72 Gallon Bowfront - New Tank
- Thread starter jtinoco
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jtinoco
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I tested yesterday since the other tank is cycling already. Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphate are all at zero. This may be cuz of the vodka
I top off with water from the water mills. I don't have a TDS meter which I should get but I do test the water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphate. If it has any detectable amounts I won't use it in the tank.
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jtinoco
New member
They wont let go of their arms when they die. The best way to check if they are is if they start "spewing" their guts out. That is a best way of knowing the star fish is doing ok or not. I would wait a little longer to introduce one brotha. And you are right, man are they putrid when they die. Dang, that smell is f'in horrible!
As you know, when live rock is covered with hair algae/algae, there are nutrients that are "locked/absorbed" by the rock itself. So it may take a long while before that is absorbed by the bacteria. So cooking out in the sun in a black container (remember, must be pitch black with constant water changes) might be the way to go. However, this should be the very last option since there are many available to you.
I think any system that are introducing a bacterial source via food (vodka biopellets) eventually will balance out. What I mean is the vodka that is being introduced into the system to promote a food source for the bacteria will eventually be ineffective (remember, vodka in the ocean is not natural). Why? The bacteria that absorbs the food source via the vodka to combat NO3/PO4 will eventually stop absorbing nutrients (NO3/PO4)--it has reached a balance. Just like a skimmer that no longer produces skimmate, the system has balanced and this happened to my system. This happens very naturally in nature as well as in closed systems where a balance has been reached regardless of how much more food source is introduced.
Since you are handy, try an ATS--algae turf scrubber. its very inexpensive and are very effective at combating algae as well as absorbing nutrients in your system. The big plus about an ATS is that it is natural!!! Algae of all type are found in the oceans including reefs and are symbiotic to a reef. Its just when we see hair algae in our systems, we go into destruction mode. Plus, you don't have to unplug or get rid of your skimmer.
My next system is going to be skimmerless and will have 2 ATS systems working non-stop. Here is some reading on ATS and you could type it in on google with tons of information on it. Either way, "cooking" your rock now should be the very last resort. Good luck and happy hunting brotha. If you have any questions, you know how to reach me!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977420
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...everything.html?highlight=algae+turf+scrubber
I've read into the ATS and they look cool. Just don't think I have enough space for it.
About cooking the rock I don't mind much since it's only a few rocks that grow the algae. Those would be the only ones being cooked.
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mistaflicksta
New member
What is this I hear? You are cyclling another tank and there is no build thread?
pnavarro170
S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT
Plus 1 ^^^^^^^
jtinoco
New member
jtinoco
New member
Here is an update on the tank. I got tired of the algae and just scrubbed the crap out of it again with a wire brush. My theory is that if I can kill off most of the algae, the chaeto will be able to start taking in most of the phosphate before the algae starts to grow again. We'll see how it goes.
jtinoco
New member
Update.
Had an issue on Sunday. Woke up to find a puddle of water near the tank. Checked everything and I found that the tank was leaking. It was actually a pretty good leak. One drop every one to two seconds. Ugh!!!
Took the tank down and resealed the whole bottom. Fish were all placed in the sump and all coral went into the 29 gallon since it was done cycling. Rock and the rest of the water went into my 55 gallon drum. While adjusting the legs on the light to temporarily place it on the 29 gallon, I broke one of the legs. Yes I know. I'm luckiest guy alive. Lol.
I let the silicon cure until today. I tested it earlier and it seems to hold water with no leaks now. Since the tank was down decided to make myself a hang kit for the lights.
10 ft of #12 jack chain holds 29 lbs. $6.88
S- hooks $0.97
1/8" Quick links hold 220 lbs $2.97
2 3/16" X 3" screw hooks $2.47
Total of $13.29 everything from Wal-Mart. Could've probably been cheaper at a hardware store but I'm too lazy to drive to one. Lol
Here are some pics.
Drilled 3/16" holes into the fixture for the S-hooks.
VOILA!!!
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Had an issue on Sunday. Woke up to find a puddle of water near the tank. Checked everything and I found that the tank was leaking. It was actually a pretty good leak. One drop every one to two seconds. Ugh!!!
Took the tank down and resealed the whole bottom. Fish were all placed in the sump and all coral went into the 29 gallon since it was done cycling. Rock and the rest of the water went into my 55 gallon drum. While adjusting the legs on the light to temporarily place it on the 29 gallon, I broke one of the legs. Yes I know. I'm luckiest guy alive. Lol.
I let the silicon cure until today. I tested it earlier and it seems to hold water with no leaks now. Since the tank was down decided to make myself a hang kit for the lights.
10 ft of #12 jack chain holds 29 lbs. $6.88
S- hooks $0.97
1/8" Quick links hold 220 lbs $2.97
2 3/16" X 3" screw hooks $2.47
Total of $13.29 everything from Wal-Mart. Could've probably been cheaper at a hardware store but I'm too lazy to drive to one. Lol
Here are some pics.
Drilled 3/16" holes into the fixture for the S-hooks.
VOILA!!!
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mistaflicksta
New member
Damn dude, when it rains, it pours! well at least the hanging kit looks good
jtinoco
New member
I set the tank back up yesterday with all the rock. The water was super cloudy because the sand was a bit dirty. I tested this morning and there's no mini cycle. Everything is at zero! Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Weird!! I thought I'd get a spike of some sort.
Ideas? I suspect it's the vodka doing it's thing. :strange:
Yesterday afternoon!
Ideas? I suspect it's the vodka doing it's thing. :strange:
Yesterday afternoon!
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mistaflicksta
New member
Wait a couple of days, and keep testing. sometimes it might take a day or so and a mini cylcle might kick off.
jtinoco
New member
No bacteria bloom. I have been testing everyday since I set it up again. Nitrites went up a bit but dropped by the next day. Everything has been at zero since. I added back the coral and clam on Wednesday.
Here's a pic as of today. Just tool it right now. You can see the dead coralline on the back glass and overflow box.
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pnavarro170
S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT
Tank looks good still, hopefully no more messing with it so it can settle in and do its thing.
jtinoco
New member
Yeah hopefully. I hate seeing it start to settle and to see the coralline take off and everything start growing and then have to take it down cuz of some problem. UGH!! frustrating!!
Hopefully nothing goes wrong anymore.
pnavarro170
S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT
i was always trying to get coralline to grow but on the rock, i think we focus too much on coralline and we just need let the tank to do its thing. are you still dosing vodka ?? or is it that you cant stop dosing once you start.
