120 Gallon Setup Has Begun

[DrBDC]

They get thier fish from the same farm/source as the LFS's but I've tested their water from my local petco and it was running 1.010 and nitrate was 100+. I didn't test the rest but with dead fish and such I'm sure there's a lot of amm and nitrites too. And notice too that the rocks seem to have a green or orange residue. If it's in their water already, walk away. By the time they acclimate them to their sewer water, then you acclimate them to your home, it's just too much stress.

Then there's the whole ethical issues of buying from the fish version of a puppy mill. But heck if it's a free coupon at least you're not financially supporting the practice. Funny thing about our local petco is the guy working there has a great reef at home and knows what "should" be done but is only allowed to do what's on the instruction pages from the company. He sometimes trys to help by doing something better but has got in trouble for it. He's even offered to bring in free skimmer and they won't allow it.

 

[marino420td]

New FTS- sorry about the bad pictures. I was in a hurry and the tank is dirty.

Here are a couple of shots of the filmy substance I was talking about in my previous post.

Anyone know what this stuff is? How do I get rid of it?

 

[Rock Anemone]

I see that in most new tank set-ups, the name slips my mind. Just do your regular water changes, maybe run some carbon, keep skimming and make sure you've got snails.

Tank and stand look absolutely incredible! On average, how much did the stand cost to build?

 

[dobly_1999]

The snails will eat it. That stuff was in my tank and the snails cleans it off.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8850311#post8850311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rock Anemone
Tank and stand look absolutely incredible! On average, how much did the stand cost to build?

Thanks. I have approximately $600-650 in materials in the stand and canopy.

 

[marino420td]

I installed my Phosban Reactor this weekend.

Currently running Phosguard.

I bought a Kole Tang with my gift certificate from Petco. It was actually a decent looking specimen so I thought I would take it. Plus, I'm hoping he will help keep the tank clean.

Now I need to get my calcium reactor up and running. I bought a GEO 612 from another RC member but I only got the reactor. I need to buy a solenoid, the media, CO2 tank, etc. Let me know your suggestions as I have no experience with reactors.

My sps are not growing very quickly but they are all encrusting at the base. I believe most sps frags will encrust a good base before they begin to grow so I'm hoping this is the case.

I still have a lot of particulate matter floating in the water column, even running a filter sock. Not sure what to do about this but I'm not too worried about it.

 

[chetm2]

Lookin good, I had the same algae at the beginning and added over 300 snails from reeftopia and they rid the tank most nuissance algae. attach a couple snails up there and it will be gone in a day.

 

[20 20]

That 'slimey stuff' is EXACTLY what I've got! I've had water in my tank for about 4 months, heres a pic of the stuff:

I've got a thread going on this stuff looking for ideas to get rid of it, maybe someone will come up with something that can help us both:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1007501

 

[marino420td]

20 20- I had already subscribed to your thread. I had a lot of snails in my tank but most have died. This weekend I pulled out over 50 astrea shells! I don't know why they died. Not sure if it was water conditions or hermit crab murder. My salinity did accidentally get to about 1.030 and that may have done it. But these astreas constantly get flipped on their backs and I have to help them over. That gets old! I bought a few more snails this weekend and added to the tank so we'll see how that goes. I'm reluctant to add a lot since so many have already died.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8883036#post8883036 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chetm2
Lookin good, I had the same algae at the beginning and added over 300 snails from reeftopia and they rid the tank most nuissance algae. attach a couple snails up there and it will be gone in a day.

Thanks. I have been following your thread as well. I love your stand and canopy!

 

[20 20]

I've had the same issue with snails, but with Trochus and cerith snails. I added around 12 of each, probably have had 3 or 4 of each die. I'm afraid to add more also, don't want that rotting flesh stuck in the rocks where I don't see it.

 

[murfman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8883071#post8883071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
20 20- I had already subscribed to your thread. I had a lot of snails in my tank but most have died. This weekend I pulled out over 50 astrea shells! I don't know why they died. Not sure if it was water conditions or hermit crab murder. My salinity did accidentally get to about 1.030 and that may have done it. But these astreas constantly get flipped on their backs and I have to help them over. That gets old! I bought a few more snails this weekend and added to the tank so we'll see how that goes. I'm reluctant to add a lot since so many have already died.

Astreas can turn themselves over, its turbos that will drown. High nitrates might have an impact on all inverts.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8850085#post8850085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
New FTS- sorry about the bad pictures. I was in a hurry and the tank is dirty.

Anyone know what this stuff is? How do I get rid of it?

Do you test the TDS of your make-up water? I wouldn't use anything but 0 TDS .

 

[Cuby2k]

Marino, I had an outbreak of the same stuff in the same location . . . on my lokline returns. In fact it looks like you took the picture from my tank, no kidding. Anyway I noticed that my make-up water TDS had climbed to 9 so I changed the DI cartridge and hopefully that will correct it. TDS dropped to 0.

Side note; I can't get my snails to eat the stuff. I pluck them from the glass and set them on the lokline and the next day they have jumped off.

 

[murfman]

It looks like hair algea. My Starry Blennie loves the stuff. Tangs eat it too.

 

[clown-x]

One of the nicest tank and stand setups i've ever seen! Fantastic job and congratulations on a wonderful thread/tank!

 

[marino420td]

Thanks clown-x. It has been a long road. This project started almost a year ago.

 

[Voxboy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8891381#post8891381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
Thanks clown-x. It has been a long road. This project started almost a year ago.

Without a doubt the nicest tank stand combo I have ever seen as well. I just ordered a 120 starphire 48x24x24. I was going to make a basic type stand........ you just cost me a lot more money. These tank building threads are awesome!

 

[marino420td]

You can build this stand a canopy pretty cheap if you do not use solid hardwood. You could use birch plywood and save a ton.

I just treated the tank for redbugs today. I noticed them several weeks ago, got some Interceptor but didn't add. I didn't want to kill off my pod and crab population. But after researching, I decided it was best to rid the tank of the redbugs. I think it worked as I do not see any on my corals. And I do have some dead crabs and pods. I guess time will tell but I hope I got them.

 

[Rick A B]

Great cabinet! You did a 1st class job on that for sure!