my first reef system

[reefaddict]

my lfs told me about a ground wire(?) something you plug into an outlet and it pulls stray current out of the tank? have you ever heard of this and does it work? they told me it was a god idea with powerheads

 

[mattseattle]

i've read differing views on these. most people just say make sure you have a GFCI that all your tanks equipment is plugged into and that should trip if their is stray current. others say the titanium ground probe can actually be worse if you have stray current because it can create a continous loop for the voltage.

maybe others have experience with it....

 

[reefaddict]

gfi

i use a gfi on my pond and on my power strip on the tank. i did not think they help with small amounts of current because the don't do anything until they trip, like a circuit breaker. is that right?

 

[reefaddict]

well scooterman lets try this again
i have it on good authority you won't be deleting this post.
the first three or four times i read your last post i took it personally, the comments about "instant reef" and "if i want to be a true reefer" but since then i have come to realize that you have been doing this reef thing one way for so long you just can't see the possibility that another way might work.
i told nikki i wouldn't talk about it publicly anymore but i have to one last time. i have never had any measurable ammonia in my tank ever. nitrites have never been above<.1 mg per litre. that means no stress to the fish or corals. i am not harming the hobby but causing unnecessary fish deaths.period.
the only part of your post that i can't argue is newbies can read this thread and get the wrong idea. and because of that,i won't talk about my cycling anymore.

my "roots" are in fw and i already more books than i will ever need on that subject.

 

[Scooterman]

Let me clarify one thing, my comment about your roots was towards being a reefer, if you love and have the passion as most of us do, eventually you will want to learn more about our Natural Reefs, nothing more to that statement, sorry if it was misunderstood, thanks for clarifying your experience in FW, that was all I was wondering about, as anyone would with such a nice set-up as yours.


PS, I use a GFIC on everything, they are used for your safety in a Milliseconds they will trip on a dead short, which would prevent you from getting a major shock. Using a ground probe can be good, it also can mask a leakage or problematic stray voltage, eventually that could cause a shock of burn of equipment, not necessary being monitored by the GFIC, so it is a toss.

 

[reefaddict]

gfi vs ground probe

my lfs led me to believe that a powerhead almost always gives off stray voltage? do you think that is accurate? i have a voltmeter i guess i can check,

i guess i just put the leads in the water at opposite ends of the tank?

 

[bigreefer]

lets see some updated pictures

 

[Schottman]

so how is the tank doing now?

 

[reefaddict]

it is doing great. i had to remove the smallest damsel because it was being terrorized by the other two. i added a flame(fire)hawkfish. other than that i think i have a mantis shrimp, i hear the clicks at night and i have lost 3 or 4 hermits. the hair algae is almost completly gone. i added 22 turbo snails which made a huge difference. i will take some pics tonight.

 

[Schottman]

sounds good llets see those pics!

 

[reefaddict]

a couple of new pics

a few new ones, if you look close you can see the fire hawkfish between the leathers.

 

[bigyank]

the LR debate

Just my two cents/pence worth - i think there has been some confusion over cycling on this thread; reefaddict is using fully cured lr - which I have done on numerous occassions and I agree that while time is needed for the system to settle down and delicate corals/fish shouldnt be added, there is no need to wait nearly as long to add things like leathers and chromis etc.
Scooterman and NaH2O have experience with uncured rock that takes a lot of time to cure and even after curing unless large water changes happen, the system need a lot of time before it is habitable. Using fully cured LR is more expensive (at least over here it is) but does speed up the process. It is akin to setting up a new freshwater tank but putting a large external canister filter from a well run in system on it. True, you wouldnt slam 10 discus in there the next day but a shoal of tetra's or danios would be fine. As long as stocking is measured, planned and gradual I have never experienced any problems. Just my opinion, but good luck to all - and nice pics reefaddict!
Pic attached is of my latest 100 gal starting its freswater test.

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!

 

[Ritsuko Nashida]

Even though the system is "cycled" and the rock is cured, if it were me and I could muster the pateince I would wait a few weeks and fine tune my "live stock" shopping list. This would allow for some time for any potential "start up" problems to rear its ugly head making dealing with it so much more easier with no live stock. I would run only the VHO's during this time frame too, giving the coralline algae time to start establishing itself. If I could get some coralline algae shavings off someone I would add that too, to the tank during this time frame to get a jump start on a great tank. Its sounds like it will be awesome. I trust there will be some pics in the future? I as well as other I am sure will want to droole over it a bit

 

[bigyank]

I agree Ritsuko, that patience is the key, but in over 100g he a few chromis etc wouldt place much of a load on the system. Obvioulsy this is redundant now, as there is more stock, but the theory is the key. Out of interest, how many members on here used cured / uncured lr and waht was the timscale used? I have seen tanks set up and stocked within days using cured, and also longer periods as well. I have no personal experience of uncured rock so cant comment but it would be interesting to see what the split is on cured/uncured.
Anyway, when I manage to re-size all the pics I will post them in the members showcase.
C'mon reefaddict - lets have some new pics and stats - we are all chomping on the bit here!


ps - thanks for the welcome nikki

 

[Ritsuko Nashida]

It took my 135 about 3 weeks to cycle with uncurred rock. I didnt add the first inhabitant until about 5-6 weeks later afterwards. (Waiting is soooo hard! I just couldnt take it anymore) I then only added something once every two or three weeks and I think I only have 5 small fish in there 2 years later, I am just so down for the coral thing (got about 35 colonies of SPS) although the fish look cool too, but...

 

[reefaddict]

new tank

sorry you guys,
i have been to arizona 3 times in the last 3 weeks to visit my sick dad who unfortunatly died on tuesday.
i will get it back together and get some pics out.
the tank looks good, it needs some more livestock!

 

[Ritsuko Nashida]

Thats unforunate to hear. My sympathy goes out to you , your family and friends.

 

[NaH2O]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[reefaddict]

new tank

thanks you guys,
i really need to get some new pics.
i have a hermit that has attached a small ricordia(sp)mushroom to it's shell.
it looks like it has an afro.