First marine tank build (New pics/changes Feb 3rd)

Mr.nintendo · #1 09-23-2009, 07:34 PM

After cleaning/ scrubbing all the equipment and making sure there was no old salt build up or dirt from moving and set-up I made sure the tank was level and ran all the hosing and power cables.
I started initially with the sump pump running and let the water cycle the tank for a few days, then removed the water that had been running through the system to make sure there was no let over buildup in any of the equipment. Then re-filled everything, tested to make sure over-flo wasn't an issue and again let it cycle for a few days before getting rock/ starting my cycle.

I added 35 pounds of LR , did a few scrubs on it to get some of the dead matter off and let it sit. There was a small ammonium spike initially but within 5-6 days it was non-exsistent. Followed by a slight Nitrite spike but it as well only lasted 2 three days. Been using a Sera aqua-test box but had a firned bring another kit ovet to make sure everything was going good. within a week an a half the cycle seemed to be stable and I introduced a few little blue legs to see some movement in the tank

( even if its slow movement )

The Codfather · #2 09-23-2009, 07:50 PM

Welcome to the most expensive hobby known to man. Good score on the equipment, just a small hint, as i am sure you will hear several times, take it slow. Other than that, welcome. I am sure you have several questions, ask away. There is a pile of people on this site that give very good advise.

Mr.nintendo · #3 09-23-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Codfather

Welcome to the most expensive hobby known to man. Good score on the equipment, just a small hint, as i am sure you will hear several times, take it slow. Other than that, welcome. I am sure you have several questions, ask away. There is a pile of people on this site that give very good advise.

These posts are over the course of what is now 2 months, I wont be adding anymore life to the tank for another week or two, and again a few weeks after that. I know "technically" they say the tank is cycled after three or four days at 0/0 but the real cycle takes a few months

TheMikey · #4 10-23-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Codfather

Welcome to the most expensive hobby known to man.

Yeah. I'm just a year in and already I wish I'd just gone straight for the cocaine.

Mr.nintendo · #5 10-23-2009, 06:49 AM

The tank now:

Mr.nintendo · #6 10-28-2009, 01:39 AM

So it's been a week or two now since the tank switch mess

Here's some new shots of new additions and the tank settled and happy again:

don.ald · #7 10-28-2009, 01:49 AM

looks like a great project! so what light fixture are you running? and did you go with the blue bulbs? want to know more about the blue versus attinc?

Mr.nintendo · #8 10-28-2009, 01:57 AM

For the time being I replaced my actinic blue with an aquablue +

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/lb...aBlue+%2B.html

I'm still undecided as to whether I want to add a pendant or not, I know for a fact I plan on NO SPS, but there are a lot of LPS I'm really interested in so was thinking I may replace my 2 bulb T5 with a 4 bulb. Running 2x 14-15k, an aquablue+ and an actinic.

I won't mention the LFS (not J&L who have corrected a lot of the mis-information I was given, they are great ) but I really was thrown off the right path and am correcting it slowly. Myka had a lot of great suggestions as well about everything. I know I could just get high end bulbs and make the 2 bulb fixture work, but I just dont want it to "work"
Plus I do want a hood with moonlights