500g is finally online!

[uztaryn]

Well, after getting home today I started working on the 500g and separated my sumps and systems. Today I got another Hammerhead and a GEO skimmer from Phishy.

So now I have reworked the 500g to run on just the 150g sump and put the 125g with all the other support on the 100g sump.

My 2 independent systems seem to be running well now.

As far as flow I now have the 500g flowing with the Hammerhead and the Dart + OM 4way and the GEO skimmer running in the basement.

The skimmer is pulling all kinds of crap out so I am excited about the rock actually starting to cure.

Hopefully the system will stay together tomorrow while I am at work.

 

[tabndust]

congrats

we need pics

 

[uztaryn]

Pictures coming later today... question?

What do you guys clean acrylic with.... I seem to have a cloudy haze on mine?

 

[zaireguy]

cant wait to see the pics on your journey

 

[uztaryn]

Pics....

I know you can't tell in this picture but this formation is close to 3ft around... The opening is about 8-10 inches across.

This is my favorite rock... i think it kinda looks like a cupped hand ready to hold something... I am going to need something really cool to put in it.

All the rock from the other side. You can kinda see the bridge in this picture.. it is almost 2 feet across.

 

[porky]

Looks like a GREAT start Mark :thumbsup:
Definately going to have to get something sweet to go in that hand, a wavy tentalce type coral would look cool, torch or goni. come to mind.
As far as cleaning acrylic, check w/cward, his tank is acrylic and always looks spotless...
What did Norm use?

 

[Norm R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8741853#post8741853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by porky
What did Norm use?

On the inside, I used these...

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ode=CPR-SCRUB-PAD&Category_Code=Algaecleaners

and these...

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ct_Code=CPR-SCRAP&Category_Code=Algaecleaners

On the outside I used spray polish and an acrylic-safe cloth that looked like a diaper (but wasn't a diaper)...not sure where to get those but it worked much better than the thin acrylic-safe sheets you see around.

I suspect it will continue to look cloudy until your water is no longer foul.

 

[uztaryn]

Yeah I bought that stuff for the inside... I will need to get the diaper things for the outside.... the water is slightly cloudy still but I think it is just that I dont have the polish for the outside right now... where did you get that polish and what is it called?

 

[ChickenCannoneer]

Just a word of advise in terms of cleaning that acrylic, I got some of the scotch-brite dobie pads and they works wonders for getting stuff off the tank. HTH, Tim

 

[Norm R]

The spray that I used is "Kleenmaster Brillianize...cleans and glazes in one operation". I got mine and the "diaper" from Envision Acrylics, the builder of the tank. I don't think they sell it but am certain they could tell you where to get it.

I've also read that some people use Novus 2 when they buff the outside. This is more of a fine scratch remover/polisher I believe. I can't endorse this product as I've never used it but have heard good things.

If you ever want/need to get aggressive on scratches, micro-mesh is supposedly the best product on the market. You can use it w/ water in the tank. There is a company in Texas that sells kits w/ all of the different grits needed and I believe provide instructions.

 

[szwab]

just make sure you use an acrylic safe product or you could end up damaging your acrylic. if that happens your arm will get a lot of exercise.

 

[asnatlas]

Looking good man

 

[uztaryn]

Ok I got the new skimmer online and just added a 100g fuge. I have noticed that the skimmer has pretty much stopped skimming. If I turn it way up I can get bubbles to the top but it is very wet.... Is it possible that the rock is done? I did a 50% water change today, could that just have taken enough out that there isn't anything to skim? I don't have any life in the tank yet... (except for a few hermits and a couple snails that were hitchikers) The fuge just has fresh (not live) sand and water. I haven't added any macro yet.

Any Ideas?

 

[ronc98]

I doubt the rock is even close to being done. You might have removed many of the disolved organics from the water column however the biological process takes a bit longer. Have you measured yourPH, NH3, NH2, NH3 yet? Those will be your only indicator on how the process is going.

It is not uncommon for the skimmer to stop skimming for while after a water change. You will also notice it stopping when you feed or simply put your arm in the tank. It will start up again no worries.

Unless your rock was completely dry you will have alot of life in the rock. You will be suprise. wait until the lights have been off for a few hours and grab a flashlight. You will be amazed at the things you will find in the rock. This is where all the fun begins.

 

[uztaryn]

I have left the lights off for the last 3 or 4 days... Should I keep the lights off or should I start running them again? When I check the PH, NH3, NH2 they are at 8.0, 0, 0.

Amonia has dropped significantly over the last 2 days... it is now at 0.5. Is that really possible already?

 

[ronc98]

Ya NH3 will go rather quick. Nitrite will be next to rise then fall then that this converted to nitrate. Nitrate is the end game for now until your tank gets established a bit more.

You should see nitrates rise steadly over the next few weeks. This is where water changes help a bunch and the larger the better. A refuge with a decent macro will help reduce the nitrates however that is more effective when the system is more stable. Right now with the live rock curing you will have a ton of nitrates built up that a simple macro will not be able to keep up with. large water changes will be your friend for the next few weeks. For you a large water change is going to be huge I would target somewhere around the 50 percent mark if not more at least every two weeks. What is the total volume of your system? 700+ gallons?

There has been a lot written about leaving a tank with just live rock for a half dozen or so months just to allow the fauna to reach a point where it is at healthy levels. However since you already have shrimp that is not much of an option now. They will consume it as quick as it grows.

Light wise I would not put alot of light over the tank at the moment. This will fuel Algae growth and you will have a ton of it. Dont worry that is part of the cycle of a mature tank. There are stages and once one is gone another one starts until all the nutrients in the tank are depleted. ALOT Skimming, water changes and time are your friends right now.

 

[uztaryn]

The shrimp are in my other system... it has about 525 gallons.... the 500 system is prob around 750g. There isnt really any life in the larger system but the smaller one is full of stuff (established over a year now). I have tons of macro I can put into the fuge of the big system. I just didnt want to add it too soon. I have a 100g fuge for the big sytem. it has water and sand but no life really yet. I can seed the sand from the other more established fuge no problem.

I have my RODI system running constantly now to keep up with the water demands... I may have to add another RODI for the water changes.

I did see some crabs die off in the first stages of the cycle... the ones that are still alive seem to be moving around a good amount. I have not fed them anything but they seem to be ok.

 

[icu2]

What type of fish are you planning on keeping (you may have said and I forget)? If tangs get some macros off some people in the club and throw them in there. They will help clean up the tank and be fish food later on. I have done this a few times in the past with great success. My .02

 

[uztaryn]

I have 70g full of macros now... are you saying to put them in the dispaly or just in the 100g fuge that is ready to go?

 

[uztaryn]

Also... what exactly is the phosban reactor for? Do I need it or should I wait to add it? What about a carbon filter. I currently am filtering into a 150g sump through micron socks and about 100lbs of live rock. I know I will need kalk/calcium as I grow the system but what about these other things?