CADLIGHTS 34G with pics

[Rod013]

Well....here goes.....

My Cadlights 34G has been shipped and will arrive Tuesday 09-04-07. Below is the standard equipment that it will have:

*150w 14,000k with 2 x 24w Actinics supplements
* (2) LED 2 watt moonlights.
*Full size refugium on back. Does not include refugium substrate.
*Comes in black Cell-Cast acrylic background (oscillator retrun nozzle optional).
* Refugium Dimensions 23" x 5.5" x 18.5"
* Flip-up hinged tank mounts.
* Separate T5 light strip for refugium.
* Signature Polished and mitred edges with Extra thick 7mm thick glass.
* Seamless curved front panel. * Super slim sleek profile Light design at only 2.5" height.
* 3 separate circuits and switches for complete automatic and manual control for each T5 bulb, LED moonlights and Halide lights. Easily compatible with all kinds of timers.
*NOW COMES WITH OUR 60G FULL SIZED PROEIN SKIMMER AND SLOTS FOR THE COOLING UNIT AND DROP-IN U.V. STERILIZER. *Glass Canopy comes standard.

In addition to the above here is what I have already purchased: (Comments and opinions please)

Ordered from Cadlights
Matching Stand
Wavemaking return nozzle
Additional Cooling Fan for fuge
Pura filtration pads

Ordered from Nanotuners
Reefkeeper 2
JBJ ATO and Via Aqua 90 Pump
100W Finnex Heater
Refractometer

Below is what my plans are but I really need any comments and opinions since I have not purchased or made final decisions on this list:

Ordred from Marine Depot
Koralia 1 or Tunze 6025 for additional flow
Testing kit of some type, not sure which brand at this time

Most likely will get from LFS
RO/DI fresh and salt water from LFS
LR from LFS, most porous and best looking I can find
LS from LFS, most likely Fiji pink 1 to 2 inch base
LR, LS and cheato will be in my fuge

What have I forgotten to get started?

P.S. Future post will not be this long....just wanted to get the particulars out of the way!

[Rod013]

Here are pics from start to where I am now. Please any comments, good or bad.







And finally, 48 hours after LR, LS and SW.

[jewtball]

NICE TANK! its great to see some newer styles of nano tanks here. your tank looks amazing, cant wait to see some corals and fish.

i dont think the skimmer is supposed to ovrflow like that, try to lower the water level a little in the section that the skimmer is in, that should lower the water level some.

please update!

[E30 E T A]

I love these tanks! An update soon i hope...

[Rod013]

Thanks, I will post more pics when things start to happen. Right now there is not much to report.

I am very pleased with my temps, the tanks seems to be staying between 78F to 79.5. I am running my lights 4 hours a day in the main tank and 14 hours over my fuge.

This hobby sure is addictive!

[Rod013]

When should I start testing my water and what should I start testing for first? Tank has now been set up for 72 hours.

[jewtball]

you should usually start testing the water after a week and once a week after that. if you test before one week, you wont get anything. tanks cycle around a 6 week period and adding livestock will speed it up a bit more. yuou should notice the levels peaking as time goes to the 3-4 week period and drops down to zero once you hit the 6th week.

that is a hot tank, how do you like it? i have the 22G and thinking of upgrading. i loved the 22G and hope the 34G signature is even better. do you think it is worth the $$?

[All Delight]

Tank is sweeeet. I want one.

The only thing I would've done differently is going with a Tunze Osmulator instead of the JBJ ATO.

Keep us updated!!

[Rod013]

jewtball

Thanks for the info, I will start checking water in a few more days. What do you think about running the skimmer during the cycling process?

I reall love the looks of the tank and do like the function as well. I wish the foot print of the display area was a little deeper(front to back). With that being said it may just be the LR that I pick is just a little too big. I am not pleased with my first attempt at aquascaping but it is a work in progress.

My tank is in my office at work and it everyone has commented how nice it is. IMO the Cadlights are the best looking of all the AIO nanos.

[uhuru]

Nice tank. I think that's the best AIO out there right now.

[Rod013]

All Delight

I was torn between the Tunze and the JBJ and cost is what drove me to make my decision. I don't have the JBJ set up yet, but will let everyone know how it works when I do.

[jewtball]

i wouldnt use the skimmer at least for the first 3 weeks of the tank so that you can build up a good culture of beneficial bacteria. also if you have CURED live rock, you wouldnt need the skimmer on anyway until you add more livestock.

