65g reef

[0sprey]

Your rock will come alive, not to worry. It just takes a little while for the critters that have survived to multiply. With good lighting, a little food, and clean water, the rocks will surprise you with the different lifeforms that sprout. I have had my rock for almost a year, and just recently discovered a black limpet, living undetected all that time (too bad the miserable peon decided to eat my GSP... he was kinda pretty until I peeled him off the rocks). Eggs, algae spores, etc, will sprout after a long time.
I would expect the first visible signs to be bristleworms and aiptasia... but then you might start to find pods, tubeworms, and various macroalgaes, most of which are fun. If you see a choice bit of rock in the store with dusters or something else hardy you want, buy it. The lifeforms on that rock will spread through the tank.

[Melina]

Originally Posted by Redrover

First I would have painted the back of tank [ outside ]...in order to hide view of plumbing and wiring from light fixture...Second I would put sandbed in first [ 1/2 inch ]

Make sure rock on both sides and front are away from glass for glass cleaning
Make a few caves for fish to hide [ sleep ] they will all pick there spot.

I personally don't like the look of a painted background, but my husband suggested doing just that. We will see. I put the rock first because I read that's the best way to go if you plan on having lots of critters that dig in the sand and can disturb the rockwork ie. cause a rock slide. Yeah I'm going to arrange the rock differently so it's away from the glass in the front and on the sides.

[Delphinus]

You can always make a background out of construction paper or .. er .. shoot, I don't know what it's called, but in the lighting aisles at Home Depot or Rona or whatever, in the section with the lighting diffuser stuff, there is this stuff that looks like corrugated cardboard, but it's a lightweight plastic. I think it's in the lighting aisle anyhow, I'm not sure what it's meant for. But it comes in various colours or you could spray paint that with whatever colour you like and then tape that to the back of the tank. I've done this and several others have done this on their tanks and it works well. The best part is, if you decide you don't like it, you can take it off and replace it with something else.

[Melina]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

You can always make a background out of construction paper or .. er .. shoot, I don't know what it's called, but in the lighting aisles at Home Depot or Rona or whatever, in the section with the lighting diffuser stuff, there is this stuff that looks like corrugated cardboard, but it's a lightweight plastic. I think it's in the lighting aisle anyhow, I'm not sure what it's meant for. But it comes in various colours or you could spray paint that with whatever colour you like and then tape that to the back of the tank. I've done this and several others have done this on their tanks and it works well. The best part is, if you decide you don't like it, you can take it off and replace it with something else.

That's a good idea. We might try that. Saw your tanks btw, they are out of this world!!!

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Melina

which brings up another question... these cucumbers can't handle high nitrates so I'm thinking they're probably going to die with the curing/cycling process?

I'm sort of wondering about that too. They might not do too well through the tank cycle. Is there someone who could put them in their sump for you in the meantime?

Originally Posted by Melina

That's a good idea. We might try that. Saw your tanks btw, they are out of this world!!!

Thanks, you're too kind Yours is well on its way!

[Melina]

I spent the whole day looking for the cucumbers but couldn't see them anywhere, they had disappeared into my rockwork. But this evening, one of them came out, and it didn't look good. Half it's body was shriveled up and very dark, and shortly thereafter it began ejecting its inner organs. Looked like it was just opening up at the end. At which point I removed it from the tank. I really have to read up on holothrin. I'm guessing some has been released into my tank (the other cucumber must be dying as well, wherever it is). How long does this poison stay in the tank and what effect will it have on my clean up crew, corals, etc. I know it can be toxic to fish but what about other inverts? Anyhow, got some research to do.

Are you all in agreement about my skimmer? Does it really take days/weeks before it starts producing gunk, or should I have skimmate by now (after 24hrs).

I'm uncomfortable with all the debris in my tank so I'm mixing water right now for a 20% water change. For the heck of it I tested the water and here are my parameters:
ph 8.3
temp 80F
SG 1.026
NH4 non-detectable
NH3 non-detectable
NO2 0.05
NO3 20? ...

I am using Elos test kits. I had a hard time reading the NO3... just wasn't sure. It says to look through the vial from above, while the vial is placed on the white field next to the color card... when I do that, it looks to me to be about 20. But when I hold it up against the card and look through the solution, it's such a light pink... it matches a reading of 10. I'm guessing that doesn't matter and the color that matters is the color you see when you're looking straight down into the vial when the vial is placed on the surface, right? Duh, that's what they say so that must be it. I was just taken back by how light the color was in the vial when I held it up to look at it, and how much darker it is when I view it the other way (from the top when it's placed on a surface). Anyhow. Either way my nitrates are high.

When should the ammonia spike.. in about 3 days? Do you all think it's a good idea for me to do a 20% water change tomorrow? There is debris (die-off) on the bottom of the tank that I want to syphon out. Thanks.

[Mik_101]

MORE PICTURES PLEASE

[skylord]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

...... there is this stuff that looks like corrugated cardboard, but it's a lightweight plastic. .........The best part is, if you decide you don't like it, you can take it off and replace it with something else.

I think you are refering to Coroplast.

Scott