Jeff's 150 Build - The Salt Box
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TJ's Reef
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Really starting to come together now Jeff, this next year or so will just be a blur of activity acquiring Fish and Coral and dialing everything in. Then you'll be in my shoes thinking "Boy, I'd love to add that beautiful piece of Coral but would take me an hour of shuffling things around just to make room for it"
Shoot me a pm when you think you're ready for a few hardy SPS starts bud.
Cheers, Todd
Shoot me a pm when you think you're ready for a few hardy SPS starts bud.
Cheers, Todd
OP
OP
At this point I'm sure that either the new filter sock, or the foam block, was dirty, or oily, or something. I definitely have a surface tension problem. Rather than mess with it however, I'm just going to wait the last bit of nitrite out, and do a big water change; my first one, and hope that that changes things a little. My pH is a little low, and I've opened up the windows in the house and opened the cabinet to increase the fresh air. Would a low pH, say 7.8, affect the skimmate? Maybe I should add some kalk with my top off until I dial my calcium reactor in? Don't want to add to the equation too soon however.
Thanks! I sincerely appreciate that.
You bet I will! I was thinking, a little nervously actually, that I'd at least better make sure I can maintain some stability in parameters first, get a weekly or bi-weekly water change regime down, a pattern, a habit, before I take on something I know I will really really care about. It would kill me to accept your generous offer, then promptly kill it. I still have some nitrite, but the diatoms, algae and I think a little bit of cyano are establishing themselves. I've added two scarlet hermits and a blue sapphire damsel, for a source of ammonia besides the piece of shrimp. My lfs gave me some chips of coraline, and there was a tiny brittle star in the bag. So, I have four living creatures! They are doing very well (although I have not seen the star since I put it in, and don't expect to). A couple more weeks I think, and I may be brave enough to send that PM!! Plus, I for sure want to be prepared to drip acclimate, and I'm not there yet. Again, you are very generous!
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Thanks! I'm honored. :bigsmile:
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OP
OP
Finally installed my GFCI, and got the second power strip going. Am able to drive my LED fixture on its own circuit now, and they likewise go off completely at the end of their daily program. (They were staying lit when on the power strip, and I was having to manually power them up and down each day - the result of a little stray current I think)
Nitrites have finally hit 0! Yea! As I was expecting, they dropped like a rock, peaking about two days ago, and 0 over the course of about a day and a half. The image herein shows my nitrite curve. The limits of the PAI test is obvious, but no matter. Twenty-four days total initial cycle time. Nitrate now at 2ppm and PO4 at .36. I have to leave town for a week and will do my first large water change upon my return, and focus on a CUC. Algae is increasing nicely. (Need to raise my pH a little, I know.)
Preparing a stocking list for a post here on R2R, in hopes of a little help in compatibility and sequence.
Excited!
Nitrites have finally hit 0! Yea! As I was expecting, they dropped like a rock, peaking about two days ago, and 0 over the course of about a day and a half. The image herein shows my nitrite curve. The limits of the PAI test is obvious, but no matter. Twenty-four days total initial cycle time. Nitrate now at 2ppm and PO4 at .36. I have to leave town for a week and will do my first large water change upon my return, and focus on a CUC. Algae is increasing nicely. (Need to raise my pH a little, I know.)
Preparing a stocking list for a post here on R2R, in hopes of a little help in compatibility and sequence.
Excited!
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cmaxwell39
Valuable Member
Congratulations. Now for the exciting part, getting a little life in the tank. Can't wait to see your potential stock list for the tank.
Bluesaltwater87
Active Member
Sweet tank
OP
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Here’s a rough stocking list (be gentle). I really need help identifying incompatibilities, and, I need an order. Tank is five foot long, 24†deep, 28†front to back – 150g. System has 60g sump, including a 25g refugium and a 6†DSB. I'm sure there'll be more, impulse buys probably, but this is a very rough plan.
CUC
2 Scarlet Hermits – already in tank
2 Emerald Crabs – already in tank
Cerith snails
2 Blue Knuckle Hermit
Tiny brittle stars - just dig em
Other Inverts
2 Fire Shrimp – MUST HAVE
2 Halloween crabs – hear they may nip corals, but really like them.
Sexy Shrimp
Maxima Clam – Curios if they can thrive under LED’s.
