jadedanime Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 Its the same price as dead sand anyway. Plus a small 5 dollar shipping. I've heard great reviews that their sand comes with worms and small critters stored away. It's sand from another tank...not that bagged crap. Again I'm sketchy of "live sand". Most people keep sand in their tanks for years, if kept properly. My friend's grandfather kept flame angels for like 20 years with the same sand. I have to soft cycle the tank due to the amount of life on the LR that I have coming in anyway...so I figure better just try it out. Besides... It's only going to be less than an inch of sand, so a few snails should...SHOULD... be able to keep it stirred. Also. It's a 5 gallon tank, it should be pretty biologically stable by itself with reg water changes.The point of my tank is to explore the biological community of a reef. My Bio prof is EXTREMELY interested in me presenting the timeline of my tank to the class. So...in short...the tank is also an academic endeavor. I want to make it as "natural" as a tank can be. No additives, no major filtration. I don't want any equipment that will need mega maintenance. Of course that means I have to tread lightly and go at a snail's pace, but I'm ok with that. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 SO I made my first batch of water today....bout three gallons to start, and I tested it with my hydrometer (after rinsing it with water of course) and this was my result. I will add more water once I get my sand and rock in. I'm sure I'll need about four. I'll let this mix for tonight. Here's to hoping the shipment comes in tomorrow Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Put my three gallons in. Got my sand and about a lb of rock. I already had two lbs of lace rock. SO when my gulf order comes in, I'm sure I'll be taking some out. There was a bunch of calcified corals, shells, and even a bit of pink coralline I'm happy to say the least. I couldn't focus in my classes...that's how happy I am. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Just signed up for a free trial of Evolution Aqua Pure Marine. According to Marine Depot the product should: Reduces organic waste Maintains a biological equilibrium Improves nitrification Accelerates maturation process Reduces BOD / DOC / TSS Rapidly restores equilibrium Reduces filter and skimmer maintenance and cleaning By testing the product with a young tank, theoretically we should be able to see just how well the product works. It should....in theory.....be here by next week. I'll give my tank two weeks without the product, test and then begin using the product. I'll start another thread to keep track of it's usage and effectiveness. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Waiting on my rock to come in. Hopefully today. Then to make more water. But here's some pics of what I have in the meantime. Sorry for the crappy cell pics. Dead coral and shell garden. Of course it's not quite so blue in real life, but again, crappy cell pics. I apologize. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 NEW GHETTO ATO. I needed one, and this was the best I had. Should last me a day or two....hopefully. Link to comment
Travis55 Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 NEW GHETTO ATO. I needed one, and this was the best I had. Should last me a day or two....hopefully. Thats an awesome idea.... ill be trying this with a 2 liter bottle it gallon jug in my sump. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Thanks. Better than wrestling with a hamster bottle. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 My first test. Seems like we are on our way. Note: The nitrite was a lot darker in person...so I'm not crazy for putting it on 2ppm. Flash on my camera screwed the entire pic. QUESTION: What does the 0 ppm Ammonia look like? Is it actually yellow? Link to comment
Chew_Magna Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 API will never read 0 ammonia. Yours looks as close to 0 as it can. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Ok I figured it never would. lol I'm just too poor to buy anything better lol When I started the test it was pretty instant that the test was crap. Creates a kind of gel-like states until you shake the test tube. Probably not a good thing. Link to comment
Chew_Magna Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 That's just a salt thing. It doesn't do it in fresh. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Oh I'm aware. I have a few freshwater tanks... Just saying there should be a way to chemically by-pass the formation of the gel. I could think of a few ways to...but then again I'm not the corporate chemist who comes up with the tests. lol Oh BTW can anybody ID this thing? Is it aiptasia or a nem? It's tiny...like the size of a grain of rice. I've got it bottled up just in case... I had another thread on it...but so far no responses. Thanks. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Yay it's a ball nem! No killing necessary! I'm naming it Herman. Because I can. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Now I've found 3 anemones..... Oh boy these things are multiplying like crazy. Wonder if the LFS will buy them. I would ship them...if I knew how...but I don't...Unfortunately. Link to comment
Chew_Magna Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I have a small ball nem as well. I bought a piece of lr just to get it. I've heard they'll grow fast with feeding but I've never fed mine. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 I have a small ball nem as well. I bought a piece of lr just to get it. I've heard they'll grow fast with feeding but I've never fed mine. Well Herman has easily doubled in size just today from feeding three betta pellets. It's incredible. I'm loving these little guys. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Still no tracking number on my rock....getting a little annoyed with these guys. Better be the best damn rock ever. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Finally!! I have notice that my rock is on the way.... but with this snow I hope it makes it ok... Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Just got my Evolution Aqua PURE Marine bio balls...they were a bit frozen. Can't wait to test them with my uncured LR.....if it ever gets here... Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Just killed a fireworm.... I feel bad...but wrong tank at the wrong time buddy. Also another test today: And it looks like my rock is going brown.... yay! And that skeleton was definitely white last time I looked lol. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Got my rock! And the packaging inside. Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 And the rock. Can I get some ID's please? #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 SOme other stuff. Sorry about this one... but I'm particularly interested in that red fuzzy guy Link to comment
jadedanime Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Scape Closer up Link to comment
TeflonTomDosh Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 API will never read 0 ammonia. Yours looks as close to 0 as it can. I beg to differ, especially being as dark as a green as that is. 1 Link to comment
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