JIve's Custom 75g Build

[JIvePhotography]

FYI thread that I had in the DIY section on my dilema with my light.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46616

 

[Chichas01]

For this tank I'm going to use CaribSea's Indo Pacific Black sand, just like what's in the Neo Nano at Barrier Reef.

<img src="http://www.JIvePhotography.com/newreef/023.jpg">.

Love that sand! I have it in my 40 and decided to use the same in my new 80.

 

[JIvePhotography]

FYI thread that I had in the DIY section on my dilema with my light.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46616

Ok so using a method that a member suggested in the quoted thread above I made my own hanging bars for my light yesterday. I painted them and installed them tonight. I'm going to finish putting all the pump, skimmer and ACJR in tomorrow and hopefully be adding sand and water in the next day or so. I just need to find some more live rock so if anyone has any let me know. I won't be using any rock from my old tank as they all have hair alge on them.

Here are the latest photos:

<img src="http://www.JIvePhotography.com/newreef/026.jpg">
<img src="http://www.JIvePhotography.com/newreef/027.jpg">
<img src="http://www.JIvePhotography.com/newreef/028.jpg">
<img src="http://www.JIvePhotography.com/newreef/029.jpg">

 

[JIvePhotography]

New tank has been setup now for a few weeks. I have one basketball sized liverock in there now with a mushroom on it. I'm beginning to see the rock brown up from the diatom bloom. I'll be doing a 10% water change tonight and testing the levels. Prob will post pics too.

 

[roscoe]

New tank has been setup now for a few weeks. I have one basketball sized liverock in there now with a mushroom on it. I'm beginning to see the rock brown up from the diatom bloom. I'll be doing a 10% water change tonight and testing the levels. Prob will post pics too.

Looking good! You should let the tank fully go through the cycle 1st before doing a water change. From my experience you just prolong the cycle process when doing water changes before it compltes the cycle. JMO though I have no science to back it up but have set up enough tanks to notice the difference.

 

[JIvePhotography]

Looking good! You should let the tank fully go through the cycle 1st before doing a water change. From my experience you just prolong the cycle process when doing water changes before it compltes the cycle. JMO though I have no science to back it up but have set up enough tanks to notice the difference.

Yeah I've read you can or cannot do a water change. Based upon your comment I'll hold off on the wate change since I was doing it just cause in the first place. I add a little bit of ro/di every day to top off though.

 

[JIvePhotography]

Ok catching up on some photos. Here when I was filling up the tank with water.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/030.jpg">

Here is an animation of the water clearing up over the next few days.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/031.gif">

Here's where the tank is as of tonight. I started seeing a diatom bloom on the one live rock a few days ago and now its really goldening up. I've noticed for the first time that there are some brown spots on the sand now too.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/032.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/033.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/034.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/035.jpg">

 

[JIvePhotography]

random shot of my green brain after it was fed.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/036.jpg">

also noticed these guys on a rock in my 29 gallon. I don't think they're aptasias but not sure if they're good or bad. They're not spreading.... yet

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/037.jpg">

 

[JIvePhotography]

My skimmer is a Vertex IN100 and the manual says that for optimum use it should be in 6-8 inches of water in the sump. At first it was sitting at about 10 inches so I needed to raise it. I went to Lowes an got some egg crate stuff from the ceiling tiles area and made up a box that fits perfectly in the sumps first chamber. Now the skimmer is right at 7 inches.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/038.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/039.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/040.jpg">

 

[JIvePhotography]

I also have been having an issue with one of my halide lights. I've figured out its the bulb so Current is FedExing me a new one. Should be here tomorrow.

 

[Chichas01]

I dunno, I could be wrong, but it looks like Aptasia to me on that rock. Nuke them with some Joe's juice to be safe.

 

[JIvePhotography]

I dunno, I could be wrong, but it looks like Aptasia to me on that rock. Nuke them with some Joe's juice to be safe.

Thanks, I'll take those suckers out tonight!

 

[JIvePhotography]

I also have been having an issue with one of my halide lights. I've figured out its the bulb so Current is FedExing me a new one. Should be here tomorrow.

Replaced problem bulb with new one I got today and no more problem!

 

[JIvePhotography]

I dunno, I could be wrong, but it looks like Aptasia to me on that rock. Nuke them with some Joe's juice to be safe.

Just took them out with Aptasia Control.

 

[dailydriven911]

Hey tank is looking good! When will you be adding more l/r?

 

[JIvePhotography]

Hey tank is looking good! When will you be adding more l/r?

Not sure, all my extra fun money that I normally use for the tank is stackin up for my 2 week vacation to Cabo in 12 days. Plus I don't think I'll buy LR from a LFS again, better deals are to be found with reefers. I'm not gonna rush this tank, going very slow and steady so I can do it right this time. I don't forsee it really coming together until end of year or early 2010, but we'll see.

 

[Myteemouse]

It looks like a GLASS anemone, also a pest. just like Aptasia but clear LOL

 

[Chichas01]

Isn't it fun to watch those little *******s just melt away??:badgrin::badgrin:

 

[JIvePhotography]

Diatoms are still growing. I have one snail in there now. You can see the track on the rock where he's cleaned up. I'll be getting a few other sails this weekend an possibly some additional rock.

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/041.jpg">

<img src="http://www.jivephotography.com/newreef/042.jpg">

 

[JIvePhotography]

My one snail is working away and has cleaned off the whole top of the rock. I will be adding some rock today and some more snails. Did some testing and this is were I'm at:

pH: 8.1
Alk: 2 milli equ per liter (about 5.6 dKH)
Nitrate NO3: 3.5 ppm
Nitrite NO2: 0.05 ppm
Ammonia NH3/NH+4: 0 ppm
Salinity SG: 1.018

So right away I know my salinity is too low, I'm mixing some concentrated SW right now to add to the sump to increase this to 1.024-1.026. Also my Alk is low so I've added some Reef Carbonate that will raise it. I'm adding a little and then will test in a few hours to get between 8-11 dKH (according to melevsreef.com)