Good To Be Back

[macpegg]

I' like welcome myself back on the marine seen after selling all I had a year 1/2 ago!! lol

Quick question though...

Ive been off the scene for a little bit.. though im confused..

I have just tried buying Hydrocarbonate and sulphar beads so i can build a DIY nitrate reactor and i was told "why do i need Hydrocarbonate" im like huh? I then explained to my knowledge its to neutralise the acid of the sulphar back to a normal PH..

Now am i wrong??? or has things changed??!! Coz i felt thick!

Thanks

 

[steelhealr]

I"m not familiar with hydrocarbonate but some use aragonite over the sulfur to buffer the pH.

Hey
SH

 

[macpegg]

I"m not familiar with hydrocarbonate but some use aragonite over the sulfur to buffer the pH.

Hey
SH

Maybe the whole process is call hydrocarbonate... dunno.. prob me being stupid.lol

 

[seffieuk]

back Macpeg - nice to have you back onboard

So what has been happening and what are your plans?

Seffie x

 

[macpegg]

back Macpeg - nice to have you back onboard

So what has been happening and what are your plans?

Seffie x

Hi, thanks for the welcome - Finally settled after moving from Peterlee to London, 15 months later im ready to start again..

Spent nigh on already.. £1200.. I guess i expected this.. but you know how it is.. The marine hobbie blinds you..

Purchased a Fluval 4x2x2 tank last weekend (with drilled holes) last time i hadnt had this.. i definitley feel the benefit already.

As for filtration.. I had 4 externals on my last 4ft tank and i had no problems.. though i have no room for a sump to utilise the drilled holes which is a bit dissapointing.. So may change the stand..

The external is a Hagen Fluval Fx5 External Filter - thought id go bigger this time.. lol

Using a 2x 150W halide & twin blue actincs aqua space light.

V2 1000 Skimmer - did have a couple issues, but fixed it.. (half my kit i kept from the last time i had a setup, this was about 16 months ago so i guess a little damage could happen)

At the moment im filling the tank with R/O water.. I forgot how painfully slow it was

Though tank is half full, and started circulating, so the water dont end up stagnat whilst i wait for me water to eventually fill the drum.

Filled the bottom with marine sand, prob around 2 inches deep, then once the salt is in and the levels and temp are normal and the other paremeters.. i'll add the 2 bags of live sand.
DIY'd nitrate reactor, also a phosphate reactor..

Then the usual.. let the cyling run its course.. As for fish to start with.. I really dont wanna gan down the damsel route.. Though they are hardy.. they are buggers to catch.

Live rock/fish i'll wait prob a week before i introduce any though..

I'll take some readings and post em as i go along.. once the tank is full.

 

[seffieuk]

Sounds like you have some nice kit there

Thoughts:

We now add our live rock to the tank first, then the sand - so push your sand to one side and then add your rock to either rest on egg crate (although I dont like the stuff) or rest it on the glass. Then put your sand around the rock - this stops any critters etc burying under your rock structure and causing havoc

We no longer cycle with damsels or any fish the rock will either be fully cycled or have some die off which will cause your cycle

Live sand - unless you are talking about getting sand from someones tank (and I wouldn't do this, you have no idea what you are putting in your tank) the sand that is sold as 'Live' in lfs is very unlikely to be live as it has been sitting in a bag for months!! I don't know how they get away with it really.


So,
water-bring up to temp
salt - bring up to the correct sg, might as well start at 1.026
live rock, transported in water for a short cycle
sand
test after 48 hrs


Hope that helps

Seffie x

 

[macpegg]

Sounds like you have some nice kit there

Thoughts:

We now add our live rock to the tank first, then the sand - so push your sand to one side and then add your rock to either rest on egg crate (although I dont like the stuff) or rest it on the glass. Then put your sand around the rock - this stops any critters etc burying under your rock structure and causing havoc

We no longer cycle with damsels or any fish the rock will either be fully cycled or have some die off which will cause your cycle

Live sand - unless you are talking about getting sand from someones tank (and I wouldn't do this, you have no idea what you are putting in your tank) the sand that is sold as 'Live' in lfs is very unlikely to be live as it has been sitting in a bag for months!! I don't know how they get away with it really.


So,
water-bring up to temp
salt - bring up to the correct sg, might as well start at 1.026
live rock, transported in water for a short cycle
sand
test after 48 hrs


Hope that helps

Seffie x

Thanks Seffie

Yep live sand bought in bags, I would never use anyone elses etc..

I have posted a new thread, if you would like to take a look at the details?

Unfortunatly i bought the sand etc before the rock.. So maybe what ive tested for is prob pointless.. I'll gan out and buy LR now.. I have no eg crates.. and yep i agree its awful.. i'll just buy LR and do what i can..