120 Gallon Setup Has Begun

[ga_reefer_guy]

really nice looking set-up

 

[BigJPDC]

I missed what kind of sand that is - are you worried about rinsing with tap water?

jp

 

[marino420td]

The sand is CaribSea special reef grade sand. I'm not too worried about rinsing with tap water. I rinsed the tank with tap water to clean it out then leak tested with tap water as well.

Performed my first water tests tonight

PH 8.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate .05
Calcium 540

I added a few more pieces of live rock in both the display and in the sump. It is coming along nicely.

I am trying to decide where to order my clean up crew. I am also debating whether or not to have hermit crabs in the tank. I have heard they sometimes irritate sps corals.

 

[bubblethumper]

Well the way I see it, if you're not going to have hermits, then you're going to need snails. And snails are more likely IMO (in my opinion) to knock frags over.

Just my take on it.

I currently have only hermits (mostly blue leg + a few other types) and the only stuff they knocked over was small pieces that were not attached or wedged to anything.

Everything in my tank is now epoxied, glued, or wedged into the rockwork

 

[dougie]

looking good! cant wait to see it finished!
:thumbsup:

Cheers.

 

[tsmitti99]

great rock choice and supplier choice, bought 80 lbs of uncured fiji from them, and they cut and awesome deal because it got delayed. yours is cured?

 

[marino420td]

My rock was purchased uncured and is curing in my tank.

 

[Ocicat]

Re: Live Rock Added

Re: Live Rock Added

How's the smell? I'm debating whether to cure my rock in the tank or separately.

 

[marino420td]

Re: Re: Live Rock Added

Re: Re: Live Rock Added

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7878189#post7878189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ocicat
How's the smell? I'm debating whether to cure my rock in the tank or separately.

There is no smell and has not been from the start. After reading some other threads, I have contacted my live rock supplier about the lack of color and life on this rock. I see pictures of other uncured live rock, and it looks like a rainbow. This stuff has great shapes but there is very little coloration or life. I tested my params last night and ammonia was 0.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[marino420td]

Seems that due to the extreme heat, much of the live rock they got in is void of coralline coverage and other life forms. They offered to refund my money if I wanted to ship it back to them or wait until heat wave breaks and they will ship me a fair amount of nice rock to seed the tank with. I believe this is more than fair so I'll wait on cooler weather.

 

[marino420td]

Diatoms beginning to form in the tank.

Does this mean I should start adding my clean up crew?

I also added a bucket to my sump to help alleviate micro bubbles from getting into the display. So far it seems to have helped. Not a permanent solution but it works for now.

I also threw together a set of moon lights. I'm not sure these will be bright enough on this large of a tank but we will see tonight. Took about 10 minutes to make. I just wired these wiper blade led's to an old cordless phone charger.

And finally, a full tank shot. I am running a 400w MH on the right and a 250 on the left. That is why it appears so much brighter. I just wanted to see the 400 in action.

 

[Milleme]

What are you gonna be using for supplementing calcium?


looks good so far

 

[marino420td]

Probably 2 part B-Ionic in the beginning. Then adding a reactor at a later date.

 

[PatrickJ]

What is that stain that you used for your cabinets? What is the wood that you used.

Brand:? Color:? Gloss Coat:?

I am making my 120 right now. I am trying to decide of stain color.

Check it out. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=890703

 

[Tcook]

What 250W bulbs are you using?

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7881670#post7881670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PatrickJ
What is that stain that you used for your cabinets? What is the wood that you used.

Brand:? Color:? Gloss Coat:?

I am making my 120 right now. I am trying to decide of stain color.

Check it out. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=890703

I used Sherwin Williams Cherry stain. Then coated with about 5 coats of Minwax polyurethane.

For bulbs, I will go with 250w in my Lumenarc Mini reflectors. I'm leaning towards the Reeflux 12k at the moment but have not made that final decision

 

[marino420td]

FIRST INHABITANTS!

FIRST INHABITANTS!

Since the water parameters checked out ok and diatoms began forming, I decided to go ahead and add some snails and one fish.

This is a beautiful 2" Gold Stripe Maroon Clown purchased from a LFS.

I bought a combination of Astrea, Cerith and Nassarius snails. I still need a lot more and will place an order this week.

 

[spongebobby]

I had a maroon clown... very cool fish but he would always turn his tail at you when you come to the front and fan sand everywhere with his tail till I left. I took him to Travelers and sold him. Did you have a cycle already? Did you use water from your other tank? Looking good

 

[marino420td]

I made a quick attempt at aquascaping today. I'm going for an open middle look with some overhangs. I'm still not satisfied with the way it turned out but I got tired of working on it today. I do not want any rock touching the glass. I want to be able to get my magnet cleaner around all 4 sides.

full tank shot

left side

right side

left end- nice cave here

right end

Let me know what you think.

 

[marino420td]

I finally did a little clean up under the stand that I have been needing to do. I soldered the quick connects onto the ballast wires and mounted the ballasts under the stand. I wanted to shorten all of the wires and get rid of the extra but was afraid to. You never know when you might change something and need the extra reach.

From the end