40 Gallon Breeder reef tank build...

Checked my cycling tonight...

Ammonia is down to .5 ppm (was at 3.0 ppm after initial dose).
Nitrite is at 5.0 ppm
Nitrate is at 20 ppm

I'll test again tomorrow to double check the tests, but it is getting cycled.
 
Thanks.

Yes I am, but I expected some progress on that front. I am a little surprised by the drop down to .5 on the Ammonia. Thought it might still be a little higher, but now I can test to see when it drops to 0 and then add a bit and see how long before it's consumed.

Seeing this high of a nitrate reading already is a little surprising but everything just kind of goes its own way.

I can get a CUC dirt cheap at work and I have a local source for chaeto where I can get a pretty decent sized ball for $5. Or a huge ball of it with pods for $20.

I also found a great source for dried seaweed. My LFS can get the normal prepackaged stuff meant for the aquarium trade, but one of the guys there told me to just go down to the Asian food store where they sell a ton of it to wrap sushi. I can get about 20 times as much for the same price as pet stores sell it for.
 
I am really stoked. I went and ordered a Kessil for my display tank.

Should be here where I work tomorrow. Can't wait to get it over my tank! I walk past them in the pet department every day and the 220 gallon reef tank they are over is just hypnotizing. That tank has the bigger Kessils, but my friend here has the same one I'm getting and it covers roughly the same size tank I have. It covers a 24" diameter, but I'm using 24" strip lights now, as I don't want any light on my 36" tank to go beyond the 24" in the middle anyway.
 
ZeeSparrow said:
Sweeeet! Can't wait to see it. :D
Click to expand...

No kidding. I've barely used my strip lights since I only now am cycling my tank (no need to use them yet), and they're still good as new so I'm returning them for the Kessil, which at my cost, will actually cost me a little less than my three strip lights combined. :thumbsup:

I would have just ordered a Kessil from the get go, but where I work they weren't carrying them at the time.

The shimmer from the water surface is just breathtaking. Heck, we all joke here that just a tank filled with water and one of these Kessils is good enough. To heck with putting anything in the tank. LOL.

It is so much better in person (the animated gif below from Kessil does not do it justice, at all)...

a150w_002.gif
 
Last edited:
hunjjn said:
Nice, just started a 40 breeder build myself. I decided to go with a sump for my 3rd salty tank ever. I'm using a 20 long for the sump.
106.gif
42.gif
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Cool. Post up a link to your build thread so we can follow it. It's always nice to check out others tanks as they are in progress...to get ideas or pass the time during cycling, etc. ;)
 
Ugh. The guy in the pet department just placed the order for my Kessil only this morning so I won't get it until Monday. Damn. If he would have gotten the order in by 3:00 yesterday I'd have it today and have all weekend to mess around with it.

I have to cut a hole in my canopy for it, so it's not just a matter of it being plug and play, so it's going to take me some time. Hmmm...kind of like everything else with this hobby. :D

Oh well.
 
Cycling is coming along...

Ammonia is down to .1 ppm (was at 3.0 ppm after initial dose and down to .5 last time I checked it).
Nitrite is still at 5.0 ppm
Nitrate is still at 20 ppm

Once my Ammonia and Nitrite hits the magic "0", I'll dose Ammonia back up to 1 and see how long it takes to bring them down.

Getting close. And I'll have my new Kessil ready to go as well. Then it's finally time to add a bit of a CUC (even if I have to supplement with some seaweed for a bit).
 
Bummer about the order being delayed. These things happen though, right? And like you said, it's teaching you (more) patience.
 
ZeeSparrow said:
Bummer about the order being delayed. These things happen though, right? And like you said, it's teaching you (more) patience.
Click to expand...

Doesn't help that its Memorial Weekend and nothing gets delivered Monday. Figures. I have time this weekend to mess around with it, but no light fixture. Then when the fixture comes, I'll be extremely busy all next week..day and night.

Patience? I still have none. But I am learning to deal with not having any. :D
 
Ammonia is down to 0 ppm :D
Nitrite is still at 5.0 ppm
Nitrate is still at 20 ppm

I'm going to guess that since my nitrites haven't gone any higher, that they will just now slowly start coming down as the nitrobacter population gets more established.

Starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel...hoping it isn't a train. ;)
 
I never saw my nitrites get to 5 ppm. Your tank is gonna be super cycled when it's done. Be ready for the nitrates to be very high.
 
Martini5788 said:
I never saw my nitrites get to 5 ppm. Your tank is gonna be super cycled when it's done. Be ready for the nitrates to be very high.
Click to expand...

Nothing a water change and a huge ball of chaeto in my fuge won't solve. :D

I've got it planned out. I also expect with all the dry rock I used to have phosphates leach out over time, even though I blasted it with a water hose to clean out all the loose stuff (and there was a lot that came loose leaving tons of holes and openings in it, and soaked it for a very long time in strong vinegar baths and rinsed it all again).

But, I have a 27 gallon fuge in my sump and I am going to grow macro algae in it to help with nitrates and phosphates.

It's all just a big experiment really. The key is understanding the process, being patient and planning scenarios out way in advance and then just let nature take its course. She's going to do what she's going to do.

In all the years I've kept aquariums, one thing I've never done is rush things, nor panic under any situation. It's all good.
 
Grizz717 said:
I'm with you. My Params are:
Ammonia - <.25
Nitrite - <.25
Nitrate - 10

Can't wait until they're at 0. I make a trip to Jacksonville every other week and one of the stores there have a great selection on Fish and corals. The tank should be ready for some new guests (corals) on my next trip in two weeks.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2503345
Click to expand...

Cool. I run the frame shop at Ace Hardware and we have a huge pet department, and we are quite heavily stocked with saltwater (fish and reef) and fortunately for me I get everything at a tad over cost. :D

Plus I only live 5 minutes away so bringing livestock home is not a big journey for them. Almost from their tanks to mine.
 
I wish our Ace Hardware had a Pet Department. That is a short trip home. You could almost put it in a bucket and then straight to QT.
 
I am sitting here at work looking at my new Kessil A160WE LED light. Yeah! :dance:

Can't wait to see it over my tank tonight. I'll still have to figure out how to mount it on, under, or over my canopy, but I can least sit and zone out on the shimmer of my otherwise empty tank tonight. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Please help reef tank
Replies
2
Views
238
SantaMonica
S
M
How everything change and keeps changing
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
kingone
K
M
Return to Reefing
2 3
Replies
40
Views
2K
kelly_12
K
D
Structural support for 125 gallon aquarium
Replies
7
Views
306
ddang
D
P
How can I reinforce a kitchen cabinet to support say a 90 gal tank?
Replies
16
Views
877
Philip
P
Back
Top