Setting up my tank...

[Navarre]

is it the swing arm type> if so then its possible that tiny micro bubbles wereo n the arm and thus given a more boyant and thus false reading. if you hve done several tests and they show 1.024 then i would guess you are within tollerated levels of SG.


If you can afford the extra expense then i strongly urge the purchase of a refractometer. these are far far more accurate. you wont regret buying one beleive me.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

Yes, I am using the swing arm type. I will look into the refractometer. I did not know these existed previously.

 

[tomstanks]

I can't wait to see this tank..... Check out the live rock at:

WWW.LIVEROCKNREEF.COM

They have some very beautiful life filled rock for when you would like to add some later or now or whatever. I am not profited by this info. Just go look at the rock.......you'll be impressed.


And the refractometer idea is the way to go for sure.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

So... the tank is up and running with 11 pounds of LR in it. I just bought a some fiji live rock from a friend that has had his tank for about 2 years. SO...my tank is cycled! Now i need to decide what other live rock I will buy...I don't know why I am worrying about this, does it really matter??

Would it be possible for me to add fish now, or should I wait until I have all of my live rock?

 

[canyoubelieveit]

VHO lighting... If I were to buy or build a canopy for my tank, is there an easy way to set up VHO lighting? What are all of the requirements for VHO lights?

Unfortunately all that I have for now is a deluxe hood with the standard 3 foot flourescent light.
Will this be fine for a while? I do not have (or intend to keep...for now) corals.
I was told that some things might even grow with this.

Can I buy a light for this hood that has higher wattage? If so, that would be my choice for now...

What kind of hood would I use for power compacts?

 

[canyoubelieveit]

I just bought 10 more pounds of Pohnpei live rock... I'm trying to get an assortment in my tank. So, that gives me a little over 20 pounds.

I am looking into lighting and as Great Lakes said:

So I would go with a pair of 96w power compacts. Get them in 10,000k, you do not need actinic bulbs in the absence of corals.

So... I think I am going with 2 96w power compacts. I will be getting 1 - 10,000k and another blue actinic.
Will this lighting allow me to do soft corals when I am ready?

Also, will my live rock stay alive with just sand, rock, power compacts, a heater and a flourescent light? I'm sure it will be fine... I just want to make sure!

 

[canyoubelieveit]

Ok... so algae has been forming on the back of my tank for a few days now, is it ok to get a cleaning crew now? Maybe 10 snails and 10 hermits... Will this be too many with no fish in the tank?

 

[Navarre]

add the crew, they are scevangers and will be fine as long as the tank has fully cycled.

how long after the cleanup crew are you going to wait before you add fish?

 

[canyoubelieveit]

I would like to get the rest of my live rock in the tank. I won't have time to get it for the next 2 weeks to pick up the rock. For now, I have 20 pounds of live rock, I will be adding at least 25 more. It will all be cured, so there are no real worries there and I won't be adding it all at once.
I don't wan to add fish until of the LR is in the tank for a week. That way I can make sure the chemistry is set.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

I just came in contact with a person in my area that will sell me LR from his tank for 3 dollars a pound! He said he has lights and fish in this tank and the tank is running fine. He said that he will be downsizing soon and needs to get rid of 100 pounds. As of now I have 20 pounds of LR. I was thinking that I would buy 25 or 30 more from this guy. Is there anything that I should watch out for, or should I just enjoy the deal?!?!?

 

[Navarre]

make sure the tank hasnt been treated with copper. liverock can still function in a copper tank but of course it can also store this and dump it back into the tank.
Also, see ifyou can take a look at the rock bfore purshase, try and see ifit has uch aiptasia on it. If it does then try the bits with the least amount.
Other than that just choose the rocks that have the best life o nit and of course, smell it to make sure its fresh and safe (bad liverock smells like rotten eggs)

 

[canyoubelieveit]

How do I recognize the rock with the best life on it?

I have talked to the guy and he currently has fish and inverts in his system (where the rock is), so I assume that this brings me in the clear as far as copper goes! So, now it's look out for aiptasia on it... I will be able to hand pick the rock

 

[canyoubelieveit]

I have a quick question about skimmers... My CPR Bakpak system has not arrived yet and I was considering the purchase of a slightly better hang-on skimmer. Any suggestions?

 

[canyoubelieveit]

A quick update...


I bought the LR from the guy. He actually took the rock out of his new tank that he had just set up.

I have the CPR Bak-Pak skimmer now (not hooked up yet).


A list of my inverts so far:

2 Mexican Turbo Snails (they say 1 per 20 gallons)
5 Astrea snails
5 Blue legged crabs (yes I know about the agression complex these guys have... but I like the way that they look!)

I will add more inverts as time goes by. I will be getting 10 more blue crabs shortly and maybe a few more snails.

Soon I will hook up my skimmer and add a fish or two.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

Some pictures of my tank from the beginning until today...

I'm moving slowly on this tank... I'm very busy with school and time can only help... I think?

Please be understanding, my photography skills are very poor!

Empty Tank:

Sand storm:

Salinity/SG checks out!: