My 55 gallon reef project
- Thread starter dcombs44
- Start date
dcombs44
New member
A quick update on my tank. My burned out light bulb from hamilton should be arriving friday free of charge. I'll be able to get my toy lit back up the way it should be then. I've been getting some extra heat from the closed loop, so I've set the fans to run high 24 hours a day to see if that helps. I added a powerhead in the top left corner to hopefully help fill the last dead spot in the tank.
I've had some problems with the closed loop blowing some sand, but I think i'll hopefully be able to fine tune it.
I was gone over the thanksgiving holiday and returned to a diatom bloom. I'm assuming that my tank is at the end of it's "cycle" if that's what you want to call it. I shouldn't have many nutrients if any, so I don't know of many other causes than the tank reaching maturity. Hopefully I'll start stocking this thing in the next couple weeks. Wish me luck.
I've had some problems with the closed loop blowing some sand, but I think i'll hopefully be able to fine tune it.
I was gone over the thanksgiving holiday and returned to a diatom bloom. I'm assuming that my tank is at the end of it's "cycle" if that's what you want to call it. I shouldn't have many nutrients if any, so I don't know of many other causes than the tank reaching maturity. Hopefully I'll start stocking this thing in the next couple weeks. Wish me luck.
dcombs44
New member
A couple bumps in the road today. I've been battling aptasia since the tank was setup. I believe the rocks picked them up while being held at the LFS since I had no problems with them before. I've also had some bubble algae. No blame on the LFS of course, with as many things coming in to one place, you're bound to come across those things.
The real scare was my discovery of about 5 red flatworms. I'm not sure of what action I'll be taking. I guess I'll try to vacuum them all out when I do my next water change. Any suggestions please speak up.
The real scare was my discovery of about 5 red flatworms. I'm not sure of what action I'll be taking. I guess I'll try to vacuum them all out when I do my next water change. Any suggestions please speak up.
Wow I just got an email from a guy in the local club about his red flatworms and he said they have taken over. He said he may just quit the hobby altogether because it's so hard to get rid of them after they take hold.
Soooo . . . . dcombs, I would do whatever it takes. By that I mean if you have to remove and waste the rock/coral/macro algae I think I'd do it.
BTW, I am NOT an expert, far from it so take this advice with a grain of salt please.
Soooo . . . . dcombs, I would do whatever it takes. By that I mean if you have to remove and waste the rock/coral/macro algae I think I'd do it.
BTW, I am NOT an expert, far from it so take this advice with a grain of salt please.
dcombs44
New member
Well the diatoms are subsiding. I see no sign of the dreaded red flatworms anymore. I think I'm going to make one final purchase to make my flow situation as good as I can make it.
I think I'm going to order 2 of the new tunze nanostream 6025s. I figure if I put one about half way down in each back corner, I can have numerous flow options in addition to my closed loop.
If anyone has any suggestions on this as always feel free to chime in.
This way my flow will be as follows. 1506 gph closed loop on a 4 way oceans motions. 2 returns in bottom front corners, 2 returns in back middle about 5 inches off the sand.
Mag 7 sump return with split returns to break water surface.
Minijet powerhead in corner of overflow to fill dead spot.
2 tunze nanostreams in back corners half way down tank wall.
I think I'm going to order 2 of the new tunze nanostream 6025s. I figure if I put one about half way down in each back corner, I can have numerous flow options in addition to my closed loop.
If anyone has any suggestions on this as always feel free to chime in.
This way my flow will be as follows. 1506 gph closed loop on a 4 way oceans motions. 2 returns in bottom front corners, 2 returns in back middle about 5 inches off the sand.
Mag 7 sump return with split returns to break water surface.
Minijet powerhead in corner of overflow to fill dead spot.
2 tunze nanostreams in back corners half way down tank wall.
dcombs44
New member
Well.....Tonight I'm flat worm fishing. I've had a bit of an outbreak. I've purchased some Flat Worm Exit, but I'd only like to use it as a last resort. I will continue to siphon them through the rest of the week, and if it seems like i'm beating them, i'll probably add my fish this weekend. I'm also going to test my refractometer using Randy's homemade calibration mix tonight.
dcombs44
New member
I did the refractometer test and my meter was reading about 1.027 sg and 37 ppt or so.
I calibrated it accordingly. My tank water now reads 1.023 sg and 30 ppt or so. I will attempt to raise the salinity over the next few days with some lop-sided water changes.
Oh...I forgot to add, I ordered an abundance of food, supplies, and supplements for Christmas. I ordered 2 maxi jet 1200s, some enriched brine, mysis, rod's food, eco system reef solution, frozen cyclopeze, dt's phyto, selcon, garlic elixr, vita-chem, some gloves, a couple dip nets, an airpump, a battery powered air pump, an acclimator kit (it was only 6 bucks and i'm lazy), and some sea veggies
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY FISHIES!
I calibrated it accordingly. My tank water now reads 1.023 sg and 30 ppt or so. I will attempt to raise the salinity over the next few days with some lop-sided water changes.
