My 55 gallon reef build

Well this past week has been eventful. I broke in a skimmer. After I flooded the cup numerous times.

I havent really tested this week, and today...BOOM goes the Nitrites! Good thing I aint in a hurry.
 


Still clearing up from the snot storm bacteria blizzard when I overflowed the skimmer. But my cycling is coming along nicely after three weeks. Redid my rocks with some small rods and glue.
 
Although I have a 10 gallon sump there is maybe 5-7 gallons of water in there less water because of return pump, protein skimmer, live rock, live sand. It also is a sump with no refugium section so no area for pods to really grow (Protein skimmer would take them down)
 
nice!! I like the way you did your rock work. If I had it to do over again I would set mine up similar to your's.
 
bonewfo said:
nice!! I like the way you did your rock work. If I had it to do over again I would set mine up similar to your's.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but I can't take credit. There is a thread, not stickied on aquascaping. It was something i really had not studied and I learned a lot while cycling.
 
2 Days after I finally got a nitrite spike I tested everything and its back to zero. I'm skeptical my DSB in the refuge is seeded with enough anaerobes to convert nitrates. I'm going to keep ghost feeding and be more diligent in testing. Try to catch everything as its going. Saturday is my plan to do this. This tank will be cycled like no doubt. There is no alternate plan.
 
JAnwyl said:
Although I have a 10 gallon sump there is maybe 5-7 gallons of water in there less water because of return pump, protein skimmer, live rock, live sand. It also is a sump with no refugium section so no area for pods to really grow (Protein skimmer would take them down)
Click to expand...

Yeah I was going to have a real refuge, but I was limited in size and would have been in the same boat. So I went with HOB skimmer and fuge. Now I have to find a way to light my refuge.
 
I'm going to have to chime in for one second on the dragonet/mandarin.... I had one, and thought I was feeding appropriately, freeze dried, liquid, and pods I got from a friend. He grew skinnier, skinnier and died. I felt awful. This was in the 90's when I didn't have this type of resource. Back then the lfs' were saying they'd eat anything. I want another one, I love them, but I will wait years until I have an established pod factory. I won't let myself watch another beautiful fish die because I didn't know how to take care of it. Grow some pods and best of luck with your tank!
 
npj333 said:
I'm going to have to chime in for one second on the dragonet/mandarin.... I had one, and thought I was feeding appropriately, freeze dried, liquid, and pods I got from a friend. He grew skinnier, skinnier and died. I felt awful. This was in the 90's when I didn't have this type of resource. Back then the lfs' were saying they'd eat anything. I want another one, I love them, but I will wait years until I have an established pod factory. I won't let myself watch another beautiful fish die because I didn't know how to take care of it. Grow some pods and best of luck with your tank!
Click to expand...

Speaking with the LFS, they said they would take him back if I couldn't do it. Im telling you though, the amount of pods I plan to flood this damn thing with will rival a flat worm exit.
 
npj333 said:
I'm going to have to chime in for one second on the dragonet/mandarin.... I had one, and thought I was feeding appropriately, freeze dried, liquid, and pods I got from a friend. He grew skinnier, skinnier and died. I felt awful. This was in the 90's when I didn't have this type of resource. Back then the lfs' were saying they'd eat anything. I want another one, I love them, but I will wait years until I have an established pod factory. I won't let myself watch another beautiful fish die because I didn't know how to take care of it. Grow some pods and best of luck with your tank!
Click to expand...

Thanks for commenting. I don't plan to have him for a while. I can't say a year, but definitely at least 6 months. Looking into a small separate pod tank I can put under the stand. I have an old air pump from freshwater, I could definitely supplement my tank even more with this and the refuge. Instead of God and locusts, think Daniel and his pods swarming and smiting.
 
Dang near zeroed out yesterday on testing. Just a smidgen of nitrates. Dosed ammonia to 2 ppm and it nearly zeroed out again today. I did the ghost feed thing for a few days but the skimmer seems to eat up the flakes. I didn't want to starve my bacteria and it seems easier to dose than feed. Hope I don't screw this up.
 
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