Crazy_Beaver
New member
Everything looks great!
Nature Boy's 270 gallon
- Thread starter nature boy
- Start date
nature boy
New member
Here is the 100 lbs of dry rock that just came from reefrocks.net. I'm very happy with the rock, exactly what I was looking for to create my two island aquascape. I should be able to make it look like two really large solid reef structures. And it should tie in nicely with my old rock as well.
I am going to throw it in some RO water now and test for phosphates to see where we are at. And then decide how to treat.
I am going to throw it in some RO water now and test for phosphates to see where we are at. And then decide how to treat.
nature boy
New member
Got some good news and bad news.
Good news is I soaked my new dry rock from reefrocks.net in RO/DI water for the last 48 hours with a mag 9.5 circulating the water. Just tested Nitrates at 0 and Phosphates at 0 using the Hanna checker. Checked the RO water which started at 0 TDS and is now 56 TDS. So this rock is pretty clean and and probably doesn't need any treatment.
Bad news is I tested my old rock that I have been keeping "alive". That came back off the charts
phosphate at 1.37 ppm
nitrate at 4-5 ppm
I noticed a lot less life in the container as well. Just a few asterinas, couple dead pods, and no more brittle stars. Even that yellow sponge is noticeably receding. I guess that would explain elevated levels if that stuff has been dying off more recently.
So I am not sure what to do with this old live rock. My options are to kill it, treat it, and start over with all dry rock and get a couple of good live pieces to seed everything....
or
Put it all in the same container with new saltwater. Start cycling new rock while saving the life on the old rock, treat with seakleer to reduce phosphates in old rock.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Good news is I soaked my new dry rock from reefrocks.net in RO/DI water for the last 48 hours with a mag 9.5 circulating the water. Just tested Nitrates at 0 and Phosphates at 0 using the Hanna checker. Checked the RO water which started at 0 TDS and is now 56 TDS. So this rock is pretty clean and and probably doesn't need any treatment.
Bad news is I tested my old rock that I have been keeping "alive". That came back off the charts
phosphate at 1.37 ppm
nitrate at 4-5 ppm
I noticed a lot less life in the container as well. Just a few asterinas, couple dead pods, and no more brittle stars. Even that yellow sponge is noticeably receding. I guess that would explain elevated levels if that stuff has been dying off more recently.
So I am not sure what to do with this old live rock. My options are to kill it, treat it, and start over with all dry rock and get a couple of good live pieces to seed everything....
or
Put it all in the same container with new saltwater. Start cycling new rock while saving the life on the old rock, treat with seakleer to reduce phosphates in old rock.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
tigershark4
Member
I would put it all in one tub and start cycling it all together. no different then if you had the live rock shipped to you.
brizhound
New member
How about putting the skimmer in the bin with the rock and start doing water changes. If you have a reactor laying around run some gfo or carbon. The die off from being in the bin is causing this and there was has been no export of waste i.e. water changes.
nature boy
New member
Well, I got the dry rock "dry" again, and I got the old live rock in the tub with fresh saltwater for a couple days now.
Phosphates 0.42 ppm
Nitrates 0.20 ppm
So the plan is to treat with seaklear (lanthanum chloride) and do a couple of water changes and see where that goes. I also got a couple pieces of live rock from another hobbyist to ensure biodiversity. I will probably combine them at some point in the tank or in the tub. Not sure yet. I put a pinch of old frozen Mysis in there. So we will see.
Here is a picture of the new dry rock next to the tub of old "live" rock
And then my sand came from reefrocks.net finally. Very pleased with them, had to wait for the "free" sand but you have to be patient in this hobby right?
160 lbs of sand, seems very clean and well rinsed
Phosphates 0.42 ppm
Nitrates 0.20 ppm
So the plan is to treat with seaklear (lanthanum chloride) and do a couple of water changes and see where that goes. I also got a couple pieces of live rock from another hobbyist to ensure biodiversity. I will probably combine them at some point in the tank or in the tub. Not sure yet. I put a pinch of old frozen Mysis in there. So we will see.
Here is a picture of the new dry rock next to the tub of old "live" rock
And then my sand came from reefrocks.net finally. Very pleased with them, had to wait for the "free" sand but you have to be patient in this hobby right?
160 lbs of sand, seems very clean and well rinsed
nature boy
New member
This seaklear stuff is awesome. I have about 40 gallons of water in my staging tank. I dosed 5ml of seaklear on day one, 5ml of seaklear on day two, tested on day three and phosphates have gone from 0.42 ppm to 0.09 ppm. I might dose just a little more and then swish off rocks, change water, wait a couple days and check again.
nature boy
New member
I made some progress and got things aquascaped with all the rock. There is a total of about 175 lbs in the display. The two island design worked out well and I don't think that I will change it much from this (my first attempt)
I still have about 100 gallons of saltwater to mix and add. I found that 300 gallons of saltwater just doesn't magically appear.
Here are the pictures
I still have about 100 gallons of saltwater to mix and add. I found that 300 gallons of saltwater just doesn't magically appear.
Here are the pictures
nature boy
New member
Now on to the skimmer
I have about $900 to spend.
Thinking about the
Octopus Diablo dcs 250 int for $586
or the Octopus pov dc3 for $900
or the SRO xp 500 int for $800
now the new pov skimmers, it looks like you have to remove the skimmer and take it apart to access and clean where the air hose attaches to the pump. I am not a fan of this. So I am leaning toward the diablo. I would consider the regular SRO 5000 but it does not appear to have a removable bubble plate. I have used the SRO 2000 int for the past few years and this bothered me on several occasions. The above three skimmers have a removable plate I think. Any thoughts?
I have about $900 to spend.
Thinking about the
Octopus Diablo dcs 250 int for $586
or the Octopus pov dc3 for $900
or the SRO xp 500 int for $800
now the new pov skimmers, it looks like you have to remove the skimmer and take it apart to access and clean where the air hose attaches to the pump. I am not a fan of this. So I am leaning toward the diablo. I would consider the regular SRO 5000 but it does not appear to have a removable bubble plate. I have used the SRO 2000 int for the past few years and this bothered me on several occasions. The above three skimmers have a removable plate I think. Any thoughts?
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Just my opinion but I would use the SRO 5000 int for its beastness(yea i just made that up). I love the way it performs and reliability. But I do believe the plate is removable.
nature boy
New member
The display tank is 270 gallons and is made with 3/4 inch acrylic.
nature boy
New member
If the regular SRO 5000 int does have a removable plate that would be a consideration because that skimmer is around $600. Not sure why making a cone shape in the SRO xp 5000 warrants a $200 increase in price.
Scythanith
Premium Member
Great project, I am currently building something similar! On a side note, I'd secure the dry end of the vortech so it doesn't have an unfortunate visit with the floor. That's an expensive lesson to learn!
Cheers,
Scott
Cheers,
Scott
nature boy
New member
Thanks, I just had these on temporarily to circulate the water while I finished making my last batch of saltwater. I will remount them permanently when the time is right.
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