Woohoo! Salt, sand, and rock in the tank...

[Ocicat]

I was beginning to think it'd never happen, but I'm about to start cycling my tank. Hallelujah!

Tank is about 2/3 full of SW - I am filling the sump in the basement and pumping it up.

I have 50# LR from Marine Solutions (really cool shapes!) and another 50# of base rock arriving today... I think I may add another 50# of LR this weekend to start the cycle all at once (vs adding more LR in a couple weeks) - but damn, that stuff is pricey.

Like a sucker I decided to go with live sand.... I know everyone says it's a waste of $$ but I like the sand itself better (Fiji Pink) than the dry sand I've seen in the LFSs, plus I'll only have about half the amount of LR most people recommend as a minimum for a 180, so the extra bacteria will be helpful.

I'll probably make a stop by Beldt's after work to look at their live rock.

I don't imagine I'll be ready to house any of the "door prizes" at the MS SEASL event, but it won't be long now.

 

[chadfarmer]

i dont believe it i need to see a pic of it

 

[Ocicat]

LOL - OK, I'll try to get one this evening.

 

[Dert42]

Re: Woohoo! Salt, sand, and rock in the tank...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7921896#post7921896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ocicat

I don't imagine I'll be ready to house any of the "door prizes" at the MS SEASL event

i'm sure someone would be willing to hold it for you!
don't be surprised if your rare zoos turn into xenia though.. hehe

 

[Fade]

You will be glad you bought real sand. Glad to hear that you got it going.

 

[stlouisguy]

Have you already bought the sand? Im going to have some live sand from Griss's tank when I move the rock and sand out end of the month

 

[levon15]

Not to hijack but I would like some of that sand. I dont think i will be needing all that you have but would definatly like some of it.

 

[Ocicat]

Thanks, FadetheMaid... :eek2:

Ya, stlouisguy, I already have the sand.

Chad, you probably won't believe me, but I can't take a picture because I cannot find the @&*%$ battery charger for my camera, and the battery I have is dead.
:mad2:

 

[latazyo]

excuses excuses

 

[Ocicat]

Got my lights! I bought three used ReefOptix III 250w DE pendants w/IceCap ballasts. They came with Phoenix 14k bulbs, but the bulbs are good for making sure the pendants work and that's about it - the seller told me they are about a year old.

I also added another 50# of (Haitian) live rock - that makes about 105# of live and 55# of base. That seems like enough for a good while, although I know eventually I'll probably need to add more.

And, now that I have lights, I can see that I have a major micro bubble problem. I'm not sure what is causing them, but I imagine the over-zealous Iwaki return pump is at least partly to blame... I have put nylon tights over both drain lines and also rigged something resembling baffles in the Rubbermaid sump, but it's made no difference.

I'm about to go buy a new battery charger for my camera so I can post pictures... It has to turn up, but I swear I've looked everywhere. :mad2:

 

[Ocicat]

Got a new battery charger.

The water is cloudy because of swarms of thousands of tiny, TINY white creatures that I'm told are pods.

The canopy is being repaired because it started warping (but the carpenter says it will be just fine!).

I have three lights, but I just stuck two up there on 2x4s while the canopy is being fixed - the bulbs are a year old, so I'm not sure whether they're giving me an accurate representation of what to expect from a Phoenix 14k.

 

[Kathy55g]

Nice rocks!

 

[JxMetal]

Ready to frag those rocks yet?

 

[levon15]

So will you be using the last ballast and light? I could use one if your not going to need it. Let me know

 

[Ocicat]

Yes, I'm using all three. I just put those two up there to get some light in the tank temporarily, until the canopy is repaired.