saltycreefer
New member
Looks like a shroom ,
My 10g Block O' da Sea
- Thread starter Hopeful Reefer
- Start date
reeferchickdc
New member
get peppermint shrimp ( get two and they will breed) they will eat them if you put them in before the aptasia takes over. I use Tropic Marin elimi-aiptas in my big tank were shrimp don't survive. that helps.
reeferchickdc
New member
oh yeah, that looks like a shroom.
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Thanks for the advice Chick...one thing though... 
I took a look at the tank this morning and found that it had released from it's hole in the rock...it was lying motionless, dead on my sand...I figure the ammonia spike has started because I'm getting lots of stuff falling dead out of the rocks...so I figure too much ammonia killed it...I made sure to grab him with tweezers making sure not to rupture the bag at the base of his foot...
He is now lying peacefully for eternity in my septic tank...
I took a look at the tank this morning and found that it had released from it's hole in the rock...it was lying motionless, dead on my sand...I figure the ammonia spike has started because I'm getting lots of stuff falling dead out of the rocks...so I figure too much ammonia killed it...I made sure to grab him with tweezers making sure not to rupture the bag at the base of his foot...
He is now lying peacefully for eternity in my septic tank...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Well, I know a ton of stuff is really dying off from these rocks...the coralline is turning white in many places...really funky smell in the tank...I have done a few small water changes, but tomorrow I will be doing a big one (about 50% - can't do it today cause I'm at work and don't have water yet 
)
So, in the mean time I thought I would try out a skimmer I was given...it is an Excalibur that is rated up to 125g...I know, that is a lot for a 10g but it is all I had...I am going to do a recirculation mod on this skimmer and use it later for my 75g tank...so, I pulled the pump off the base and put it in the tank...and wow, it immediately started pulling gunk out of the tank...
And, on a good note my ballast arrived the other day...and my HOB Aquaclear filter arrived as well and was converted to a HOB Refugium...my PC light is out for delivery today with UPS, so I'll pretty much have everything I need...just need to wait everything out patiently...
I will be home later this evening and I have several pics to post of my progress...but till then this is enough for everyone to chew on...
)So, in the mean time I thought I would try out a skimmer I was given...it is an Excalibur that is rated up to 125g...I know, that is a lot for a 10g but it is all I had...I am going to do a recirculation mod on this skimmer and use it later for my 75g tank...so, I pulled the pump off the base and put it in the tank...and wow, it immediately started pulling gunk out of the tank...
And, on a good note my ballast arrived the other day...and my HOB Aquaclear filter arrived as well and was converted to a HOB Refugium...my PC light is out for delivery today with UPS, so I'll pretty much have everything I need...just need to wait everything out patiently...
I will be home later this evening and I have several pics to post of my progress...but till then this is enough for everyone to chew on...
MrMexReefer
In Memoriam
cant wait to see the pics! What size aquaclear? I wanna make my own refugium too, and was wondering if i should spring the cash and buy an actual acrylic refugium, or try to DIY....
What size aquaclear? I wanna make my own refugium too, and was wondering if i should spring the cash and buy an actual acrylic refugium, or try to DIY....
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
I used the AC 200 HOB filter...got it for $13 with shipping off eBay...I am going to cut the impeller down a little to make it flow less water...I'll show you pics of my model later tonight...very self-explanatory...there is a version of this mod in the Nano DIY thread that is stickied at the top of this forum...most people say that silicone won't hold acrylic, but I'm using it to put the baffle in and it is holding great...cost wise, you can't beat the DIY method even if you spend $25 to get one new in the store...with the acrylic for the baffle (scrap piece I already had), silicone and filter I have less than $20 tied up in that project...can't beat the price for a nano HOB refugium...
I get off work in about 6 hours...pics will be forthcoming sometime after I get home and eat...
I get off work in about 6 hours...pics will be forthcoming sometime after I get home and eat...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
As promise, some pics...
First, just a quick shot showing the Excalibur I set up in the tank to clear out "da funk"
Here is the skimmate that I was pulling with this thing after just an hour...I put an air valve on the end of the air line going in to the venturi and it made this thing SUPER EASY to dial in...
