Saltwater Progression

[adrian912]

Hey guys! So I am going to start documenting everything I do with my tank(s) on here. So I purchased a used 56g tank/stand/canopy/sump that also came with two small Koralia powerheads (not sure which model but they are on the right side) and also 2 MH lights. Super happy about the whole thing. Right now I filled it with water below the overflow box in order to get the stuff stuck on the glass a bit softer therefore easier to clean(hopefully).

alt="" />
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/<a href=&quot;http://imgur.com/FkNlxG9&quot;><img src=&quot;<a href=http://i.imgur.com/FkNlxG9.jpg&quot; target=_blank>http://i.imgur.com/FkNlxG9.jpg&quot;</a> title=&quot;source: imgur.com&quot; /></a>" alt="" />The wavemaker on the left is my Jebao PP-20 pushing 5300 gallons/hour. Nope, those are not scratches just tons of bubbles.

The sump......
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HxDAsHql.jpg alt="" />
It is an Eshopps 24 incher (Official name =P)

Whenever I purchase a tank used I always go ahead and reseal it so that I can make sure there will not be any problems in the future. So I bought 2 tubes of black silicone since I think it looks sexier, and I will be draining the tank and cleaning it on Sunday and maybe if it is dry by the evening I will go ahead and reseal it. This is the silicone I bought....https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EZB2MDI/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EZB2MDI/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1</a> . I have also purchased 50lbs of dry rock that will be coming in hopefully on either Wednesday or Thursday. I also got my 2 boxes of salt at an awesome price thanks to Atlanta Aquarium, but those will have to wait a little longer hehe. That is all for now folks! Also I'm going put my pictures as attachments since you can't click on them and zoom in.

[IMG]http://imgur.com/FkNlxG9" alt="" />
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend> [IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/1109619=69917-IMG_20170303_210207.jpg>

class="gc-images" title="IMG_20170303_210207.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>

>

class="gc-images" title="IMG_20170303_210415.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[firethorn77]

The one on the left is a jebao. Right looks like a koralia.

 

[adrian912]

Hello ARC peeps! I have gutted the silicone out of the tank, cleaned it up and waiting for it to dry. Next step I will reseal one of these days. Enough about silicone though, my rocks came in!!!!!!

alt="" />

Its 50lbs of dried rock from reefcleaners.org. I've never had to set up rocks like this before so I found myself staring at them for about 5 minutes or so. Here are the results.......

alt="" />

alt="" />

alt="" />

Like I said I've never done this before but I really think it came out nice for my first try. I desperately tried to have some nooks and crannies and some ledge pieces and stuff. Now I just need to silicone my tank and I am just going to cure it in there until all my parameters have leveled and then cycle it. There was zero visible dead sponges or corals or whatever on them so I hope it wont take tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long. See ya on the next update!!!!:yay:

 

[xilez]

Nice! I too use RC rock, its the best dry rock on the market imo... because its fully dry rock (not dead live rock), it doesn't really need a curing process

However, you do need a way to start the cycle (dead live rock or live rock has die off which creates ammonia to trigger the cycle...dry rock does not). There are many ways to do this, my preferred method is Dr Tims One/Only bacteria and the Dr Tims ammonium-chloride drops. Pretty simple, pour in the bacteria, then dose your tank to 2ppm ammonia and wait a couple weeks until the cycle is complete.

With this being your first tank, and you going the dry rock route...let me know if you have any questions or need me to link specific threads from other forums.

This link should help get you started:

 

[adrian912]

xilez;1110042 wrote: Nice! I too use RC rock, its the best dry rock on the market imo... because its fully dry rock (not dead live rock), it doesn't really need a curing process

However, you do need a way to start the cycle (dead live rock or live rock has die off which creates ammonia to trigger the cycle...dry rock does not). There are many ways to do this, my preferred method is Dr Tims One/Only bacteria and the Dr Tims ammonium-chloride drops. Pretty simple, pour in the bacteria, then dose your tank to 2ppm ammonia and wait a couple weeks until the cycle is complete.

With this being your first tank, and you going the dry rock route...let me know if you have any questions or need me to link specific threads from other forums.

This link should help get you started: http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/fishless-cycling">http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/fishless-cycling</a>[/QUOTE]

Not seeing anything at all on the rock the ONLY thing I thought might be an issue was if phosphate had been absorbed into it. But yeah I did not think that this was going to need much if any cure. Thanks for the heads up on that product.

 

[xilez]

Yeah RC is 100% man made dry rock...so there will be no dead organic material on there, therefor there is nothing to start a cycle which is why you have to dump in bacteria and dose ammonia to get the cycle started.

RC is pre-cured and again man made, phosphate leaching shouldn't be an issue like other dry rock (BRS Pukani for example).

