Trix25's 33 gal tank journal
 

I posted this at another local forum but thought i'll post it here as well since this forum has been a huge source of motivation for my tank. thanks guys/gals :mrgreen:

p.s. this tank has been in the works since beginning of last month...maybe even longer actually :redface:.i had to take some time off after a couple of months of studying for my designation.

So a little about me. Started off with freshwater back about 10yrs ago, then was introduced to the world of discus. Bred discus for a while and quickly got bored and tired of doing water changes on 8 different tanks. Pretty much left my 33gal running without much care the last couple of years. Then all of a sudden the urge to get back into aquarium hits me. Wanted to do reef tank for a long time, but i couldn't justify spending all that $ to start one up. I didn't know where my career was gonna take me so that last thing i wanted to do was spend thousands of dollars to quickly sell everything off.

So my setup:
-33 Gal Hagen tank with my 16 gal DIY acrylic custom sump
-Protein Skimmer bought used
-3 x Water pumps
-More than 50lbs of sugar sand free from canreef
-Ebo Jager heater – reused from before
-250w Metal Halide ballast and light
-CPR C50 External overflow
-53 lbs of Live Rocks
-Salt Mix
-Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Filter
-Hydrometer
-API Saltwater Master/Reef test kits
-Misc plumbing lots of them
-JBJ ATO

as of today i think i should have all the equipment and livestocks that i need for my tank to start the cycle. infact i have saltwater in the main tank with live rocks cycling for the last week and a half.

i still have to hook up my tank to the sump, I ran into some problems with my plumbing but now is all test fitted and i just have to hard plumb everything. I also can't wait to do some aquascaping. saw some really nice aquascaping here and on nano-reef.com that have given me some inspiration. hopefully i can aquascape something i like with the rocks i have.

anyways here are some photos from the start of the build till the what i have today.

enjoy

pAt

Before:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0137r.jpg

After black back:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0138r.jpg

my stand after some mods to fit the sump
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_t_YDX4cvvKg/Sd...0/IMG_4155.JPG

the DIY for my acrylic sump
my pieces
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_t_YDX4cvvKg/Sd...0/IMG_4173.JPG

the tools
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_t_YDX4cvvKg/Sd...0/IMG_4174.JPG

the sump
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_t_YDX4cvvKg/Sd...0/IMG_4179.JPG

the test fit for my baffles.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_t_YDX4cvvKg/Sd...0/IMG_4188.JPG

my JBJ ATO
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0188r.jpg

MY finished DIY sump
from left to right = return/refugium/intake
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0187r.jpg

my live rocks with shrooms can anyone ID this mushroom, it came with my live rocks
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0183r.jpg

my live rock with my feather duster
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0180r.jpg

more to come...when i have time :D

I like it alot KISS rule oh ya nice SUMP DIY guru

thanks asmodeus :mrgreen:

i have a question thou...i have been having some white growth on my rocks...anyone know what it is??? i looks like what i have in my last pic with my feather duster

PICTURES

1) filling up the tank for the very first time
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0193r.jpg

2) messing around with the rocks
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0361r.jpg

3) side view of the the messing around with the rocks for the 1st time
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0362r.jpg

4) After several hours of aquascaping here is what i came up with (final aquascape) water still murky from the scaping.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0368r.jpg

5) side view of the final design
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0374r.jpg

6) side view of final scaping without cloudy water
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0007r.jpg

7) full view of final scaping without cloudy water
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0022r.jpg

8) picture of my sump/refugium with macros
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../IMG_0036r.jpg

enjoy


so...tell me what you think? i am pretty happy with the design...i plan on having the left side of the tank for corals that needs less lighting, maybe zoos, mushrooms, blue xenia, blue cloves. then slowly moving on to the middle/right side, i would like to eventually have some sps and a red or brown monti cap on the far right.

also, i have been thinking about what are some of my future live stocks i wanna keep...my brother's sister is insisting on "nemos" but i am just kinda worried about where they are gonna host. i don't really like the idea of having anemones just because of their wandering nature plus it will not be fair for clowns too. i know i would like to have a pairing of pistol shrimp/gobie but not too sure if that will match up well with a peppermint shrimp.
Any suggestions for down the road?

p.s. waiting sucks.:mad:
p.s.s oh yeah not in the pics are my powerheads koralia 2's...just in case someone mention not enough flow in the tank

****also i am thinking if i should start dosing kalk with my top off water...is it too early???****

Pretty cool, Love how you did your sand!

looks great!

and OMG what camera are you using? your pictures look awesome!!

Lookin good! Looks just like my 33 when I first started it up! :D

thanks guys...you guys are the ones that have been giving me inspiration to do this saltwater tank. if not for this forum my tank would def not be where it is today, i've met some really nice board members that have taken the time to answer my silly questions...one board member in particular is pinhead...thanks!

also for my camera, it is a canon rebel xt with my sigma lens. if any of you guys don't have a camera and want me to help you take some pics just let me know/pm me.:biggrin:

this blog looks very familiar :)
which sigma lens are you using? Those are very sharp pictures!

haha yeah, posted on bcaquaria too :mrgreen:
i have the sigma OS 18-200mm is a great lens for the price and range. i use it pretty much everywhere i go. is great when i go on vacation cause i don't need to carry/change back and forth between lenses. down side is that a bit of sharpness is lost because of the range and also some barrel distortion when is wide open. on the other side thou the OS (optic stabilizer) have saved my butt several billion times and is a great feature on this lens. overall, this lens have served its purpose and imo the pros outways the cons.

Looking very nice for a first saltwater tank! Love your scaping!

eeessss goot!

thanks guys...well a few days ago i found out i had 2 very pretty looking snails...after some research i found out that they are SUNDIAL SNAILS. questions to you guys is if i should remove them from the tank????

thanks

pAt

Hmm well that would depend on what a sundial snail is... what do they eat? How big do they get? And do they fit into a niche in the ecosystem that you're planning for this reef?

well i took out 1 of 2 sundial snail, can't find the other one...

i do however have my very first setback...a battle with AIPTASIA. is only on one rock...the only rock i bought from a LFS...i am wondering if i should take the entire rock out and blast it with hotwater and lemon juice??? any suggestions??? i am afraid that it might spread to the rest of the other rocks...

thanks

pAt

try using tailored aquatics aptasia destroyer. you just spray them with the lil baster (comes with it) when their fully open, and they'll disintegrate into nothing.
and also it doesnt effect fish,corals, or inverts. just aptasia and majanos.

how is that different from joe juice?? and where can i get it in bc??? i just checked jlaquatics and they only have joe juice...i am kinda leaning towards torching the rock to get rid of it once and for all...:twised:
opinions??

pAt

HI Pat,
If you haven't found a TA dealer in BC yet, here is a list of for you to choose from. There are a few places to buy online if there isnt one in your area.
http://www.tailoredaquatics.com/index.html?a=0&d=67

Best Regards,
Brad/ Tailored Aquatics