Getting back into the hobby

[sammieSQL]

Hey Guys, I am a long time aquarium hobbiest getting back into keeping saltwater inhabitants. My husband is pretty excited, I think more than I am at this point.

 

Anyway, I'm going to attach some of my pictures. I set my tank up 5 days ago with live arg, and added only a few lbs of live rock.. because I am having a hard time finding *exactly* what I want. Perhaps I'm being to particular, I don't know. Hubby offered to bust some up big stuff for me. Told him I would rather not right now.

 

So as I've been reading this forum, I've done just about everything wrong. I have a Nova Extreme strip [t5ho], and an AquaticLife [t5ho] that were bought last year. Four lights total. 1x Atinic / 3 x 10K. I wish they both had foot pegs, because that Nova is putting a lot of heat into my tank. I'm going to have to get a chiller (of which I could use suggestions). I'm also going to order the Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite logic controllers to automate some of my system functions. The heater in the last picture is unplugged.

 

Speaking of which - no I did not use RO water. As a matter of fact, I used our good 'ol well water straight from the ground - which, yes, it is full of iron. SO ... go ahead and freak and tell me I totally destroyed it. I know. The best I can do now is water change out with distilled, or see if I can purchase some down at That Fish Place when I stop this weekend.

 

Another point of interest is the sump. Which has bioballs in it that I topped with old school poly fiber stuffing. Another no-no I'm sure.

 

Soo.... as it looks, I have some positives here. My tank was a gift from my hubby who knows how much I love keeping aquarium fish. My stand was home built by him - of which he did a beautiful job on it. and lastly, I have his support when I need to make $500+ purchases to 'fix' my re-learning processes.

 

When I was running my old 75gal fish only salt tank years ago (but now I do remember that dad gave me this red 'mushroom' coral that grew everywhere), I had a 20gallon sump under it, which my dad stole back from me for use under his 125gal. In turn, he gave me the sump pictured which BARELY fits in my stand. We had to cut some holes, and we are going to 'hard plumb' as soon as I get all of the equipment I need/want next spring. For now, it is all soft tubing.

 

I've been documenting the setup for fun. I have pics of the 1st day, 2nd day, the sump, and this morning (5th day).

 

[RayWhisperer]

What size tank is that, 50B?

[sammieSQL]

It's a 29H.

[sktr021]

I would't really worry about the water for now, at least while your cycling it. Just worry about it when it comes time to do water changes.

 

As far as the bioballs I would remove those, and maybe modify the sump you have into a refugium. The filter floss works great for me, just make sure to keep up with changing it out often to avoid build up of crap.

 

Looks like you have a good start, but you need more liverock.

 

For the lights you could build some little foot pegs out of acrylic..

[ReggieF]

Very cool skimmer design. I have the same power strip and hydrometer.

[herefishy]

I use filter floss also, just keep on top of changing it very frequently. I usually use it after a water change to catch all of the floating "junk". Polishes my water.Your hubby built a BEAUTIFUL stand by the way! Wish mine had any woodworking skills! I think you are off to a great start.

[Jacobnano]

The BioBalls are not necessary

[bhskicker18]

Beautiful Stand! And to Nano-Reef.com!

[sammieSQL]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.

 

So I stopped down at That Fish Place yesterday and picked up some more live rock. Here is what we ended up with on the aquascape. I also got a new LED moonlight for the aquarium. Never had one before, but it's really pretty at night in our living room.

 

Unfortunately, TFP does not sell RO/DI water, so I'm going to have to use our well water, or start buying distilled.

 

Let me know what you think?

 

[d9hp]

Unfortunately, TFP does not sell RO/DI water, so I'm going to have to use our well water, or start buying distilled.

 

Let me know what you think?

 

Looks like it's really good live rock to me!

 

My advice on the water would be to either go ahead and purchase the RO/DI system or buy distilled from the grocery store. Buying it from the grocery will cost you $100 in just a couple months so my advice would be to buy the unit yourself. It's a lifesaver. After losing some stuff to bad water I won't ever put anything else in my tank.

[Weetabix7]

DO NOT use well water!!!!

You'll end up with the Algae Plague of Death if you do.

Distilled is fine, just make sure it's plain vanilla distilled with no mineral additives and not Spring Water.

Do not get RO/DI out of grocery store dispensers, it usually has trace contaminants (more Algae Plague) because they don't change the filters often enough.

