My first sw setup

[BuffaloReef]

Looks good so far! It's nice to see you're willing to take advice and not only accept that advice but want to understand the concepts behind that advice.

Reading your post I see you're not afraid to put the necessary money into your tank. You're getting a refractometer, adding a HOB skimmer and other things to make a solid attempt at a reef tank. So before you get too far along, why not drill the tank for a sump. It looks like you'll be there in a year or two anyway, so why not just do it now? Sumps make things so much easier!

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Its funny you should say that, a friend of mine said I should do the same thing. For now with this tank I will probably just run a CPR overflow with the lifter pump. Costs are adding up quick (realizing I need to quickly set up and cycle a QT) and I'm trying to keep my other half calm. I am already feeling the space constraints of a 30g but I don't dare talk about plans for a 75g drilled with MH lighting yet lol. For now I am learning as I go and I'm sure I'll make a few mistakes along the way.

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Thanks for the kind comments btw...this community is very friendly and helpful!!

 

[Lukes_Reef]

On that note....

Ammonia is at 1.0 ppm and climbing.

Im using the shrimp method and im wondering at what point should I remove the shrimp from my tank, or should I just let it go till ammonia and nitrites are at 0? Wont the shrimp just keep producing ammonia?

At the point where my ammonia and nitrites are at 0 and nitrates are around 10-15 ppm how can I keep the bacteria going till my first fish is out of QT (if its not ready). Will the CUC produce enough waste to keep it going or should I be feeding minimal ammounts of food as well?

 

[BuffaloReef]

It's been a long, long time since I cycled a tank so I'll let others answer those questions.

What are you using for denitrificaion in the QT tank? If you have a sponge filter or something like that it will need to be seeded with bacteria too.

 

[Lukes_Reef]

I'm guessing since I don't have an established tank that I can use to seed the QT I will have to buy some sort of bacteria starter??

 

[Lukes_Reef]

So apparently the UPS driver that I saw out my window today says he tried to deliver my refractometer but no one answered the door...he NEVER knocked!! I was wondering why he left and my package wasn't on my doorstep. I'll be waiting for him tomorrow :mad2:

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Refractometer got here today and wouldn't you know...my hydrometer was off!! Refractometer reads 1.020
Took a trip to ARC and picked up a few nice looking pieces of purple and one piece of red coralline covered rock.
Also picked up a 100gph and a 200gph Hydor water pumps...not sure what I'll be using them for but for $6 for the pair of them brand new I couldn't resist.

 

[belgian_waffleman]

wow, that's a great start!
Try to get some coraline from different sources, it creates more diversity and more coloration later on.
you'd be amazed to know how many different strains of coraline there are.

Good luck and keep the updates coming.

Waffleman

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Well I'm new to this hobby so I'm still getting surprised by little things....found out the rocks I got the other day had a few living creatures on them. A tiny feather duster and a small bristle worm. The bristle worm worried me at first but after a ton of research they sound very common and the small ones can be a beneficial part of a CUC.

He is right in the center of the pic. Tell me your thoughts on these

 

[Foody]

I can't see it in your picture, but I'm wondering if your "feather duster" is actually an aiptasia, a common pest found in live rock that can become a huge nuisance if kept unchecked. I know I made this error when i first started, even calling the "neat little creature in my tank a feather duster."

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Yeah for some reason its saying my photobucket is down, the photo was the bristle worm. The (what I think) is a feather duster is a white tube and it comes out of the end a little and looks like a feather duster.

 

[PCKRAJ]

Welcome aboard Luke.

You may be interested in a reef crawl in our area (Alden, Lancaster, OP, WS, etc.) A reef crawl is where a group of us gather and meet at one another's houses to look at their set-ups - offer advice, answer questions, or just ooh and aah!!!

I'll be posting soon for more info, it'll probably be on a Saturday in September.

Also, so glad to see this post as I also started a 29 gallon, mainly to keep frags of my giant sized toadstool coral that I need to frag, but have been afraid to do.

Did not realize that powerheads should be pointed up. I have my 2 Koralia's pointed down and toward the middle in my 150 tank.

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Well I now see something else growing out of one of my dead rocks and I can't begin to know what it is...I can't get a good pic of it either.

 

[Foody]

What you described definitely sounds like an aiptasia to me. You will want to get rid of it. There are several methods. I use aiptasia-x, found in any pet store.

 

[Lukes_Reef]

On a good note though...the ammonia levels are about the same but...nitrites are now spiking which means I'm on my way!! Bacteria are converting ammonia to nitrites and will soon be converting nitrites into nitrates!! Getting excited but can't shake the feeling of wanting something much bigger....I told my woman to relax, I'll wait till we buy our house. Lol

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Foody....I pulled the rock out. Hopefully I won't see anymore

 

[Lukes_Reef]

OK so.....Ammonia 0....Nitrite 0....Nitrate 20ppm
Cycled? Time for pwc? Add a fish and small cuc?
Does that sound right?

Do I need to start a light on/off schedule now?

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Bump to the top.

 

[Lukes_Reef]

Time for a little update....
Tank seems to be doing good (from what I can tell). I am still missing a few test but I'm working on that. Here is what I do have...
SG - 1.026
Temp - 79.4° steady
CA - 420ppm
KH - 179ppm
pH - 8.0
Po - 0ppm
No2 - 0ppm
No3 - 20ppm
Ammonia - 0ppm

2 clown - 2 b/g chromis - 2 scarlet hermits - a handful of assorted snails

Let me know your thoughts. Coralline seems to be coming in green and purple (has been mostly green but purple is slowly taking over.