Nick's 75g Tank (My First Ever)

[Rustylugnuts]

Good idea on the refractometer. When I switched over I found that my swing arm was reading consistently low. I topped off with sw and I was up to 1.025 in about 2 days.

 

[Nick James]

I got Aiptasia X yesterday and WIPED OUT those multiplying little buggers! Absolutely awsome watching them sucking it up like candy only to violently implode (a little sadistic I know). I realized today I missed a couple which were hiding in the back where it is difficult to see. Hopefully the Berghia make quick work of whatever I left behind including the small babies..

I also got two Cerith and one Spiral Top (Turbo) Snail. Was told by LFS lady that Cerith was probably one of the best snails for a clean up crew as it eats the most diverse amount of "stuff"..

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13617531#post13617531 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nallender
I have been running my skimmer too wet and had a mishap yesterday.. it overflowed onto the floor.. now I am running it drier.. unfortunate trial and error.. will running it wet make it less efficient at pulling out *crap* in the water?

I have purchased a digital Milwaukee PH meter, a HM TDS meter, and a refractometer.. the liquid tests and hydrometer are not precise enough for my liking..

both the pH meter and the refractometer have solutions you buy to standardize them with.
Make sure you get the pinpoint 50 standardization fluid for the refractometer --it allows you to adjust the refractometer to 35ppm(seawater)

 

[Aquarist007]

Look in the index of this article on how to set your refractometer

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/index.php

 

[Nick James]

I have some discs in my tank which are about 1/4" in diameter. They are mostly white with a pink hue. They also have a bright pink center. Here is the best picture I was able to take. They appear to move around although I have not witnessed it. Originally I only saw 5 and now I am up to 8.

Here is an image I found which looks almost exactly like them

I have been told they might be jellies.. and I have also been told they may be some species of anemone.

 

[Nick James]

I've got two more additions to the family. I bought a pair of tank raised percs. They are both juveniles still. I have been debating on what type of clowns to get and when I would add them to the tank.

A store in the states which is actually closer to me then the closest Canadian store had a tank full of em and it felt like the time was right. This place has a ton of corals and very healthy looking tanks. I got the two clowns for $32 US.

I will post a couple pics when I get a chance to take some.

 

[Nick James]

Added more rock!

Added more rock!

I added about 50 more pounds of live rock and remodeled a bit!

Here is a shot from before:

and here are the after shots..

and the left side..

and the right side..

from the ends..

and here are my Percs..

and here is a mystery hitch hiker that was in one of the rocks I bought.. Looks like a Wrasse of some kind or even a green clown goby.. it is pretty little and will not come out of his rock for me to get a good look a yet..

I hope he survives.. he obviously wasn't acclimated but he seems ok at the moment..

 

[Nick James]

the mystery fish is a Green Clown Goby.. he came out and it was obvious when I saw him from the side! I love him.. very cool fish to watch move through the rocks.

 

[Nick James]

Night Time Pics!

Night Time Pics!

some more pics since I still have my friends camera.. these were done with the light off in the morning..

Pics of mystery disc creature (anemone/mushroom/jelly?)

Mr Serpent Star..

and his friends the mini brittle stars (hiding in crevices..)

Mr Mandarin waking up.. angry that I blinded him with a flash..

this rock has a prickly little ball on it.. doesn't look like a sponge.. more like a white porcupine..

that's all for now..

 

[Rustylugnuts]

Looks like things are progressing nicely. I really like the 2 islands scape ya got goin too.

 

[Nick James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13871512#post13871512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rustylugnuts
Looks like things are progressing nicely. I really like the 2 islands scape ya got goin too.

Thanks! I moved the one rock that was sitting on top of the left side to the "bridge" between the two islands. Looks way better now.. I have to get a pic up!

I bought a 48" T5HO nova extreme with 4 bulbs.. my cousin has it and is bringing it down to me on SATURDAY!

Can't wait to get that up and running! Then maybe I can MAYBE start putting some easy beginner corals in.. ricordea, zoas, etc..

 

[Nick James]

Here are some pics with my new T5's..

it looks like I upgraded the tank to HD

 

[Fish_wiz2]

Looks good :thumbsup: but why don't you put the heater in the sump or hide it if it is a back up (like i do). i also recommend you redo the return to make it look better with the aquascaping. good luck!

 

[Nick James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13943372#post13943372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish_wiz2
Looks good :thumbsup: but why don't you put the heater in the sump or hide it if it is a back up (like i do). i also recommend you redo the return to make it look better with the aquascaping. good luck!

I have a heater in the sump already. I have that one in the tank for even heating.. originally I thought if the power went out I would just have the in tank heater and power heads connected to a back up battery supply so that it won't kill the back up battery too fast.. BUT.. I think I might just get a large generator and in that case I would run the whole system as normal.. we'll see..

as far as the return goes I am actually redo-ing it for a couple reasons.. I was also going to see if I can find some black PVC to use and angle the return off to the side as opposed to just having it go straight down like it is now..

 

[Nick James]

Here are some pics I took for the heck of it..

 

[Nick James]

Wow, this brings back memories.. wish I still had this tank up and running to see how it would have progressed over the years.

I am back and have a 29g cube for now. Hope alot of my old friends who gave me all the advice in this thread are still around! :bounce3: