Sea of Stars

[TimeOrMoney]

FTS:

Start and post date

 

9/5/2021

 

Hello all. I used to frequent these halls years ago. At some point Ill put a link in here to my old aquarium, but I dont even recall what name I used. Nothing special, but definitely put a lot of time and care into it. 

 

Update, found it: 

 

Well..my floor is wet again after years off. This time I'm going simple. The scape is 2 rocks....and that's it... The plan is to have a Euphyllia rock, and a star polyp rock. The GSP rock has some pretty large holes for a blenny or more to peak out from. I may get a couple firefish, but not sure yet. 

 

Equipment is also simple:

- NUVO AIO 20 (not peninsula)

- Eheim 75

- stock pump (may change..need to find source of vibration)

- MP10W that still works!

- In Tank floss holder

- Kessil A150W Ocean Blue

 

This tank will be called Sea of Stars, named for the GSP, but also after some lyrics from a band called Lord Huron. FTS will be updated. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

This is the aquascape. Lol. But I like it. Plenty of shady areas for blennies and tons of real estate for Hammer, and Froggies. Left rock will be GSP. 

 

I will resist the urge to tinker and add stuff......

 

These rocks used to be one big rock. I split it in two, and spent about a week bleaching them. And by bleaching, I mean:

 

Soaked in bleach / water solution for 3 days in two buckets, let air dry, soaked in tap water for 2 days with pumps, let air dry for 2 days to off-gas, soaked in filtered (not RO) water in two buckets with pumps on for 2 days while making RO water, let air dry. WHEW

 

[TimeOrMoney]

After a few days cleaning and replacing filters on the RO/DI, and making 32 gallons of water (I forgot how long that takes with ths GPH), I've got water. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

I'll be using this when the sand clears up and the rocks are in. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

I really love the look of the Kessil. I'd love it more if I could see anything..

 

[TimeOrMoney]

The water line isn't level. Maybe that's the sand? Everything is completely level so IDK. 

 

[The Rainy Day Aquarium]

2 hours ago, TimeOrMoney said:

The water line isn't level. Maybe that's the sand? Everything is completely level so IDK. 

 

 

It wouldn't be the sand. Depending on the quality/type of level being used it might be difficult to achieve "perfectly level". From the picture obviously something is off by a little bit. Maybe try a different level if you have one and recheck everything? Or if all else fails use the water line in the tank as a level itself and use a shim (piece of wood, strips of cardboard, etc.) to level the stand if that makes any sense. Of course draining the tank to an inch ir two of water would be necessary as lifting a full aquarium/stand isn't pratical or safe.  

[TimeOrMoney]

7 minutes ago, Chowder's Reef said:

 

It wouldn't be the sand. Depending on the quality/type of level being used it might be difficult to achieve "perfectly level". From the picture obviously something is off by a little bit. Maybe try a different level if you have one and recheck everything? Or if all else fails use the water line in the tank as a level itself and use a shim (piece of wood, strips of cardboard, etc.) to level the stand if that makes any sense. Of course draining the tank to an inch ir two of water would be necessary as lifting a full aquarium/stand isn't pratical or safe.  

Its really strange for sure. All was good. Level works. Stand base is level with the wall trim.. 

[TimeOrMoney]

Fitting beer can art. Tank is clearing up!

 

[TimeOrMoney]

Time to add the bacteria. 

 

I like this scape, but I don't like the pointy part on the left. It wasn't like that before. Hmmm..maybe it didnt stick up as much becasue no sand..

 

[Murphs_Reef]

22 hours ago, Chowder's Reef said:

 

It wouldn't be the sand. Depending on the quality/type of level being used it might be difficult to achieve "perfectly level". From the picture obviously something is off by a little bit. Maybe try a different level if you have one and recheck everything? Or if all else fails use the water line in the tank as a level itself and use a shim (piece of wood, strips of cardboard, etc.) to level the stand if that makes any sense. Of course draining the tank to an inch ir two of water would be necessary as lifting a full aquarium/stand isn't pratical or safe.  

Is it not just your pump throwing water over to one side more? My Nero does that when on full pelt..

[TimeOrMoney]

1 hour ago, Murphych said:

Is it not just your pump throwing water over to one side more? My Nero does that when on full pelt..

I dont think so, only because there are two return nozzles and they should be pushing identical amounts of water. I'll point them somewhere else and see what happens.

[TimeOrMoney]

Ph looks pretty good for what I'm used to. Starting to see trace amounts of Ammo. No Nitrite.. I'm on the fence if this thing even measures Nitrites..is it a myth? I've never seen any. No Nitrates. 

 

Sidd note, man that water is CLEAR! Amazing. Great front glass on these NUVOs. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

Added a peice of live rock from a very established store system, and some old filter floss from that same system for the bacterias.. This rock may not remain in that spot, but we'll see. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

Changed the scape with the new rock that still provides a little go between for fish and critters like a cave, with an overhang. 

[TimeOrMoney]

Levellllls....lol definitely seeing Ammo. I opened the windows for a couple hours and wow the Ph went up quick!

 

[TimeOrMoney]

I never thought I'd see the day when Nitrites were actually testing in my aquarium...lol. I've never seen them! Pretty cool to see it happening. Looks to be about .25 Nitrites. 

 

Seems like there is ammonia in there, but holding at about .25 ppm. 

 

Ph has gone down a bit with the windows closed. Hmm. About 8.0 today. 

 

No Nitrate yet. Aquarium has been running for about a week. So it took about a week to see Nitrites. I presume to see an ammonia spike in another 5 or so days. 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

On another note. I have an older ecotech Vortech MP10w . It was atalling immediately upon startup. The buttons were not doing anything. All of the Ecotech internet stuffs were not helpful. I came to the conclusion that it must be the power supply that had gone bad, because everything else was ok. 

 

I ordered this and it works great! 

 

UPBRIGHT 24V AC/DC Adapter for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076MV72SB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[TimeOrMoney]

Definitely seeing a Nitrite spike! Looks like ammo is staying the same. I want to say there are nitrates present as well. Seems like a darker yellow today than yesterday. Movin along...

 

[TimeOrMoney]

Starting to see some 'dusting' on the rocks which is great! Stuff growing on them. 

 

 

MP10 is set to Lagoon on about half max power. Still making waves in the sand. Like that. 

 

Holy Nitrite spikes! Wow... 

 

I can't tell if Nitrates are still yellow or getting orange. I feel like it is more orange 🍊

 

Ammo still looks like .25 to me. Which is kinda weird because isnt ammo supposed to peak, then Nitrite then Nitrate? 

 

 

[TimeOrMoney]

More boring testing. Im not sure what to make of the ammonia... is it 0, .25, .5.....?

 

[PeterU]

Looks like 0.50 to me. I always take it to bright light to check, preferring sunlight.

[TimeOrMoney]

1 hour ago, PeterU said:

Looks like 0.50 to me. I always take it to bright light to check, preferring sunlight.

Yeah, it does. It's just odd to me because it hasn't moved from there for a while.. Not up or down. I ordered some Dr. Tims ammonia so we'll see how that goes. 

[TimeOrMoney]

Yay, stuff!

I have loved In Tank stuff since the beginning. Great products. And a sticker 🙂

[filefishfinatic]

bury your rock in the sand and make a dutch garden of sympodium, gsp, blue polyp, encrusting leathers and things and get some crinoids to look like windmills