My 60 Gallon Anemone and Clownfish Tank Build
- Thread starter mn jeff
- Start date
jkrentz2515
New member
hey jeff you should post your build on tcmas.org if you haven't already. send me a pm if you want to know more about the club.
I made a horrible realization yesterday...I was using brass hose barbs in the sump. It never crossed my mind that brass is made from copper until I accidentally dropped a nut from the reflectors into the tank. As I was searching for the tiny nut I realized that the brass probably leaches metals into the water just like the nut would. I replaced all the fittings today and am going to bring in a water sample to the LFS tomorrow to see what my copper levels are. I'll let you know what I find out.
So I've been running carbon for the last week to get rid of the copper. Hopefully continuing to run carbon and a major water change I'm planning for the weekend will bring the levels down.
My ammonia levels peaked over the weekend so I decided to throw in some more table shrimp. I had two in one of the sumps, which I added after the damsel died. I don't know if I posted that update anywhere, but the damsel never came out to eat and I found him floating 3 days later. Could have been a result of the high copper levels as well. Anyway, the two shrimp I had were pretty much disintegrated so I put in 6 today. The bacteria culture has already started to grow, so I'm hoping to have one more ammonia spike in a week or two and then be adding the first fish a few weeks after that.
I've been working on the stand lately and hope to have it done, except for the tile, tonight. I'll post some pictures either way. We ended up painting the sheathing a light blue color that matches the tiles; it looks kind of gray with the lights on. Trim is an off white.
My ammonia levels peaked over the weekend so I decided to throw in some more table shrimp. I had two in one of the sumps, which I added after the damsel died. I don't know if I posted that update anywhere, but the damsel never came out to eat and I found him floating 3 days later. Could have been a result of the high copper levels as well. Anyway, the two shrimp I had were pretty much disintegrated so I put in 6 today. The bacteria culture has already started to grow, so I'm hoping to have one more ammonia spike in a week or two and then be adding the first fish a few weeks after that.
I've been working on the stand lately and hope to have it done, except for the tile, tonight. I'll post some pictures either way. We ended up painting the sheathing a light blue color that matches the tiles; it looks kind of gray with the lights on. Trim is an off white.
So here is the updated picture from tonight. I still have more trim to put up but this will help you get a general idea of what it should end up looking like. I'm still not totally sure what to do with the trim and hinges on the canopy. Here's the picture...with a flash...Twilights only:
Went back to the LFS today to browse and started talking about my copper levels. Evidently I heard wrong before about the levels, actually 40 ppm...much more depressing. I'm going to have them test the water again next week. Has anyone had any experience with Seachem CupriSorb?
Nice build, Is your tank lights really that blue or just camera, With your copper issues I have heard that keeping invertates is going to be really tough, hopefully somebody else has more experience with this situation. The Copper acually aborbs into everything! Silicone, rocks, etc--then slowly leaches out over time. Hopefully you don't just end up with a fowlr because your goal sounds really good and you have put in alot of time.
The color is actually pretty close to that. The picture was taken when only the Twilights were on. It is barely blue at all during the daytime.
Grouted the tile and finished the trim on the base tonight. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. The diatom bloom is still growing, most likely due to the fact that I had 6 shrimp in one of the sumps. I've since removed as my nitrate levels are starting to rise. Still on track for some livestock in 2 weeks hopefully. Now I just have to find somebody selling tank raised Banggai's. Or should I start with the clowns first?
At the moment, I'm just planning to have a few BTAs. I've never kept anemones before and don't want to get in over my head with a carpet. I thought about an LTA, but I didn't leave a lot of room for a sand dwelling anemone with my aquascape.
I was back at the LFS today for another water test...the copper levels are down to 15 ppm. Low enough for fish, but not any invertebrates yet. I'm not sure how much of the drop was due to the water change I just did and how much was due to the fact I'm running CupraSorb. I changed about 60 gallons of water out last weekend before I started running the CupraSorb.
Here are pics of the tile and the stand. I still have to finish the doors on the canopy. I'm undecided as to how I'm going to proceed with them.
Here is a picture without the flash.
Here is one of the algae bloom.
Here are pics of the tile and the stand. I still have to finish the doors on the canopy. I'm undecided as to how I'm going to proceed with them.
Here is a picture without the flash.
Here is one of the algae bloom.
