I didn't start this thread until a week after I filled the tank, so I'll catch you up on my journey through today.
Last year, I began seriously considering starting a tank. I'm not at all an impulse buyer, so it took a lot of day dreaming. After 4 months of looking at inspo pics and budgeting, I spoke to a friend who enthusiastically encouraged me- it was the push I needed.
As soon as I decided I was going to go for it, I dove into researching. Another 2-3 months of reading, learning, planning and finally...bought my Innovative Marine 50gal Lagoon. I kept gathering information and planning my build up until it arrived- just before I left on a long vacation
Spent my vacation doing more dreaming and planning so I can hit the ground running when I got home.
3.11.2024 - setting up
- confirmed the floor was level where I wanted it.
- built the stand (IM APS), it was pretty easy to build, and looks nice in the living room. My favorite thing is that there are doors on the front
and both sides.
Some say having it near a window isn't ideal, but I don't have a windowless option. Also, I like the idea of seeing natural sunlight hit the tank every now and then.
3.13.2024 - aquascaping
- Picked up 30lbs of live rock from Phil at KP Aquatics. Great service, beautiful rock - highly recommend.
I had previously decided I wanted to build an aquascape (bc I watched that BRS video - iykyk), so I already had 10lbs of Marco rock at home. I put the live rock in a 10gal holding tank and got to work.
I figured I'd build out the base structure with the Marco rock, then start adding the live rock. Everything I read assured me that as long as the live rocks were kept wet, it would be fine (It wasn't. I'll get to that) I had a large spray bottle with saltwater that I used to spray down them down as often as possible.
It was exciting to see all the life that hitchhiked its way to me - so many cool critters! They were exploring and there were taps and clicks coming from the tank.
I worked on the aquascape until I was satisfied - about 2-3 hrs. I had two structures with arches, caves, overhangs... the works. I was proud and tired as it was now close to midnight.
The mortar I used said to let it cure for 1-2hrs (it starts to work within 15mins, and will continue curing underwater for 24hrs). I stayed up watching a movie and spritzing the live rock every few mins. By the end of the movie, the mortar still seemed pretty wet
It had been almost 2 hours. I decided to let it set for another hour and more accurately target my spraying to let the mortar joints dry. I made myself some dinner and watched an episode of The Sopranos.
1.5 hours later, the mortar had dried a bit more but still seemed soft to the touch. It had been almost 4 hours now. I figured it is made to cure underwater, so this must be it. I decide nervously to try putting it in the holding tank. I carefully lifted the structure and it held. I lowered it into the water... and
there it went. Almost every joint came apart. I felt defeated, and decided I would put it all in the holding tank and get back to it in the morning. I did a 50% water change and went to bed.
3.14.2024 - tank is wet!
The next day- my birthday- I woke up to a dreadful sight. The tank was terribly cloudy, and the one star I saw didn't look well. I quickly pulled my stored salt water, rinsed the rocks off one by one, and put them into another container with the rest of the saltwater I had on hand. Many stars and crabs were already gone
Why didn't I just put my rocks in the tank and worry about aquascaping when things were stable?! I blame the BRS video.
I got to work making more salt water.
- Added the 10lbs of sand to the tank (Carib Sea Arag-alive Reef Sand)
- Filled with 20gal of saltwater, and moved the rock into the tank
Big ups to Python- I have a white rug.. I did not want any major spillage. Their No Spill system was a breeze to use, and thankfully didn't add any extra stress to my already angry tank filling.
a humbling day. It had been a crash course for tank set up, and underscored the need to be prepared. Even though I knew that as a newbie there would be mistakes, for some reason I thought I would fill the tank, add my lovely live aquascape, and there would be instant harmony..haha!
I threw an ammonia alert badge in the tank- we were in the clear. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I got ready for bed.
For what its worth: I was still having fun.
3.15.2024 - cycling
-Filled the last third of the tank
I got live rock hoping to not have a long cycle, and I guess that went out the window with the aquascaping disaster- the alert badge was reading toxic levels of ammonia.
I started testing the water with the API kit.
| temperature | 25 c |
| salinity | 40 ppt |
| pH | 8.4 |
| ammonia | 2 ppm |
| nitrite | 0.25 ppm |
| nitrate | 0 ppm |
3.16.2024 - I saw a large brittle star crawling out of a rock..something survived.
| temperature | 26.6 c |
| salinity | 37 ppt |
| pH | 7.4 |
| ammonia | 1 ppm |
| nitrite | 0.25 ppm |
3.17.2024- I heard tapping coming from the tank.
| temperature | 27.1 c |
| salinity | 35 ppt |
| pH | 8.2 |
| ammonia | 1 ppm |
| nitrite | 0 ppm |
3.18.2024- A crab! Life!
| temperature | 27 c |
| ammonia | 1 ppm |
| nitrite | 0 ppm |
- The ammonia alert badge in the tank has been reading < .05 ppm since 3.16, while the API test is saying 1ppm. I decided to test with Red Sea kit to confirm one or the other.
3.20.2024 - this morning
| temperature | 27 c |
| ammonia | 2 ppm |
| nitrite | 0.2 |
It doesn't matter how many times they tell you, sometimes you have to experience it for yourself-
PATIENCE is the name of the game.
-
