Carpet tank build.

gigs are sensitive even to well established tank, i am very worry for you and the gigs with this very new tank. if i were you, i would hold the temptation and wait for the near future otherwise you will likely experience heartbreak and also lost money in the process. just my 2 cents.
 
Well that's what I was starting to think once the idea of linking systems went to the backburner. My hope in linking them was to create that stability. But there is a chance of aleopathy even if I use carbon/chemi pure. And I certainly dont want to add them to an unstable system. Would linking the system for a month or two then separating them work to stabilize the new tank? It's a shot in the dark, I know:)
 
Instead of linking them, why not just pull some rock out of the established system and put them in the new one?

In terms of allelopathy, I think it's always present, just that the negative effects are not always evident. For example, I believe that my toadstools were affecting my gig. When my toadstool got very big and dropped babies, my gig would stretch out more. I removed the last of the toadstools just the other day, and the gig looks a lot more like a normal gig -- it's no longer stretching its column and has deep folds of a typical gig. I admit that it could be a coincidence, but nothing else changed in my tank. I'm curious to see if other gig owners have toadstools or other softies in their tanks.

In terms of gigs and hardiness, IME they are VERY hardy once they are established. If your LFS had them for 2 months already, they are already acclimated to captive life and should be fine. I suggest taking some updated photos and posting them so we can assess their overall condition.
 
You can do that but then any cycle would be transferred to the existing tank.

Think of it this way, bad analogy but you get the point...

A drop of oil in a 5 gallon bucket has a sheen over it. Now connect a few 5 gallon buckets together and the oil is diluted over them all.

Like I said bad analogy but you get the point.

For my self I am going to do a 180DT+40Sump+120DT+50Sump... I am going to do this when I get done painting and finishing the majority of my build out.
 
worm5406 said:
You can do that but then any cycle would be transferred to the existing tank.

Think of it this way, bad analogy but you get the point...

A drop of oil in a 5 gallon bucket has a sheen over it. Now connect a few 5 gallon buckets together and the oil is diluted over them all.

Like I said bad analogy but you get the point.

For my self I am going to do a 180DT+40Sump+120DT+50Sump... I am going to do this when I get done painting and finishing the majority of my build out.
Click to expand...

While I agree with this, I think that spreading out the load, especially with a system that's probably capable of handing it, will speed up the process. However, I think we can all agree that waiting for the new tank to fully cycle is the best scenario. Patience is gold in this hobby. :lol2:

I would personally wait at least 6 months, and make sure that SPS are growing and thriving without browning or bleaching (indicates good, stable water parameters) before adding a gig but I understand the level of excitement and need to "speed things up" especially when gigs are involved. :lmao:
 
I have pulled about 7 lbs of rock from the bta tank a week ago and added 12 pounds of well cured live rock last week to the 20lbs already cooking. I can swap another 10lbs from the sump tonight. I've been doing water changes and putting the bta tank water in the new tank. One reason why I think it's the mildest cycle I've had during a build. I have a lot to think about over the next few days. Lol and it's not just that gigs are involved. If I don't get these two. Then it will be sloooowwww mode and I may get haddonis or a mag. But it isn't often you find two gigs that have been in a tank for two months (3 at earliest of me picking them up maybe 4) and only 40 min drive away.
 
Last edited:
Well skunks it's is:) earlier this week the tank has stopped the ammonia/nitrite cycle and is registering 5 nitrates. Diatoms are in bloom and the cuc is working. So off I went to my favorite reef store. While I was looking around I saw a pair of skunks that had just shown up and looked perfect. So I picked them up and they're exploring their new reef. It now feels like a tank and not a build for the first time. There is still much to do. Such as making the canopy. I have some African mahogany left over from a buy/teardown which should work. I'll be working on it next week sometime. And now that the ammonia/nitrite is done it's tempting to link the systems now. But luckily I don't have a working overflow or I'd be telling y'all that I did it already lol.
IMG_6595_zps00704c11.jpg
 
Well Its now been 7 weeksand the test readings are as follows Ammonia=0 Nitrite=0 Nitrate=0 Diatoms are gone completely. Feather dusters, zoas and sponges are doing well along with the frag of montipora digitata. im thinking of putting in some of my red flame algae into the display since its only two pink skunks and a yellow tail damsel.
IMG_5677_zps12a0b222.jpg

IMG_8173_zps408ab99d.jpg

I can truly say the cycle is finished and really I've never had such a mild cycle. The gigs have now been in captivity at the lfs for 4 months now and cont to appear healthy hmmm lol. its so hard not to pick them up:)
 
OK I have achieved zero ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. So I disconnected the sump from the bta tank and hooked it up to the carpet tank. I placed a large packet of purigen under the intake into the sump and placed chemi-pure elite in the return chamber. I also beefed up the flow to 3250gph (in a 45). There was a lot of detritus that kicked up but its running clear now. Its getting close:)
 
OK so I picked up the nems and they are in the tank!! They are the stickiest tropical nems I have ever dealt with:) They have a deep brown disk with vibrant tentacles. They have tightly closed mouths. After being transfered into the tank they shrunk but kept their shape and are slowly expanding as I increase flow in the tank. I have it at 550 gph then in an hour or so I will increase it another 950 then tonight resume its normal flow of 3200. They were attached to netting that i wasnt able to release them from so it looks like they will have to release on their own. I didn't want to stress them anymore than neccessary. Here are two pics of them minutes after introduction to the tank.
IMG_5850_zps87bc839b.jpg

IMG_7048_zpsb801b38c.jpg
 
Here is a video after taking off for a couple hours and found them right where I was hoping.
But Im wondering if thats enough flow They seem to like it but I haven't even kicked on the major flow.
85vRUVbMCIA
 
I was just talking with Chris about your tank when I saw the carpets in his possession 4-5 days ago. We were pondering when you would pick them up.

I'm glad it all worked out for you.
 
Chris is a great guy and a pleasure to work with. It was hard to have patience waiting for the tank to come around. But it appears to have worked out so far:) BTW the Blue is hosting the male skunk:D
 
I woke up to this scene:)
b7_POC0J8vo

The gigs have opened up and are at least twice the size they were last night, and look to be aclimating well. I fired up the big pump and it looked like it was too much flow. So I will mess with it more tomorrow and see what else I can figure.
 
The green looks great, and has the same color our green does!!! Yours is much shaggier, but hoping ours recovers in time! Good luck, keep us posted would ya :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Ritteri Swollen Mouth
Replies
8
Views
591
Bakeman
B
slathrum
Where to buy a reef ready aquarium these days
Replies
3
Views
43
griss
griss
Q
Which mini snail for artemia tank?
Replies
2
Views
61
griss
griss
W
Cycling new Tank
Replies
2
Views
3K
C.Eymann
C.Eymann
rockryno
32gal Maxspect Lagoon Build - Chicago Sunburst BTAS and SPS!
Replies
3
Views
122
rockryno
rockryno
Back
Top