GK - 29 Gallon Build Thread

[GK3]

Yeah that sounds about right, I go thru probably 2.5 gallons in my 17 gallon in 3 days. As long as it's operating correctly, as in, your float or switch isn't stuck or malfunctioning and your supply hose from the ATO reservoir isn't siphoning water back out and water isn't leaking out of your tank, lol, it sounds like everything is going smooth. Evaporation is also very important bc it helps with gas exchange.

One problem this made me find was the water did start back siphoning once the reservoir level got low enough. Good call. ATO is still running frequently but from some research it is apparently normal.

 

[GK3]

Looks great man! I plan on using that technique to scape my 80 gallon, where'd you get the acrylic rods?

Amazon. There are lots of different diameters and they are super cheap. Depending on the rock though, you have to be super careful drilling. Some will just crumble instead of letting you drill a hole.

 

[GK3]

Selling a Neptune Apex VDM for $90. Local to central Florida only.
https://orlando.craigslist.org/ele/6114110702.html

 

[GK3]

Got diatoms on the sand:

Also, starting to see the ammonia move to safe levels.

Questions:

When should I add snails?

When should I add macro algae to my refuge?

When will skimmer finally be broken in and not just fill up with water all the time? It's on the lowest setting and in the exact depth recommended by the manufacturer.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Well I was hoping someone else would chime in so you didn't think I was hogging all the questions. But I've waited as long as I could!

I would say diatoms starting on the sand bed is a good sign of the algae bloom you'll soon face. Good news is, you can start to add snails now! Some Ceriths sound good!
As far as the macro algae goes, go ahead and add it too, check your nitrates and phosphates, you'll definitely want to have nutrients to feed the algae.
Lol your skimmer will skim when it has something to skim! Right now the water is relatively "clean".

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Well I was hoping someone else would chime in so you didn't think I was hogging all the questions. But I've waited as long as I could!

I would say diatoms starting on the sand bed is a good sign of the algae bloom you'll soon face. Good news is, you can start to add snails now! Some Ceriths sound good!
As far as the macro algae goes, go ahead and add it too, check your nitrates and phosphates, you'll definitely want to have nutrients to feed the algae.
Lol your skimmer will skim when it has something to skim! Right now the water is relatively "clean".

Agreed!

 

[GK3]

Thanks for the input. On the skimmer, does dosing with micro bacteria make them foam? I ask cause the skimmer was running normal, not skimming much as you suggested, but now it just foams over the top like crazy. It's not really dirty water it collects either.

 

[GK3]

Ammonia is in the safe level. Also moved one of the rocks. Diatom spots are popping up all over. Will dose a second time with ammonia tomorrow.

 

[GK3]

Patches of diatoms all over the place. Also dosed ammonia and brought levels to alarm, then a few hours later added more to take it up to toxic. We will see how quickly it falls back down this time.

 

[GK3]

 

[GK3]

Second ammonia cycle is done. Tested water today and nitrites and nitrates are through the roof. I'll let nitrites settle and then do a water change.
I also finished the upper shelf and added some macro algae.
Set up a nano tank for the girlfriend today. Had some left over sand (2 lbs or so) so I added it to my tank. That's why the water is so cloudy. It was live sand so I didn't want to waste it.

 

[GK3]

Anyone looking to sell an Apex display, PM. I am looking for one.

 

[GK3]

Ammonia is gone, nitrites are next to nothing and nitrates are low.

Added a starting clean up crew. Will probably add a few more when I get fish.

Also built a blockade for my refuge so I can put a snail in to keep it clean. Also added a solid wall to block the light so stuff isn't growing elsewhere in the sump.

Also added two mangroves.

Lastly, I ran 10 gallons of overflow from skimmer down the drain. Just keeps overflowing water. Now the level is low but it's creating crazy micro bubbles. Looks like it's still breaking in.

 

[GK3]

Nitrates spiked so holding off on fish until things stabilize.

 

[GK3]

Nitrites are gone. Nitrates are high. I added some carbon to the sump. Hopefully the nitrates drop soon so I can add some livestock.

 

[GK3]

Still having trouble with nitrates. I can't figure out what the source would be as I have nothing other than a clean up crew. Just did a 40% water change. Hopefully that gets them low enough that my fuge can handle the rest.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Try dosing Microbacter7

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Try not to be too impatient though, from what I remember it's only been like a month since you got it wet right? What kind of rock did you use? Was it the Haitian stuff? Or pukani? Pukani usually takes a while to cycle

 

[GK3]

Try not to be too impatient though, from what I remember it's only been like a month since you got it wet right? What kind of rock did you use? Was it the Haitian stuff? Or pukani? Pukani usually takes a while to cycle

I started it on 4/25. Did 30 lbs of live rock, 30 lbs of live sand, and running macro algae in the refugium. I know, I am being patient, but the science of it doesn't make sense. I need a source of ammonia for nitrates to show up. From I can tell, I don't have one. I am also running carbon in the sump. All water tests show 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. I'll keep waiting but just seems odd to me.

 

[GK3]

Try dosing Microbacter7

Already dosing bacteria.