I am back. 20L restart I think it is the 3rd try.

[debbeach13]

Poor health resulting in 3 hernia surgeries and one ACL replacement have made the last 3 years the most unsuccessful reef tanks I have had in over 25 years of having a reef tank.

I had ordered a new I'm 20 but cancelled the order. Decided to just try again with the 20L I already have. I did order a new ac110 / dropped and broke the old one, and a new Tunze 6045 pump. I have a couple different Koralia but I think I will like the Tunze flow control and it allows better angles for aiming the flow. In setting up the old tank I made a decision to try Walt Smiths reef rock because of the zero impact on live reefs. I am not as excited now that I have it. It looks like painted cement and not porous at all. I used super glue gel, epoxy, super glue gel to bond the rock together only using 3 pieces for one stack and 2 pieces for another. Maybe a little less than half of what I got. They are in a bucket in the garage with a couple gallons of water from my 10 gallon. Still not sure I want to use any of it. WOULD YOU? The 10 gallon has dry rock from reef cleaners. I can not remember exactly when I set that up but it is completely cycled months ago. It only has 2 clowns, 1 yellow tail blue devil, about 5 blue mushrooms and a few snails. All are the only survivors from the last 20L fail. There was a bit of hair algae when I got out of the hospital in July but scrubbing the rocks and reducing the light cycle has it looking much better. Any way right now the 20 has been wet for a few days, With 20lb.'s of caribsea Hawaiian Black sand. PH between 7.8-8.0 depending on time of day, Sg 1.025 and temp. 78 degrees. I am going to take a couple chucks of rock from the 10 scrub with just ro water and move them to the 20. I will be using my old coralife HO-T5 4 x 24 watt fixture with new ATI bulbs 2 coral plus, 1 blue plus, and 1 true actinic. Lets hope this time I can do it right.

[seabass]

Good luck.

 

Still not sure I want to use any of it. WOULD YOU?

I probably wouldn't have gone that route. But now that you have it, you can better decide if you want to use it or not. Knowing what Reef Cleaners rock is like, would you be happy with painted artificial rock? However, don't use it just because you already have it. Use something you like.

[debbeach13]

Hi Seabass For now I put the 2 largest pieces of the reef cleaners rock that was in the 10 and fully cycled / it will cycle again I know.. I also put the last dry pc. in the same bucket as the reef rock it is a pretty big flat shelf piece kind of thick and like a triangle but maybe I can break it up or chisel a bit for a better shape. I will only use a little bit of that reef rock. Once it is covered in coral it will look fine. Just have to have some other rock that is porous so the tank has the space for the bacteria it needs. Thanks for checking in. I am so excited to get this tank up and running

[debbeach13]

Waiting, waiting, and anticipating. I put about 7 or 8 pounds of the reef rock in the tank about 3 or 4 days ago. Tested yesterday the tank was 80degress SG 1.026.

API Ammonia 0

API PH 7.8

API Nitrate 0

Red Sea Phosphate 0

Salt is Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. It has always measured low for PH. I spent a lot of time on NR which can be good and bad. Almost bought a new light but do not need one at least not yet. Almost bought a Protein Skimmer also not needed yet buy I ran one on my old 29 and 40B. I do love empting that dirty cup. Also came close to getting a Hanna phosphate checker but it seems to have very mixed reviews.

I was going to order a bunch of zoa's on line and stick them in the 10 gallon tank for now but I need to get some revive or coral RX. before I go getting any corals. Plus I might just recheck out a few LFS see what they have and try to pick a place to deal with most of the time. I like to support local shops by getting livestock there. In other news went to hernia doctor all done with follow up appointments there, went to knee surgeon and got fitted for a brace it is supposed to help straighten out my leg. Turning out too much. Went to Physical Therapy Monday and Wednesday but had to cancel Friday due to an AFIB episode. Yes recovery is so boring.

[debbeach13]

Todays test results

80 degrees SG 1.027 (I will top off slowly till it is back to 1.025)

PH 7.8 Ammonia .25, PO4 0, Nitrate 5ppm. I do not have a nitrite test kit. My bad!

I will start mixing up 4 gallons of water and test again tomorrow.

[seabass]

Don't bother with a nitrite test. It isn't very toxic at typical reef pH levels, and it basically just echos ammonia levels.

[debbeach13]

Thanks. I agree that is why I skipped it. I did have to buy the ammonia I had the others. I have Alkalinity, calcium. and magnesium test kits but do not see any reason to do those yet. I am thinking I may start using the lights. Might as well see if it is algae time.

If the ammonia is gone tomorrow and I do a water change then I was going to add some snails. What do you think?

I ordered some coral frags from saltcritters. They are all in my old 3 gallon pico. Just has an ac20 with a couple filter pads, a heater and the light that came with the tank. I floated them for 30 minutes, dumped the bag water down the drain and put them in. Going to let them settle in for about a week then dip them and cut off the plugs. Attach to some rubble with supper glues gel. Probably go back in the QT tank.

[seabass]

Just make sure that ammonia is undetectable before adding your snails.

[debbeach13]

Absolutely. Thanks

[SantaMonicaHelp]

My sympathies for your abnormal medical issues. But I'm glad you are being persistent and are continuing to work on this 20L tank. Best of luck!

 

- C. Smith

[debbeach13]

Thanks

[debbeach13]

Just waiting for some thing to change. 4th day of ammonia .25 and nitrate 5.