KCFITZ78's 65 Gallon Hexagon Build / Reef Start-Up
- Thread starter KCFITZ78
- Start date
KCFITZ78
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Right now I have drilled holes in the dry rock and used ridged aquarium airlines, but need more of a stable bond.
I need to bond my arch and not sure what is the best and safest way to make the bond between dry rocks. I have read to use the following: JB WaterWeld, Gorilla Glue, Super Glue Gel, Loctite Super Glue and 2-part Epoxy.... but what brands of 2-part epoxy? Also would silicone or hot glue work?
KCFITZ78
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Thanks! It is not "natural" looking but with this tall tank I wanted a tall scape height.
KCFITZ78
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Back December 18th I picked up some "free" sick fish.... 1 coral beauty, a pair of clown fish and a red sea star. All three fish had ICH and the coral beauty had been picking at the both clownfish. The one clownfish had swollen eyes.
So two days prior to picking up the fish, I set up a 10 gallon quarantine tank with HOB filter, heater and grate divider length wise in the tank. I also setup a 3 gallon tank with a heater. I added ammonia lock to the saltwater, dialed in my salinity to 1.023~1.025 and temp to 78 degrees F.
I added the 3 fish to the 10 gallon quarantine tank and placed the red sea star in a 3 gallon tank. After 2 days of having the fish I added Mardel Coppersafe to the 10 gallon tank only. I tested the copper level to make sure the copper level was 1.5 to 2.0 and kept this level for 3 weeks. All the fish had looked great with no white spots and the clownfish eyes were back to normal. The day after the 3 week mark, I did a 3 gallon water change in the afternoon. That same day the coral beauty found a small break in the grate divider and now was on the same side as the clown fish. Needless to say they all fought and I did not notice what happened till that night. I moved the coral beauty back to other side of the divided tank and fixed the grate with a zip tie. The next day both clownfish had white spots and the one clownfish had swollen eyes again. That day I raised the copper level back up close to 2.0. It has now been 3 days since the coral beauty jail break and the clownfish look terrible. I hope this clownfish will make it. Also the sea star did not do well with the water change I made on the 3 gallon tank as it seems to only stay on the bottom now. I have been feeding it a small piece of an algae wafer every day, but it has not taken it the last 3 days.
I will fill my DT today with saltwater and wait at least 4 weeks for the cycle to complete… based on a test of 0,0,0 !
So two days prior to picking up the fish, I set up a 10 gallon quarantine tank with HOB filter, heater and grate divider length wise in the tank. I also setup a 3 gallon tank with a heater. I added ammonia lock to the saltwater, dialed in my salinity to 1.023~1.025 and temp to 78 degrees F.
I added the 3 fish to the 10 gallon quarantine tank and placed the red sea star in a 3 gallon tank. After 2 days of having the fish I added Mardel Coppersafe to the 10 gallon tank only. I tested the copper level to make sure the copper level was 1.5 to 2.0 and kept this level for 3 weeks. All the fish had looked great with no white spots and the clownfish eyes were back to normal. The day after the 3 week mark, I did a 3 gallon water change in the afternoon. That same day the coral beauty found a small break in the grate divider and now was on the same side as the clown fish. Needless to say they all fought and I did not notice what happened till that night. I moved the coral beauty back to other side of the divided tank and fixed the grate with a zip tie. The next day both clownfish had white spots and the one clownfish had swollen eyes again. That day I raised the copper level back up close to 2.0. It has now been 3 days since the coral beauty jail break and the clownfish look terrible. I hope this clownfish will make it. Also the sea star did not do well with the water change I made on the 3 gallon tank as it seems to only stay on the bottom now. I have been feeding it a small piece of an algae wafer every day, but it has not taken it the last 3 days.
I will fill my DT today with saltwater and wait at least 4 weeks for the cycle to complete… based on a test of 0,0,0 !
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KCFITZ78
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Here is an update:
-Display tank is still cycling, on 5th week
-Added 3 live rocks, about 12 lbs . Of the 12 lbs I had one rock all covered with red coralline and one covered all covered with purple coralline.
-Red Sea Star did not make it
-Coral Beauty jumped out of my quarantine tank last week when I was at work and did not make it
-Both Clown fish are cured of ich for 2 weeks now and they look great.
I will post a picture of my tank later.
-Display tank is still cycling, on 5th week
-Added 3 live rocks, about 12 lbs . Of the 12 lbs I had one rock all covered with red coralline and one covered all covered with purple coralline.
-Red Sea Star did not make it
-Coral Beauty jumped out of my quarantine tank last week when I was at work and did not make it
-Both Clown fish are cured of ich for 2 weeks now and they look great.
I will post a picture of my tank later.
KCFITZ78
Top Prospect
My aquarium is finally cycled! Took 7 weeks :thumbsup:
Here are my water test results from start to today (API test Kits)
1/13/14 made 1.025 sg saltwater from RO water
1/14/14 filled display tank and sump, run return pump and one circulation pump only with no lights
1/18/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-0, PO4-0.25, Ca-400
1/19/14 Added cocktail shrimp
1/21/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
1/22/14 Removed cocktail shrimp
1/23/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50
1/24/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50 (Added fish flake food)
1/25/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50
1/26/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/28/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/30/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/31/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25, PO4-0.25
02/8/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
2/15/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
2/22/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0
2/23/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-0, PO4-0.25, Ca-480
I never saw a high Ammonia spike, no Nitrites and no Nitrates. I guess since I cycled my dry pukani rock for a month in heated saltwater, I gained some bacteria form any die off of dead materials on the rocks. Plus I also used 20 lbs of live sand. As a side note, I think there is no Posphate and this is just the API test kit issue as this showed the same color 0.25 reading on freshly mixed saltwater.
