My 24g Aquapod

[ReeferRyan]

Since you are just starting out, you might want to start with softies. Mushrooms, xenia, and the like are really easy to care for and you pretty much cant kill them. They also grow really fast.

Yes, you need to wait until your cycle is over before you add anything really. The only things that can survive through a cycle really are damsels and snails. You have to wait so long for anemones because they require extremely high quality water conditions.

You can PM if you have any questions about certain corals or care for them. I had everything in my 75, and all was healthy and happy.

 

[icenine2005]

That stand looks great... and yep, start with softies and just go slow.
You're off to a good start.

 

[Reef-Emperor]

Hey ReeferRyan,

I dig your modd to the water flow! I have an Aquapod 24g myself and I'm planning on the same thing. However, I was wondering what where the parts you used, part size, and where did you buy your parts for this project? Also, how did you modd the stock return hole?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ReeferRyan]

icenine- Thank you.

Reef Emperor- Thank you. I ordered a 1/2 inch bulkhead, 1/2 inch locline parts, and the maxi-jets from Marine depot. I went to Home Depot and got the 90 degree barbed fitting in the sprinkler plumbing aisle. Finally, I used some clear hose I had laying around (I think it is 5/8") For the added pump (the loc line side) ll I did was drill a hole for the bulkhead, install the bulkhead and 90 degree fitting, and installed the locline parts. After that I had to do was drop in the powerhead and run the hose between them. Took about ten minutes or so and if you look, there is already an extra hole in the hood with a grommet for the power cord. I do not have any pictures of that 90 degree fitting, but it is barbed on one side, and threaded on the other and it threaded inside the bulkhead, not outside. Hope that helps.

As for the return pump, I simply pulled out the stock pump, dropped in the Maxijet, and installed the stock hose. No extra parts or anything.

 

[Reef-Emperor]

ReeferRyan!

For the bulkhead, I was wondering did you order the heavy duty or the standard grade? (double threaded)

Thanks again!

 

[ReeferRyan]

This is the one I ordered.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idProduct=FT1131

Double threaded

 

[slam308]

Thanks for the great description Reefer, I just placed my order with MD this morning!
Hubby checked out the tank this afternoon, no visible damage.
Things are looking up!

Soft corals, are those LPS or SPS or some other initials??

 

[slam308]

Holy Mackeral!!
I'm in for it now. Just placed my last orders. One for $250 from F&S. Everything from a thermometer to the power strip with the timers. Another order for $100 or so for the LR.
At this point, it'd be cheaper to send them to SeaWorld for a week and get this out of their systems! Thankfully, I'll enjoy it myself. I'll tell ya, if my mother-in-law, who we live with (grrrr) wasn't shelling out more than half of the dough, the kids would be getting lego's and candy canes and be happy with it.
I'm exhausted....

 

[ReeferRyan]

Soft corals are things that don't really have a calcium based "skeleton". Things such as mushrooms, xenia, kenya tree, and leathers. LPS are things like frogspawn, candycane, and brain corals. They are mosly calcium, but they have large polyps (thus the name ) that they use to feed. SPS are pretty much all calcium and have very tiny polyps that they use to feed.

Examples...

Softies- Mushrooms
Christmas Tree Coral
Cabbage Leather

LPS-
Green Brain
Frogspawn
Sun Coral

SPS-
Staghorn
Montipora Capricornis
Hydnophora


I am pretty sure that zoanthids are considered softies, though they are kinda considered a class all by themselves.

 

[ReeferRyan]

Haha hang in there, it is definitely worth it if you take your time and do things right.

 

[ReeferRyan]

Update

Update

Well, not a whole lot has changed, but I thought I would post a few more pics. The cycle is almost over, and the diatoms have started, but my cleanup crew should make short work of that.

First off, this is the sand I used. It is a 20 pound bag of CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink.

Now just a couple of pics of the tank as it sits now

pardon the flash

and finally the diatoms

The damsel is only in there to help cycle the tank. He is going back to the LFS tomorrow. I plan to aquascape the tank tomorrow night after the fish is gone to avoid disturbing anything while removing him. Feel free to comment or ask questions

 

[slam308]

I noticed in earlier pictures the right side of the back wall, when facing the tank, has a whole line of open slats from top to bottom. It also looks like there are sliding covers that cover these slats. Which ones should be opened or closed? What is the difference?

 

[ReeferRyan]

You are correct that there is a top to bottom grate that flows to the back and that there are slats to control flow. I left them all there which leaves about an inch at the top for water to flow through. I like mine this way because it skims the surface better and makes for a cleaner water surface. If it were possible to have the top and bottom open only, I would like that but they are all in the same groove so you pretty much take them out from the top down.

 

[gotboostedvr6]

goodluck

 

[ReeferRyan]

Ran into a problem today. Found three of my snails in the back chambers and one had been killed by the pump. Anyone else had this problem? What did you do? I want these things to stay in the diplay because I am counting on them to clean it up.

 

[slam308]

Little tiny leashes??

 

[ReeferRyan]

Lol

 

[ReeferRyan]

 

[Mishri]

on another persons thread on the same tank he added some extra plastic to the top back to prevent fish/snails/crabs from climbing into the back area.. should be this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=774417

hope that helps (dunno if you can do that mod now that its filled though.

 

[slam308]

Reefer,
LMAO! Exactly what I pictured.