reeffreak
Reef pro
Very nice and clean Jb.
JB's Reef Tank
- Thread starter jb61264
- Start date
Bifferwine
I am a girl
Looks good. You might want to move the powerhead to the surface for best results. This will encourage lots of gas exchange between air and water.
LionFish
Resident Photoshopper
Wow lookin good,
what are the livestock plans,
what are the livestock plans,
About 45 lbs of live rock (and whatever might be hiding within) will be my first order of business. Want to get water in it tomorrow (need to figure out the best way to get about 50 gallons of RO/DI wanter.
After my system cycles with the live rock, I wil be adding another 30-40 lbs of additional live rock...probably wait a week to see if another cycle ensues and then will be ready to add my first inhabitant...Lawnmower Blenny.
Others have suggested that 4-5 smaller fish would be a good balance...so after the blenny, probably a purple firefish (or this other variation that someone suggested in another thread, it was very cool), not sure about a third yet, but my "centerpiece" fish will probably be either a coral beauty or flame angel...someone told me to look at a potters' angel as well.
Want to have a couple variations of shrimp, and whichever starfish that is coral friendly...I think someone said a sand starfish?...I added sand (had been considering glass bottom but my son begged me for sand) and want to have lots of "functional" critters that will keep it stirred up (small hermits, etc)
For cheap RO water look for local suppliers of bottled water for office use etc. They nearly always use RO water or a mixture of tap and RO water for their water cooler/dispensers. Producing it themselves makes it cheap as they do not pay shipping for water and by your furnishing containers they sell it the cheapest. About the cheapest plastic jugs you can get are usually at place where people cast and fire ceramics. They are 5 gallon collapsible jugs that they use for their slip (watery clay used for casting). Here in Alaska they charge $2 each for new jugs.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
Skip the sand sifting star in a tank that size -- it will starve to death. For reef safe starfish, your best bets are serpent and brittle stars. Don't add them too soon, as they are very sensitive to changes in water parameters (as are shrimp).
I actually have a bottled water supplier I use for my water at work but I didn't think that type of water would be good enough, it says it is only "distilled"...here is a link to the supplier: Planet Earth Distilled Drinking Water - PlanetEarthWater.com
I am going to run to WalMart and see if their camping section has any larger containers (suggested by Bifferwine)...I did find a local SuperSaver grocery store that has a huge RO/DI machine where I can buy water for $0.27/gallon...don't know if that is high or not...once I figure out the best way to get my tank filled, I'll be buying a RO/DI unit for my tap...don't think I'll need anything really "high volume" since I just will need to top off and occassionally water change 10% my tank after that
Awww...really?...thats a bummer, I was hoping I'd be able to keep a sand sifter :( guess I'll have to wait until I move up to a 120 some day :)
You know, I wondered about that...I do have it pointed up towards the surface if that counts for something...wanted to get a good cross sectional flow from the bottom corner of the tank to the top but I guess I'll have to get water in first to find the best arrangement...my goal today...WATER :)
roberttroy81
Ocean Fanatic
Your tank looks good.Great job on the plumbling.I like the way you made your returns to the tank.:Cheers:
Thanks for the compliment...I have to give credit where credit is due...fatman was "the man" in helping me with the plumbing...I would not have thought to design it like it turned out without his recommendations.
I'm actually filling it with water today :bounce::bounce::bounce:
I'm adding the water finally:
also a quick shot of the space I left behind the tank so I could easily work on it when needed (didn't want to have to rely only on front access via the tank stand)...enough space for me to easily undo the union ball valves if needed and reach comfortably into the sump/refugium...I left 10 1/2 inches between my wall and the back of the tank...I'll admit, I may have plans to add a more efficient skimmer from LifeReef and their specification called for a 8" footprint for one of their nice hangons.
also a quick shot of the space I left behind the tank so I could easily work on it when needed (didn't want to have to rely only on front access via the tank stand)...enough space for me to easily undo the union ball valves if needed and reach comfortably into the sump/refugium...I left 10 1/2 inches between my wall and the back of the tank...I'll admit, I may have plans to add a more efficient skimmer from LifeReef and their specification called for a 8" footprint for one of their nice hangons.
yote
In Memoriam
Its about time you got water in there.:mrgreen:
Its looking great.
Its looking great.
I don't know whose having more fun, me or my 11 year old son who helped me mix all the saltwater today and is just fascinated by how the whole water system works...he's really excited to get some inhabitants in the tank but we've actually sat down and I explained the necessity of completing the nitrogen cycle (what it is, why it happens, etc.)...again, he was fascinated by this...I never realized what a great bonding opportunity this is going to be and also an incredible learning opportunity for him as well.
I think I may have undersized my "in-the-tank" Koralia pump...I have it located at the bottom corner pointing up towards the top and it provides some very gentle wavy ripples and circulation but not "alot"...I guess I don't know how I should gauge if enough circulation is enough in the tank
I think I may have undersized my "in-the-tank" Koralia pump...I have it located at the bottom corner pointing up towards the top and it provides some very gentle wavy ripples and circulation but not "alot"...I guess I don't know how I should gauge if enough circulation is enough in the tank
You will have more than adequate exchange of gases as is, what with Sump and skimmer, plus your rippling surface. It will be a while before you have any major differences between your daytime and night time pH levels and they are best dealt with in other ways (like Kalkwasser drips, and refugium with night cycle lighting), and your skimmer is going to oxygenate your water better than a large surface ripple will ever do. You are not running hot halides so evaporative cooling should not really be needed. Use your power head pump mainly in a manner to put flow in spots that your return lines seem not to be hitting well. Spots with bad circulation will be where the filth and therefore algae appear.
yote
In Memoriam
Kids seem to love aquatic life.My 9 and 4 year olds both love to help when I'm working on my tank.And Austin ( the 9 year old) loves to look up the fish and corals.
If my tank will give the kids a desire to stay in school,then'I'll spend every last penny I can get my hands on for the tank.
If my tank will give the kids a desire to stay in school,then'I'll spend every last penny I can get my hands on for the tank.
Here are some shots...officially four hours after turning on the pumps...still cloudy but I see some slight improvements over the last four hours.
Happy to report that I think I have some great great flow through my system...the returns are really pouring it out and my Koralia 2 adds some nice circulation to enhance the flow throughout the tank.
Happy to report that I think I have some great great flow through my system...the returns are really pouring it out and my Koralia 2 adds some nice circulation to enhance the flow throughout the tank.
yote
In Memoriam
By this time tomorrow,it should be just about cleared up.
yote
In Memoriam
Just remember to either get rid of or rinse that pre-filter sponge pretty regular.Those things tend to get nasty and can cause high nitrates if there not properly maintained.
