Short and sweet, my 24 gallon nano

Well, When I received the live rock, it had critters all over it, mostly snails and a couple crabs. Also, this is my 3rd time setting a tank up the exact same way, I have yet to have this way of doing things fail. Also, you have to remember, I have a skimmer powerful enough for up to a 75 gallon tank skimming 20 gallons(or less after all the rock added) of water. This along with water changes should be fine. I'll post some pics and parameters later.

Also, I bought precured rock from a local store. It wasn't fresh out of the ocean. And the sand I used was arragalive.

Amanda
 
Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!

Amanda,
Great to see you have started a thread to cover your new tank. Many will learn a lot following along! I know I always do.
John
(p.s. hope family is doing good...I can't believe it's been a year since you shut down the 75)
 
John, great to see you too!!!!!!!!!!


OK, now that the lights are off, and I'm peaking in the tank, this is what I have found for hitchhikers so far....

Tons of brittle stars, some huge(like 3 inches) and some tiny
Tons of mini coco worms(red)
Tons of tube worms(brown)
Isopods(not sure if the good kind or the bad), they have been grazing on the live rock
Some type of porcelin crab/filter feeding crab he is tiny and grey
Some kind of coral, hard bony skeleton with sweepers


Also, my mysid and detrivore bugs are doing great! They are everywhere.
All my blue and red legged crabs are munching away at the rock
I didn't get a chance to test tonight, however, I did a 2 1/2 gallon water change. Thskimmer is pulling lots of skimmate out and the temp is 78 degrees and SG is 1.026.

Here are a couple pics. Dummy me took pics after turkey basting the debreis off the rocks, not a good idea! Kinda cloudy.

2-3-05016Small.jpg


2-3-05017Small.jpg


2-3-05012Small.jpg


2-3-05019Small.jpg


2-3-05020Small.jpg



Amanda
 
Wow! Nice pics!

That rock looks fantastic! I wish I had some of that! Maybe I could come by and go to Moby Dicks? Lol.... some day!

Keep up the good work!
 
Well, I tested my parameters and the tank is definetly cycling! LOL

Tank- 2 days old
Temp- 78 degrees
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 1 (H)
Nitrate- 25(H)
Phosphate- 1 (H)
KH- 12 (H)
Alk- 4.57 (H)
CA- 400
PH- 7.8 (L)


WOW, some high numbers there! I'll be doing a small water change tomorrow, 2.5 gallons, and I'll probably test again in a week.
The water is now clear, there are still some micro bubbles, but not bad at all. All critters seem to be doing great despite the water quality. I found a small(1/4 inch) mantis. I'll have to make a trap. Otherwise, things are going well. The color on the rock is still awesome, although I'm getting some die off of sponge.
 
Sounds good.

Weird how you ammonia is at 0 and your nitrites and trates are up. Seems like it will be a short cycle. Mine was a week long:)

What are you going to do with the mantis? VERY neat creatures. I had one for awhile.

Good luck.
 
Jordo, I will try to catch him with the inverted bottle, however, it's sooooo tiny, I don't know that it will work. He's not a threat at this point, so I'm not too concerned.
 
The invert bottle never worked for me.

I found out what rock he was living in and dipped it in RO water. Didn't come out. Then high salinity. Didn't come out. Then low salinity. Didn't come out. Finally, I cracked open the rock and put him in RO water UNTILL he came out. I did not care how long it took or if he died. Luckily for him, he came out in a minute and I set up a little 5 gallon for him.

Good luck!
 
Well, it's parameter day again. I'll be checking them after the lights come on and are on for a couple hours. I love this set up! Everything about it! I love my lights, skimmer, timers, everything! I love my aquascaping, it's really coming along nicely. The water is crystal clear now, the micro bubbles are almost all gone(new skimmer break in bubbles) and if my parameters check out, I'll be buying something live soon. That's all for now. In a couple hours I'll post my parameters and some new pics!!!


Amanda
 
OK, here we go! Cycle is almost complete!!!

SG 1.026
Phosphate .5
PH 8.0
KH 11.2
ALK 4.00
CA 390
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
RO water 33 PPM

The only thing that is really bugging me are these darn micro bubbles!!! I know with time they will disappear, but for now, they are driving me nuts!

I have the opportunity to get a tiny_1-2 inch RBTA, so I"m going to get it. Other than the micro bubbles, my tank is perfect.

Here are some pics from this morning...

2-7-06031Small.jpg


2-7-06033Small.jpg


2-7-06035Small.jpg


Amanda
 
BTW, MH is new to me, and I don't know how to take pics in my tank and get the true color of things, everythin glooks blue. DO I have to turn th eMH off to take good pics?


Amanda
 
adjust the exposure time on your camera to take in less light. you could also mess around with the white balance. that usually does it for me.
 
Looking good Amanda! I like your aquascaping a lot! The little over hang.... perfect place for corals all over!

Check your white balance on your camera... that should take care of the blue.

How is the fuge light working out?
 
George, you silly goose - you didn't tell me about this thread...nor any of these awesome pics!!! It's looking great so far! Maybe I can send you some frags from my 50g once the tank is stable? :D

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6685696#post6685696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AEALOVESHERGIRLS
BTW, MH is new to me, and I don't know how to take pics in my tank and get the true color of things, everythin glooks blue. DO I have to turn th eMH off to take good pics?
Click to expand...
Check out my response in the photography forum. :)
 
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