Danno's Nanos And Pico Journal

[Danno]

Well it has been awhile since an update. I got some photos but they are pretty crappy since all I have for a phone here at the moment is a camera phone. Its day number 20 in the cycling process. One day short of 3 weeks. Thinking about getting a clean up crew right about now. I don't have any tank readings at the moment. My old test kit I found out was expired and before that I used to do is get readings from my pet store. Im only two minutes from there. Anywho, my diatoms are receeding. Thank god for that. I was a daily task of taking that crap off of the sides of the tank.

Well here are some low quality photos. Sorry about the reflections off the glass.

EDIT: Just remembered something

Im thinking of adding a hang on filter in the back just incase I need to add any media because opening canister filters is anoying.

That just reminded me. I was wondering one thing. I was worried about my filter media.

I am currently running a Fluval 204 and it is working just fine. The filter includes 5 medium filter floss pockets for hang on filters packed with high quality carbon, and the other side is filled with an entire packet of filter floss.

The filters is built like this

Is this ok?

 

[Danno]

Well I went to the LPS today and got some updates:

My diatoms are going away like crazy! They are dying is huge chunks. Hopefully it doesn't raise the ammonia too much for my little damsel. I picked up two things at the pet store today. I picked up a Tetra Whisper Power Filter 10. I got it all hooked together and took the filter cartridge and emptied it. I took a container of PhosGuard and shuved it inside of the filter cartridge envelope. I assembeled everything and primed the filter. Plugged it in a voula, it works. So at the moment I am running these for water tempering:

25 watt heater
25 watt heater
Fluval 204
Tetra Whisper 10
Maxi-Jet 600

The tank is looking so much better.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

You probably shouldn't use filter media at all!

the live rock does your filtration. The filters we all use run empty, just there for water circulation.
Filter floss traps detritus and turns into a nitrate factory!

SLC

 

[Danno]

Thanks for the info. Im going to take the floss out tomarrow when I have time.

I only have 6 1/2 pounds of live rock at the moment. The LPS ran out of rock again. That enough for a full filter?

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

In a 10 gallon it's reccomended to get at least 15 gallons of LR. Obviously the more the better!

Keep in mind that adding more LR later could send you into a mini cycle, that would be bad for livestock so hold off on cleanup crew till you are satisfied with the LR amount in your tank.

Also the 15 lb reccomendation stems from a basic rule of thumb of 1.5 times the amount of water (gallons) being the reccomended amount in lbs of LR. Obviously this is based on the somewhat standard density of most LR, if yours is very light but porous and contains a great deal of surface area then you might not need as much.

Keep that in mind when selecting new pieces, the more porous or rough surfaced the better!

Ask away at any other questions you may have.

SLC

 

[Danno]

Bit of an update today:

I purchased enough live rock today to finally get a total of 8.5 pounds of live rock. I'm pretty happy with that now. I also got a turbo snail. Long story short it I didn't take it, it was going to meet Mr. Cinderblock, so I took it. It was out of a really healthy tank. There wasn't any bad reasons it was going to be chuckled. More or less aethetics. It was free so hey! Also got a Horse Conch Shell for free. I picked it out of one of the tanks. I said I would pay for it but they give it to me for free. Hopefully the Blue Damsel will like it and make it his bed at nighttime. I did take the floss out today. So all I am running now is carbon and PhosGuard. No floss.

Here is my updated tank.

(with flash)

(without flash)

I still can't get any shots that look like it looks like in real life.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

OK! Looks like you are getting diatoms, but wait till your stats even out till adding cleanup crew! You're getting close.

Good job!

SLC

 

[Danno]

The diatoms are actually receeding like crazy. You should have seen my tank when it was fully attacked

 

[Jer-]

Im sorry to be a poop, but I'd really seriously consider adding more support under that tank.
From a few of the pictures it already looks as the wooden base support of the tank is already flexed in the middle, plus its right above some electronic device. Im worried about ur printer too... but more so for ur laptop. I love my laptop and I imagine everyone loves their laptop.

Sorry if i came out as being rude or anything but thats just my advice.

Otherwise it looks a cool little setup... im sure ure full of ideas on how to make ur tank flourish aint ya... I love that feeling.

Jeremy

 

[Danno]

No no! All input is great. I'm glad there is some input. I plan on making a better one of the summer; some 2x4s and some nice molding that will be stained and sealed with boating epoxy. Im trying to plan out a drip guard so if it leaks it leaks into a bucket. Im thinking maybe some cut PVC tucked in the stand and some flex tubing that leads into a bucket. Whenever I clean my tank I move everything around my tank. Ill be back from college in about 3 weeks anyways so something will be new soon.

 

[Danno]

I was looking on eBay for kicks just now and came across this live rock: Link to live rock on eBay

Im weiry about it though. It looks beautiful though. The only thing that bothers be is that bad hitchhikers and parsites could be infested in it.

Interesting to looks at......but I dunno.....


ANYWHO..

I drew a picture of a hitchhiker on my live rock that Ive had all this time. I have no idea what it is because it only shows one pincher and I cant see any of the animal. I checked on it during the night and it stays put.

Here is my craptastic drawing

 

[Danno]

Well im getting in a slump....

I've looked around at everyone elses fish tank that are about a month old also and they seem like they are so much further along anf better looking then mine. I'm still trying to get rid of diatoms and everyone elses is into there coral and fish.

Am I doing something wrong or something?

Any help would be GREAT!

 

[AndyS]

Have you taken your phosphate levels? High phosphates will often lead to Diatoms and Algae, maybe trying a bag of Rowaphos? If you have a big problem, use a bag at twice the required dosage, it wont cause any harm but it will compensate for the bloom you are having.

Dont rush, it will take time, look at SH's progress thread, he didnt get that tank by diving in and adding it all in one day.

Andy

 

[Danno]

I've already added a phosphate remover.

The tank is currently running for 4 1/2 weeks so far. By now the diatoms should be gone.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

You need to give us water stats!

If everthing is good it may be time for some cleanup crew! They're supposed to be added when you get diatoms unless you still have ammonia nitrite or nitrate.

They'll be what keeps your diatoms under controll.

SLC