I've been using Wal-Mart or Krogers brand Distilled Water for years and had good luck with it.

[sammieSQL]

DO NOT use well water!!!!

You'll end up with the Algae Plague of Death if you do.

Distilled is fine, just make sure it's plain vanilla distilled with no mineral additives and not Spring Water.

Do not get RO/DI out of grocery store dispensers, it usually has trace contaminants (more Algae Plague) because they don't change the filters often enough.

I've been using Wal-Mart or Krogers brand Distilled Water for years and had good luck with it.

 

I looked at WalMart last night, but only found a 'Great Value' brand of Distilled that had a pink cap on it. The blue cap was Spring water. Is this the same distilled you are using?

 

Thanks,

Sam

[Aquanist]

Tank is lookin real nice. Have you thought about having black or blue background? Black would imo really make to colors in fish and corals come alive.

[chumcrazy]

Tank looks good. I like the rock scape. Use the distilled water and you shouldnt have any problems but you should consider a RODI best investment you will make.

[Deano]

Tank looks good. I like the rock scape. Use the distilled water and you shouldn't have any problems but you should consider a RODI best investment you will make.

 

Agreed, I am on well water and if I let my TDS get over double digits I get the hair algae from he//. The Walmart water will be fine, but you will find over time it is a PITA running to Walmart every time you need some water. Not to mention you never have it when an emergency pops up.

 

Otherwise the tank looks great!

[herefishy]

LOVE the rock and the scape looks great!

[Chyendra]

I agree with most of the previous comments. Awesome live rock and aquascape! You're off to a great start.

 

The R/O water from grocery stores vary a lot in their TDS... but they are bound to be lower than tap water!!

 

A RO/DI unit is one of the best investments you can make for your tank, it becomes quite a pain to haul water from a store.

I recommend Air Water Ice .com. I have This Unit and I always have 0 TDS.

 

You're lights sound decent by the way (besides the heat issue, which you'll find with any lights except LEDS) so I wouldn't be in a hurry to update them until your tank is ready for more light loving corals like SPS. Alot of people use T5HO and there are a lot of great bulb options you can play around with.

 

WELCOME!!

[Coastie]

I was using the green capped water from walmart. If you read the label it says that it is RO. I never had an issue though I will say having an RODI system makes things a lot easier. Plus carrying all of those jugs out of walmart is NOT fun.

 

I have the mighty mite from airwaterice.com it's a great little unit and you can find some 10% coupon codes if you search around. Just a suggestion.

 

Just noticed the glass lid. That may be a large factor in your heat issues. I would look into building a mesh lid. I did it using window screen frame and some 1/4" polypropelene mesh that I bought online. It was VERY simple. There is a thread on hear if you search for it and another one for the mesh too I think. Mine looks great and I love it. ZERO heating issues for me. With a mesh lid you may be able to cool using a plain jane fan instead of a $$$ chiller.

[sammieSQL]

Thanks for all of the feedback, gang. I have made some modifications to my aquarium, and bought some 'feet' for the Nova light that was sitting on top of the tank. We are in good shape now. Tanks is officially in the ugly stage now.

 

[flick]

Hey (again) lol

 

Was that live rock cured or fresh? I assume your params are all at 0, considering the fancy new fish. If so, that was a fast cycle for a new tank and Im jealous!

 

Flick

[sammieSQL]

Hey (again) lol

 

Was that live rock cured or fresh? I assume your params are all at 0, considering the fancy new fish. If so, that was a fast cycle for a new tank and Im jealous!

 

Flick

 

Cured. I added the clowns a few weeks ago.

[flick]

Right on!

 

What are your goals with the tank? As far as other coral and stocking list is concerned.

 

Flick

[sammieSQL]

Right on!

 

What are your goals with the tank? As far as other coral and stocking list is concerned.

 

Flick

 

2x Ocellaris Clownfish

1x McCosker's Flasher Wrasse

1x Yellow Watchman Goby

 

1x Red Pistol Shrimp

1x Porcelain Crab

 

2x Short sticks of yellow gorgonian

1x Frag of Frogspawn

1x Frag of unknown (GSP?/Encrusting Gorgonian?/Organ Pipe?)

1x Frag of Green Zoe

1x Piece of Purple Ricordea

Multiple pieces of purple & red mushroom

[flick]

Right on, keep it up!

 

Flick