 lbs BRS dry fiji rock- 60 lbs caribsea live sand- 2x hydor koralia evolution 850 powerheads- 150w jager heater- BRS dual reactor with GFO and carbon- JBJ ATO- Reefkeeper lite with SL2 and pH probe- reef octopus classic 100 HOB skimmer- tunze fan- coralife lunar aqualight T5HO 4x39w, 2 blues 2 10ksTank has been running since 06/23/15.I am not running the lights during the cycle and have been testing my params everyday. I am keeping the temp at 80 consistently, SG is 1.026, pH swings from 7.9 to 8.1 throughout the day. Ammonia yesterday was still at 8ppm or more, trites 5, trates 0 and phosphate 0.83. I am starting to see some diatoms as well. Thanks for reading and any suggestions or tips are always appreciated. Here are a couple pics. FTS with actinics only FTS with daylights Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Welcome to nano reef. I like your rockscape alot of options. Link to comment
pgrVII Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 The rock scape looks awesome, reminds me of the Flintstones house! Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 Welcome to nano reef. I like your rockscape alot of options. Thanks! I am pretty happy with it. Just can't wait until its full of corals.....in time I guess lol. Link to comment
pgrVII Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Guys the individual has been a member since 2011 lol ;p Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Thanks! I am pretty happy with it. Just can't wait until its full of corals.....in time I guess lol. Oh yea patience is key. Guys the individual has been a member since 2011 lol ;p Yep your right Im at work so not really paying much attention. Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 Guys the individual has been a member since 2011 lol ;p Lol. I have. I had an AIO 8 gallon for around 2 years and when I moved to my new house I took it down expecting to upgrade. Took me a little longer than expected to do so but this is the new tank. Link to comment
pgrVII Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 New tank looks good. Keep it updated,I'll be sure to stop in and check it out. Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Alright guys. So just thinking ahead but I am wondering once my trites and ammonia are reading 0 shoukd I do a 100% water change or should I do less? I was thinking I would do a 100% water change because my dry rock was also curing during the cycle. What do you think? Link to comment
pgrVII Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Nah if you're gonna do a change do maybe 25% -50% I'd say, Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Alright sounds good Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Hey guys. Thanks for following. Got a little update and question. My tank is almost done cycling.....should be finished by the end of the week. Currently my ammonia is reading 0 and my nitrites are at 0.5. Waiting to test nitrates until I get 0 trites. My question is about a clean up crew. I would like to get one from reefcleaners.org, but the prebuilt CUC for a 40 breeder is 42 dwarf ceriths, 14 nassarius, 17 florida ceriths, 12 nerites and 10 hermits. This seems like an awful lot of snails, especially just after cycling. I would like to get a package like this to decrease shipping costs but am afraid if I get all these at once I will have some die off and then bad params in result. Any thoughts? Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Hey guys. Thanks for following. Got a little update and question. My tank is almost done cycling.....should be finished by the end of the week. Currently my ammonia is reading 0 and my nitrites are at 0.5. Waiting to test nitrates until I get 0 trites. My question is about a clean up crew. I would like to get one from reefcleaners.org, but the prebuilt CUC for a 40 breeder is 42 dwarf ceriths, 14 nassarius, 17 florida ceriths, 12 nerites and 10 hermits. This seems like an awful lot of snails, especially just after cycling. I would like to get a package like this to decrease shipping costs but am afraid if I get all these at once I will have some die off and then bad params in result. Any thoughts? I recommend getting a smaller package from John @ ReefCleaners, about 1/3 that size. Then supplement with some Trochus snails from a LFS. Link to comment
dpoltsdsu Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Nice tank and rockwork. The 40 has great dimensions Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Nice tank and rockwork. The 40 has great dimensions Thanks! And I agree, the dimensions of the 40 breeder are awesome. Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Great news! Tested my params today and my cycle seems to be finished! Current params are: Temp-79 SG- 1.026 Ammonia- 0 Nitrites- 0 Nitrates- 25 I have to work the next 3 days so once I'm off my plan is to make 20 gallons of saltwater and then do a 50% water change. Wait a couple days, test my params and if everything is good I will start stocking! Quick question, my tank only has a little bit of algae (diatoms) as I did not start running the lights until a few days ago. My question is should I add my CUC first or can I add my first planned fish (royal gramma) then add the CUC the week after? My CUC (from reefcleaners.org) plan is 20 dwarf ceriths, 10 nassarius, 10 florida ceriths, 10 hermits, 10 nerites and 1 emerald crab. Link to comment
el_ote Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 id wait until there was something for them to eat before getting so many. Unless you try to feed your CUC directly, i think they may starve. everyone comes out to eat when i feed pellets, maybe feed the CUC some of those until you can get some good algae growth to those guys alive. edit: did you use all 60lbs of the live sand? i was planning to upgrade to a 40B as well, but i thought 40lbs would be enough. i kinda like where your sand line is right at the rim. Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 id wait until there was something for them to eat before getting so many. Unless you try to feed your CUC directly, i think they may starve. everyone comes out to eat when i feed pellets, maybe feed the CUC some of those until you can get some good algae growth to those guys alive. Alright so it may be better to add my first fish first? Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Hey guys. So did my 50% water change. Lettin everything run overnight and then I'll test params in the morning. If everything is good I'll probably go get my first fish (royal gramma), as the wife really wants a fish first, then I'll put in a CUC order from reefcleaners.org next week Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Tested params this morning and everything was great.....so went to the LFS and bought a little royal gramma! Excited I finally have life in my tank.....although he has not been visible since putting him in the tank. Anyone have experience with these guys and know how long they hide like that for? He was real active at the LFS and looked really healthy. Anyways, I'll get pics when he shows himself. Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Finally got a pic of the new RG. Still a little skittish but loves frozen mysis. Link to comment
el_ote Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 nice I love royal grammas. I have one in our office tank and i had one at home (rehomed to LFS display tank) and both were always skittish, hiding when i approach the tank. congrats on the fish! GL Link to comment
element9540 Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 nice I love royal grammas. I have one in our office tank and i had one at home (rehomed to LFS display tank) and both were always skittish, hiding when i approach the tank. congrats on the fish! GL Thanks man. I love his colors. Just wish he showed himself a little more. Link to comment
kirbaay Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Royal Gammas always kind of hide unless its feeding time Link to comment
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