Would appreciate some feedback...

[Frostyfish]

I use kent salt. I was using instant ocean before and since switching algae has become less prevalent

 

[MotivatedReefer]

Here's some good info on salt
http://web.archive.org/web/20001215...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp

Thank you! This is some really good info!

 

[Frostyfish]

I use kent and like it more than instant ocean. This is a great source of info http://web.archive.org/web/20001215...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp

 

[MotivatedReefer]

Got the doors on..... The stain on the face is a little lighter, wish I would have coated it a little thicker, but overall for my first attempt at any sort of carpentry, I am happy with the results.

 

[MotivatedReefer]

The wife decided they needed handles so they were added as well.

 

[Stolireef]

. That looks great. Nice work.

 

[MotivatedReefer]

. That looks great. Nice work.

Thank you! I appreciate it! I can see all the little flaws and its killing me lol. Wife is happy, so that's what's important.

 

[MotivatedReefer]

So how does everyone purchase their corals and fish? Do you go to your LFS, online, or club members?

 

[tylr9m482]

I have about 4 different LFS within an hour of me. I have visited multiple times and I use one for corals, one for fish/inverts, another for coral frags. I can't speak on buying online or from club members because I have gotten everything from my LFS but I hear very good things about liveaquaria/divers den.

 

[Stolireef]

All of the above. Just go very slow, research you're purchases and the sellers.

 

[MotivatedReefer]

All of the above. Just go very slow, research you're purchases and the sellers.

Yeah, I am probably still realistically almost 1 month away from adding any livestock. Just figured I would ask. I probably will only be getting stuff from my club members as well as my lfs.

 

[Stolireef]

Check out Dr's Foster's and Smith Divers Den for fish.

 

[Rawrsean]

I haven't seen anyone mention this, but you said you're using live sand from someone else's tank? This is cause for concern, for me, because a lot of things die when you move sand, and that usually causes the sand bed to become toxic, if it isn't already, which will lead to a never ending nitrate problem almost immediately. If I were you, I'd look into going with fresh live sand.

 

[MotivatedReefer]

I haven't seen anyone mention this, but you said you're using live sand from someone else's tank? This is cause for concern, for me, because a lot of things die when you move sand, and that usually causes the sand bed to become toxic, if it isn't already, which will lead to a never ending nitrate problem almost immediately. If I were you, I'd look into going with fresh live sand.

That is very interesting! I never even thought about it even though I read all the time that sand got mixed up in the tank or sump and everything died.

Is there a way to test if the sand is toxic?

 

[ReefClownMIA]

Hey Folks.
I'm Erik's friend that help him build the stand and am building the sump. Unfortunately I blew out my knee last week, so standing on it and lifting sheets of acrylic isn't a whole lot of fun, or doctor recommended.
The game plan is still to finish building the sump this week, maybe tomorrow for the base layout.

Erik - did you get the $5 off from BRS? Did you order the skimmer? Let me know if that's the skimmer you're going with, and we'll make sure to leave enough room+some buffer for it.

 

[ReefClownMIA]

That is very interesting! I never even thought about it even though I read all the time that sand got mixed up in the tank or sump and everything died.

Is there a way to test if the sand is toxic?

The sand will be fine - it'll be washed with salt water to clean some of the detritus before adding to his tank. Yes, it's likely to hit a small spike from it, but he's not looking to add livestock that day. The sand was from a tank approx 6mo.

 

[ReefClownMIA]

Are we still going to be blacking out the rear panel?

 

[MotivatedReefer]

Looks like shipping is going to take longer than I anticipated so I will not be able to fill the tank until next weekend... I guess slow is good...

 

[MotivatedReefer]

SO I finally have water and rock into the tank. Here are some pictures of my rock scaping. Any feedback would be appreciated since this is my first time ever having a tank period.

 

[whiteshark]

IMO it just looks like a straight, perfectly centered, stacked wall of rock. Personally in a tank like this I would have two piles of rock separated by sand. I'd have one on the right that would be about two to three times the size of the one on the left, and it would take up about half of the bottom of the tank. The right side of the right pile would start about 3 inches from the right side glass and about 3 inches from the front glass. The pile would go towards the back of the tank quickly increasing in height until you get to about 3 inches from the back of the tank, then gradually lowering in height as it moves left and back towards the front of the tank. I would finish the right pile about 5 inches from the front of the tank.

The second pile would have a gap of about 4-6 inches between it and the first. It would just be a pile, no special shape. I would make it a few inches shorter than the tallest point on the other pile.

For a really bad graphical representation, see the attached 5 second paint job which would be a top down of kinda what I'm talking about. Unfortunately height is not represented.

Of course you could go any direction here. I feel like this design sorta lends itself to these tanks. But it's just my opinion.