MarineDreamer's 55 Gallon learning curve

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MarineDreamer

MarineDreamer

Est. April 2nd, 2005
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
492
Location
Granite Falls, Wa
So after a year of lurking, hanging out, reading, buying books, and being teased, I have water in the tank! No more dust for me!

So I say to you all: LET THE CYCLE BEGIN!!!

I suppose a brief overview of the tank is in order:

A 55 gallon glass tank (48x12x18) attached to an I.A.P. BS1 Ecosump (30x14x16?) by a CPR CS100 overflow. The sump return is handled by a PanWorld NH-50PX. Skimming duties are handled by an E.T.S.S. Reefdevil Pro powered by CA 1800. I do have a CLS which is powered by a PanWorld NH-100PX through a SCWD. Eventually I’ll put some loc-line on there, but not now. Between the two pumps, I’ve got about 1800 GPH turnover. Lighting is two 250W 10K Ushio’s and two T-5 actinics mounted into two PFO 15” “Parallel Reflectors.” This will be a SPS tank. The Stand and Canopy are custom built by none other than me.

Today I added some 60 lbs to the 20 or so lbs I put in there four days ago.
 
obviously we need more pics. that stand looks nice. rock looks good. way to stay with the two 250's and love the plumbing on the closed loop. did you hook it up to a sqwd? let that tank cycle and then we will get you some SPS.
 
Plumbing Overview.

I bummed, begged, barrowed, and stole the CLS idea from here.

As per the request, here are some pictures of the plumbing.

The first picture is the whole dang mess. The second is just the sump return, the third is the CPR CS100 Overflow, and the last is the CLS. Both intake and output.
 
bradreef said:
did you hook it up to a sqwd?
Click to expand...

Yup. I had some problems with the SCWD when I was starting up the CLS. The Flexhose that was attached with C-clamps started to leak. I went to tighten things up and yup, you guessed it. The leaks got WORSE! :doubt: So now the SCWD is glued in PERMANATELY. Don't know what I'm going to do about the maintenance.

bradreef said:
let that tank cycle and then we will get you some SPS.
Click to expand...

You sir, have yourself a deal! :D

I don't have any pictures of the CLS in action. I'll try and get those during the next water change.
 
LR Pictures

I had been keeping my feelers out for some rock for some time. At first I had thought that I’d do the whole “base rock” thing. For that story, check this thread here:http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7464&page=1&pp=15 Then I got my hands on about twenty pounds of LR through Brad (bradreef.) Then Todd (disturbedreefer) emails me about a friend at work who is moving and wants to tear down her 55 gallon tank. I gave her call and went out to her house with Rubbermaid in tow.

The short version is that she had just given up trying to do anything the”right way” and was dumping tap water for top off. You could barely see the LR/fishes/featherdusters/Aiptasia (Which, by the way, was doing exceptionally well. It was as thick as my thumb and six plus inches tall) through all the algae on the glass. We negotiated a deal and I came home with sixty or so pounds of LR. Todd then commenced to scrub the rock in cold tap water in the tub from about nine to midnight. I let that sit overnight and did it again the following day. On the third day I gave the rock another thorough rinsing and moved it into the tank. Once she gets rid of her livestock, I’ll pick up the remaining 20 or so pounds.

The first two pictures are the left and right sides of the tank from the front. The third picture is of the rock ruble in the ‘refuge’ area of the sump. The last two is of the right of left sides of the tank looking down.
 
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way to take care of the rock probs before you put it in your tank. love the closed loop. one of the best I have seen on a glass tank. I think that is going to be one of the biggest keys to the longterm success of your tank. Leave the sqwd glued and cut the pipe and add quick disconnects with ball valves.
 
Looks great man. You are doing things right the first time. That is admirable. Nice a slow, lots of patience and good judgement. You will do well at this hobby. Keep us updated.

Mat
 
Just wanted to tag your thread because that is goin to be excaty what i do when i set my tank up next month, so be prepared for me to bombard you with silly questions, you seem to be doin it all right!
 
There are some out there who believe that one day cockroaches will take over the world. :shock:

This is a lie!

