Marine Biology Tank

[marinecurious]

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Hi everyone! I wanted to give an update of our Marine Biology tank. I also wanted to thank everyone again for your enthusiasm, help, and generosity. </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Our current parameters: (using an API saltwater master kit)</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">pH= 8.2</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Ammonia= 0</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Nitrites= 0</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Nitrates= 0 (?) not sure why we keep getting this number, but it matches the color strip?</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Salinity= 1.020 – working on getting this number up (thanks aquaculture)</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are still in the process of getting the awesome new RODI </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> system installed, so no RO water yet. We have added algae and a light for a refugium. Our hair algae had gotten much better by reducing the lighting time to 6 hours. Now that we have corals (thanks Gwhiz and ARC), I have increased the lighting time to 8 hours. Is this appropriate? </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I am attaching pictures of the current state of the tank. It still has a ways to go. We are concerned about coral placement. The most serious problem is our Figi yellow leathers. They look like they are melting and have a white film on them. I am sure that our water quality and flow issues are to blame. Also, the Gorgonian won't stay in a rock and looks like it has damage. We would love to hear your advice. The pictures aren't great (just taken with my phone), so I am not expecting you to be able to see in great detail. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Thanks again!</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I look forward to displaying a thriving tank soon!</span></span>
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0091.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0092.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0093.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0094.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0095.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0096.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0097.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMAG0099.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[sharkbait]

Looking good. Wish my High School would have allowed us to do this. Would have been awesome. Keep the good work up.

 

[marinecurious]

Thanks! I'm learning along with my kids. I look forward to a beautiful tank. I am learning so much from this forum. I believe I'm getting addicted;-)

Edit: Thanks! I'm learning along with my kids. I look forward to a beautiful tank. I am learning so much from this forum. I believe I'm getting addicted;-)

 

[basscyn]

That's awesome!
Should inspire some young reefers.

I would get a test kit for phosphates.
Controlling phosphates can help control algae.

How long has the tank been up?

 

[cr500_af]

Also, the test strips are notoriously inaccurate. I would eventually get some decent kits, but in the meantime your LFS can test for you.

 

[marinecurious]

I do need a test for phosphates and would like to get a refractometer. I'm using a hydrometer for sg right now.

We put water in the tank in the fall (Sept?) And let it cycle. We didn't get the lawnmower blenny until Nov. We now have some corals and a pretty good fish list.

I mispoke about the test kit. I have a good API kit. When I said strip, I meant the color card.:blush: I am hoping that once I have my rodi up and running, refugium growing, carbon flowing, etc, that my little animals will be happier and HA less happy.:thumbs:

Thanks again guys!!! I love hearing the words of wisdom!

 

[jead85]

how often are you doing water changes? thats quite a bit of algae

 

[gwhiz]

As for the gorgonian, I'd use a knife and strip away a bit of the gray 'flesh'--about 1/4" - 3/8" or so. There's a dark skeleton (look's like a stick) underneath. Superglue the 'stick' to a rock--ideally finding a hole in the rock that will accept the skeleton. The flesh will grow down over the stick to the rock.

 

[marinecurious]

jead85;615844 wrote: how often are you doing water changes? thats quite a bit of algae

Again, I am embarrassed to say that my water changes were not up to par. I guess my rationale, probably faulty, was that I had tap water that was phosphate filled and probably the reason for the algae, a lack of salt (until aquaculture hooked me up), and my pH, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites seemed stable and good. :blush:

GOOD NEWS!!! Chris (Fishscales2) and Randy (rjrgroup) came to my class today and hooked up our sweet, new, RODI unit that I won at the frag meeting. THANKS SO MUCH GUYS! I look forward to doing a good water change tomorrow knowing that I am replacing it with RO water. We plan on doing a significant water change once a week until we get rid of the HA and bryopsis. I can't believe that I didn't take a picture of it! I'll post one tomorrow.

We sent Chris with our fish wish list. We plan on doing a "donate to buy a fish and get to name it" fundraiser with my classes. They have already named the corals that we received. Unfortunately, we already lost the yellow leathers and the gorgonian (sorry Gwhiz!) It's looking up for the others. The zoas, palys, and frogspawn are a big hit. I think that Lenny, the lawnmower blenny, is excited to have more animals in the tank. He is one fat fish with all the algae that he has to eat.

I just want to take the time to thank ARC again, but a special thanks to Fishscales, rjrgroup, amici, aquaculture, Gwhiz, and all of you who give us your words of wisdom and experience. I hope that as I continue to update the tank, that you feel free to give your opinions to this NEWBIE. I am already learning so much as I become addicted to the hobby and this forum.