My 55 gallon reef project
- Thread starter dcombs44
- Start date
dcombs44
New member
That's promising 
Maybe I'll have better luck. I've got some pretty small aptasia.
On a side note, my fish seem to be continually improving in the short time they've been in the tank. My button polyps look beautiful, and about half of the mushrooms I added Have really opened up nicely. The single head remaining on the hammer coral is doing ok so far. I'm not sure if I should cut the dead skelaton off, or leave it alone.
I think I've decided to go with mostly lps, zoas, and shrooms in my tank, as I will not be around enough to care for an sps dominated tank. I may try an acro frag or monti down the road, but not totally sure.
Maybe I'll have better luck. I've got some pretty small aptasia. On a side note, my fish seem to be continually improving in the short time they've been in the tank. My button polyps look beautiful, and about half of the mushrooms I added Have really opened up nicely. The single head remaining on the hammer coral is doing ok so far. I'm not sure if I should cut the dead skelaton off, or leave it alone.
I think I've decided to go with mostly lps, zoas, and shrooms in my tank, as I will not be around enough to care for an sps dominated tank. I may try an acro frag or monti down the road, but not totally sure.
dcombs44
New member
Just an update, for my own benefit more than anyone else I guess. My fish and new cleaners seem to be doing fine. My Queen Conche was climbing the glass today, I'm not sure if that's totally normal. I did see my Yellow tang make a couple stops by the peppermint shrimp residence for some cleaning today. I'm hoping that's just nature rather than a parasite that I'll be dealing with. The tang's color has greatly improved, and all seems fairly well for the most part. My tomato clown needs a home, he's been throwing sand everywhere for the past couple days. Hopefully, in a few months when the tank's more mature, I can purchase him something to suit his needs.
dcombs44
New member
I just got back to my apartment after a few days away. Due to a combination of work and holiday travels, I've been gone since about 2:00 pm on Thursday. I bought an auto feeder before I left, filled it with spectrum pellets (contains mostly krill and algae meal to suit the needs of both fish), a bit of chopped up seaweed, and a bit of freeze dried cyclopeze, and hoped for the best. I returned to actually see some growth in my dying hammer coral (I'll show before and after tomorrow), happily swimming fish, and open polyps everywhere!
I was quite impressed with the tank's job at self sustaining for a few days. My biggest worry was running out of top off water. I use a 10 gallon tank to pump water into my sump, and I had only tested to 4 days, and knew that I'd be gone a bit more. I had probably 10-12 hours worth of water left, so not too bad.
The only only downfall that I could see was a dusting of what I guess is diatoms all over the glass. They had subsided until I added my nassarius, conche, and ceriths last week. I guess they stirred up the sand enough to cause another outbreak. I'll clean up the glass in the morning and start enjoying again.
I also dosed some Dt's and some reef solution tonight, but in the 10 minutes I got to see the lights on, things looked really nice after a few days of no dosing.
I realize many of these posts are boring to most readers, but it's more of a journal and timeline for myself. Hopefully someone besides me can get some good out of what I write. :rollface:
Happy New Year's, and thanks for staying posted everyone!
I was quite impressed with the tank's job at self sustaining for a few days. My biggest worry was running out of top off water. I use a 10 gallon tank to pump water into my sump, and I had only tested to 4 days, and knew that I'd be gone a bit more. I had probably 10-12 hours worth of water left, so not too bad.
The only only downfall that I could see was a dusting of what I guess is diatoms all over the glass. They had subsided until I added my nassarius, conche, and ceriths last week. I guess they stirred up the sand enough to cause another outbreak. I'll clean up the glass in the morning and start enjoying again.
I also dosed some Dt's and some reef solution tonight, but in the 10 minutes I got to see the lights on, things looked really nice after a few days of no dosing.
I realize many of these posts are boring to most readers, but it's more of a journal and timeline for myself. Hopefully someone besides me can get some good out of what I write. :rollface:
Happy New Year's, and thanks for staying posted everyone!
dcombs44
New member
Thanks for the support. I'm really excited to start stocking with various corals, but I'm in money saving mode right now. I'm getting married in May, so I'm trying to pay for a ring, honeymoon, etc. etc. etc. as well as prepare to take on the added expenses of a wife that's finishing college. (Not that that's a bad thing, but nonetheless puts a hault to my reef for a while)
I may have to start attending more frag swaps in my area to pic up some cheaper pieces that way. I also know that some reef clubs have donation programs where they give away free frags as long as you "promise" to give a frag of that same colony away after if grows and matures a bit. Pretty cool idea.
