My First Attempt 33g - Page 2

Reef_surfer · #11 10-29-2009, 11:35 PM

well time for a bit of an update. so i recently went to superstore and startting buying RO water and a seperate bin for doing my water changes. also bought a sieo 650 Pump for stirring the water up and hopfully tonight i will be doing a little bit different scaping as im acquiring new liverock for the DT and the other stuff will be going into the bin with some sand.

i also am waiting on a package from the bus (my new MH lighting) the greyhound bus said it should be in tonight. im still pondering on how to make a bracket to hang the lighting as i cannot hang it from the city hopfully i can come up with somthing in the next few days as im heading out on vacation and would like it to be set before i leave.

i should have more pictures up tonight if i can get the lighting assembled and the scaping done

Myka · #12 10-30-2009, 01:57 AM

Great start you got going! Some good deals you have managed to snap up too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef_surfer

Becuase im a little anal about not harming the lil critters i did one more water test to make sure it was still ok.

This is a bit hypocritical when you added your fish before the cycle was over. Ammonia burns the fishes' lungs, and causes irreparable damage. You shouldn't have added any fish or cleanup crew until both ammonia and nitrite were at 0. The advice is a little late, but now you know for next time.

You may want to re-home the urchin as your tank is too new and too small to provide enough food for it. It will slowly starve to death.

Reef_surfer · #13 11-09-2009, 01:30 AM

so i figured i would give you guys some pictures and a bit of an update. i had my MH lighting just sitting on my tank while i decided on how to build my stand for it, since i cannot hang it from the ceiling. here is a few pictures of the completed light stand.

i built the stand with a 9"x9" base then i welded a piece of strut bar 30" high and used 3/4" square tubing for the light bracket. i welded all the peices myself and bolted the light to the Strut bracket. (i used this to adjust the hight of the light)

Reef_surfer · #14 11-09-2009, 01:33 AM

so i finally had the tank ready for corals, after some research and help from the LFS (was in there for over an hour) came home with these.
i purchased a green star polyp, Candycane coral, florida ricorda corals and an unknown coral i found on the liverock. i figured he wouldnt live in the tub i had made for curing live rock so i acclimated him into the tank right away

this is the unknown coral maybe someone can help me out with it

here is a couple FTS

these are the false percula and the sebae clownfish

Skimmerking · #15 11-09-2009, 01:55 AM

Buds the tank is looking great the MH light really has made your tank POP well done serious man. Here is something that you could try. What about getting the larger hang on the back filter I think its the Aqua clear 500 that was the old one. Take off the skimmer so you have alot more room on the back and it will free up some more spare room and take the HANG-ON and convert it to a refugium with some live sand and some Cheato and use that to export that excess nutrients and with a small tank like that. I would just use good old fashion Water changes to take away any crap that builds up in the tnak 2-3 gal per week is huge on asmall tank like that.
Just my opinion. keep up the great work.

bignose · #16 11-09-2009, 02:57 AM

Sounds like you have a good start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef_surfer

Looks like a perfect spot for a bigger cube tank!!

leducreef · #17 11-09-2009, 03:14 AM

just my "opinion" but i would rase that light up a few inches i think you will find that you tank will get to warm with the light that low

Reef_surfer · #18 11-09-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leducreef

just my "opinion" but i would rase that light up a few inches i think you will find that you tank will get to warm with the light that low

well thats what i thought and i have been keeping an eye on it and the temp has yet to change. was one of my first concerns but thats why i built it with and adjustable bracket

Reef_surfer · #19 11-09-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bignose

Sounds like you have a good start.

Looks like a perfect spot for a bigger cube tank!!

yeah i thought of that but nowhere to put the refg or sump... thats why i haven't gone bigger and everything you see is hang-on equipment.

i was going to ask if you need to have the sump lower than the tank. bc i do have space behind to put a refug or sump

Reef_surfer · #20 11-09-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus

What about getting the larger hang on the back filter I think its the Aqua clear 500 that was the old one. Take off the skimmer so you have alot more room on the back and it will free up some more spare room and take the HANG-ON and convert it to a refugium with some live sand and some Cheato and use that to export that excess nutrients and with a small tank like that. I would just use good old fashion Water changes to take away any crap that builds up in the tnak 2-3 gal per week is huge on asmall tank like that.
Just my opinion. keep up the great work.

did you mean convert the aqua clear 500 into a refug? if so is there and DIY information that i could try. I've seen that done on 3 gal pico cube tanks but would that be enough for a 33g tank?

also thanks everyone for the comments it is coming along slow