sgallagher7
Member
will adding Chaeto at the onset of cycling help with keeping the algae down along with the water changes?
Putting together my "future" 75 AGA RR (progress)
- Thread starter JerseyWendy
- Start date
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
It will start to. But if the algae starts dying, then you're adding nutrients back. Also, Chaeto, or any other macro aglae for that fact, won't do you any good unless you can make sure that it constantly grows and you contantly take it out of your refugium and prune it.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Yes, I did a leak test on my tank before filling it up with premixed, aerated saltwater. I simply ran the garden hose through the window and filled it up. A couple of days later I drained it all.
I added the filter sock when I added the sand because despite my best efforts I ended up with a big cloud of dust. Once the tank cleared up, and I realized how much stuff ended up in the sock, I decided to continue using it. Every once in a while I find a surprise in the sock when I change them out - like a snail for example. They are all too happy when I put them back into the tank.
Here's a picture of my filter sock:
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Wendy
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
I was aware that algae thrives on nutrients, but I still appreciate how you explained it.
I did a 20% water change a little while ago, and also manually scrubbed off the algae on as many rocks as I could, being careful to not release the algae back into the tank. I also siphoned debris and detritus off the rocks.
Aaaah - fresh, sparkling, crystal clear water. :rollface:
Oh, here's a picture of one of my Zoos. If you compare it to my inital picture of it, you can see how it has multiplied.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Thanks for the info wendy. I will be testing for leaks in the main tank and plumbing tonight, and filling tomorrow. The sump, heaters, skimmer and controller are all up, running, and on line. So far so good.
The sock sounds like a great idea when first starting the tank up. I wont be able to handle the dust storm settling by itself.
The zoa's look great! All this life and growth in such a short period of time. Time for me to step back and take a breath and continue with patience.
The sock sounds like a great idea when first starting the tank up. I wont be able to handle the dust storm settling by itself.
The zoa's look great! All this life and growth in such a short period of time. Time for me to step back and take a breath and continue with patience.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
That's cute, and it actually gave me an idea for names. How about "Haensel" and "Gretel"?
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Wendy
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Now you can all feel free to tell me "I told you so!" My beautiful Haddoni ate another tank inhabitant, my brand new Queen Conch to be exact. 
Needless to say, he had to go. Once I was able to ever so carefully remove him (his foot was firmly anchored onto the glass), I found 3 EMPTY snail shells, too. :eek2:
So - "Ms. Munchkin" is gone and in his place I got moonlights, an orange Ricordea polyp, AND a big and gorgeous Candy Cane Coral.
Here are some pictures.
Without flash:
With flash:
Candy Cane:
My hair algae is ever so slowly getting better and better. Currently I have a pod bloom, so I don't even have to feed my fish since they're very busy eating them off the glass. That, in turn, should be a good thing because the less food, the less to fall to the bottom, the less food for the algae.
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Wendy
Needless to say, he had to go. Once I was able to ever so carefully remove him (his foot was firmly anchored onto the glass), I found 3 EMPTY snail shells, too. :eek2: So - "Ms. Munchkin" is gone and in his place I got moonlights, an orange Ricordea polyp, AND a big and gorgeous Candy Cane Coral.
Here are some pictures.
Without flash:
With flash:
Candy Cane:
My hair algae is ever so slowly getting better and better. Currently I have a pod bloom, so I don't even have to feed my fish since they're very busy eating them off the glass. That, in turn, should be a good thing because the less food, the less to fall to the bottom, the less food for the algae.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Looking good wendy. Keep those updates coming. Justa a quick question. I added my water and some sand yesterday and now I have a 75 gallon milk container. How long did yours take to settle down. Im also running a sock and flilter media in my sump. Should I have the powerheads on or off?
BTW I finally have a link up to post updates. Some day mine will take shape like yours.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1109060
BTW I finally have a link up to post updates. Some day mine will take shape like yours.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1109060
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thank you, and ROFLMAO about the comment of a "75 gallon milk container". :rollface: Sounds like mine when I added the sand.
I kept all my powerheads and the skimmer running on full force, and within 3 days everything was crystal clear. Actually once I put the filter sock on, it took 24 hours, so yours might clear up even quicker than mine.
What type of sand did you use? I'm gonna go check out your thread now.
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Wendy
IMM3DOORSDOWN
New member
awesome love post like this.tank looks great and LOVE the pictures.GOOD JOB.now you can sit back and caluculate how much $$$$ you saved by building it yourself
sgallagher7
Member
I used the aragonite oolitic from carib sea. Put in 90 pounds to surround the acrylic legs I created for my live rock. One the rock is in place I will put the additional 60 lbs around the rock. Only 1 inch of the rock will be covered by sand.
Im running two of the k3 powerheads, along with my return. I just seems that its taking a long time.
Im running two of the k3 powerheads, along with my return. I just seems that its taking a long time.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thank you very much.
Oh yes, I saved quite a bit of money. Money I've been using to buy stuff for the tank. As a matter of fact, Wendy doesn't seem to know her limits when it comes to spending money on it these days. :hmm5:Talking about spending money, here's what's new:
My hair algae (problem) is getting better and better. Here's a picture of the Purple Nana. If you compare it to the last one, you'll see how much algae has been munched.
Here are 2 entire tank shots, you'll also see the difference.
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Wendy
sgallagher7
Member
Wendy. I am AMAZED by how great your tank looks in such a short period of time. And the thing about it is that it will only get better. Keep up the great work.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Wendy, that all looks great and in such a short time. Those Favites look gorgeous. I'm jealous!
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thank you so much. I could have never done this without RC and a handful of very special people, like Travis for example.
There are 3 things I didn't skimp on.
1. The lighting system
2. The bulbs
3. The LR
I do believe they made a big difference, especially the LR. I was lucky enough to be able to buy the entire "shabang" (sp.) in one shot, and it was VERY fresh.
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Wendy
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Thanks a million, Travis.
Don't be jealous. They are only small frags, you know. I'm not scared to add little frags to the tank, but I am frantic when it comes to adding fish, lol. I had a list of fish in the beginning that I wanted to put in there, but that won't happen. 2 fishes on the list that will definitely not be added are Neon Pseudochromis (sp.) and the Rainford's Goby. Everything I read about the Neon Pseudochromis makes them out to be little feisty terrors. :eek2:
So far everything is harmonizing and working, and my parameters have been super stable. I am looking for a Sixline Wrasse and a couple of shrimp next, but there's no hurry.
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Wendy
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Trust me, I know what you mean about tiny frags. I'm extremely happy to get a single polyp of some Zoanthids at times.
JerseyWendy
Premium Member
Update - Update - Update
Took a ride with a friend of mine today to a pretty big fish store. Of course I couldn't "just" look. Since I had sold one of my pricier spiders last Saturday I had some cash on me, but even luckier, they accepted my debit card AND the cash. :rollface: :rollface:
Here's what's new:
Orange Fungia (Plate Coral)
Hairy Mushroom:
Brain Coral:
And a whole tank shot:
I'm a very happy reefer.
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Wendy
Took a ride with a friend of mine today to a pretty big fish store. Of course I couldn't "just" look. Since I had sold one of my pricier spiders last Saturday I had some cash on me, but even luckier, they accepted my debit card AND the cash. :rollface: :rollface:
Here's what's new:
Orange Fungia (Plate Coral)
Hairy Mushroom:
Brain Coral:
And a whole tank shot:
I'm a very happy reefer.
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Wendy