Oh...I forgot to add, I ordered an abundance of food, supplies, and supplements for Christmas. I ordered 2 maxi jet 1200s, some enriched brine, mysis, rod's food, eco system reef solution, frozen cyclopeze, dt's phyto, selcon, garlic elixr, vita-chem, some gloves, a couple dip nets, an airpump, a battery powered air pump, an acclimator kit (it was only 6 bucks and i'm lazy), and some sea veggies
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY FISHIES!
dcombs44
New member
I went through a small battery of tests today. Results are as follows:
Temp: 80
pH: 8.4
NO3: 0
Alk: 8.3 dKH
Calc: 390 ppm
PO4: .1 ppm
Salinity: 1.023 sg (just recalibrated refractometer using Randy's homemade fluid. I've added some salt water to my top off to bring the salinity up)
Flatworms: 0 YAY!!!!!!
The Calc and Alk tests are Salifert, and the others are unfortunately Red Sea. I'm working on getting a complete set of Salifert tests, but the funding isn't quite there with the XMas season and all.
I am adding my fish Sunday. I will also be adding some red/white striped mushrooms, a colony of green buttons, and whats left of my hammer. There's just one head of tentacles left, so I'll be cutting the dead skeleton off to try and salvage the remaing piece. I am going to start dosing some phyto also to get my kritters flourishing.
The fun is about to begin AGAIN!!! Wish me luck please.
Temp: 80
pH: 8.4
NO3: 0
Alk: 8.3 dKH
Calc: 390 ppm
PO4: .1 ppm
Salinity: 1.023 sg (just recalibrated refractometer using Randy's homemade fluid. I've added some salt water to my top off to bring the salinity up)
Flatworms: 0 YAY!!!!!!
The Calc and Alk tests are Salifert, and the others are unfortunately Red Sea. I'm working on getting a complete set of Salifert tests, but the funding isn't quite there with the XMas season and all.
I am adding my fish Sunday. I will also be adding some red/white striped mushrooms, a colony of green buttons, and whats left of my hammer. There's just one head of tentacles left, so I'll be cutting the dead skeleton off to try and salvage the remaing piece. I am going to start dosing some phyto also to get my kritters flourishing.
The fun is about to begin AGAIN!!! Wish me luck please.
Best of luck !!!!
I hear you loud and clear on the non-salifert test kits. I wish I would have saved my money on a combo kit from Reef Master. It is cumbersome, messy and just plain nasty to use. It was a little less than a Salifert but now I see why.
Anyway. AGAIN GOOD LUCK!!! Looks to me like you are having a blast and that's what it's all about.
dcombs44
New member
It is fun to play with all the gadgets that we think will make our tanks more suitable for our critters. I realize it's not "the reef" but I'd like to make it as close as possible.
I must admit I'm a little afraid to add that first fish to the tank. I got off to such a rough start with my first tank. I know so much more now, but there's still always that variable that we can't see that may cause something to go wrong. I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm always leaving that expectation for things not to go as planned. With this hobby, it's hard to be totally optimistic. Thanks for keeping posted and for the good luck wishes.
I must admit I'm a little afraid to add that first fish to the tank. I got off to such a rough start with my first tank. I know so much more now, but there's still always that variable that we can't see that may cause something to go wrong. I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm always leaving that expectation for things not to go as planned. With this hobby, it's hard to be totally optimistic. Thanks for keeping posted and for the good luck wishes.
I really have to chuckle about be afraid to add the first fish, I am the same way. I had my tank cycling for three months before I dared to add anything. While I was investigating salt water systems the folks at LFS had me so freaked about not adding stuff so soon . THEN after I had bought the tank and lights and stuff through them that all went away. "Oh you can start adding stuff after a month ('cause we want to sell, sell, sell it to ya")!
So today I have 3 fish and 4 corals,
.
Your system is going to be awesome, you are doing it right and with that OM your critters are going to LOVE you.
So today I have 3 fish and 4 corals,
. Your system is going to be awesome, you are doing it right and with that OM your critters are going to LOVE you.
dcombs44
New member
I sure hope so. My first tank was bought through an LFS with no knowledge and little care to have any knowledge as long as the $$ kept rolling in. I put an anemone in my tank on day 2 because I just assumed well they are a fish store, they have to know their stuff. As you can tell, I learned things the hard way, but after 3 or 4 months of things dying, I decided to go elsewhere. Praise God! I finally got my 29 gallon up and going the right way, but it was still hard to maintain. I would say it took a solid year after I found a good store for it to start to become easy. Here's a pic that I took at the peak of my 29's existence.
After that, my corals started going downhill a bit. I never could figure out why. My parameters always checked out except for a few phosphates. That brain was awesome. It held out strong until I sold my tank, then I took it to the LFS to babysit it for me, and it died. I hope I have better luck this round.
RIP (Tell me it's not happy in this pic)
EDIT: I didn't even realize my arrow crab made it into that pic. He met his demise as well. I couldn't figure that one out either until I captured my friendly little mantis
I'm sure that was an easy meal for him.
After that, my corals started going downhill a bit. I never could figure out why. My parameters always checked out except for a few phosphates. That brain was awesome. It held out strong until I sold my tank, then I took it to the LFS to babysit it for me, and it died. I hope I have better luck this round.
RIP (Tell me it's not happy in this pic)
EDIT: I didn't even realize my arrow crab made it into that pic. He met his demise as well. I couldn't figure that one out either until I captured my friendly little mantis
I'm sure that was an easy meal for him.
