Atomikk's 65 Reef
- Thread starter Atomikk
- Start date
Atomikk
SPS OG
I can relate since I saw my Lemonpeel try to nip on some, but hasn't really damaged anything yet. I think as long as they are fed they will not eat/heavily nip the corals. What works with my Lemonpeel is algae wafers. She is so preoccupied with the wafer that she has not time to nip on anything else.
Also, I saw many reefers with Large angels in their tanks. Are they taking a huge risk or did they teach their angels not to nip?
Also, I saw many reefers with Large angels in their tanks. Are they taking a huge risk or did they teach their angels not to nip?
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Tank looks good.
Ditto with everyone on the hose clamps. Yeah, the mailorder ones are a rip-off, but I'd rather not save $2 and end up with far more expensive problems.
Opinion, take or leave it:
Angels are known to be problematic, can nip and often do so more with age. Yes, some people [almost always with quite large tanks] can get away with it ... but that's not the average IMO.
And even with an upgrade to a 120, that's IMO still too small a tank for long-term housing of them at full size. We are talking about having this fish for a decade or more ...
I think one of the Tang articles in Reefkeeping recently quoted some growth figures for one family, and a remarkable % of total growth happened in the first year. Like with any small animal - the initial period of it's life is crucial for proper development and growth. Don't know if Angels are exactly the same, but it leads you to think they might.
IMO, unless you have the tank bought, I wouldn't buy a fish that will outgrow your current one.
This is a great hobby, but life always takes precedence when the car needs something, the house needs something, your health needs something ... and your upgrade just might have to be put off, rightly so. Don't paint yourself in a corner, IMO ... esp after complaining about the price of lighting. A bigger tank's lighting is even more expensive
Anyway, that's my take on it. Tank looks good as is.
I wouldn't stock with fish/bioload very heavily until your corals are in, growing, and the tank is doing great. Bioload can be tricky to manage in my experience, and it's hard to know which fish will be `one too many'.
[large fish = large increase in bioload, IME larger bioload = harder to avoid algae problems, algae problems = tank looks mediocre and is a lot of work]
IMO, get the tank thriving, then add the final `feature' fish. I've consistently found corals a lot easier to grow with less fish in the tank ... my opinion says build the tank so that it's next year's Tank of the Month, and realize that it probably should take the whole year to get stocked to that final point.
Once stocked, it should give you happiness for a decade or more ... build it up slow.
Ditto with everyone on the hose clamps. Yeah, the mailorder ones are a rip-off, but I'd rather not save $2 and end up with far more expensive problems.
Opinion, take or leave it:
Angels are known to be problematic, can nip and often do so more with age. Yes, some people [almost always with quite large tanks] can get away with it ... but that's not the average IMO.
And even with an upgrade to a 120, that's IMO still too small a tank for long-term housing of them at full size. We are talking about having this fish for a decade or more ...
I think one of the Tang articles in Reefkeeping recently quoted some growth figures for one family, and a remarkable % of total growth happened in the first year. Like with any small animal - the initial period of it's life is crucial for proper development and growth. Don't know if Angels are exactly the same, but it leads you to think they might.
IMO, unless you have the tank bought, I wouldn't buy a fish that will outgrow your current one.
This is a great hobby, but life always takes precedence when the car needs something, the house needs something, your health needs something ... and your upgrade just might have to be put off, rightly so. Don't paint yourself in a corner, IMO ... esp after complaining about the price of lighting. A bigger tank's lighting is even more expensive
Anyway, that's my take on it. Tank looks good as is.
I wouldn't stock with fish/bioload very heavily until your corals are in, growing, and the tank is doing great. Bioload can be tricky to manage in my experience, and it's hard to know which fish will be `one too many'.
[large fish = large increase in bioload, IME larger bioload = harder to avoid algae problems, algae problems = tank looks mediocre and is a lot of work]
IMO, get the tank thriving, then add the final `feature' fish. I've consistently found corals a lot easier to grow with less fish in the tank ... my opinion says build the tank so that it's next year's Tank of the Month, and realize that it probably should take the whole year to get stocked to that final point.
Once stocked, it should give you happiness for a decade or more ... build it up slow.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Atomikk said:
May I add :thumbsup:
Atomikk
SPS OG
Thanks for your input DoubleM!
I always add more LR when I purchase a fish/invert. I was just curious if I could have one eventually. I was going to go with a 1"-3" and then upgrade the tank to a 100+ (maybe even 200 if I have to room in a year or so).
Well since I have my new lights on order, I will wait and stock the tank with corals before I add the centerpiece fish.
BTW I love my new fish. The wrasse is so fun to look at. It also sleeps in the rock crevices. The Lemonpeel is always searching the rock for some food.. when eveything fails it searches to floor only to find algae wafers waiting for her.
I always add more LR when I purchase a fish/invert. I was just curious if I could have one eventually. I was going to go with a 1"-3" and then upgrade the tank to a 100+ (maybe even 200 if I have to room in a year or so).
Well since I have my new lights on order, I will wait and stock the tank with corals before I add the centerpiece fish.