Going this route is a little confusing...here's my thread on NanoReef about the issue i encountered, definitely worth a read before you get the cycle going: https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/376471-nitrites-too-high-during-cycle-help-please/">https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/376471-nitrites-too-high-during-cycle-help-please/</a>


And here is my thread on ARC that was simultaneously running alongside the NanoReef one...a lot more valuable info towards the end: [IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106600">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106600</a>

I'd read the NR one first

 

[adrian912]

Okie dokie peeps, the tank has been resealed. All I want to do now is just clean up the silicone with a razor in order for it to look nicer. After that all I have to do is just do all the plumbing and she is ready to go as my QT/Hospital tank. I decided to just go ahead and make my freshwater tank that is 100 gallons into a RR tank. Its dimensions are 72"x18"x18". Definitely not your typical saltwater tank that is much taller but its what I got and I figured it will work just fine until I grab maybe a 180 gallon tank or larger down the road probably 1 - 2 years down the road.

Time for the fun part! I want to get y'alls opinion on stocking. I do not want to make a mistake with stocking and end up with incompatible tank mates so I figured I would tell you want I definitely want in the tank and then you guys could help me fill in the gaps.

I most definitely want :
Pair of designer clowns
Mandarin goby

Now I now that the clowns should go in the tank much later after the others have figured out their territories. The mandarin goby I know needs to be in not only a mature tank but one stocked with a thriving colony of copepods, so that too is way down the line. My son will be cool with just about anything, but my wife and 3 year old daughter have requested to have some pink and purple in the tank(who'da thunk). So taking into consideration my two must haves, what do you guys think I should put in there? I plan on having corals and invertebrates in there as well so keep that in mind. I'm excited to hear any suggestions that you guys can give me.

Thank you!

 

[firethorn77]

A royal gramma will work for your wife and daughter I think.

 

[dapperjman]

Also, a purple firefish would make them happy!

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[adrian912]

Dapperjman;1110499 wrote: Also, a purple firefish would make them happy!

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I wanted a firefish really badly but they seem to be soooo timid that I am afraid we wont get much enjoyment out of it. A royal gramma does look like a good option however. I was also thinking perhaps a purple tang down the road as well since it could take advantage of the length of my tank to swim in. So I guess so far I have:

Clownfish pair
Mandarin goby
Royal gramma
Purple tang

Any other suggestions on what else can be safely added is greatly appreciated.

 

[hn1]

I'm just getting back into the saltie side after a long hiatus, but unless mandarins are now taking pellets that is probably a bad idea.

 

[adrian912]

HN1;1110501 wrote: I'm just getting back into the saltie side after a long hiatus, but unless mandarins are now taking pellets that is probably a bad idea.

The mandarin would not be added to the tank until it is probably a year old and with a healthy fuge and an established copepod population. I am just trying to keep my stocking up to that point to be compatible with my "vision" for what I would like it to be. No mandarin will be added to my tank prematurely, I assure you.

 

[hn1]

Cool. I misunderstood the plan.

 

[adrian912]

HN1;1110503 wrote: Cool. I misunderstood the plan.

All good. So many of those poor guys end up in tanks that can't support them and up dying so I can't blame you for warning me since I'm new to the hobby (salt side).

 

[adrian912]

OK, so I have decided on a possible stock list for my 72"x18"x18" 100 gallon tank. I will place them on the list in the order I plan to introduce them.

Royal Gramma x1
Lyretail Anthias x4
6 Line Wrasse x1
Scarlet Skunk Shrimp x1-2
Peppermint Shrimp x1-2
Emerald Crab x2-3
Trochus Snail x6
Diamond Watchmen Goby x1-2
Yellow Tang x1 (Juvie, will sell/give away once much larger)
Clownfish x2
Mandarin Goby x1 (Will only add once tank is at a minimum 1 year old and a healthy and abundant amount of copepods have established in the tank.)

Do these inhabitants look like they would be compatible with each other? Is the amount of inhabitants OK? I eagerly await your feedback.

Thank you!

 

[freezerrat]

I have a royal gamma. Pretty territorial with newcomers. A lot of flaring up and charging. Lasts about a week or so. Never hurt anything but it was always against like sized fish. Personally I would add the gamma and wrasse at the same time.

 

[adrian912]

freezerrat;1110610 wrote: I have a royal gamma. Pretty territorial with newcomers. A lot of flaring up and charging. Lasts about a week or so. Never hurt anything but it was always against like sized fish. Personally I would add the gamma and wrasse at the same time.

Okie dokie! I can definitely do that. I had read that they can be a bit feisty so I was hoping the 4 anthias would have diffused the possibility of aggression towards the wrasse but your suggestion sounds better. So I can just add them both to the QT tank with some large-ish (1.5 - 2 inch) PVC elbows?