Fred's Fluval Reef 1/30/2010

[magic]

Boy ohhh boy I didnt know what I had lined up today!

I finally received my shipment:

I finally removed the crushed coral and added 5lbs of Caribsea LS. I also took it upon myself to complete my aquascape and not just have the LR laying there anymore . I went on an epoxy frenzy and I think the aquascape is ok for now. What do ya'll think?

Positioning LR for crushed coral removal

Half done!!

First FTS after LS and water:

Starting to clear up a little:

New Aquascape:

What ya'll think? :-\

Fred

I noticed in the picture that you purchased a digital power strip. If you haven't used it you may want to return it. Please read this thread http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=13458.0.

Bob

 

[JRWOHLER]

I have slowely taken down my power strip too due to Bob's thread. Watch the digital thermometer. Not dangerous but if gets out of whack can really screw you up, I fixed mine with a hammer ;D. Just test your temp every now and then and you won't have any problems.

 

[fcruz420]

Thanks Bob and JRWOHLER... My hydrometer broke today so I will pick up a glass thermometer as well.

 

[Hawkeye]

Thanks Bob and JRWOHLER... My hydrometer broke today so I will pick up a glass thermometer as well.

fred - spend the money and get a refractometer. Put up a WTB/want to buy - someone must have one available.

a few point off on salinity/specific gravity and you'll end up spending a lot more money replacing the deaths that occur due to improper water.

 

[fcruz420]

Thanks Bob and JRWOHLER... My hydrometer broke today so I will pick up a glass thermometer as well.

fred - spend the money and get a refractometer. Put up a WTB/want to buy - someone must have one available.

a few point off on salinity/specific gravity and you'll end up spending a lot more money replacing the deaths that occur due to improper water.

- Thanks Hawkeye. I will be looking into the refractometer. I think dr fosters&smith had them on sale. Oh course if the WTB works out better then everyone is happy ;D

 

[fcruz420]

I've been testing the water for the last few days as well. I will do this I guess for at least a 2 week period. :-\

2/6/2010
Day 1 w/ LS
Ammonia 0.50, PH 8.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 or 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 75

Day 2
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, Salt 1.025, temp 77

Day 3
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 76.5

Day 4
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Broke my hydormeter today, Temp 77.5

Day 5
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Temp 78

 

[fcruz420]

Did a half gallon water change today to get my salt levels correct. It was about 1.019/1.020 and now its around 1.022/1.025. Im using a floating Hydrometer until I make it to the LFS lol

 

[fcruz420]

Im getting closer to Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates all being 0!!!!

Todays result-
Day 8
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt about 1.022-1.025, Temp 78.3

 

[fcruz420]

I've been testing the water for the last few days as well. I will do this I guess for at least a 2 week period. :-\

2/6/2010
Day 1 w/ LS
Ammonia 0.50, PH 8.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 or 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 75

Day 2
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, Salt 1.025, temp 77

Day 3
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 76.5

Day 4
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Broke my hydormeter today, Temp 77.5

Day 5
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Temp 78

Was looking for way to edit post, but I guess this will do -

Day 6
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, temp 77

Day 7
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 5 and 10 color range, Salt about 1.022 - 1.025, Temp 78.6

Day 8
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt about 1.022-1.025, Temp 78.3

Day 9
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 0 and 5.0 color range, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 78

Coralife deep 6 is pretty accurate.

Day 10
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 78.5

 

[fcruz420]

A few updated tank shots!
Wanted to create some sand surface area for future frags ;D

Hitch hiker invert

New Scape front

Side View

 

[Baxreefs]

Looks good.

The whole "space age" thing this one piece tank has going on is pretty cool!

 

[fcruz420]

Looks good.

The whole "space age" thing this one piece tank has going on is pretty cool!

thx Baxreefs. I hope the T5 lighting will keep a cool look as well.

 

[NikkiT]

I think you'll like your T-5s, I know I love mine. I think they were definitely a good call considering the nearly closed system you are running.

 

[fcruz420]

I think you'll like your T-5s, I know I love mine. I think they were definitely a good call considering the nearly closed system you are running.

Thx NikkiT. I hope all is well your tanks. Sorry to hear what happened the other day.

 

[Baxreefs]

+1 on the T-5s being a great choice for a closed system nano.

 

[fcruz420]

I've been testing the water for the last few days as well. I will do this I guess for at least a 2 week period. :-\

2/6/2010
Day 1 w/ LS
Ammonia 0.50, PH 8.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 or 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 75

Day 2
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, Salt 1.025, temp 77

Day 3
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Salt 1.025, Temp 76.5

Day 4
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Broke my hydormeter today, Temp 77.5

Day 5
Ammonia 0.25, PH 8.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Temp 78

Was looking for way to edit post, but I guess this will do -

Day 6
Ammonia 0.25, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, temp 77

Day 7
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 5 and 10 color range, Salt about 1.022 - 1.025, Temp 78.6

Day 8
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt about 1.022-1.025, Temp 78.3

Day 9
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate between 0 and 5.0 color range, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 78

Coralife deep 6 is pretty accurate.

Day 10
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 78.5

Day 11
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 79.1

Day 12
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 79.3

Day 13
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 80.1

Day 14
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.9, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 80.3

Day 15
Ammonia in between 0 and 0.25 color range, PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Salt is 1.022-1.023, Temp 79.7

 

[fcruz420]

Added a pinch of flake food to see how things would go.......... The bristle worms and hair worms came out to play and now it looks like everything is gone. My water levels are still stable and I will replaced the floss sometime tonight in case any food was trapped there

 

[fcruz420]

I hope this is cool. Some of my LR is getting green coraline or algae. This LR started out Red/Ivory and now its transforming Red/Green.

The two tops of this branch was Ivory/White as well and now turning Green

The halogen lights will be removed in a couple days as the nova extreme T5 is on the way.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I had a thought(scary huh?), what is your PH? What do you have to facilitate gas exchange? A skimmer would do it, or overflow, or HOB filter. Just hate to see you have a super low PH due to the completely sealed top.

 

[fcruz420]

I had a thought(scary huh?), what is your PH? What do you have to facilitate gas exchange? A skimmer would do it, or overflow, or HOB filter. Just hate to see you have a super low PH due to the completely sealed top.

PH 7.9. Using instant ocean still. However, reef crystals will be in this week. HOB is AC20. This tank doesnt have room for pretty much anything else...