What do you think of my BB tank?

[smokez01]

tagging along also

very nice tank, i am in the proces of reasearching for a new 75, this is giving me a whole lot of inspiration. i just cant seem to be 100% onto the BB thing, it looks great, but i dont know how i will like it if its in my house

 

[NoSchwag]

Updates

Updates

I wish I had more to update..

I moved the sump behind the wall. I probably should have painted the room BEFORE I moved the sump in there. Oh well, I guess I'll get a tarp or something.

My sump is set up damn near perfect. I get all of the water for my skimmer from the first chamber, dump it into the second chamber, and my return is in the 3rd. I only wish I made the 3rd compartment bigger but I can always do that later

I like this set up a lot and will be drilling the sump for the skimmer and return when I get back from Florida. I will also be making a cabinet for all of my stuff.

I went to a reef meeting and got all of this stuff last week. I tripled my bio load

3 of these guys..

a green digi

a purple one

a blue tipped acro

This was my favorite addition..

I have some candy canes too but don't have a pic yet.

And here's the full tank shot...

You can see I have a ton of hair algae on the front rock and on the overflow My snails just found the rock and they have been on it. I hope they take care of it.

Also the snails poop an unbelievable amount. After I use the turkey baster on the rocks, there is a huge pile swirling around on the starboard. At least I know they're not starving.

I need to come up with a better method for cleaning the rocks and siphoning. It seems like alot of it settles back onto the rocks plus I hate sticking my hands in the tank.. I am thinking a maxijet 1100 zip tied to a piece of PVC. and adding a seio to the tank for more "flow"

But other then that everything has been smooth.

 

[NoSchwag]

oh and I got rid of the xenia. I touched it and a purple puff of stuff came off. It didn't sit well with me so I yanked it.

 

[Chrisrush]

I like that blue tipped acro, very nice. How long has your tank been up? Cardinals are great SPS fish, I've got two PJ cardinals.

Chris

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Don't feel bad - that's definitely not a ton of hair algae! I'm sure there are plenty of other folks who'd be happy to have that little.

Nice additions. Be careful with the Banggais, from what I understand they prefer to be kept in pairs. There may be some aggression, just FYI.

 

[NoSchwag]

I like that blue tipped acro, very nice. How long has your tank been up? Cardinals are great SPS fish, I've got two PJ cardinals.

Chris

About 2 months now..

I will be getting a lot more acros in the coming weeks

I'm glad because basically all of my hardware is done. All I need now is a calcium reactor, auto top-off, and moonlights. It's a lot easier to justify coral to my girl than the hardware.

 

[NoSchwag]

Don't feel bad - that's definitely not a ton of hair algae! I'm sure there are plenty of other folks who'd be happy to have that little.

Nice additions. Be careful with the Banggais, from what I understand they prefer to be kept in pairs. There may be some aggression, just FYI.

Does hair algae go away on it's own after it exhausts all of it's nutrients??

I noticed the 2 cardinals hang out and 1 is always by itself. I'm going to try to find a home for it.

 

[Floridiot]

Does hair algae go away on it's own after it exhausts all of it's nutrients??

Odds are that it will go away on its own. I'm glad to see you're doing your homework, because you're definitely on the right track. I really like your Heniochus diphreutes too.

Personally, I won't place corals in a system that hasn't been established for at least a few months with the full bioload. Tanks take a few months to stabilize. My recommendation FWIW to you is to slowly continue adding your fish until you're satisfied with the fish bioload. If the algae starts spreading, reduce your photoperiod until your bacteria levels get up to speed. This can save you a few bucks in electricity too.

Keep your skimmer cranking and keep the detritus siphoned. After a couple of months with a full fish bioload, you can start increasing the photoperiod. In the meantime, your corals should be fine with only a couple of hours of light per day. They may darken up a bit and not grow much, but they should survive fine. I know you're anxious to add more corals, but patience pays.

