75 Gallons of Persistence

[c0mp|ex]

I ALWAYS qt any new fish. To take it a step further, i ALWAYS perform hyposalinity in QT to any new fish even if they aren't showing signs of ich. Ich isn't always visible and it's better to do it before adding then having to catch all the fish later, and tear the tank down (rocks, corals, etc.) to catch them.

 

[iwishtofish]

I ALWAYS qt any new fish. To take it a step further, i ALWAYS perform hyposalinity in QT to any new fish even if they aren't showing signs of ich. Ich isn't always visible and it's better to do it before adding then having to catch all the fish later, and tear the tank down (rocks, corals, etc.) to catch them.

Yeah, I'm not sure why I strayed from my "perfect" plan. Maybe just tired lately. The QT will get up and running, although perhaps more to get fish eating again.

 

[hamiltonguy]

I've actually never QT'd a fish. The only losses I've had have been due to my own neglect when I got busy with university. I know this because I had the fish for over a year or so. But I probably just got luck

 

[iwishtofish]

I've actually never QT'd a fish. The only losses I've had have been due to my own neglect when I got busy with university. I know this because I had the fish for over a year or so. But I probably just got luck

Yeah, I think there are actually a lot of factors involved regarding success with fish. But I have no doubt that not QTing does come back to bite a LOT of people. :bigeyes:

 

[anthony27]

dude def a epic build you have inspired me to re do my sump lol

 

[hamiltonguy]

I agree with the above, definitely one of the cleaner set ups I've seen.

Quick question, how did you figure out the max/min water lines in your sump?

 

[iwishtofish]

dude def a epic build you have inspired me to re do my sump lol

Hey thanks, Anthony! Still a major work in progress, haha. Definitely some things I wish I'd done differently!

I agree with the above, definitely one of the cleaner set ups I've seen.

Quick question, how did you figure out the max/min water lines in your sump?

Just trial and error! It was kind of a gamble, making my baffles so high. To test it all at the end, I just filled my sump to max level, ran the pump to see where the water level ended up in the return section, and it worked out!

I did end up trying to do some calculations before filling the tank. I'll see if I can find that page...

 

[iwishtofish]

Post #86, here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1889750&page=4

 

[anthony27]

excelent job

 

[fishmonkey]

Wow, iwishtofish, being the first long build thread that I have read in a LONG time, I am very happy to see that you have such a great tank, and that you are taking your time! If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

By the way, when you said: "I have all the stuff for my QT", what does that imply? I've never really researched QT tanks. All I know is that they have to be seperate from your DT/sump. What all is going into your QT tank, equipment-wise? Will you also be using it for corals when the time comes?

Great Tank!

 

[D5HP]

Wow, iwishtofish, being the first long build thread that I have read in a LONG time, I am very happy to see that you have such a great tank, and that you are taking your time! If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

By the way, when you said: "I have all the stuff for my QT", what does that imply? I've never really researched QT tanks. All I know is that they have to be seperate from your DT/sump. What all is going into your QT tank, equipment-wise? Will you also be using it for corals when the time comes?

Great Tank!

I am also interested in this since I'm currently setting mine up.

I am going to take advantage of the petco $1 per gallon sale and get a 20L tank. I was thinking that I could get away with just a big biowheel HOB filter, a heater, thermometer, cheap flo light from home depot, and egg crate to keep the fish inside. I'm going to put it on the floor in a closet and just change water daily for it. No?

Do you have a finalized desired fish list?

 

[iwishtofish]

excelent job

Thank you, again!

Wow, iwishtofish, being the first long build thread that I have read in a LONG time, I am very happy to see that you have such a great tank, and that you are taking your time! If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

By the way, when you said: "I have all the stuff for my QT", what does that imply? I've never really researched QT tanks. All I know is that they have to be seperate from your DT/sump. What all is going into your QT tank, equipment-wise? Will you also be using it for corals when the time comes?

Great Tank!

fishmonkey, I'm really pleased that you took the time to read my thread! I've always said that I hope people can benefit by learning of my mistakes! I definitely have not done everything right, but I'm sure trying.

For my QT, I already have in stock: 20L tank; inexpensive fluorescent light (some say not needed); HOB bio-wheel filter; heater; thermometer; angled pvc pieces for fish to hide inside; small powerhead. I have an ammonia test kit, but I may try to find one of the in-tank ammonia meters for more "at a glance" monitoring.

