"Phil's 125 Semi-Aggressive Reef"

[Duke4life]

It's been about a month since my last update, so here goes:

I lost 1 of the mollies after about 2 weeks, I contributed this to an ammonia spike. I setup another 20 gallon tank to use as a QT last night 4-30-15. It currently has 2 power heads, a hob filter, and a heater.

For a while I had my mind set on using dry rock, but I was patient and found what I think is a great deal on live rock and have 100 pounds incoming ($235 shipped, predrilled). Will be placing in my 10 & 20 until I have the DT up and operational.

So that leads to a series of questions:

Will my 10 gallon QT be sufficient for 5-6 pajama cardinals?

I'm going to buff my tank once last time with Novus, is there anything I need to do besides cleaning real good before filling up with water?

 

[Duke4life]

Spending what's left of this afternoon to buff the tank 1 last time. Going to fill and drain a few times tomorrow, then start mixing water. It's going to be a week I hope to finally start to see even more progress as I go from primarily research mode to a combo of research and adding water and rock.

I'll be updating this with pictures throughout the week as well

 

[Dmorty217]

20 gallon longs are better for QTing since its more water and can be stocked with more fish than a 10g. Get a ammonia alert badge, its your best friend

 

[Duke4life]

20 gallon longs are better for QTing since its more water and can be stocked with more fish than a 10g. Get a ammonia alert badge, its your best friend

It is a 20 gallon long, but this is the 1 I'm setting up for the chainlinks, which will then be for the hawks . I'm wanting to use the 10 for the cardinals and others down the line.

 

[Duke4life]

I'm in a very upbeat mood with this. I finished buffing the tank, rinsed and filled a couple of times then let air dry, moved it back in and started filling with water. About 5 inches from the top I notice a difference in water height from 1 end to the other, got my tape measure and sure enough there's a 1/4 inch difference somehow. I checked my stand before placing but will empty some and get it right, hoping a few shims do the trick. My first true "dohhhhh" moment sorta kinda.

I feel really good about where I'm at with everything, but the feedback from you all that have been there done that is invaluable. What areas I'm I overlooking and not putting enough detail into or planning for?

How does the tank look you ask? Stay tuned to find out!

 

[trukgirl]

How big are the cardinals? If they're tiny you could go with the 10g. I'm not sure how big those eels get that you are getting because I have no experience with them, but I'd be afraid my snowflake would eat pj cardinals...

 

[Duke4life]

How big are the cardinals? If they're tiny you could go with the 10g. I'm not sure how big those eels get that you are getting because I have no experience with them, but I'd be afraid my snowflake would eat pj cardinals...

The chainlinks appear to be similar to snowflakes in size but all the information I've gathered suggest they are more like the zebra in regards to temperament. The cardinals will be "typical" size, about the size of a quarter or bigger.

My DT officially has water in it and is up and running

 

[Megistos]

The chainlinks appear to be similar to snowflakes in size but all the information I've gathered suggest they are more like the zebra in regards to temperament.

Zebra temperament sounds about right, but chainlinks don't get as big as snowflakes - should max out at about 2' where snowflakes regularly exceed 3'.

 

[JBarnes]

Amazing job of buffing that tank. So, did you stop smoking?

 

[alfaowner]

Stopping cigs, and I get a tank

Stopping cigs, and I get a tank

Just seen this thread... Well... Let's face it, in the UK cigs are very expensive like 7-8 pound for 20 and so like you, I funded my latest hobby of 5 years by quitting the smokes. Ironic that I manage to replace one interest ie smoking with another yet more expensive one ie reefing.

My Elos 160XL


Well done for kicking it!!

 

[Duke4life]

Haven't stopped totally yet, reason why I have no "salt" fish yet, at about 5 a day from a pack. The driving part no longer bothers me, but when I wake up and after meals are when I crave 1 the most. Getting to 3 is my goal by end of next week so I can start adding to QT.

Alfa nice looking tank, I like the openness of it.

 

[Duke4life]

I'll be posting pictures tomorrow night but I moved most of the rock into my DT earlier and also add 2 10 gallon plastic tubs to my supply list. I can already see this will take a few days to get the rocks in formations I like.

 

[Duke4life]

Amazing job of buffing that tank. So, did you stop smoking?

Thanks!

 

[Duke4life]

I was hoping rock placement would be the easy part of this but I'm starting to think again, so the pics will have to wait til I'm done.

I figured out my problem:

In the left side of the full on shot is my overflow that makes that little section ( 6.5inches X 6.5 inches) and sticks out instead of being square that is totally throwing me off. There's about 11.5 inches left between the front of the tank and the overflow. I started building a cliff to the right but while I like my cliff not so much where it's at.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to scape this little area? Just really stumped over a small area.... Arrrrrrr

 

[reefwiser]

Aquascape can be really hard. What looks good to one may not look good to you.
I used Magnetic pieces in my new tank. For the back wall From Alternative Reef.

 

[reeferstace]

Why are you using live fish to "seed everything"?

 

[Duke4life]

Why are you using live fish to "seed everything"?

I actually used a piece of fish to start "seeding" the bio balls I had in my 10 gallon QT which was setup 1st. There was about 3 weeks til I added the mollies to help increase the bio load to "seed" the 20 gallon QT ( hasn't seen the 1st fish yet, has bio balls and leftover lr rubble, I add a few flakes a day) which was setup next. My DT was setup last, water circulating for a few days, I then added the lr which had been in my 10 & 20 since I got it early last week.

 

[Duke4life]

Aquascape can be really hard. What looks good to one may not look good to you.
I used Magnetic pieces in my new tank. For the back wall From Alternative Reef.

Saw pics of your tank and it looks really good. Think the magnetic pieces will be the new "in" thing?

 

[Duke4life]

This is what I've come up with so far, there is some openness but I do still have a few custom made pieces to finish up and add. I might also center this more in the tank but that is tbd.

Thoughts? Good or fugly?

 

[Duke4life]

Thinking of flip flopping the 2 last smaller stacks and moving them to the far right to add a cave structure in that area.