Once your system is stable for a couple of months with full photoperiod, adding corals only benefits it. The corals actually consume fish waste. At that point, you can add as many corals as your wallet will allow.

Another option is to get some Chaeto and put it in your sump. You can normally get some on the selling forum for $10 to $15 delivered. Snap on a $6 lightfixture from Walmart and a $9 Sunlight supply bulb, and you are set. The chaeto does three things: It will consume undesirable nutrients including phosphates, it will help keep your pH constant if you illuminate it at night, and it will provide a source of food for any pods you might have.

 

[NoSchwag]

Odds are that it will go away on its own. I'm glad to see you're doing your homework, because you're definitely on the right track. I really like your Heniochus diphreutes too.

Thanks... The Heniochus is gone.. I caught him taking shots at the snails.

Personally, I won't place corals in a system that hasn't been established for at least a few months with the full bioload. Tanks take a few months to stabilize. My recommendation FWIW to you is to slowly continue adding your fish until you're satisfied with the fish bioload. If the algae starts spreading, reduce your photoperiod until your bacteria levels get up to speed. This can save you a few bucks in electricity too.

One of my cardinals died today, I have no idea why. Do fish just die sometimes for no reason?? Honestly, I don't think I'm adding any more fish. It bothered me to see it suffering. I would rather a tank full of coral.

So now I have 2 cleaner shrimp, an urchin, 2 cardinals, a clown, and like 2 million snails. Do you still think I should still cut my lighting down?

The blue tipped acro that I had a picture of a few posts back, is starting to lighten up. The polyps aren't even coming out anymore. another I don't know what to do. I had my hands in the tank all day today epoxying the rocks, maybe this is why the polyps are staying in and my cardinal died???

Another acro I had completely bleached on me, and another one is turning white from the base up.

This is all really a let down so far. I don't know what made me think I could just add anything I wanted. I really researched setting this tank up.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

When I was first getting started, a friend of mine who helped school me related this anecdotal guideline for adding SPS to your tank: you should wait until you have dime-sized spots of coralline on your back glass. The logic is that it indicates the continued stability of your water chemistry and the presence of calcium.

Losses suck, especially your first ones. Lots of fish tend to die. Was it the solo fish or one of the pair? If it was the solo, don't count aggression out. If one of the pair, maybe the third wheel will buddy up with the remaining one.

Hold off on coral purchases until your tank is a bit more mature. In the interim, get a calcium reactor and tune it in. Once your coralline and montiporas start taking off, it's time.

Hang in there. You've done a very commendable job setting up your system. There are a few things you have to learn the hard way.

 

[NoSchwag]

I think need more flow in there to keep snail poop from settling on the rock.

Right now I have an up and over for intake of my return pump, thats 3 - 90's. If I drill the tank I knock that down to 1 - 90.

I wonder if by reducing 90's on the intake side, will that give me more "umph" to the penductors?

 

[NoSchwag]

It was actually the biggest one monkey, one of the pair. I'm hoping they do pair up. Seems like the only time they chill next to each other is when I stick my arm in the tank.

 

[Floridiot]

So now I have 2 cleaner shrimp, an urchin, 2 cardinals, a clown, and like 2 million snails. Do you still think I should still cut my lighting down?

Only if your hair algae starts spreading. If it stays the same or recedes, don't mess with it.

You'll probably want more fish in the future, so get them in there first. Your original suggestions as far as fish go sounded pretty good. Reefermonkey had a good suggestion on the coralline spots letting you know that your tank is ready.

As far as increasing the flow, I'd highly recommend a stream or two. I'm putting a pair of 6080's in my 150 gal along with my 6210 wavebox. The 6080s only draw 17W each and they move some serious water.

On my own tank, I just finished putting the live rock in. Next week I'm hooking up my Ca reactor, and I'll be adding fish over the next two months. I don't plan on purchasing my first coral until at least Jan/Feb (which is actually a bit optimistic on my part).