I looked at those pics at least 10X already and love it each time, i showed my wife your set-up and she is somewhat stoked about it. i think it is time for an upgrade haha

[Rod013]

jewtball

I think I will turn the skimmer off then. My LR seems to be very well cured but not sure how I can tell for certain. I know it did not smell at all and now after 5 days I see nothing growing other than some type of algae. How long till I should be able to see some type of activity on the LR if it was well cured?

My tank is in my office but wife and kids have seen it as well as those I work with and everybody says it the best looking tank they have ever seen. My wife saw it for the first time this morning and she could not believe how it looked. She was expecting a tank like I have had in the past which was nice but not this NICE.

I puchased my direct from Cadlights and I was very impressed with their service.

[jewtball]

the life comes after everything cycles and from introducing it into the tank. what i mean is that if its not on the rock now, it probably wont just come out and be there ya know? the live rocks will grow with whats on it already. looks like cured Fiji rock so you should get some good purple coraline algaes. if ou want more growth, you should look for a rock that has the life that you like and add it in the tank, so that it can spread to your other rocks.

yeah i think the 34G signature is the first tank that both the hobbyists and the wives like.

[Rod013]

I have a question, I purchased more LR than I needed or at least that is what I thought. A couple of fairly nice rocks went used and I was not able to keep them wet and they have dried completely out. I am now rethinking my aquascaping and would like to use the rocks I left out. Is this safe or should I not use them at this point?

[Johnsteph10]

You beat me posting pics. I just started a thread for all of us.

[Rod013]

Just checked my water for the first time. It has been 5 days and this is what my readings were:

NH4 = 0
NO2 = 0
NO3 = 0
pH = 8.2
Ca = 580

Do these seem like correct numbers for 5 days into the cycle?

This is the first time I have used the Salifert testing kits.

[GrandeGixxer]

Calcium looks pretty high, I would bet your ALK is way off. Other than that it looks good. I strongly disagree on the not running the skimmer during cycle for 2 reasons. 1, they need to break in for usually around 2 weeks before they work right. If you have it off for the first 2 weeks, then it is not going to be ready when you do need it. 2, what is going to take up those light solids and whatever else that is going to foul your water. I understand why some say not to run it, but I have always ran it during a cycle, and I always will. You ask 10 people in this hobby the same question, you will get 10 different answers. Don't just listen to 1(usually the most apealing one to you, I know I am guilty) but listen to all of them. Good luck, the tank looks great!

[jewtball]

if the rocks dried out COMPLETELY like something under the sun dry, then the rock is pretty much dead. some life can sustain living in very low moisture, so you might be lucky.
its still safe to use, but the only thing is that the life will need to be from the other rocks.

if you just had the rock out of water for a few days, then most likely, not all is lost.

[Rod013]

Thanks for the info and the encouraging words. I think I will continue to run my skimmer and lights as well.

I was very hesitant at first about spending the money on the Reefkeeper 2 but it has turned out to be the very best purchase I have made. I cannot even imagine what it would be like trying to run this tank without it.

[danimal1211]

hey rod, how is the cooling fan working? how much does your temp fluctuate. I'd also like to see details on your ATO and how you set it up.

[Rod013]

danimal1211

I was really concerned about heat issues and how well the cooling fan would work, but I must admit it works very well. It is a bit loud but the tank is in my office so noise is not really a big issue. My office stays about 74F-76F 24/7 and I am able to keep the tank between 79F and 80F with no problem. I could probably do better than that with the Reefkeeper 2 running everything, but I am still learning and adjusting daily. I have found an issue with my Finnex digital heater though. When my Reefkeeper 2 shuts off power to the heater the control on the heater automatically resets it to the factory settings when it comes back on. I have contacted Finnex and there is no solution. I will have to get a heater without an electronic control of run the Finnex without the use of my Reefkeeper 2 which I do not want to do.

As for the JBJ ATO, I have not hooked it up yet. I hope to get it done within the next week or so and when I do I try and take some pics and post them.

I as still concerned over my NH4 levels. I know zero is good but I am 6 days into my cycle and I thought I would see a spike in NH4 by now. Also, I see very little grow on my LR other than a little algae, but maybe this is all a good thing?

[Rod013]

Having my tank at work is great during the week but sure makes for some long weekends.

[cherubfish pair]

Rod013,

Who makes the Wavemaking return nozzle? Where can I find it on the internet?

[seastar12]

You look like your off to a great start, can't wait to see what will happen with this tank in the future.