Another view...
First, just a quick shot showing the Excalibur I set up in the tank to clear out "da funk"
Here is the skimmate that I was pulling with this thing after just an hour...I put an air valve on the end of the air line going in to the venturi and it made this thing SUPER EASY to dial in...
Another view...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Ok...so, I get home today and the very first thing I noticed was the smell coming fromt the tank is now totally gone...so, I think the skimmer is doing a good job...didn't know how good a job until I looked in the collection cup...
These are shots of the collection cup with the skimmer running approximately 24 hours...
Just look at that nog!!
And finally, a pic of the tank after 24 hours of skimming...
You guys might not be able to see a difference, but I sure can (and smell a difference too! ) :lmao:
These are shots of the collection cup with the skimmer running approximately 24 hours...
Just look at that nog!!
And finally, a pic of the tank after 24 hours of skimming...
You guys might not be able to see a difference, but I sure can (and smell a difference too!
) :lmao:
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
And for MrMex's benefit, some DIY HOB refugium pics...
First, a pic of all the pieces...to cut the baffle, I clamped a piece of scap acrylic to the side of the filter and used a permanent market to draw the outline...
Refugium with the bottom plate used as a strainer for the outlet...don't want the macro floating in to the tank...I actually initially put a piece of acrylic across the front to make it a little deeper...after operation though, this made the whole thing overflow so out came the dremel and out came as much of the acrylic piece in the front as I could get without damaging the grate or the filter...
Another angle...
First, a pic of all the pieces...to cut the baffle, I clamped a piece of scap acrylic to the side of the filter and used a permanent market to draw the outline...
Refugium with the bottom plate used as a strainer for the outlet...don't want the macro floating in to the tank...I actually initially put a piece of acrylic across the front to make it a little deeper...after operation though, this made the whole thing overflow so out came the dremel and out came as much of the acrylic piece in the front as I could get without damaging the grate or the filter...
Another angle...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
And finally, here it is all put together...I know people say silicone doesn't hold to acryllic...but for what I did and want it to do, it works well and is very solid...
Here is the refugium on the tank...
And an angle from above...you can see one piece of live rock rubble in there...once in operation, there will be a few more in there...I also tried some sand in there, but it just comes out the overflow...
Just one thing left to do before I put it online...I am going to trim down the impeller a little so that the flow in to the filter is reduced...this will flow less water through it and allow the macro to pick up as many nutrients from the water as possible...
Phew...with that, I will close for tonight...I am off to the salt water LFS tomorrow...I am getting a Salifert test kit with my Christmas present (gift card to the store )...
I also will get a new batch of 10g of fresh salt water and do a major water change...I'm gonna try to stir up the stuff laying on the bottom so I can get it either in the skimmer or out of the tank somehow...once I do this, hopefully the water will really start clearing up...and with my test kit I can start tracking my cycle...I found a web site that I can put my water test results in for free and track how my tank is doing...I'll post some graphs and such later when I start using it...
One an upsetting note, my Quad PC light and reflector were "out for delivery" according to the UPS website but they aren't here yet and it is almost 9pm EST...so, I guess the driver got lost or something and I'll get them tomorrow (this has been happening a lot lately in our area! :mad2: )
Anyway...enough for now...comment and suggestions...keep em coming...
Here is the refugium on the tank...
And an angle from above...you can see one piece of live rock rubble in there...once in operation, there will be a few more in there...I also tried some sand in there, but it just comes out the overflow...
Just one thing left to do before I put it online...I am going to trim down the impeller a little so that the flow in to the filter is reduced...this will flow less water through it and allow the macro to pick up as many nutrients from the water as possible...
Phew...with that, I will close for tonight...I am off to the salt water LFS tomorrow...I am getting a Salifert test kit with my Christmas present (gift card to the store
)...I also will get a new batch of 10g of fresh salt water and do a major water change...I'm gonna try to stir up the stuff laying on the bottom so I can get it either in the skimmer or out of the tank somehow...once I do this, hopefully the water will really start clearing up...and with my test kit I can start tracking my cycle...I found a web site that I can put my water test results in for free and track how my tank is doing...I'll post some graphs and such later when I start using it...