Patience pays.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Hey Floridiot,

Not to derail, but nice aquascaping. Got a thread for your tank? I have a suggestion

 

[Floridiot]

Thanks for the aquascaping compliment. No thread on my tank yet, I figured I'd wait until it is coral time.

I'm open to suggestions though. If it is about aquascaping, post here (I have a post on page 32): http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=278214

otherwise PM me. I don't want to hijack NoSchwag's thread.

 

[Weatherman]

Now, repeat after meââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦

Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦


Thereââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a reason why, in my suggested setup for bare-bottom tanks, I recommend that all the work in setting up plumbing, skimmers, top-off methods, photoperiod, calcium and alk maintenance be accomplished during the rock-cooking phase. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s so, after the rocks are cooked, you keep your frickinââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ hands out of the tank.

There's nothing special about waiting six months or twelve months before you add acros. What matters is the ability to maintain stable conditions (whenever that happens to be).

There are always going to be animals, which die for no apparent reason. My most recent deaths were three damsels of all things (by the way, the four that survived are just as evil as they can be).

I think youââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢re doing an excellent job maintaining this tank. But, you have to be very careful to not love your tank to death by constantly tinkering around with it. Leave it alone and let it evolve by itself for a while.

 

[NoSchwag]

^^^ Don't you have some evacuating to be doing

okay...

Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
Stability produces successââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦


I figure that is one of my problems, I can't leave my tank alone. I epoxied my rocks so the only things I should have to do in my tank is blow the rocks off and siphon.

Thanks for the support.

I know about the corals being able to be put right in the tank, but what about adding fish? I've read that I have to wait until the bio load evens out or something every time I add something. Is this true in my case?

I could have sworn I cooked the rocks enough, but there is more and more hair algae popping up. I guess the only thing to do is ride it out and see what happens.. It's not really THAT bad, but I do notice it in more places. That urchin does a helluva job getting rid of it, maybe I should get another..

 

[Weatherman]

Fish are, actually, much more tolerant of rapid change than coral.

But, in spite of that, my approach has always been to go very slow (some people might say too slow). But, except for those three damsels (which, I think were murdered by the other four), and a Copperband Butterfly, which ate all the aiptasia in my 155, and then refused to eat anything else, I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t lost a single fish in over 2 Ã"šÃ‚½ years.

I add a fish, wait for two or three weeks, then add another. I do the same with coral. Sometimes, when Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m stocking a tank I may wait a couple of months between additions.


As for the algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦a little bit is okââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ and it doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t mean youââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢re negligent in your prep work or maintenance, as long as it doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t get out of control. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve got a little red stuff and a little brown stuff in my 120. They are, apparently, a couple of species, which thrive in low-nutrient conditions. Nothing eats it, so I remove it by hand. Urchins, except for being bulldozers, are good things to have.

By the wayââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ Wilma is looking a little ragged this evening, so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not too concerned about the storm causing severe damage, unless it really gets its act together over the next 48 hours. On the beach, from Naples up to Sarasota, will be the most dangerous place to be Sunday night and Monday.

 

[NoSchwag]

My mom actually has stragglers from Naples at her house this fine evening..

For some sort of record the levels in my tank tonight 1 hr after lights out are:

Ph 8.0
Mg 1260
Ca 400
KH 3.54

 

[10" Red Devil]

Fish are, actually, much more tolerant of rapid change than coral.

But, in spite of that, my approach has always been to go very slow (some people might say too slow). But, except for those three damsels (which, I think were murdered by the other four), and a Copperband Butterfly, which ate all the aiptasia in my 155, and then refused to eat anything else, I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t lost a single fish in over 2 Ã"šÃ‚½ years.

I add a fish, wait for two or three weeks, then add another. I do the same with coral. Sometimes, when Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m stocking a tank I may wait a couple of months between additions.

So Im not sure but it looks like you do not follow a standard month long quaranteen period? How do you get away with this?

Thanks.