Aiptasia is taking over the world. I give to you some pictures that I took this morning. I was test firing my MH’s when I was suddenly and brutally attacked without provocation. Remember, this thing survived a cold tap water scrubbing, and two other scrubbings in saltwater. The rock has been pulled from the tank and scrubbed again. We’ll see who wins this battle.
 
trev someone was telling me the other day about how they pressure washed there rock. maybe worth a try.
 
bradreef said:
trev how has the first week gone?
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Hey Brad, I’ll answer you question over here, ‘cause I think that the other thread was a great one and I didn’t want to intrude upon it.

It’s funny that you should ask. I’ve been really, really pumped up over my tank.

First things first:
Temp: 28 C
Salinity: 1.025
NH4: <0.25
NO2: 0
NO3: 0

The Ammonia, NitrIte, and NitrAte were tested using ‘Salifert’ test kits recently purchased. I apologize for not having Ph or Alkalinity, but I’ve not gotten those tests yet. I was thinking that I’ve got lots of time (like eight weeks or so) before my cycle is complete. But then I got to thinking that I’ve got eighty pounds of LR that came from established tanks (all-be-it that 60 of those pounds came from a very nutrient rich tank) and that I might not get that great of a cycle. By playing with the skimmer (E.T.S.S. ReefDevil Pro) I managed to get a little skimmate, but it was more greenish/tan water that didn’t smell all that bad. Today, I’m not able to get anything out it, and the top of the bubble column is surprisingly clear. You can see where the column has topped out in the past by a ring of scum. The LR that I got from you is now fuzzy and taking on a distinctly greenish hue. And it’s growing bubble algae. I’ve also got some kind of worm, (feather duster?) coming out of the rock.

So I pose the question: Where do I stand on the cycle?

Next, I have to rain in on Steve’s glory by bragging about own canopy. I was planning on placing two 250W MH’s and two T-5’s in the canopy, but I really like the PFO 15” ‘Parallel Reflector’ which is set up take two 28/32W PC’s, so I’ll be doing that instead. Inside the canopy has been painted with two coats of primer/sealer and it’s currently got one coat of marine gloss white topcoat. I’ll sand that down and put on a finish coat. If look real close, you can see how the top of the canopy lifts up to move the lights out of the way for the (eventual) doors. The exterior will get the same stain/polyurethane as the stand.

Last night I ended up entertaining, and everyone took turns just looking at the rock (without lights) saying nice it looked. Even my Wife is appreciative of the tank.
 
nice canopy. dont think you will have much of a cycle since there is nothing that is dead and it is BB. you can probably add fish in a few weeks. I would deal with the bubble algae before it is too late and you have to take apart the whole tank. scrub scrub scrub.
 
Your tank isn't going to be much different then a tank that has been moved. I would look into the oceanpods since they are now local. great way to get the boifiltration going.
 
Hey Trevor - looking good!!! I agree on aiptasia taking over the world - LOL! And the aiptasia would probably eat all the cockroaches :D . I don't know if scrubbing the rock will do the trick with them. I believe they can come back if a little cell is left behind. You might try covering that spot in kalk paste and letting it sit like that for 5-10 minutes or so. Then come in with the rinse and scrubbing. Using a pressure washer might help too.....but I'm sure you love the hand scrubbing ;) . If you have a rock that you feel is really bad, then you could take it outside and boil it for awhile.
 
Can't believe I missed this thread, though I have seen a good portion of this being made. It's looking great Trevor, as long as you waited before you took the salty plunge you should be an expert :badgrin: Keep up the good work and get it all cycled and stable so we can get some SPS in there, ok maybe a few fish to help feed the SPS as well :razz:
 
bradreef said:
scrub scrub scrub.
Click to expand...

Well I made up a bach of saltwater tonight and went at it. Man, after taking on only the first three most offending rocks, my hands were sore. :cry: Then I remembered my motivation! I got a mental picture of Todd up to his elbows in Bryopsis (SP?)! :badgrin: Sorry, Todd. Had to take the shot.

I also meant to put on the second coat of paint on the lid, but I was just so excited to "scrub, scrub, scrub" that I lost all track of time. :rolleyes:

Where does the time go?
 
you guys missed out on a psas meeting. your loss. We were wondering where the T-Town crew was at.
 
bradreef said:
you guys missed out on a psas meeting. your loss. We were wondering where the T-Town crew was at.
Click to expand...

Ya know, I was thinking that it was about time for another meeting. But I never got an "Evite." Did you?
 
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