Todd March
Premium Member
How is the MRC skimmer working out? Was dialing it in difficult...?
Your pictures aren't working for me...?
Your pictures aren't working for me...?
New 125 On The Block - Watch The Process! *Pictures Inside*
- Thread starter TJcop
- Start date
NewSchool04
New member
me neither
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
OK, the pics are fixed now. My server was doing maint.
Todd: The skimmer is doing great. Dialing it in wasn't too hard once it slimed up. I just hate how it goes to crap during feedings...oh well.
On the plus side, the cleaners are doing an awesome job with the algae. There still is some there, but nothing like it was. Also, last night before I left for work, I used my little flashlight and saw that all the feeders were extended on my closed brain...so cool. So I target fed it last night (phyotoplex..didn't have time to do zooplankton). Things are coming along!
Todd: The skimmer is doing great. Dialing it in wasn't too hard once it slimed up. I just hate how it goes to crap during feedings...oh well.
On the plus side, the cleaners are doing an awesome job with the algae. There still is some there, but nothing like it was. Also, last night before I left for work, I used my little flashlight and saw that all the feeders were extended on my closed brain...so cool. So I target fed it last night (phyotoplex..didn't have time to do zooplankton). Things are coming along!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
New pics are working (see above). :thumbsup:
Question: Now that everything is settling down, how long do should I wait to add more stuff. I had slowly put in a few pieces over the last few weeks, and nothing has spiked or gotten out of hand. I know that the SPS types shouldn't be put in before the tank is around the 6 month mark (is that true?). Am I ok to add more softies and LPS, along with some more fish? Here's the timeline so far:
May 5 - added LR
May 28 - cycle completed and transfered contents of nano into new tank.
June 7-current - added current livestock
Status: no losses due to tank params (read: shipping losses only).
So, what do you all think? Thanks again for all the great comments, this has been an awesome experience (I wish the wife would agree!)
Question: Now that everything is settling down, how long do should I wait to add more stuff. I had slowly put in a few pieces over the last few weeks, and nothing has spiked or gotten out of hand. I know that the SPS types shouldn't be put in before the tank is around the 6 month mark (is that true?). Am I ok to add more softies and LPS, along with some more fish? Here's the timeline so far:
May 5 - added LR
May 28 - cycle completed and transfered contents of nano into new tank.
June 7-current - added current livestock
Status: no losses due to tank params (read: shipping losses only).
So, what do you all think? Thanks again for all the great comments, this has been an awesome experience (I wish the wife would agree!)
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Nolo: I got them from marinedepot. So far they are working just fine. I don't like their suction cups. I have two of them, and I have them set up differently to test them. One is mounted with the lame suction cups and without the directional flow control. The other is hooked over the lip of the tank and has the flow direction case on it. These pumps don't work with wavemaker power strips.
Min: I'll get some full tank shots up for you later today!
Min: I'll get some full tank shots up for you later today!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
New Pics By Request!
New Pics By Request!
Here's some full tank shots. Please excuse the algae...this is MUCH better than it was 2 weeks ago. I figure another 2 weeks and it should be gone. Anyways...
This is a full length shot. The tank is 6' long. I'm not sure why the water has a green tint to it. I run a micron filter and I am currently running carbon, but nothing seems to get it crystal clear. My only guess is that it has something to do with the algae...any ideas?
The whole tank.
Left side.
Middle.
Right.
New Pics By Request!
Here's some full tank shots. Please excuse the algae...this is MUCH better than it was 2 weeks ago. I figure another 2 weeks and it should be gone. Anyways...
This is a full length shot. The tank is 6' long. I'm not sure why the water has a green tint to it. I run a micron filter and I am currently running carbon, but nothing seems to get it crystal clear. My only guess is that it has something to do with the algae...any ideas?
The whole tank.
Left side.
Middle.
Right.