One an upsetting note, my Quad PC light and reflector were "out for delivery" according to the UPS website but they aren't here yet and it is almost 9pm EST...so, I guess the driver got lost or something and I'll get them tomorrow (this has been happening a lot lately in our area! :mad2: )
Anyway...enough for now...comment and suggestions...keep em coming...
MrMexReefer
In Memoriam
thanks man, thats sweet modding I think i might do the same... but in order to get the benefit out of it, i want to get the largest size possible... but i think those AC filters run in the $50 range 
very nice tho! Cant wait to see this with some corals in it.
I think i might do the same... but in order to get the benefit out of it, i want to get the largest size possible... but i think those AC filters run in the $50 range very nice tho! Cant wait to see this with some corals in it.
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8832013#post8832013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrMexReefer
thanks man, thats sweet modding
Well, first thing to consider is the price, you are correct...but, look at the price of a new commercial HOB refugium...you are paying way more than the $50 you would pay for a new Aquaclear...other thing to consider is look on eBay for a used one...works just as well...that is where I got mine...was $3 for the filter and I think $7 for shipping (darn postal service :mad2: )
Me, if I had to do it again I would have gotten a larger filter too...I was concerned about water flow and keeping it low which is why I went with this one...that was before I figured out if you cut the impeller down or get a replacement impeller for a smaller moddel it will move less water...oh well...
Good luck with your refugium...I can't wait to see corals in this thing today either...
I will post an update later today with some water parameters...I am going this morning as soon as my favorite LFS opens in a few hours to get a test kit with the gift card I got from there as a Christmas present...will post more later...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
alien9168 - glad to see we have another follower... Welcome...
-------------
First of all, I FINALLY got my PC light and reflector from Hellolights yesterday...here is a picture of the bulb and reflector installed inside the hood...
I really like this bulb and the light it is putting out...this is the first time I've used PCs and I'm very happy so far...
I also went and got my water yesterday for the first major water change...I changed approximately 5g (of my total estimated water volume of 8g)...here are some water parameters prior to the water change...
Temp. - 76 degrees
Ammonia - 0.25 - 0.35 (color in the test tube just slightly darker than the 0.25 mark)
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
I spoke with the owner of our trusted marine LFS...on his advice (and to save money initially) I won't be testing pH or salinity until I am ready to start stocking the tank...these readings may change between now and then but they should remain semi-stable since I'm using their salt water (RO/DI water + Tropic Marin salt mix)...
Here is a before shot of the tank, before the major water change...
And here is a shot after the major water change...
Welcome...-------------
First of all, I FINALLY got my PC light and reflector from Hellolights yesterday...here is a picture of the bulb and reflector installed inside the hood...
I really like this bulb and the light it is putting out...this is the first time I've used PCs and I'm very happy so far...
I also went and got my water yesterday for the first major water change...I changed approximately 5g (of my total estimated water volume of 8g)...here are some water parameters prior to the water change...
Temp. - 76 degrees
Ammonia - 0.25 - 0.35 (color in the test tube just slightly darker than the 0.25 mark)
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
I spoke with the owner of our trusted marine LFS...on his advice (and to save money initially) I won't be testing pH or salinity until I am ready to start stocking the tank...these readings may change between now and then but they should remain semi-stable since I'm using their salt water (RO/DI water + Tropic Marin salt mix)...
Here is a before shot of the tank, before the major water change...
And here is a shot after the major water change...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
During the water change, I also took the opportunity to scrub the heck out of my live rock...I wanted to get as much of the dead crap off the rocks...it really looked (and smelled) horrible...I also decided to redo the aquascaping...hard to tell in these pics because the water was still slightly cloudy from settling...also spots on the outside of the glass as well...I'll get pics that are clearer soon...
And of course, what could I have done without "Daddy's Little Helper" (my 3 yr old daughter Holly )
I actually like how the aquascaping turned out this time...it is kind of hard to see in the pics, but on the left it is a sort of circle shaped island that has some holes in the middle (small holes)...on the right is more of a ridge and overhang that has a bunch of holes and crevices that can also double as caves (the ones near the sand)...can't wait to see fish going in and out of these holes...