Fish
1 Blue Sapphire Damsel – already in tank
2 Red headed goby
1 Midas Blenny – MUST HAVE
1 Orchid Dottyback
1 Ranfordi Goby - MUST HAVE - will wait on the fuge to mature
1 Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish
1 Desjardini Sailfin Tang – see multiple zebrasoma’s in tanks all the time, but…..
1 Purple Tang – MUST HAVE
1 Starry Blenny
1 Black Clownfish
1 Carmel Clownfish
Flame Wrasse’s – MUST HAVE
Blue Mandarin – long term, once the fuge is mature.
Coral gobies – I like the citron’s
Corals
Zoa’s
Ricordia Yuma
Sympodium
Cactus Leather
Any and all Euphyllia
SPS – I like them all, but especially birdsnest.
Sun Coral – MUST HAVE
Macro Algae
Caulerpa serrulata – Already in the refugium
Red Gracilaria
Agardhiella
Ulva
Blue Ochtodes
Dead Man’s Fingers
Decided against…
Sunrise Dottyback – incompatible with Orchid Dottyback
Potters angel – not reef safe
Maroon Clown – favorite of all clowns, but my wife has dibs on the two Ocellarus
CUC
2 Scarlet Hermits – already in tank
2 Emerald Crabs – already in tank
Cerith snails
2 Blue Knuckle Hermit
Tiny brittle stars - just dig em
Other Inverts
2 Fire Shrimp – MUST HAVE
2 Halloween crabs – hear they may nip corals, but really like them.
Sexy Shrimp
Maxima Clam – Curios if they can thrive under LED’s.
Fish
1 Blue Sapphire Damsel – already in tank
2 Red headed goby
1 Midas Blenny – MUST HAVE
1 Orchid Dottyback
1 Ranfordi Goby - MUST HAVE - will wait on the fuge to mature
1 Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish
1 Desjardini Sailfin Tang – see multiple zebrasoma’s in tanks all the time, but…..
1 Purple Tang – MUST HAVE
1 Starry Blenny
1 Black Clownfish
1 Carmel Clownfish
Flame Wrasse’s – MUST HAVE
Blue Mandarin – long term, once the fuge is mature.
Coral gobies – I like the citron’s
Corals
Zoa’s
Ricordia Yuma
Sympodium
Cactus Leather
Any and all Euphyllia
SPS – I like them all, but especially birdsnest.
Sun Coral – MUST HAVE
Macro Algae
Caulerpa serrulata – Already in the refugium
Red Gracilaria
Agardhiella
Ulva
Blue Ochtodes
Dead Man’s Fingers
Decided against…
Sunrise Dottyback – incompatible with Orchid Dottyback
Potters angel – not reef safe
Maroon Clown – favorite of all clowns, but my wife has dibs on the two Ocellarus
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Blue Reefer
New Member
Tagging along for this tank build. Looks awesome so far.
OP
OP
Thanks Blue!
If anyone can help, I hope to join in a group buy soon, through my local club, and need to know if there any fish in post #190 that would be better to add first, and before another. Please help me out and let me know!
cmaxwell39
Valuable Member
I would go with your clowns, starry blenny and gobies first. Pick from that group for your first additions and you should be fine.
OP
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Did my first water change today. My syphon apparatus removes exactly 33 gallons, from a 200g total system volume - about 16%.
I learned several things; firstly that there's a little discrepancy between my glass thermometer in my mixing tank and my system temperature controller. After the water change my systems was just over 1 degree warmer. I had to install a small fan on the cooling channel of the controller, and the temp is dropping albeit very slowly it seems. Now I know, and can compensate next time. I wonder how one calibrates a temperature controller?
My salinity keeps dropping over time, from 1.026 to 1.024 at the lowest - twice now in in one month it reached 1.024. I'll have to read up and see what an acceptable swing may be over a given time span. I have a salinity calculator, and can make adjustments in my manual top-off. I can only guess the drop is the result of my protein skimmer, and maybe creep, but I confess I'm surprised by the fluctuation.
