oceanlassiter
New member
First let me introduce myself.
I have kept fish for about 25 years, mostly FW. The last time I tried SW was about 1995, we had no internet at the time so could only go by what the LFS would tell me. They never said anything about LR or the importance of a protein skimmer, so as you could imagine my SW experience did not go well.
The last few years I have been without a tank, until I found an old 20g tall on the side of road that needed a new glass. Repaired the tank then went to Petco to look around. While at Petco I found they had a sale on some tanks for $1 a gallon. The 55 gal was the largest for that price and could not pass it up.
I have always wanted a reef tank as I fell that is the ultimate type of tank one could keep. Before I began to set up anything, I did tons of research (Internet is very useful in research) I researched several types of filtration as I wanted to reproduce nature as much a possible in my filtration. I decided to use the 20g for a sump/ refugium as there is just not much else that can be done with one that small. I decided after several price checking to go DIY.
I did all my plumbing with PVC pipe. I did a duel overflow system in each of the rear corners for better skimming, all DIY. http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5036.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 First I set it up with just the base rock (45 lbs) and sand (60 lbs), which I ran for a few weeks test everything to make sure that it can not flood and getting temperature and salt to a consistent level. Temp is holding at 78.5 -79.5 and salt is at 1.025. After several weeks of running I put in 20 lbs of LR to start the cycle. this is what I have so far http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5037.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1 My ammonia is just starting to climb, so far it has gotten to .050 ppm as of this morning.
Any advice would be helpful as this is my first attempt at reef keeping. I selected the Current Orbit LED 48" -60" for my lighting. This has taken two months to get it this far with close to $1000 invested. I plan on adding more LR as time goes on ( few pounds at a time) until I have about 100 lbs in it.
Here is a pict of my electrical http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5033.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5 I set it up with switches, the top switch shuts of all outlets next to it, it contains my return pump, heater and protein skimmer so all i have to do is shut of the switch to do water changes. The lower switch is for anything else needed. wave makers are on that switch.
I have kept fish for about 25 years, mostly FW. The last time I tried SW was about 1995, we had no internet at the time so could only go by what the LFS would tell me. They never said anything about LR or the importance of a protein skimmer, so as you could imagine my SW experience did not go well.
The last few years I have been without a tank, until I found an old 20g tall on the side of road that needed a new glass. Repaired the tank then went to Petco to look around. While at Petco I found they had a sale on some tanks for $1 a gallon. The 55 gal was the largest for that price and could not pass it up.
I have always wanted a reef tank as I fell that is the ultimate type of tank one could keep. Before I began to set up anything, I did tons of research (Internet is very useful in research) I researched several types of filtration as I wanted to reproduce nature as much a possible in my filtration. I decided to use the 20g for a sump/ refugium as there is just not much else that can be done with one that small. I decided after several price checking to go DIY.
I did all my plumbing with PVC pipe. I did a duel overflow system in each of the rear corners for better skimming, all DIY. http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5036.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 First I set it up with just the base rock (45 lbs) and sand (60 lbs), which I ran for a few weeks test everything to make sure that it can not flood and getting temperature and salt to a consistent level. Temp is holding at 78.5 -79.5 and salt is at 1.025. After several weeks of running I put in 20 lbs of LR to start the cycle. this is what I have so far http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5037.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1 My ammonia is just starting to climb, so far it has gotten to .050 ppm as of this morning.
Any advice would be helpful as this is my first attempt at reef keeping. I selected the Current Orbit LED 48" -60" for my lighting. This has taken two months to get it this far with close to $1000 invested. I plan on adding more LR as time goes on ( few pounds at a time) until I have about 100 lbs in it.
Here is a pict of my electrical http://s977.photobucket.com/user/oceanlassiter/media/102_5033.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5 I set it up with switches, the top switch shuts of all outlets next to it, it contains my return pump, heater and protein skimmer so all i have to do is shut of the switch to do water changes. The lower switch is for anything else needed. wave makers are on that switch.