------------
Today I rechecked the parameters again...here we are today about 24 hours after the 5g water change...
Temp. - 76
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Also, while looking at the tank today, I noticed some life still on some of the live rocks...
On one piece of Fiji, I found a small feather duster...it's crown is almost a green color...can't wait to water this one grow and see what color it is...I also, on the only piece of Tonga branch that I got found 2 more feather dusters...one is small and I can't really tell what color it is yet...the other one though is HUGE! When I saw him out of his hole in the rock for the first time I had to rub my eyes and make sure my glasses weren't dirty...his crown is almost the size of between a dime and a nickle!! :eek1: He is ginormous!!
The crown is mainly brown with some white near the tube...I have a feeling there is still other live on (or in) the rocks, but nobody is showing their faces yet...can't wait to see what I get...
And to close, I have a question for everyone...need some opinions...after cleaning the rock, and I do mean cleaning (I scrubbed it pretty good yesterday)...I put the rock back in the water and last night and this morning I see small clear hair-like film all over the tank...I figured I had gotten all that stuff scrubbed off...is this hair algae or some other type? Do I need to go ahead and buy a few hermits or something to start cleaning up the tank even though I still am in the beginning stages of my cycle (ammonia only and no nitrite/nitrate detected)...
Comments and suggestions are appreciated...keep em coming...
And of course, what could I have done without "Daddy's Little Helper" (my 3 yr old daughter Holly
)
I actually like how the aquascaping turned out this time...it is kind of hard to see in the pics, but on the left it is a sort of circle shaped island that has some holes in the middle (small holes)...on the right is more of a ridge and overhang that has a bunch of holes and crevices that can also double as caves (the ones near the sand)...can't wait to see fish going in and out of these holes...
------------
Today I rechecked the parameters again...here we are today about 24 hours after the 5g water change...
Temp. - 76
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Also, while looking at the tank today, I noticed some life still on some of the live rocks...
On one piece of Fiji, I found a small feather duster...it's crown is almost a green color...can't wait to water this one grow and see what color it is...I also, on the only piece of Tonga branch that I got found 2 more feather dusters...one is small and I can't really tell what color it is yet...the other one though is HUGE! When I saw him out of his hole in the rock for the first time I had to rub my eyes and make sure my glasses weren't dirty...his crown is almost the size of between a dime and a nickle!! :eek1: He is ginormous!!
The crown is mainly brown with some white near the tube...I have a feeling there is still other live on (or in) the rocks, but nobody is showing their faces yet...can't wait to see what I get... And to close, I have a question for everyone...need some opinions...after cleaning the rock, and I do mean cleaning (I scrubbed it pretty good yesterday)...I put the rock back in the water and last night and this morning I see small clear hair-like film all over the tank...I figured I had gotten all that stuff scrubbed off...is this hair algae or some other type? Do I need to go ahead and buy a few hermits or something to start cleaning up the tank even though I still am in the beginning stages of my cycle (ammonia only and no nitrite/nitrate detected)...
Comments and suggestions are appreciated...keep em coming...
MrMexReefer
In Memoriam
Lookin good man! I got those clear "hair like" films released in my tank once... no biggie, i think its just something that some organisms living in the crevices of the rocks release. Its really up to you about the hermits, although I kinda wish i had never bought mine. They wiped out my nice feather duster, and killed my Astria snails... so i think im going to ditch them soon, and go the all snail route. Snails seem to be better cleaners anyway, the crabs prefer the left over fish food that the fish dont eat!
Snails seem to be better cleaners anyway, the crabs prefer the left over fish food that the fish dont eat!
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Ok...first things first, todays water parameters...
Temp. - 78
Ammonia - 0.25 (possibly 0.30 but hard to tell)
Nitrite - 0 (still no decernable amount)
Nitrate - (still no decernable amount)
As of tonight when I got home from work, the tank water is still clear...but, I have my first official algae bloom...there is tons of brown crud all over the place...I know this is the next step in the process of cycling the tank, but I hate how it looks right now...