Clowns are eating heartily. A couple of the ceriths didn't make it, possibly the result of the salinity fluctuation, but, I really think they were dead when I got them home. I placed all the snails on a small saucer in the tank, and these two never moved. Caulerpa serrulata is growing. Diatoms and algae are increasing and I suspect I need more CUC, and more water changes. Looking forward to getting my reactor going too, to get on top of the PO4.
Current parameters:
Temp: 80.3
SG: 1.024
pH: 8.2
PO4: 0.08 to 0.16
NO3: 1ppm
Ca: 370 to 380
dKH:7.0
Mg: 1320
I've stopped testing regularly for ammonia and Nitrite at this point. I know my params are not where they ought to be, and I'm still learning how to read the Red Sea tests. The color transitions are subtle, and do not really match the color wheels and cards. I also think I may have contaminated my Ca titrant, and need to replace it. I also need to figure out how one reading may affect another, and what to focus on first. Any help would be appreciated.
I learned several things; firstly that there's a little discrepancy between my glass thermometer in my mixing tank and my system temperature controller. After the water change my systems was just over 1 degree warmer. I had to install a small fan on the cooling channel of the controller, and the temp is dropping albeit very slowly it seems. Now I know, and can compensate next time. I wonder how one calibrates a temperature controller?
My salinity keeps dropping over time, from 1.026 to 1.024 at the lowest - twice now in in one month it reached 1.024. I'll have to read up and see what an acceptable swing may be over a given time span. I have a salinity calculator, and can make adjustments in my manual top-off. I can only guess the drop is the result of my protein skimmer, and maybe creep, but I confess I'm surprised by the fluctuation.
Clowns are eating heartily. A couple of the ceriths didn't make it, possibly the result of the salinity fluctuation, but, I really think they were dead when I got them home. I placed all the snails on a small saucer in the tank, and these two never moved. Caulerpa serrulata is growing. Diatoms and algae are increasing and I suspect I need more CUC, and more water changes. Looking forward to getting my reactor going too, to get on top of the PO4.
Current parameters:
Temp: 80.3
SG: 1.024
pH: 8.2
PO4: 0.08 to 0.16
NO3: 1ppm
Ca: 370 to 380
dKH:7.0
Mg: 1320
I've stopped testing regularly for ammonia and Nitrite at this point. I know my params are not where they ought to be, and I'm still learning how to read the Red Sea tests. The color transitions are subtle, and do not really match the color wheels and cards. I also think I may have contaminated my Ca titrant, and need to replace it. I also need to figure out how one reading may affect another, and what to focus on first. Any help would be appreciated.
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TJ's Reef
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Sounds like things are moving right along Jeff, you'll get used to it all very shortly I'm sure. Your S.G. is most likely a combination of what you mentioned especially if your Skimmer is running on the wet side. As for the Cal/Alk/Mg balance IME if your Mg is in the 1200-1400 range the Calcium and Alk readings will test basically true. The 1* or so temp swing I would not worry to much about since it is not immediate, assuming you are adding fresh SW mix into the Sump first (highest flow/Skimmer section)
I have a handful of assorted Frags all healed up when ready for them bud. And finally Spring temps around here so won't need 10 heat packs to ship out your way.
Cheers, Todd
I have a handful of assorted Frags all healed up when ready for them bud. And finally Spring temps around here so won't need 10 heat packs to ship out your way.
Cheers, Todd
OP
OP
Alright. Was this a mistake? Please chime in while I can do something about it. I'm reading all kinds of bad things now. Caulerpa serrulata - will it go sexual in a 12 on 12 off light cycle; will it invade my DT?
TJ's Reef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2013
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- Location
- Everett, WA
- What state or country do you live in
- Washington
Alright. Was this a mistake? Please chime in while I can do something about it. I'm reading all kinds of bad things now. Caulerpa serrulata - will it go sexual in a 12 on 12 off light cycle; will it invade my DT?
Hey Jeff, I'd suggest running your fuge light 24/7 then will not have to worry about it going sexual. I've ran my fuges mostly this way for many years as really did not see much difference in daily PH swings as apposed to running opposite of DT lighting. As for C. serrulata goes it is a little invasive towards LPS corals by growing/attaching into them especially Euphyllia sp and Lobophyllia. Just don't intentionally place into display and you should be fine.
Cheers, Todd