I may have to start attending more frag swaps in my area to pic up some cheaper pieces that way. I also know that some reef clubs have donation programs where they give away free frags as long as you "promise" to give a frag of that same colony away after if grows and matures a bit. Pretty cool idea.
dcombs44
New member
What's my turnover
What's my turnover
I'm going to ask for a bit of feedback on my logic here. I was trying to figure the turnover in my tank, and came up with a surprising number. I figured it in the following manner:
1 mag 7 (4 feed of
flex tube, 1
gate valve)
w/ headloss = 550 gph
2 maxi jet 1200 = 590 gph
1 mini jet 404 = 108 gph
1 quiet one 6000
closed loop
(assumed no head
loss) = 1500 gph
____________
Total 2748 gph
Gallons 55
____________
Turnover 49.96 x per hour
-------------------------------------------------------------
I just read a forum with most people stating that they turn over on average about 10-20 x per hour. I don't see where mine is a problem. My flow is very random and indirect, but I wanted to get some opinions on the amount of flow that I have and see if my calculations are correct.
What's my turnover
I'm going to ask for a bit of feedback on my logic here. I was trying to figure the turnover in my tank, and came up with a surprising number. I figured it in the following manner:
1 mag 7 (4 feed of
flex tube, 1
gate valve)
w/ headloss = 550 gph
2 maxi jet 1200 = 590 gph
1 mini jet 404 = 108 gph
1 quiet one 6000
closed loop
(assumed no head
loss) = 1500 gph
____________
Total 2748 gph
Gallons 55
____________
Turnover 49.96 x per hour
-------------------------------------------------------------
I just read a forum with most people stating that they turn over on average about 10-20 x per hour. I don't see where mine is a problem. My flow is very random and indirect, but I wanted to get some opinions on the amount of flow that I have and see if my calculations are correct.
Re: What's my turnover
Re: What's my turnover
. . . .concerning your logic . . . .
Well, marriage is a big step and honestly I think I'd stay single for the rest of my life if the chance ever comes ups again. But then that's just me. But you gotta do what you gotta do.
EDIT: OOPS, well I guess I spoke out of line. :rollface:
Just kidding, congrats and enjoy your life together forever. :beer:
Re: What's my turnover
. . . .concerning your logic . . . .
Well, marriage is a big step and honestly I think I'd stay single for the rest of my life if the chance ever comes ups again. But then that's just me. But you gotta do what you gotta do.
EDIT: OOPS, well I guess I spoke out of line. :rollface:
Just kidding, congrats and enjoy your life together forever. :beer:
dcombs44
New member
Yeah, I'm not too sure there is any logic involved in the process of living with someone that has full access to your money and likes to shop, but nonetheless..........
The good part is she could read this and probably (key word) laugh. Only time will tell I suppose. The good thing is, she loves my tank. She's always wanting to buy me stuff for it and learn how to take care of it and stuff. Plus, I think saving for a week of diving in Cozumel is worth the sacrifice of stocking my tank for a few months
The good part is she could read this and probably (key word) laugh. Only time will tell I suppose. The good thing is, she loves my tank. She's always wanting to buy me stuff for it and learn how to take care of it and stuff. Plus, I think saving for a week of diving in Cozumel is worth the sacrifice of stocking my tank for a few months
dcombs44
New member
If I take pics I will. I dont have an underwater setup, and the cheapo disposables don't do any justice due to the lack of "flash"/lighting.
These will actually be my first salt water dives. I've been certified for about 6 months, but only had the chance to dive in some quarries and stuff. I'm pretty excited. Hopefully I can get some shallow water pics with some more light that I can post that look decent.
These will actually be my first salt water dives. I've been certified for about 6 months, but only had the chance to dive in some quarries and stuff. I'm pretty excited. Hopefully I can get some shallow water pics with some more light that I can post that look decent.
