On Oct 29'th I finally started my 35 gal. tank. The 29'th was the "drop dead" fill date as I had knee surgery (arthroscopic) on the 30'th. I wanted the tank to cycle while I was recovering.
Just a shout out to the really nice fellow from the Water Depot in Alliston, Ontario. He helped me shim the tank so it was levelled and moved it so it was centred on the freshly painted wall. I find it is hard to center things when you are just one person. He went way over and above the "deliver & drop" policy. I wouldn't have been able to man-handle those jugs to above the top of the tank.
My dry rock order didn't arrive by Thursday. Murphy's law on that one. I wasn't overly concerned because I knew it would take weeks for the tank to cycle. Curing the dry rock was going to take place in the tank, so all it would is increase the cycle time.
After the water went in and I got the SP to 1.024 I added 50 lbs. of Carib Sea Arag-Alive Hawaiian Black 0.25-3.5mm. I was planning of 60 lbs but 50 was all the LFS had on stock. Now that it is in I think 50 lbs is more than enough, because about 20% of the tank footprint is the internal sump.
Once the sand settled and the water cleared I added the dry rock and live rock that I had been curing for 10 days. Now it was just time to sit back and wait for the cycle to take place.
Or so I thought. Got home from the hospital late Friday and much to my surprise I had a hitch hiker on one of the small pieces of live rock. There was just enough light from the one window to cause it to open. When there is no light the "œheads" go back into the stalks. After posting to a few forums the panel is still out as to what it is. I have attached a picture. If anybody can tell me what it is, it would be much appreciated.
Of course the concern is now that I have something alive in the tank I would like to keep it that way if it is a "œgood" thing. Any suggestions on how to do that with a 4 day old tank?
TTFN
Judi
Just a shout out to the really nice fellow from the Water Depot in Alliston, Ontario. He helped me shim the tank so it was levelled and moved it so it was centred on the freshly painted wall. I find it is hard to center things when you are just one person. He went way over and above the "deliver & drop" policy. I wouldn't have been able to man-handle those jugs to above the top of the tank.
My dry rock order didn't arrive by Thursday. Murphy's law on that one. I wasn't overly concerned because I knew it would take weeks for the tank to cycle. Curing the dry rock was going to take place in the tank, so all it would is increase the cycle time.
After the water went in and I got the SP to 1.024 I added 50 lbs. of Carib Sea Arag-Alive Hawaiian Black 0.25-3.5mm. I was planning of 60 lbs but 50 was all the LFS had on stock. Now that it is in I think 50 lbs is more than enough, because about 20% of the tank footprint is the internal sump.
Once the sand settled and the water cleared I added the dry rock and live rock that I had been curing for 10 days. Now it was just time to sit back and wait for the cycle to take place.
Or so I thought. Got home from the hospital late Friday and much to my surprise I had a hitch hiker on one of the small pieces of live rock. There was just enough light from the one window to cause it to open. When there is no light the "œheads" go back into the stalks. After posting to a few forums the panel is still out as to what it is. I have attached a picture. If anybody can tell me what it is, it would be much appreciated.
Of course the concern is now that I have something alive in the tank I would like to keep it that way if it is a "œgood" thing. Any suggestions on how to do that with a 4 day old tank?
TTFN
Judi