ReeferMonkey
Premium Member
Two words... lettuce nudi. Some of the best $11 I ever spent.
aquajohn
New member
I am no pro, but I would suggest not adding anything live for a while, with the exception of maybe the lettuce nudi Mr. Monkey suggested. Even though your test are pretty stable, sometimes the unstability takes awhile. Patience, patience, patience. A few weeks is not very long to the inhabitants of the world your creating although it seems forever to the admiring creator. HTH John
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Thanks Reefer and Aqua! I was thinking about the lettuce nudi, but I've also seen something about the seahare as well. In the mean time, I've been pulling the long stuff out by hand, which intices the snails and lawnmower blenny to eat it. Things are improving...slowly.
Aqua: I agree with the "not adding anything". I'm holding off on everything until I get this tank cleared up of algae and the "mystery cloudy water". Thanks!
Also, I noticed that my temp this afternoon was 84.4 :eek1: Way to high for my liking. I know that it's due to my MH lights. Soooo, now I'm looking for a chiller. I only need to drop the temp about 5 degrees, so a smaller one should work (right?). Any suggestions?
Aqua: I agree with the "not adding anything". I'm holding off on everything until I get this tank cleared up of algae and the "mystery cloudy water". Thanks!
Also, I noticed that my temp this afternoon was 84.4 :eek1: Way to high for my liking. I know that it's due to my MH lights. Soooo, now I'm looking for a chiller. I only need to drop the temp about 5 degrees, so a smaller one should work (right?). Any suggestions?
Last edited:
ReeferMonkey
Premium Member
Since you have a canopy, maybe you could try adding a few fans to the interior of the canopy, blowing over the surface of the water, to reduce the temperature. You could set them on a timer outlet so they only run when the halides are up. In all likelihood this will increase your evap... do you have an auto top off system on your tank?
Chillers get pretty pricey, even for the 1/5 and 1/4 hp models. See if you can't solve it with a couple of $20 fans. You might luck out.
Hrm. Looking at the above page, I see that you do indeed have fans on your tank. Maybe try to cram a few more in there. Other than that and the chiller option, you might try to raise the fixture further up off of your tank. I'm not sure if your canopy would allow this, but I know of a few reefers that built standoffs for their canopies (Doxyman, in particular, did a great job) so they could fit MH setups in canopies built for flourescents.
I'd definitely lay off any new additions, I got frag happy on my 7 and paid for it for a month or two afterward with nitrites that wouldn't go away. Also go easy on feeding.
I hear good things about the sea hares, but no personal experience with them. My lettuce nudi, RIP, was great at tearing up the hair algae. Mowed through it pretty quickly. Sadly, he also was partial to getting sucked into my HOB intake. The first two times he escaped death with varying degrees of mutilation. Third time, unfortunately, was the charm. If you get any sort of nudibranchs make sure your intakes are covered. Since your tank is pretty large, I might recommend you pick up a few.
Oh yeah, about the cloudy water, are you running carbon?
Chillers get pretty pricey, even for the 1/5 and 1/4 hp models. See if you can't solve it with a couple of $20 fans. You might luck out.
Hrm. Looking at the above page, I see that you do indeed have fans on your tank. Maybe try to cram a few more in there. Other than that and the chiller option, you might try to raise the fixture further up off of your tank. I'm not sure if your canopy would allow this, but I know of a few reefers that built standoffs for their canopies (Doxyman, in particular, did a great job) so they could fit MH setups in canopies built for flourescents.
I'd definitely lay off any new additions, I got frag happy on my 7 and paid for it for a month or two afterward with nitrites that wouldn't go away. Also go easy on feeding.
I hear good things about the sea hares, but no personal experience with them. My lettuce nudi, RIP, was great at tearing up the hair algae. Mowed through it pretty quickly. Sadly, he also was partial to getting sucked into my HOB intake. The first two times he escaped death with varying degrees of mutilation. Third time, unfortunately, was the charm. If you get any sort of nudibranchs make sure your intakes are covered. Since your tank is pretty large, I might recommend you pick up a few.
Oh yeah, about the cloudy water, are you running carbon?