I noticed that there are a lot of little creatures/bugs in my sump and display tank.... assuming they are pods which is hard to tell being so small..... which is great!
I turned on my Seaclone protein skimmer and it skims!!!! Of course I did modify it by swapping out the maxijet powerhead for a marineland penguin powerhead and made my own ventri for the powerhead inlet. I will see how it works over time. If I do buy a different skimmer I will be going with the SC Aquariums SCA-301 protein skimmer.
Today I will do a 15% water change and will move my clownish from the quarantine tank to their new home. :thumbsup:
Here are my water test results from start to today (API test Kits)
1/13/14 made 1.025 sg saltwater from RO water
1/14/14 filled display tank and sump, run return pump and one circulation pump only with no lights
1/18/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-0, PO4-0.25, Ca-400
1/19/14 Added cocktail shrimp
1/21/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
1/22/14 Removed cocktail shrimp
1/23/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50
1/24/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50 (Added fish flake food)
1/25/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.50
1/26/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/28/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/30/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25 (Added fish flake food)
1/31/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25, PO4-0.25
02/8/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
2/15/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0.25
2/22/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0
2/23/14 Temp-78, SG-1.025, PH-8, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-0, PO4-0.25, Ca-480
I never saw a high Ammonia spike, no Nitrites and no Nitrates. I guess since I cycled my dry pukani rock for a month in heated saltwater, I gained some bacteria form any die off of dead materials on the rocks. Plus I also used 20 lbs of live sand. As a side note, I think there is no Posphate and this is just the API test kit issue as this showed the same color 0.25 reading on freshly mixed saltwater.
I noticed that there are a lot of little creatures/bugs in my sump and display tank.... assuming they are pods which is hard to tell being so small..... which is great!
I turned on my Seaclone protein skimmer and it skims!!!! Of course I did modify it by swapping out the maxijet powerhead for a marineland penguin powerhead and made my own ventri for the powerhead inlet. I will see how it works over time. If I do buy a different skimmer I will be going with the SC Aquariums SCA-301 protein skimmer.
Today I will do a 15% water change and will move my clownish from the quarantine tank to their new home. :thumbsup:
KCFITZ78
Top Prospect
I was able to slide it in through the door and rotate it once inside... maybe 2-3 inches of clearance on a flat side of stand. It Also helps that there is only 4 panels (sides), a door for the front and no back panel (wide open in back).
KCFITZ78
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My Carpet Anemone from Petco
My Carpet Anemone from Petco
From the pics what type of carpet anemone o you think this is?
I went to my local Petco during lunch on Friday and they had received two new carpet anemones the day before. They were $39.99 and were on sale with the Pals card for $22.99. I researched the carpet anemone before I left work and felt I would like to try my hand at keeping one. So I decided to get one and place it my QT tank. I asked the Petco employee to feed it and it took pellet food and its mouth was also closed. They wanted to net it and I said not to do that. I said it is attached to the rock, so pick up the rock and free float the anemone while slowly twist the rock back an forth to have it break loose. After about a minute or two it did. They placed a specimen container in the tank and scooped it up. Water went all over the floor trying to get the container out of the tank.... lol. Got it home, drip acclimated and placed a coffee cup in the tank for it to perch on. This morning it was deflated and mouth was open. I turned off the QT tank light and moved a LED moon light to the tank and after 4 hours it looks good but mouth is still open but not as much as earlier. From the pics what type of carpet anemone do you think this is? - Thanks!
My Carpet Anemone from Petco
From the pics what type of carpet anemone o you think this is?
I went to my local Petco during lunch on Friday and they had received two new carpet anemones the day before. They were $39.99 and were on sale with the Pals card for $22.99. I researched the carpet anemone before I left work and felt I would like to try my hand at keeping one. So I decided to get one and place it my QT tank. I asked the Petco employee to feed it and it took pellet food and its mouth was also closed. They wanted to net it and I said not to do that. I said it is attached to the rock, so pick up the rock and free float the anemone while slowly twist the rock back an forth to have it break loose. After about a minute or two it did. They placed a specimen container in the tank and scooped it up. Water went all over the floor trying to get the container out of the tank.... lol. Got it home, drip acclimated and placed a coffee cup in the tank for it to perch on. This morning it was deflated and mouth was open. I turned off the QT tank light and moved a LED moon light to the tank and after 4 hours it looks good but mouth is still open but not as much as earlier. From the pics what type of carpet anemone do you think this is? - Thanks!
KCFITZ78
Top Prospect
So 12 days ago I had to remove part of my rock scape to move the Haddoni. It was trying to move under a structural rock so it was finally time to intervene. I moved it back where I wanted it and made the sand deeper in this area. So far so good for almost 2 weeks. Haddoni is very healthy, spreading out nicely and eating a small nickel sized scallop piece every 3 days.
KCFITZ78
Top Prospect
Here ya go
