My 30 gallon and stand build

[LuvinLife]

Well I am finally done setting up everything. Here are a few pics of what happened along the way.
Base for the stand..

Stand almost complete.

Here it is with my LR..it's still cloudy so they aren't that great.

I had 2 skimmers going last night... I have moved a few of the rock around and will take pics when everything settles.
Here is a close up of a coral that came on a piece of my LR..

More to come!

 

[ServantSoldier]

Its awesome seeing everything come together for you. Exciting times!

I'm impressed with your hitch hiker pick up! Where did you get your LR?

I'm looking forward to more pics and progress.

 

[LuvinLife]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12151703#post12151703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ServantSoldier
Its awesome seeing everything come together for you. Exciting times!

I'm impressed with your hitch hiker pick up! Where did you get your LR?

I'm looking forward to more pics and progress.

Thanks so much. I am excited! I got my rock from NJ from a friend that I met in another forum. I got a awesome deal and the rock was hand picked. Here are a few more pics of my corals that have popped up on my rock.

Here is a large colony that is under the rock and hanging down off the rock...

 

[ade]

JFYI. Small steps, with any new set up you are going to go through a cycle.
Even though you got Cured LR there is going to be some die off when transporting rock from one tank to the next.
My 2c, I would let your tank run with a few starter fish for about a month or two and then start adding corals.
When you are ready I have a few starter for you.

Ade

 

[NbMaxx13]

I would say that you may not even need to add "starter" fish per say ... The same process can be acomplished without adding any fish by simply adding a piece of raw shrimp no? .Hopefully and assuredly someone will correct me if I am wrong ... Also I think typically people end up using Damsles as "starter" fish because they are so hardy and then end up not being pleased
with how they interact with the fish you get down the line... Clowns are also typically pretty hardy and make a great first inhabitant assuming that the major part of your cycle has passed... they can withstand a pretty good amount...

I do have a beast of a 3 stripe that could live in a Toilet bowl if need be and we love her lol ...

I am really happy to see your tank coming together for you ... Exciting times indeed... Just remember to take some time and enjoy it .. Keep the pics coming and keep us posted...

 

[LuvinLife]

Thanks guys for the info. I plan on letting the tank cycle for a while without fish. I have a few FW tanks that I have cycled fishless as well as using hardy fish. I have read that raw shrimp will also help along the cycle. I do plan on adding a few crabs and snails in a few weeks to keep the sand bed stirred up.
I am still in shock at how different a SW tank looks compared to a FW one. I am enjoying my SW tank with just the few corals that are in it.

 

[vetdog]

have you ever thought of using BioSpira?

 

[LuvinLife]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12162815#post12162815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vetdog
have you ever thought of using BioSpira?

Actually I have never heard of it. I am new to SW, care to fill me in on what it is and what it does?

 

[coolfish5]

BioSpira is basically a culture of nitrifying bacteria that you can add to the tank. Unlike cycle, its a refrigerated product, that has a higher concentration of bacteria. I have been quite impressed with the results of using it in freshwater tanks. Where ammonia and nitrite drop to 0 after ~ 24 hours.
I haven't used it alone to cycle a bare sw tank so can't really comment on its effectiveness there. I have used other similar products that worked great on ammonia but a little slower on nitrite. I have used biospira in addition to live rock to speed along the cycle and it appears to work well, but again the bacteria in the rock helps that too.
I think it runs $12 for a 1 ounce pack. I'd say its worth the money if you want to get things cycled fast. Some people are more patient than others.

 

[vetdog]

I used it in my first two tanks to cycle SW with great success. you can add a fish the same day. I wouldn't go further than that. I'm definitely going to use it with any future tanks as well.

 

[anchor10]

Cool Tank. Good luck with the cycle... People may not like the damsels, but the little blue ones with the yellow tails aren't TOO nasty, they stay small, and they give you something to watch!

 

[LuvinLife]

I changed up my rockwork. I like the way this looks much better and the tank has really cleared up.

I know it is nothing compared to most of you reefers, but I couldn't be happier with my first SW tank. I'll be going this week to pick up a clean up crew from UA. I'd like to thank Sam for helping me pick out my powerhead and explaing many different topics while I am visiting UA. I have learned so much from this forum, I am glad to have found it and had a chance to meet some of you. And FTR I welcome any tips or advice that can be given.

 

[ade]

We all have to start somewere.

We all have to start somewere.

Looking good heather, do you have any idea what kind of fish you are going with? If you are going to do clowns I have a free bubble tip for you.

 

[LuvinLife]

Well Ade, for sure I want a purple firefish. I feel in love with them the first time I laid my eyes on them. I would love to do a wrasse or two and I think that is my limit on fish. I guess when my tank finishes it's mini cycle I'll drive down to UA and see what they have. I appreciate the offer but as of right now I'm not thinking clowns although a couple that I saw last week in UA were beautiful! I like the vibrant colors such as purple, blue, green even yellow and orange, but with only a 30 gallon I have a very small limit of space.

 

[ade]

Does your tank have any kind of cover? if you don't I would look into some kind of cover. Most wrasse and dartfish love to jump.

 

[LuvinLife]

My tank has a glass cover over the top except for a small space where the lights are.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

Could you post some info about your setu-up? Lights, sump, overflow, pump, anything like that?

 

[LuvinLife]

Sure..
Tank size..24” x 18” x 17” (Height)
made of temper glass
Lights...250W HQI Phoenix (14,000K) bulb 24W x 2 T5 HO fluorescent and 4 LED moon lights ( Love these lights!!)
Skimmer: seaclone as well as the one that came with the Finnex cube.
Wet Dry filter
Fuge with light.
No sump...
Everything came with the tank except the Seaclone. I got a awesome deal and IMO it is a great price if you are short on money and space. I ordered the Finnex from OceanReeflections.

 

[LuvinLife]

I have a question for you experts. I found a new coral yesterday and it is very small. Could someone try to ID it? It's near the sandbed. It is a pinkish color and bright green in the center.

Also what the heck is this. It is the white work looking thing on the right bottom on the sand..

 

[NbMaxx13]

I can't see what the first is , but the second looks like either a star fish leg/arm or a feather duster?

Closer pics?