MarineDreamer's 55 Gallon learning curve

[MarineDreamer]

I've got some good news, and I've got some bad news.

First the good: I picked up the rest of the LR that I had purchased.

The bad news: IT WAS FIFTY POUNDS!!!

That's right folks; here I was thinking that I'd be pretty safe with another fifteen to twenty pounds coming in and that I wouldn't see all that much of a spike.

So, let's see here; twenty pounds from Brad, sixty pounds on the first pick up, and now another fifty. That's a hundred and thirty pounds for a 55 Gallon tank.

So, I’m right back at the beginning; I’ve scrubbed the rock, rinsed once in cold tap water, and twice in 80 degree saltwater. And now I wait for the cycle! Man, I tell you what, I better have friggin’ cleanest water since the ocean was filled!

 

[bradreef]

well looks like your sump will have a good amount of rock. By the way it is about time for an update. Where has your T-town buddy been with his cube.

 

[DisturbedReefer]

I'm right here Not too much new with DaCube just waiting and watching the slow growth on the corals. I will be making a Kalk reactor soon and hopefully get the bryopsis under control...I hate that stuff :evil:

Trevor,
How'bout some pictures of the tank with the new rock in there, wow, I knew we got you a good deal, but I had no idea it was that much

 

[bradreef]

watching corals grow is boring. I do it every day.

 

[MarineDreamer]

watching corals grow is boring. I do it every day.

So, then why do you do it everday???

Trevor,
How'bout some pictures of the tank with the new rock in there, wow, I knew we got you a good deal, but I had no idea it was that much

Temp: 28 C
Salinity: 1.025
NH4: 0.25
NO2: 0.1
NO3: 5
Alk: 8
pH: 8.4

All tests were conducted with Salifert test kits. (Except the salinity which I measured with a refractometer. ) I figure I'll have to let the tank run the second cycle for about another four weeks.

So, let me ask you guys this: I'm going to be putting in a shallow sand bed (SSB,) when would be the best time to put the sand in there?

As for the request for pictures; from left to right: left side, whole tank, right side, the refugium looking straight down, and then Camden and Aurelia. WHAT! How'd that get in there!

 

[NaH2O]

OOOOHHHHH!!! I was just wondering about the twins!!!! They are adorable! Congrats!

 

[MarineDreamer]

OOOOHHHHH!!! I was just wondering about the twins!!!! They are adorable! Congrats!

Thank you; Thank you!

But you didn't answer the question about the SSB! :shock:

P.S. Hey Todd!!!

Denise had left the rock out on the front porch on Saturday. Yeah, it was sixty-five degrees, but it didn't do the Feather Dusters any good. I tried rushing them into my tank, but I think that it was too late. They're sitting (or what's left of them) in my refuge now. I'll leave them there awhile hoping against hope.

 

[NaH2O]

OH...the SSB - I would wait until the rock isn't shedding any more detritus from the cure, if it still is shedding. That way all the junk coming from the rock isn't sitting in all that sand. If it were my tank, I would put the sand in prior to any livestock additions, inorder to give the sand time to settle down.

Hope that helps!

 

[MarineDreamerII]

hey,
so when do you think that you'll get some lights on that sump then, if you don't already? I think you need to mention me more often in your posts...you know get some people to donate stuff ANYWAY, yeah looks great.... except that much weight in a glass tank makes me nervous! Do you have a final fish list? Did you get a second halide setup, I know you had the one already...keep up the good work. E-MAIL ME

Your Little Big Brother...I think I grew some more....sorry

 

[MarineDreamer]

As promised; I got some shots of the CLS while doing a ten gallon water change/rock detritus removal exercise.

 

[bradreef]

You realize now that this thread will be referenced for years when people are doing closed loops on glass tanks. Looks great.

 

[MarineDreamerII]

Yeah but he didn't tell you Brad how many times we had to run back and forth to HomeDepot to get the pvc piping. I don't live down there and I could probably get to HomeDepot blindfolded....

 

[bradreef]

home depot is a great place.

 

[MarineDreamerII]

yeah...they had too many options. We'd get back to his place only to find that the part we had was a slight variation and have to go back. Good prices though.

 

[MarineDreamerII]

what kind of fish do you have in that 75g?

 

[bradreef]

small blue tang, occelaris clown, sixline wrasse. dont like fish too much mostly coral,.

 

[MarineDreamerII]

Is your "small" blue tang going to get bigger? Are you thinking that you might get a larger system sometime?

 

[bradreef]

ya I have had him for a while now and he is 2". one of the smallest I could find when I got him. I will get a bigger tank in the future but not right now. hopefully in a year or so.

 

[Jiddy]

B you should get a 220 so i copy your flow ideas

 

[Jiddy]

Hey MarineDreamerI i was curious if you could show/explain to me how your pump interfaces with the CL system, i have an extra and want to do a CL like yours!