River To Reef

[372xp]

There is a little bit of yellow scunge appearing on the inside of the lid and on top of the cone now. I think it is starting to work, problem is it fills up the cup with water as well. I emptied it before I went to work at 6.30 this morning and again when I got home. The second time it had a bit of a dirty look to it, I just need to get the water level right.
Any way more exiting is this little hitch-hiker, there is at least 2 of them that I can see, my wife tells me its an asterina starfish.

 

[372xp]

This is the skimmer with the lid off to show the water level. Look about right?

 

[techen]

Is there not a mark on the skimmer to tell you what the level is ment to be? Does look like it's pushing foam up which is fine.

If the skimmer cup is filling with water then you may need to rise/adjust it so the foam/bubbles are lower

Also if it's new it will bedding in and will be moody for a while.

 

[BigTuna]

Right on, more salties!  Looks to me as if the Skimmer is functioning great.  If you are getting good foaming action there in the neck before the collection bowl you'll get effective skimming once there's a bioload in the tank.  Any plans on what fish you want eventually?

 

[372xp]

There is no mark for the water level on the skimmer, the instructions from Aquaone were next to useless and assumed you have prior knowledge of skimmers. I dont and am a little confused.
We were thinking along the lines of a watchman goby and pistol shrimp combo. Maybe a purple fire fish. And a load of coral.
Hopefully getting TMC led tile this weekend.
There is this blue sort of algae stuff appearing on the sand in small patches. Any ideas?

 

[techen]

It wont be blue, it will be brown. Normal part of the cycle. You'll get tons of it then it will burn off after awhile.

What size is the tank?

 

[372xp]

It definately looks blue.
Tank is 55ltrs.

 

[techen]

I have a yellow tailed blue damsel, Pistol shrimp, yellow goby, Cleaner shrimp (Might be two) in my tank at the mo and mines is 60l

 

[372xp]

Sort of similar to how ours will be. Orchid dottyback would be nice but dont know much about them other than put them in last. Still got a few days to go before any cuc can go in. There are loads of little shrimpy things in the rocks and a red and white striped worm just appeared,cool.
How much evap. are you getting in your 60ltr?

 

[techen]

I get a 1-2 Litre evap a day or so I just top up.
 
Am getting a auto top up system this week to fix that anyway.

 

[372xp]

That is top up with unsalted r/o water?
Because thats what I was going to do. I am buying salted r/o water at the minute because my maths and chemistry skills are shocking!

 

[BigTuna]

Top up with fresh RO water. Water will evaporate but salt wont. Adding more saltwater will quickly cause a salinity spike.

 

[372xp]

Coming up to the first water change. So how is the best way to get my r/o sea water up to the right temp This is easy in my fw tanks by using hot water from the tap before adding de-chlorinator etc. But how do I do it with 11ltrs of sw?

 

[techen]

I would add the salt first, Get it to the right salinity at room temp, Don't heat the water.
 
once you get salinity spot on, Put a heater into a bucket of the water and rise the temp to tank temp.
 
Recheck Salinity. If it hasn't changed then add to the tank!
 
This is how I do it, It's easy

 

[372xp]

Thanks Techen, I thoght it may be something along those lines.