My 75 gallon Reef... a newbie's progress.

[dg3147]

hitchhiker starfish....

hitchhiker starfish....

Another hitchhiker found on the glass today. This is the third of its kind I have found. I believe its Astrenia --an opportunistic eater of corals (that is, I think they conusme them when other foods are in short supply). I plucked him off the glass and banished him to eternity in a landfill.

BTW, here's a good link for starfish husbandry:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/index.php

 

[dg3147]

My first major shipment of tank goodies has arrived today, including substrate and Votech x1. I need to decide where to place the Vortech now. I prefer to put it slightly behing the rock work, but I think this may directly blast the corals to be place on the rocks.

I think 2 Vortechs will be a bit much --I may stick with just the one MP40w. The other two submerged cheap'o power heads are coming out.

Substrate to be added this weekend.

Parameters today:
NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 10

Working on silencing the system still --I have a few seemingly good ideas to try out.

 

[Korrine]

ooo vortech should be nice. My mp10 is supposed to come Wednesday. Nice job

Have you thought about hosting your photos someplace like photobucket? It's easier to see them.

 

[flying_dutchman]

What is the thing in the middle, on the overflow?
Like the scape

 

[dg3147]

It's a water pump that the local "expert" put in my initial tank set-up. Super loud, so I've pulled it out and replace it with the Vortech 40w. I may keep it to help stir salt when I mix it. I though about using it for my sump, since I have a bunch of rock in there and am worried about junk building up. I think it's too loud for that though.

Not sure if I should get a second Vortech though for the right side of the tank. I don't want another bulky Vortech sticking out into the living room. Should i get one and put it on the back wall of the tank, or just get a small nano pump? Or is one Vortech enough? Keep in mind my tank is shallow and wide for a 75g; therefore, my Vortech is kept at low power to avoid blasting the tank too hard.

I'll post pics of the slightly re-aquascaped tank after the new sand clears a bit.

 

[mnml]

very nice setup you've got there, dg. i really like the design of the side doors on the stand :thumbsup:

 

[bonzanin]

Very nice rocks. Very nice project!

 

[dg3147]

Thanks for the compliment on the stand --my father is a local Los Angeles carpenter and cabinet maker; he helped me build it. He does some pretty great work!

So, I added 40 lbs of Nature's Ocean Reaf Sand (about 1 to 3/4" deep) and it's looking pretty good. It has a nice white color under the lights. I was concerned it would appear too brown in color. Regarding the Vortech, it is not blowing it around at all. I like it! (I have 2 bags left and thinking about adding another 1/2").

Despite contrary advice, I did go with the "live" sand. My reasoning: I thought it may have heavier particles loaded with bacteria and; therefore, there would be less sand storm. I think it worked as expected. The photo below is from 4 hours after adding the sand and the water has cleared up nicely.

I also re-worked the rocks a bit. I hope to re-organize my sloppy looking sump this week, but I do have to pay the bills and leave time for beer....so, we will see how far I get.

The rock is pre-cured so I didn't get much cycle, but the tank has been running for a few weeks now. Tests look good and I think I am read to add my CUC and then maybe a mushroom. Fish to be expected in a couple weeks.

BTW, I want to comb my new sand. Ideas?

Thanks for the support! This forum is the only real resource I have and...IT ROCKS!!!! :beer:

...p.s. I will look into photobucket ---thanks for the suggestion!

 

[muttley000]

Nice looking build! Has your skimmer "kicked in" yet? What have you had to play with to get it going?

 

[dg3147]

It kicked in after about 5 days. Whenever I put my hands in the tank, it stops skimming for a few hours. I think my skin oils disturb the equilibrium.

It's a downdraft skimmer so adjusting it only involves the water outlet vavle and is pretty easy. With that said, I think it is too deeply submerged, so the water level is too high in the water column of the skimmer, so I am really "wet" skimming and cannot concentrate the skimmate unitl I raise the skimmer later this week.

I'll post photos of my sump revision as soon as I get my lazy butt in gear.

 

[Shorasp30]

Good looking build. Keep going with the updates.

 

[dg3147]

Updates for the day:
-CUC arrives tomorrow from reefcleaners.org
-I have two different hitchhikers with pics below. One is clearly a majano anemone and will be getting a blast of drano injected into it after work today (using a syringe and needle).
-the other hitchiker looks a like a white fan type structure coming out of a conical structure. pic is attached below. Maybe a tube worm of sorts?
-ro/di from Melev's Reef is now hooked up in the bathroom pending relocation under the kitchen sink. I may hook it directly to the sump (i know...I've been warned. :rollface
-I may add some hardy corals on friday.

 

[Reeftanks6]

Looking good

 

[Shorasp30]

Very nice, keep with the updates!

 

[dg3147]

CUC arrived today and plopped them into the middle of the tank --excpet for the chiton, he came attached to a shell and didn't seem to like walking on the substrate, so he's up on a rock and seems to be liking it (or running in terror).

I plan on adding a few peppermint shrimp, a tuxedo urchin, and a red serpent star at various stages once the tank gets more established.

 

[dg3147]

went to VividAquariums today and to pick out a started coral and place a fish order. Of course I came home with stuff I never intended to buy.

- 1 Diamond Goby to keep the sand clean (i am a bit worried it's too soon for a high volume sand sifter like this).
- 2 peppermint shrimps
- 2 small skunk cleaner shrimps
- 3 head colony of torch coral

Here's a funny story: so I am acclimating my new goby and as i stick in the dropper to add some tank water..."Flewy...swoosh....plop!!!", he jumps out of the bag, falls 5 feet, and lands on the floor. I quickly picked him up, tossed him in the tank, and he appears to be eating and sifting now. How's that for an acclimation procedure? :spin1:

I need help deciding where to place the Torch Coral. I put it on the center bridging rock to help draw attention from the center overflow, but I am afraid that the flow will be to high there. I posted a picture with another couple possible locations. The red and black circles are possibilities. Most of the flow is on the left side where the Vortech is.

 

[flying_dutchman]

The torch should be waving nicely in the flow.

 

[snewcrash]

Looking good!

 

[dg3147]

Added on a couple new corals: a purple SPS watchamacallit (cannot remember its name) and a yellow fiji. This of course was an impulse today during my purchase of the Blue Reef Chromis (several of them) and Maxima Clam.

 

[xxjdmcivicek9xx]

wow looking very good!!!