Starting the 29gal FOWLR build

[Rikerbear]

I have started the process of getting my old 29gal FOWLR tank up and running again. It's been 17 years since it's held water.
I plan to get it all cleaned up and than reseal all the joints.
The overflow and old 'bio ball' section will be reworked to house the skimmer and filtration media (floss, carbon, phosguard/gfo)
In the second half I put a small in sump refuguim with some cheato, and the return pump and heater.
Planning to light it with the Ledtric par30 led pendant bulb....gonna start with just one but may need to up it to two depending on the coverage, intensity, and shimmer.
Planning a nice 'friendly' tank, peaceful reef safe fish, and a few low light inverts to help dress it up a bit more.
Hope to have it ready for the first fish by March.

 

[ReefPops]

Sounds cool. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[Rikerbear]

Did some work on cleaning up the tank. Hope to start resealing all the joints tomorrow.....it held water just fine, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Rikerbear]

Had a minor/major set back...furnace died...winter :blah:
Should be back on track with the build in another couple weeks.....need a 'bit more equipment' before I start the actual set up and begin the cycle.
Still need:
Water pump 900 gph
Heater
2 x circulation pumps 260 gph ea
skimmer
lights - do I go cheap fish lights, or upgrade for the ability to 'maybe' add some zoas, leathers, softies, shrooms....just in case, not sayin I'm gonna :croc:

 

[revsgirl]

Lookin' forward to it!

 

[Rikerbear]

Picking up the stand this weekend. May also force myself to decide on the lights and get those too......
Hope to have it up and cycling by March 1st

 

[Rikerbear]

Set the tank up on the stand and was wiping it down when I noticed some pretty major scratches (I assume form live rock scraps in the past)
I have to go get Novus scratch and polish kit :sad:
Has anyone ever used this on the INSIDE of a tank? I would hate to polish it up all pretty, only to poison the critters I put in.

 

[Rikerbear]

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. We have been VERY busy with getting new carpet down in the family room (fish room), and it took a couple weeks longer than expected.
Carpet is now in, nano reef is now moved (again) back to it's perminate spot, so time to get the fowlr tank wet at last.
All seams have been resealed with acrylic weld and than gone over with silicon. It has been tested and holds water perfectly (24 hour test)
All the equipment is in or will be by Friday the 15th (waiting on lights - went with TaoTronics 120 watt 50/50 dimmable - this gives me flexability to add some softies and shrooms if I want later)
Live rock coming in Friday from GulfLiveRock.com
The plan is to have the tank filled with sand and new rock this Friday. Should than be able to start the curing/cycle process and start adding the first critters by April 1st. Hoping to be able top add the CUC and let them do their job for a couple weeks before adding the first couple fish around May 1st.
Tank should be fully stocked with the 6 fish I have chosen by summers end.....assuming all goes well. :tongue:
I will add pix and updates as I can

 

[A-SpecUA6]

IN for PICS

 

[Rikerbear]

Promise pix this weekend. I got the live rock and lights today. It should all come together tomorrow.
The rock I got from gulfrock.com is AWESOME! This build is gonna be so much fun!

 

[Rikerbear]

Tank is wet and running. Got the sand bed in and all the base rock topped with the amazing live rock I got from gulfliverock.com
Man is this stuff SWEET!! Covered in macro algaes, sponges, an incredible rainbow of coraline algae, barnicles, and who knows what else. I am prepared for good and bad stuff to come crawling out of it.
Since this is to be a fish only I am less worried about scary hitchhikers...a little scared, but not overly so.
The TaoTronics LED unit I chose is awesome. Not dim-able but for fish It's no biggy. It is dual channel so I can do blue only for sunrise and sunset effect.
It's a nice 120 watt unit so if I do decide to add some zoas, shrooms, and softies I can.
Soon as it clears better I'll post more and better pix

 

[Rikerbear]

Tank is a lot clearer this morning...still not crystal clear but that is to be expected at this point.
Will get some pix up later today

 

[Rikerbear]

So here are the promised pix. :tongue:

 

[Rikerbear]

Some more of the amazing live rock I got

 

[Rikerbear]

 

[Rikerbear]

As of this morning...day 3, the ammonia has started to climb....1.0 ppm...nitrite still at 0 so still have a long way to go.

 

[Rikerbear]

Last night before bed I noticed the ammonia was starting to climb I assume from live rock die-off. It was at 0.25 at around 7 pm PST. I noticed the clam on one of the smaller rocks was sort of 'gasping', so I moved that rock to my nano (I am SO asking for trouble I just know it)
Today the clam is partially open and appears to be okay. I have a feeling if I had left it in the folwr it would have surely died from the climbing ammonia....I will put it back once the ammonia drops off. I know they absorb ammonia, but doubt it could have handled this big of a spike.
Tank is at 2.0 ppm and no doubt climbing
Here is a pic of the clam

 

[mike007]

Looking really good at this point.

 

[Rikerbear]

Looking really good at this point.

Thanks! I think it's coming along pretty good.
The cycling part is always the hardest for me.
Gonna start putting the list together for the CUC

 

[Rikerbear]

Day 5 of the cycle has the ammonia so high the color of the test sample doesn't even exist on my chart LOL
Sadly I am seeing more die off on the live rock than I would have liked. I was really hoping that by using live sand (sort of), and some seed pieces from my nano and a couple others from the LFS, that I would have a jump start on the cycle. Obviously the die off on the rock was to great to be handled by what bio filter may have existed on the seed pieces.
I am seeing patches of filmy white 'yuck' on some pieces....gonna try and siphon that off I think.