hatrix11
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2015
- Messages
- 117
- Reaction score
- 45
- What state or country do you live in
- Maryland
This is also an introduction so HI! I am currently almost 5 months in the hobby and I love it! Had a lot of ups and downs but here's where I am so far:
Parameters have been stable for months. In the beginning I had a tough time with Mag and Calc.
Calc: 430
dkh: 10
Mag: 1430
pH: 8.2
I dose B-ionic daily. As well as Mag (for some reason I go through a lot)
5 gallon water change every week. I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.
The current aquascape. I did a two hill kinda look. I think it will help keep the flow moving well. For flow I use the Jebao RW-8 they're great compared to the Hydor 750-850 I was using. I use a 6bulb t5 fixture cheapo brand. It works well and has a timer. I wanted to run LEDs but there is no way to hang them in the location the tank is in and I could not think of or find an attractive way to DIY something to fix that. In the tank I run a deep sand bed. I think it helps with the unforgiving dimensions of the 55 gallon. However, I had to seed it with macro fauna that I purchased online... at the time of setup I didn't know any one in the hobby and no LFS uses sand.
The left side I'm probably going to change somewhat.
The right side I'm completely happy with.
And now under the tank:
I use a JbJ auto topoff from a 5 gallon bucket I put kalkwasser in. I run the lamp and skimmer 24/7 however once I get another timer I think will run the lamp opposite my display lighting. My thank is not drilled I use a esshops overflow. Return pump is a Rio Plus 1400.
This pH meter is pretty cool. I still test for pH when I do my parameter testing, and if I need to adjust it somewhat I do so. Its just nice to see how pH changes during the day (and night).
Lots of copepods and aphapods in here. Chaeto is growing but its not a dark thick green its more of a light skinny some yellowy some dark. I've caught dino's growing in here recently but they're going away.
Chemipure and filter sock.
Skimmer working very well
And now some livestock. Just a little bit most everything is small and on frags. Also some things I didn't realize I could pop off plugs easily so I left them on. Still deciding on weather I want to pop them off or just let them encrust over.
Clams been doing great for a couple months. Lights are ramping down now and he gets a little floppy.
Two small RBTAs. Doing well but they haven't been in a week yet so wish me luck.
Acropora and my zoa-chilling blenny.
I actually don't know what the name of that euphillia coral is. Those red zoas get adgitated like that almost once a month then they sprout a new head and everything is fine. Weird.
I don't know if you can see it but that's a small xenia island.
Any feedback good or bad is welcome guys. There is a HUGE learning curve on first tanks, I found out the hard way, and there is a lot of things I would have done differently. But all and all I'm happy with what I have.
Coral growth is SLOW. No coral deaths so far at all. But growth is SLOW. The hammer I've had for almost 4 months and it still has not split. I DO target feed almost everything once or twice a week with a mixture of mysis, enriched brine, and crushed pellets.
Some things I've learned:
* acclimate fish as sensitively as you possibly can. 2-3 hours drip and lights off or low. (how I lost fish 1)
* do your research before you purchase livestock, some fish jump... you may need covers (how I lost fish 2).
* head or arm hair floating in display might be the most aggravating thing I've ever seen.... (since new wave makers I haven't seen much of that.)
* you can snap coral off of frags... its ok...
Parameters have been stable for months. In the beginning I had a tough time with Mag and Calc.
Calc: 430
dkh: 10
Mag: 1430
pH: 8.2
I dose B-ionic daily. As well as Mag (for some reason I go through a lot)
5 gallon water change every week. I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.
The current aquascape. I did a two hill kinda look. I think it will help keep the flow moving well. For flow I use the Jebao RW-8 they're great compared to the Hydor 750-850 I was using. I use a 6bulb t5 fixture cheapo brand. It works well and has a timer. I wanted to run LEDs but there is no way to hang them in the location the tank is in and I could not think of or find an attractive way to DIY something to fix that. In the tank I run a deep sand bed. I think it helps with the unforgiving dimensions of the 55 gallon. However, I had to seed it with macro fauna that I purchased online... at the time of setup I didn't know any one in the hobby and no LFS uses sand.
The left side I'm probably going to change somewhat.
The right side I'm completely happy with.
And now under the tank:
I use a JbJ auto topoff from a 5 gallon bucket I put kalkwasser in. I run the lamp and skimmer 24/7 however once I get another timer I think will run the lamp opposite my display lighting. My thank is not drilled I use a esshops overflow. Return pump is a Rio Plus 1400.
This pH meter is pretty cool. I still test for pH when I do my parameter testing, and if I need to adjust it somewhat I do so. Its just nice to see how pH changes during the day (and night).
Lots of copepods and aphapods in here. Chaeto is growing but its not a dark thick green its more of a light skinny some yellowy some dark. I've caught dino's growing in here recently but they're going away.
Chemipure and filter sock.
Skimmer working very well
And now some livestock. Just a little bit most everything is small and on frags. Also some things I didn't realize I could pop off plugs easily so I left them on. Still deciding on weather I want to pop them off or just let them encrust over.
Clams been doing great for a couple months. Lights are ramping down now and he gets a little floppy.
Two small RBTAs. Doing well but they haven't been in a week yet so wish me luck.
Acropora and my zoa-chilling blenny.
I actually don't know what the name of that euphillia coral is. Those red zoas get adgitated like that almost once a month then they sprout a new head and everything is fine. Weird.
I don't know if you can see it but that's a small xenia island.
Any feedback good or bad is welcome guys. There is a HUGE learning curve on first tanks, I found out the hard way, and there is a lot of things I would have done differently. But all and all I'm happy with what I have.
Coral growth is SLOW. No coral deaths so far at all. But growth is SLOW. The hammer I've had for almost 4 months and it still has not split. I DO target feed almost everything once or twice a week with a mixture of mysis, enriched brine, and crushed pellets.
Some things I've learned:
* acclimate fish as sensitively as you possibly can. 2-3 hours drip and lights off or low. (how I lost fish 1)
* do your research before you purchase livestock, some fish jump... you may need covers (how I lost fish 2).
* head or arm hair floating in display might be the most aggravating thing I've ever seen.... (since new wave makers I haven't seen much of that.)
* you can snap coral off of frags... its ok...
