Took the leap, my BC14!

[slickwill613]

Let me start by saying that PETCO has a super clearance on Boicubes, if you can find a PETCO that still has one. So I picked up a 14gal for 119.95 today.

But like the only other post I made says I've been researching this for weeks now and as a happy 30th to myself I got the tank today. Thanks to the folks at Pure Reef for all their help, got the live sand, live rock, and premixed water, plus a small heater and a test kit. They couldn't have been more helpful with a noob like me.

So I got home and did some setting up, got the sand water and rock in it, now the waiting begins. I call the aquascape Web of Ties, as in tie wraps. Hope I get some cool critters from the rock.

Now to figure out how to post pics….
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[sprinklerman500]

Welcome to the Arc!Nice buy on the tank,and sweet job on the Web of Ties!

 

[dr_ fish]

Nice tank, love the rockscape and sand. I went for the same look.

 

[jimknutson]

Welcome to the addiction. First piece of advice, invest in good test kits and do weekly water changes. I used to run a 14 and things can change quickly so go very slow.

 

[wally]

Looks good! I really like BC's.

I've got a 14 with lots of mods, crazy what you can do with a small space!

What are your longgg-term plans with it (fish-only, fowlr, reef)???

ARC has helped me with every step. Folks here have knowledge to share. In total I've got about 2 yrs salt water experience. Read, Read...and read forums and books. ARC is a good ATL area forum, but also one of the top forums period.

PS...I just got a second BC14 from Petco in PTC last Friday.

 

[slickwill613]

Wally;755019 wrote:

What are your longgg-term plans with it (fish-only, fowlr, reef)???

It's all live sand and live rock, we'll see if I can keep some Inverts and a fish alive, then I might go for some hardier corals.

Thanks all for the nice words, I was kinda proud of myself for the rockwork, even if all the tie wraps are super easy to see.

 

[nathannano]

your rock looks amazing. nice set up very simple but looks like a piece of art work all ready

 

[slickwill613]

NathanNano;755025 wrote: your rock looks amazing. nice set up very simple but looks like a piece of art work all ready

That swelled my pride a bunch, thanks.

Had to put up some late night pics...
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[rdnelson]

Looking good there. Did those tie wraps come home in a lunch pail? hehehehe When I order material I always order 3 extra. One to break, one to get left in the trailer and one to go home in someone's lunch pail. If you do that, you never run out of material. hehehehe

 

[slickwill613]

rdnelson99;755057 wrote: Looking good there. Did those tie wraps come home in a lunch pail? hehehehe When I order material I always order 3 extra. One to break, one to get left in the trailer and one to go home in someone's lunch pail. If you do that, you never run out of material. hehehehe

We always do the need one get four. One to break, one to steal, one to lose, and one to use. :evil:

 

[liverock27]

I really like the rock work.

I ran a 14 BC for 2 years and there is a lot you can do with it. One suggestion I would make is upgrading the return pump if you already haven't. I ran a Maxijet 900 that worked really well.

 

[serpent]

Great start. Love the rock work.

 

[siavashv]

I'm digging the setup.. black sand and awesome aquascaping. keep it simple and classy. good luck. be careful, this hobby drains your money. have fun!

 

[slickwill613]

So I tested for ammonia and nitrites this evening, just to get a feel for using the test kit more than anything. But now I'm wondering, the nitrite test has a pink colored plastic thing to compare the water mix to, if it just stays clear water does that mean 0 or off the charts? The ammonia test was clearer falling between the lowest readings, somewhere between .0 and .2 mg/l Also have some "stuff" on the rocks I was wondering about, I'll post pics tomorrow and see if it's anything or just my mind playing tricks on me.
Thanks again for all the kind words.

 

[nathannano]

SlickWill613;755251 wrote: So I tested for ammonia and nitrites this evening, just to get a feel for using the test kit more than anything. But now I'm wondering, the nitrite test has a pink colored plastic thing to compare the water mix to, if it just stays clear water does that mean 0 or off the charts? The ammonia test was clearer falling between the lowest readings, somewhere between .0 and .2 mg/l Also have some "stuff" on the rocks I was wondering about, I'll post pics tomorrow and see if it's anything or just my mind playing tricks on me.
Thanks again for all the kind words.

What test kit are you using? and how long has your tank been set up? when I started mine I had all kinds of weird things grow and die.

®

 

[shanepike]

I'm with Nathan. The things I saw come and go as my nanos cycled (and even now) were fun to watch.

 

[slickwill613]

It's an instant ocean test kit, it came highly recommended from the folks at pure reef.
Here are some pics of the "things" I was wondering about.
First pic is some pink thing.
Second is the green fuzz and third is a tiny little white tube, almost like it swirls up out to the opening. All of the things should be centered in the pics.
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[rdnelson]

Not sure about picture #1. Picture #2 might be hair algae starting up. It isn't uncommon to see some while the tank is cycling. It should start to die off a little later on but you want to keep an eye on it. Picture #3 may be the start of some coraline algae starting up. That is a good thing if that is what it is.

 

[maelstrom79]

I love my bc 14. Nice tank!

 

[shanepike]

#1 are foraminiferans. I have the same Totoka live rock, and I have them in lots of places. They're good.