I think it's likely I'll keep fish in there for at least a month, so I doubt I'll proactively treat. I would likely use Prazipro or Cupramine if I observed flukes or ich. I am keeping in mind that ich and flukes are sometimes not visibly evident (ie in the gills), and the exact QT/treatment method to use is one of the most (if not the most) hotly contested issues in this hobby. One of my main goals of QT is to get the fish eating as quickly as possible to regain lost strength and boost the immune system. My latest addition, a green coral (clown) goby, is likely to perish because of my failure to do this.

I will not QT corals. I'll likely use visual examination and a dip in ReVive.

I am also interested in this since I'm currently setting mine up.

I am going to take advantage of the petco $1 per gallon sale and get a 20L tank. I was thinking that I could get away with just a big biowheel HOB filter, a heater, thermometer, cheap flo light from home depot, and egg crate to keep the fish inside. I'm going to put it on the floor in a closet and just change water daily for it. No?

Do you have a finalized desired fish list?

Sounds good to me - but I'll keep mine out in the open, in a low-traffic area. Don't forget to test ammonia regardless of the water changes.

Explain the use of the egg crate again?

I'm still trying to figure out my stocking. I have to try to plan carefully because of limited rock, and no sand.

 

[iwishtofish]

While I'm waiting to see my clown goby again (haha), I picked up a couple expensive acros so that I won't have to bother with water tests! One is a branching acro of sorts, and the other is a tri-color (valida?). I still need to decide how to glue them down. I may use some putty, if I can find some, as the frag plugs are a larger diameter than most of the holes in my rock. Terrible pictures, of course:

Branching dude:

Tri-color (grows like a bush):

I really wish I could capture the colors of these corals in the pictures, since that characteristic may not last! :lol: The tri-color is really beautiful.

Making mix water tomorrow so I can load up the phosphate reactor and get it online!

 

[hamiltonguy]

Nice corals man! Try Loctite Super Glue, that works pretty good too and is aquarium safe. Make sure you get the gel kind and not the liquid

 

[iwishtofish]

Nice corals man! Try Loctite Super Glue, that works pretty good too and is aquarium safe. Make sure you get the gel kind and not the liquid

Thanks! I actually have a bunch of super glue gels that I bought really cheap at a dollar store (yes, it's the good stuff - real cyanoacrylate). I think dollar stores are the best place to buy super glue. As for the corals, the darn plugs are too big to be useful to me. I'm debating whether or not I should cut them off the plugs and just super glue them to the rocks. (PIA :crazy1

 

[hamiltonguy]

Thanks! I actually have a bunch of super glue gels that I bought really cheap at a dollar store (yes, it's the good stuff - real cyanoacrylate). I think dollar stores are the best place to buy super glue. As for the corals, the darn plugs are too big to be useful to me. I'm debating whether or not I should cut them off the plugs and just super glue them to the rocks. (PIA :crazy1

Haha yea it is sort of a pain but come on, when is anything about this hobby come easy?

 

[D5HP]

Oooohhhh pretty ORA plugs haha

I would just go ahead and get yourself a pair of cuticle cutters if you don't have some and chop them at the base. I'd put the frag where you want it and then put the plug in a frag rack if you have one or somewhere it will still thrive but not be conspicuous. As long as there are a few polyps left on the plug you'll have another frag in 4-5 months.

 

[Robb in Austin]

Looking good man!

 

[iwishtofish]

Oooohhhh pretty ORA plugs haha

I would just go ahead and get yourself a pair of cuticle cutters if you don't have some and chop them at the base. I'd put the frag where you want it and then put the plug in a frag rack if you have one or somewhere it will still thrive but not be conspicuous. As long as there are a few polyps left on the plug you'll have another frag in 4-5 months.

That's a good idea, although it makes me a little nervous to stress them more before they fully acclimate to my aquarium. I do have some frag cutters, though. The tri-color would be more difficult to chop at the base, as the branches are really low. Any thoughts on that?

 

[D5HP]

It will heal!

Just cut it as low as you can and you'll be fine.

I just hate hate hate seeing frag plugs all over a tank. I know that after a few months they are covered but IMO you can always see the unnatural growth patterns where the corals have these perfect circles in their base.