With this algae bloom, I know it will pass...but, should I try to any of my clean-up crew now to work on it...or should I simply leave well enough alone?
I really don't like how the tank looks "dirty"...I am someone that likes the pristine look of a tank...I want my hood to look like it is floating in mid air...
Anyway...does anyone have any good secrets for cleaning salt glaze and the drops of water that have dried on the tank glass? I have heard vinegar and water and a soft lint-free cloth...anyone have any suggestions?
With that I'll close for the evening...comments and suggestions please...any help is always appreciated...keep em coming...
Temp. - 78
Ammonia - 0.25 (possibly 0.30 but hard to tell)
Nitrite - 0 (still no decernable amount)
Nitrate - (still no decernable amount)
As of tonight when I got home from work, the tank water is still clear...but, I have my first official algae bloom...there is tons of brown crud all over the place...I know this is the next step in the process of cycling the tank, but I hate how it looks right now...
With this algae bloom, I know it will pass...but, should I try to any of my clean-up crew now to work on it...or should I simply leave well enough alone?
I really don't like how the tank looks "dirty"...I am someone that likes the pristine look of a tank...I want my hood to look like it is floating in mid air... Anyway...does anyone have any good secrets for cleaning salt glaze and the drops of water that have dried on the tank glass? I have heard vinegar and water and a soft lint-free cloth...anyone have any suggestions?
With that I'll close for the evening...comments and suggestions please...any help is always appreciated...keep em coming...
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Man...the tank looks really cruddy this morning...definitely thinking about clearing out the algae bloom...I am at work right now and can't snap a picture (nor do I really want a picture of that right now )
Anyone have any suggestions? I know this is part of the cycle but it just looks bad and I really hate my tank looking like this...
Anyone know how long it will take for the ammonia to start on the decline and nitrite/nitrate start to show up? Also, anyone think the ammonia will go up any farther or is this pretty much the peak and (hopefully) soon it will start to decline...I've read all the cycling threads I care to this morning...they all speak in generalities and I'm looking for opinions specific to my tank...
Anyway...I'll post water parameters when I get home...for now though, anyone have any suggestions/help?
)Anyone have any suggestions? I know this is part of the cycle but it just looks bad and I really hate my tank looking like this...
Anyone know how long it will take for the ammonia to start on the decline and nitrite/nitrate start to show up? Also, anyone think the ammonia will go up any farther or is this pretty much the peak and (hopefully) soon it will start to decline...I've read all the cycling threads I care to this morning...they all speak in generalities and I'm looking for opinions specific to my tank...
Anyway...I'll post water parameters when I get home...for now though, anyone have any suggestions/help?
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Sorry everyone, forgot to post my tank water parameters last night...
Temp. - 78
Ammonia - 0.35 (slightly darker but not much compaired to previous night)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite / Nitrate dip is still not turning color...just getting wet...should either of those be developing yet? I would have thought something would have shown up by now, especially since my entire tank is just coated with this brown diatom bloom...yuck...
One other question...I am used to seeing snails that have a mouth that you can see while they glide across the tank glass...last night, I noticed that the 2 snails that hitchhiked in on my liverock don't have mouths that I can see? They are gliding across the diatoms and also like to burry themselves in the sand for hours on end (one of them just emerged from the sand after 3 days only because I used my heater to dig him out!! :lmao: ) Any ideas? Are these slugs and not snails?
Temp. - 78
Ammonia - 0.35 (slightly darker but not much compaired to previous night)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite / Nitrate dip is still not turning color...just getting wet...should either of those be developing yet? I would have thought something would have shown up by now, especially since my entire tank is just coated with this brown diatom bloom...yuck...
One other question...I am used to seeing snails that have a mouth that you can see while they glide across the tank glass...last night, I noticed that the 2 snails that hitchhiked in on my liverock don't have mouths that I can see?
They are gliding across the diatoms and also like to burry themselves in the sand for hours on end (one of them just emerged from the sand after 3 days only because I used my heater to dig him out!! :lmao: ) Any ideas? Are these slugs and not snails?
