Marks...Back to the Future..Reef Aquarium

[Mark...]

Ah OK then, I did mine off rocket engineers design as well, my skinning is what blows...

Don't feel bad, his tools were from another planet...:eek2:

 

[tommyboynj]

Looking sharp. Sent you a text. How are those frags doing?

 

[Mark...]

Question:

I have 180 lbs of Figi pink in the tank and between the two wp40s and a decent return of at least 1000+gph return, I'm getting some pretty big sand dunes. (3-4) I actually like the way the sand looks, but concerned about the deep spots. As deep as 4-5 inches. I tried aiming the pumps in different directions, but still get the dunes. Pumps are at slow speed too. Should I be concerned about the deep areas?

Thanks

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Question:

I have 180 lbs of Figi pink in the tank and between the two wp40s and a decent return of at least 1000+gph return, I'm getting some pretty big sand dunes. (3-4) I actually like the way the sand looks, but concerned about the deep spots. As deep as 4-5 inches. I tried aiming the pumps in different directions, but still get the dunes. Pumps are at slow speed too. Should I be concerned about the deep areas?

Thanks

Not really especially once the dust settles.

 

[Sonicboom]

Not really especially once the dust settles.

+1
I would just be worried about a rock falling on bare bottom. Same happened to me with the dunes, I kept adjusting the power heads position and direction and filling in the dune. Now I run 1 wp 40 and two tune 6055's, and return on max pulse with no dunes.

 

[Mark...]

My rock is on the bottom of the tank, I think I'm good there, just cant imagine getting the pumps adjusted to have no dunes. I might have to change those wp40s to 25s...

But if the high dunes don't present a problem, I'm good with that...

 

[dave.m]

Get large grain sand and/or rubble and spread it over the areas that feed the dunes.

Dave.M

 

[Mark...]

Cheap insurance...works great too...

 

[Mark...]

Captains log: Day 11 of cycle 6/7/14

Ammonia .8 steady at .8
Nitrites 1.0 up from .5

 

[Mark...]

Captains Log, day 14 of cycle: Opinions of where I'm at...I still have about 50% of 3 medium shrimp in the tank. After the first two jumbos dissolved.

Temp: 78.8
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 1.0
Nitrates 20 could be higher, tough to read...
alk 7
ph 7.6
Phosphate .04 (Small amount of GFO is running)

Switched to else mode on the wp 40s and it seems to have stopped the sand drifts. Only problem is the ramping up and down sound is annoying...

I added the handles to the stand:

 

[Sonicboom]

I think you can take out the remaining shrimp, looks like you have a good strong cycle already.

 

[Mark...]

I think you can take out the remaining shrimp, looks like you have a good strong cycle already.

Thanks for the feed back. If I take out the remaining shrimp, do I need to ghost feed the bacteria?

I guess I just need to wait out the nitrites.

 

[Sonicboom]

How long before you add fish? Do you have any fish in qt? When I did mine I had a pair of clowns in qt which had gone through preventative medication and were ready to go once the cycle ended. If not you will need to ghost feed until everything is zero

 

[Mark...]

How long before you add fish? Do you have any fish in qt? When I did mine I had a pair of clowns in qt which had gone through preventative medication and were ready to go once the cycle ended. If not you will need to ghost feed until everything is zero

I have a chromis who has been in my frag tank for months as well as a yellow tailed damsel. (he's not going in the DT). I was planning to add the chromis when the cycle ended. What do you think? I still have to wait for the nitrites to drop too.

 

[Sonicboom]

You want to add the least aggressive fish first if you can, no telling how chromis will act . Yes after all readings are 0

 

[Mark...]

You want to add the least aggressive fish first if you can, no telling how chromis will act . Yes after all readings are 0

I imagine it will be a while till the nitrites drop. I think the chromis wont be too bad. I should of started the QT sooner, but thought I'd enjoy the cuc and some inverts in mean time.

 

[Sonicboom]

Nitrites should drop pretty quick with nitrates already at 20 and shrimp removed.

 

[Mark...]

Nitrites should drop pretty quick with nitrates already at 20 and shrimp removed.

Great! good to know...

 

[Mark...]

Captains Log, day 17 of cycle:

Temp: 79.7 Temp a little higher, started the lights finally...
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrates 5 it was 20+ the other day. Not sure what the deal is here.

Looks like cycle is complete. Will do a 10-15% water change in the next couple of days.

Water is extremely clear with no odor.

 

[Mark...]

I messed up bad with a shrimp today. Unfortunately he's now in my sump as an ammonia source. I thought he would transition well to the new tank, but the acclimation probably wasn't long enough. I have had him for months in my frag tank.

I did place one coral in the tank as well, keeping fingers crossed...