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Reefer: Thanks again for the advice. The canopy I built has the lights as high as they can go, so rasing them isn't an option. As far as fans go, I have one over the top of the tank and two more blowing across the sump in the basement. They just can't keep up with the heat, so I am probably going to have to bite the bullet on this one and get a chiller. 
Oh, and I do have a top off system. As far as the water, yup, running carbon. I just switched from my micron filter to carbon yesterday, so I'll give it a few days to see how it does. Hopefully as the algae goes, and with agressive skimming and carbon, it should (should!) clear up.
Yimmerz: Actually they are both Seio's. Then one on the left has it's cover on, the one on the right has the cover off and is mounted horizontally. I am experimenting with them, and so far they are working out pretty good.
Oh, and I do have a top off system. As far as the water, yup, running carbon. I just switched from my micron filter to carbon yesterday, so I'll give it a few days to see how it does. Hopefully as the algae goes, and with agressive skimming and carbon, it should (should!) clear up.Yimmerz: Actually they are both Seio's. Then one on the left has it's cover on, the one on the right has the cover off and is mounted horizontally. I am experimenting with them, and so far they are working out pretty good.
Last edited:
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Well, I ordered some of the mini sea-monsters from BlowfishAquatics, and a queen conch to clean up the sand. It seems the water is clearing up since the carbon had been running for the last 24 hours. I also grabbed as much algea by hand this morning, so things are looking up!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Well, I haven't heard from Brian at BlowfishAquatics since Friday, and I've emailed him twice. Originally I was hoping for a Friday or Saturday deliver, but he said he couldn't do that since he just got back in the country from vacation (understandable). He offered Tues deliver, which at first I couldn't do, but then emailed back that I made arrangements w/ my wife for Tues delivery.
Now, I've made arrangements and still haven't heard back from him. It's now late in the day Monday with no responses or confirmations about delivery. I really hope that I didn't waste making special arrangements for this shipment. I'm still hopeful, and I'm not knocking BlowfishAquatics, just wondering if Brian takes awhile to respond to emails?
Also, more pics should be up later tonight showing the improvements!
Now, I've made arrangements and still haven't heard back from him. It's now late in the day Monday with no responses or confirmations about delivery. I really hope that I didn't waste making special arrangements for this shipment. I'm still hopeful, and I'm not knocking BlowfishAquatics, just wondering if Brian takes awhile to respond to emails?
Also, more pics should be up later tonight showing the improvements!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Updates
Updates
First off, I spoke with Bryan at BFA, and his wife is very ill. I totally understand the situation, and have no probs having my shipments delayed. If anyone else is ordering from Blowfish, please understand if your shipments are delayed. Now...on to the pics!
Here's the right side of the tank. Algae continues to disappear, along with those friggin' runaway snails! Alot of the plant stuff u see isn't algae, it's actually some type of plants (kelp?) growing out of the LR. Very interesting...
Here's the Lobo, yesterday was the first day that all of it's polyps came out! They weren't 100% out, but it was nice to see that this coral should make it (it had a rough ship).
Here's the Slipper with Nemo. He's very protective of his lil' buddy.
A zoo rock, one of the bass's and a few snails. The bass are very interested when people look in the tank.
Finaly, the mushrooms. Man, do these things expand during the day!
More later! Thanks for checking in!
Updates
First off, I spoke with Bryan at BFA, and his wife is very ill. I totally understand the situation, and have no probs having my shipments delayed. If anyone else is ordering from Blowfish, please understand if your shipments are delayed. Now...on to the pics!
Here's the right side of the tank. Algae continues to disappear, along with those friggin' runaway snails! Alot of the plant stuff u see isn't algae, it's actually some type of plants (kelp?) growing out of the LR. Very interesting...
Here's the Lobo, yesterday was the first day that all of it's polyps came out! They weren't 100% out, but it was nice to see that this coral should make it (it had a rough ship).
Here's the Slipper with Nemo. He's very protective of his lil' buddy.
A zoo rock, one of the bass's and a few snails. The bass are very interested when people look in the tank.
Finaly, the mushrooms. Man, do these things expand during the day!
More later! Thanks for checking in!