BTW I love my new fish. The wrasse is so fun to look at. It also sleeps in the rock crevices. The Lemonpeel is always searching the rock for some food.. when eveything fails it searches to floor only to find algae wafers waiting for her.
Atomikk
SPS OG
I am preping my tank for some Kalk dripping since I want to add corals soon (my lights are coming in this week.. woo hoo). I want some coraline alage to spread...
So BEFORE the kalk drip.. (the lights were on when I tested it)
PH = looks either 8.2 or 8.3 (damn i need that Pinpoint device)
Calcium = 340-360ppm
I will test midday tomorrow with a slow kalk drip... maybe 1 drip every 2 or 3 seconds..
I will post pics of my DIY Kalk dripper..
So BEFORE the kalk drip.. (the lights were on when I tested it)
PH = looks either 8.2 or 8.3 (damn i need that Pinpoint device)
Calcium = 340-360ppm
I will test midday tomorrow with a slow kalk drip... maybe 1 drip every 2 or 3 seconds..
I will post pics of my DIY Kalk dripper..
Atomikk
SPS OG
Ok pics are coming soon of the Kalk dripper. I will post my results tonight since I have been dripping Kalk/Vinegar/RO-DI water mixture for the last two days. I hope we get good results...
Ok today I took off those 'stainless steel' hose clamps. They were coroding!! :eek3: This rust like color was forming around them. It must be because of the salt in the water. I hope it doesnt affect my tank inhabitants now or in the future.
Also question about LR. I need roughly 30-40lb more LR for my tank. I think my tank is established enough to cope with any new additions to it. So my question is, if I add LR bought online, will it have a dramatic impact on the water conditions if I was to introduce all 30 lb at once? The reason why I am asking is that I found some good prices online for LR. I can get cured LR from LFS at 7$ or 9$ per lb (CAN), but if I can get it for 4$ or 5$... then booyaah!
Ok today I took off those 'stainless steel' hose clamps. They were coroding!! :eek3: This rust like color was forming around them. It must be because of the salt in the water. I hope it doesnt affect my tank inhabitants now or in the future.
Also question about LR. I need roughly 30-40lb more LR for my tank. I think my tank is established enough to cope with any new additions to it. So my question is, if I add LR bought online, will it have a dramatic impact on the water conditions if I was to introduce all 30 lb at once? The reason why I am asking is that I found some good prices online for LR. I can get cured LR from LFS at 7$ or 9$ per lb (CAN), but if I can get it for 4$ or 5$... then booyaah!
SaltyMember
Premium Member
I would not add all that liverock at once to the tank if it is uncured. You will likely get an ammonia spike that could kill your livestock. I would either finish curing it in a bucket/rubbermaid with a few powerheads and and a heater, or add much smaller amounts slowly (say every two weeks). Better to be safe.
SaltyMember
Premium Member
When I set up my 29 gal a few years ago I ordered 45lbs. of "partially cured" live rock from an online vendor. It arrived second day shipping during a hot week in June. Boy did it stink! My wife was yelling at me because of the smell throughout the house. It took about 4 weeks for it to fully cycle and my ammonia readings were off the chart for the first few days. I would imagine 10 lbs. of rock like that might be took much to add....even to an established tank.
SaltyMember
Premium Member
A bucket, heater, powerheads will do it.
Some people recommend not doing water changes during cycling because the water changes slow down the cycling process.
But, if you have nice rock with a lot of life, corals, etc. on it water changes will help preserve some of the good stuff you want to keep. It will just take longer to cycle.
Some people recommend not doing water changes during cycling because the water changes slow down the cycling process.
But, if you have nice rock with a lot of life, corals, etc. on it water changes will help preserve some of the good stuff you want to keep. It will just take longer to cycle.
Atomikk
SPS OG
Ok today I ordered 35lbs of Premium Base rock from Reeferrocks.com. Really good guy to work with. I really recommend him. Cost me 99$ with shipping to Canada. This rock looks like LR but white. Its not Texas Holey rock, thank goodnes!
I am going to have to reaquascape everything once they get in. Plus I will have to redo the hood once my MH system comes in (in a week). I have to bring it away from the water surface. Right now it sits 8" from the surface. I will bring it up maybe 12"...
This should be enough to fill out my tank. They are very porous, and should be great in getting it converted to LR.
I am going to have to reaquascape everything once they get in. Plus I will have to redo the hood once my MH system comes in (in a week). I have to bring it away from the water surface. Right now it sits 8" from the surface. I will bring it up maybe 12"...
This should be enough to fill out my tank. They are very porous, and should be great in getting it converted to LR.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I would always water change when curing rock, the more regular the better IMO.
Given the bacteria we're interesting into is generally attached to something [substrate, rock, etc] ... and provided you're not power-washing your rock - I don't see how a water change would significantly affect the time it takes for the dead/dying stuff to decay. [which is IMO the more important part of cycling vs. the A-N-N nitrogen cycle].
Given the bacteria we're interesting into is generally attached to something [substrate, rock, etc] ... and provided you're not power-washing your rock - I don't see how a water change would significantly affect the time it takes for the dead/dying stuff to decay. [which is IMO the more important part of cycling vs. the A-N-N nitrogen cycle].
