Day by day log of a newbies 75 gallon, TBS startup tank

[OrchidMan]

Originally posted by OrchidMan
We are getting a little smell but our ammonia and nitrites readings are below the minimums or 0 with the test kit.

I think we figured out where the smell was coming from. Our tank drains into the sump. The drain pipe drains into a foam pad which is just about the sump water surface. As the water flows through the pad and into the sump, there is a large amount of air with it. I think this is acting as a protein skimmer. We had a fair amount of scum on the water surface and a lot of a brown 'waist' of some sort on the bottom.
We just did a complete sump cleaining and right now everything is fresh smelling. It looks like our second unintended 'protein skimmer' was causing the problem.

Gary

[cinq 1]

I got a purple Sea Urchent with the rock from tbs .. is this going to be a problem down the road for the tank ???

[DgenR8]

Originally posted by cinq 1
I got a purple Sea Urchent with the rock from tbs .. is this going to be a problem down the road for the tank ???

You only got ONE?? My Gulf View rock (same stuff, different company) came with 20 of them!
They did get to be problematic in such high numbers, they are clumsy especially if you have small frags, and eat coralline algae, so I got rid of all but two, which now live happily in my refugium.

[wooglin]

I have three. Two very small babies, and one larger one. I cant believe how fast the coraline is growing in my tank.

[MNPackers4]

Just a few questions from a researching newb--- I am moving into my newly built home next week and would like to have a in wall setup. The available space is roughly 36-48" wide and 24-48" tall, depth is open to any. I also would like to use an acrylic tank and setup would be FOWLR.

**What size tank should I use that would meet my measurements??

**Who has the best deals on acrylic tanks ??

**Behind the wall is my mechanical room (Hot water heater,Furnace etc..) this is where I would do my maintenance and have equiptment (sump etc...) What are the potential problems of having my tank in this type of room??

Any and many replies would be appreciated!!!

[delta]

MNPackers4




perhaps you might get a better response if you started a new
thread

[MNPackers4]

THX--Will do!!

[delta]

but you can start for your search for tank sizes

here
Acrylic Aquariums
http://www.tenecor.com/

they can also make custom sizes if you just want to use every in of space you can

[rjwilson37]

I would say this is just to get a look at what you may want, but they are really expensive.

[MNPackers4]

What do you suggest rjwilson???

[wooglin]

The Tenecor looks very nice. My upgrade in a year may be to one of there 50-70 gallon reefs.

[delta]

i would try going to vendor experiences and do a search on it

[delta]

just remember price is not all you want feed back on

this link will show you what you dont want

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=1

[wooglin]

Getting the thread back on track, here is a new picture of my tank.

[rjwilson37]

How many days has it been up now. What week/or month are you on?

[wooglin]

10/18/03 is when the first shipment of TBS rock was put into the tank.

[rjwilson37]

Ahh, so it is not even a month old. Well it is looking really good, just remember to go slow in adding stuff.

I have had my up's and down's from going to quickly. Here is my tank right now, and I must leave it be for a while to mature before I really add anything else. It is 4 months old.

[wooglin]

I have everything I plan on getting for a long time with the exception of one more clown. The TBS rock and sand package really gives you a head start on an established tank.

[OrchidMan]

Originally posted by wooglin
Getting the thread back on track, here is a new picture of my tank.

We have had our first shipment for a week tomorrow and have a question about the survival of your life on the rock.
I see in your first pictures what looks like a sponge and is aqua in color. Has it survived? In your latest picture I see what might be it but because of the blue cast, I can not be sure. We have several on our rock and a couple look just fine and a couple have lost their color. I fugure these will not make it.
Also, do you have any idea of how many sponges have made it? We have several that look fine so far and a couple that look like they are about to be removed.
After 5 days our ammonia is still reading below the minimum for the test kit so we are
Gary

[rjwilson37]

Good man Wooglin, I thought I was smarter than the average bear and went a little to quick. It cost me a bit and my nitrates are still a little high.

I started a nano tank with some cured live rock from LFS and some from my established tank. It is fully cycled in 2 1/2 weeks with zero on Ammonia, zero on Nitrites and zero on Nitrates. My 29gal has never been at zero for nitrates. I was told I should do a 50% water change to get them down otherwise with small 20-30% water changes you never really get ahead of the game.

Good luck and the tank looks great.

[wooglin]

I would say about 80-90% of the sponges have survived. I have red, blue, yellow, and green sponges that are surviving. Also have lots of turnicates that are doing well.

rjwilson, from what I have read it is not really bad to have some nitrates. In a stocked aquarium it is difficult to get those totally to zero. My maximum limit is 10. If I get to that I do a 5 gallon water change.

[Macbeth417]

Looking good. Just tagging along for the ride as my tank will be getting its LR soon and I am still trying to figure out whom to buy mine from. With 130lbs of rock needed it is going to be a large and pricey decsion. I sure like the way you tank is turning out.

-Erik

[alaskanholly]

Wooglin, this is a great thread. I started my 75g about two weeks before you. Wish I had known about your live rock source! I am now dealing with tons of brown algae. Are you running your lights all day (that seems to be what's causing my problem).

[TurboFish]

In case anyone is curious, Tampa Bay put a video (in Windows Media format) on the main page of their website of the process of aquaculturing live rock. Pretty interesting. 30 minutes long. wooglin: your thread here is mentioned on their website too.

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

Brian

[Macbeth417]

Yeah, I watch that last night like good reef nerd. It was interesting to see the process.

-Erik