Here is my set up so far any advice?

[krusieski]

looks good so far im just starting out too


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[homer1475]

Don't add PH buffer, for love of the hobby!!!

PH buffers are worthless, most people don't even check thier PH.

All those PH buffers are is an alkalinity solution. While it will increase your PH, it will do so only over a small amount of time causing you to keep adding it. What will result is a sky high alkalinity(things start to die if it gets too high) and still low PH. Don't chase numbers, anywhere between 7.6 and 8.5 is fine for PH.

Typically low PH just means you need more O2 added to the tank(build up of CO2). This can be accomplished in many ways, from adding an outside airline to your skimmer, more surface circulation, to adding a fan above your tank, or just plain opening a window.

 

[homer1475]

As a side note.....

Unless you are very diligent in cleaning out that canister filter(like once a week), I would ditch it, they end up becoming nitrate factories if their not cleaned on a regular basis.

99.9% of your biological filtration will take place in your rocks and sand bed. A "filter" is not needed in a salt tank.

 

[firefly73]

Die off occurs everywhere .The microbes in the sand will love to munch on any die off that will result and that increases their population.

Obviously some ends up under the as you need to connect the rock to a solid surface. I guess i should be clearer. Minimum amount under sand. . When you see a tiny tank with hardly any lv prop not best to bury it.

Also its a new tank. Doubt it needs a hydrogen sulphate spike just before adding some fish.

 

[gunther13mt]

Obviously some ends up under the as you need to connect the rock to a solid surface. I guess i should be clearer. Minimum amount under sand. . When you see a tiny tank with hardly any lv prop not best to bury it.

Also its a new tank. Doubt it needs a hydrogen sulphate spike just before adding some fish.

Trust some put it under the sand i have a sand shifting seastar and 3 gobys they dig under the rocks all the time if it wasnt for them being on the glass buried in the sand a few would have fallen over as they have dug some where i can see the back of the tank under the rock

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[Grimreaperz]

thanks everyone. I now have all rocks touching sand touching glass as well and made sure all rocks are stable in case of any shifts. I guess I never really thought of critters digging tunnels! Water is a bit cloudy but definitely worth it!

I havent added pH buffers for a couple days now seems to be holding at about 8.2 ish.
And the girl at the LFS gave me recently deceased coral plugs and said it would help keep the pH up. It had to clean some Grape Caulerpa I took off.

No Ammonia and no Nitrite or Nitrate readings yet. Salinity is about 1.020 (working on keeping this higher)
temp is steady at 25 c / 77 f (may need another heater)

I am a stay at home dad if I need to clean my canister once a week so be it. I cant afford a fuge or sump yet (thinking about turning my 70 aquaclear hang over the back filter into a fuge at some point. once I get enough bio build up to do so) I have about 14lbs of live rock/dead coral in there and 1.5 of dry tufa rock. my sand bed is 40lbs of crushed coral and 5lbs of live sand mixed in.

I have also almost added a full 250ml bottle of Nutrafin Cycle to the tank over the past 4-5 days as per the instructions on the bottle.

Guess it is just a waiting game to wait for the water to stabilize.

 

[Grimreaperz]

repost please delete my browser glitched.... sorry.

 

[Grimreaperz]

Okay so after another trip to the store this is what my tank is looking like now.
Not sure if this will be my final aqua scape but I like it so far. May need a bit more height though.

I am coming in at about 27lbs of LR now. + 42lbs of crushed coral and Live Sand for my bed.

Got my first hit of Nitrates and Nitrites last night so things have begun.
Got tons of good hitch hikers from the rocks I have got recently have seen a couple snails and even a small star not sure what type yet hard to get a pic its super tiny and these trumpet looking tubes with red things in them. Also saw some aptasia I am hoping will die off. just 2 so far.

Now my next hurdle is getting this damn powerhead to work....It works fine but suction cup on it is gone! Any DIY tips I was thinking of just super-gluing a magnet or another suction cup on the back of the head. I would lose mobility but I just want it for surface agitation any way....Any other ideas are welcome or if anyone has has experience and solved this would be awesome!

TY!

 

[Kbel1969]

Hopefully you don't run into problems with your live rock. Aptasia can be a nightmare. I would have went with dead rock, after proper curing, you can be assured of no unwanted hitchhikers, not to mention a lot cheaper

 

[Grimreaperz]

Hopefully you don't run into problems with your live rock. Aptasia can be a nightmare. I would have went with dead rock, after proper curing, you can be assured of no unwanted hitchhikers, not to mention a lot cheaper

Yeah I wanted to ensure life though. I have heard posts with people running into the same problems later on and they started with dead rock. there is 1 small aptasia, But I also found a ton of really good stuff. Feather dusters, bristle worms(one is pretty effin big!), couple snails, and either mushrooms or zoa's i cant tell.
I am also seeing.

The bad I have seen.
Green Algae not sure what type.
1 aptasia (thinking of a boiling water shot)
some bubble algae and grape algae (but removing when I see it)
1 Asterina star (MIA)
And I think I have a bunch of Hydroids to small to take a pic of though

 

[Kbel1969]

There are definitely plenty of good things with live rock. Just make sure you keep an eye out for the bad. It looks like really nice rock, just watch those bristle worms, I'm not a fan of those and also they can get really big and nasty looking. Tank looks good so far, keep up the good work

 

[Grimreaperz]

Thanks! I am only on day 9

Today tests were
Ph 8.4
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5 (just barely readable.)
KH 110mg/L (Hagen Testkit)
I tried to test calcium for the 10th time....i think it was around 400 so hard to tell with this test getting API as soon as I can afford it.

I have added a full 250ml bottle of Cycle to the tank. Hopefully I will see my nitrates spike soon so I know the cycle is complete.

 

[Grimreaperz]

Thanks to all of you!

Thanks to all of you!

Well thanks to this site and lots of information and reading and almost being murdered by my wife after she figured out how much I spent lol. This is where I am now.

Day 28.
Lots of Life. Pods, Inverts. Corals. Even what looks to be an BTA. All of which came on the LR I purchased.
Happy with the AquaScape but thinking I need 1 more good piece.
Made Custom Stand.
Upgraded Light.
In the middle of making custom Screen Lid.
I have also Purchased 2 10g tanks along with spare accessories for TTM/QT for New fish/Corals. (go Craigslist!)
Still working on Tweaking water Chem to perfection but its stable.

I have narrowed down my CUC/Fish/Coral wish lists and am still working on it before purchase.
I am still learning but thought I would share the progress I have made with everyone who has helped me!

I am really looking forward to adding some livestock soon. Still need to finalise my dream list and post it here but in due time!

My next big Project will be 20-30g Sump/Fuge.

Thanks everyone. Happy Reefing!

P.S. Not sure what the coral in the Last pic is but it looks cool!

 

[Capiross1]

Looks good man keep up the good work


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