Recent content by forestal

Hello everyone, I appreciate all the advice and I am getting a lot out of this site. I would welcome further comments and advice. I have updated my tank further (see my website): http://www.geocities.com/forestal.geo/images/fishpics/Reef.html My current plan is to add more detritous feeders...

have retested, ammonia is 0.25, nitrites 0, nitrates 0-5, so cycle just starting. Have some small amounts of brown algae growing on the sand. added more live rock. total of 23-25 pounds. becuase of monetary reasons, will add some more live rock in a week while tank is still cycling. one...

Thanks for the replies. I did get rid of the airstone. I wanted to originally add all liverock at once, but was dissuaded by chap at LFS. my bad :oops: So I will get more live rock - from what i have read, put in a pound per gallon? Should I wait for algae bloom before adding detritous...

Hello everyone. My 55 gallon has been up and running for 10 days now, and I have added some live rock (5 lbs) and 3 sulfur damsels to start the cycle. See my web page for all the details: http://www.geocities.com/forestal.geo/images/fishpics/Reef.html From what I have read I will add...

I do plan to get a protein skimmer, but figure i still have several weeks before i need it. I took one of the biowheels off of the emperor 400 and removed the carbon, I'm just using it with filter pads and floss for mechanical filtration and have sponge filters on both powerheads. I have great...

thanks for the info. currently have my tank up and running and feel like i am chasing the spec. gravity. was 1.018, added to whole tank 1/2 cup salt. next day 1.030. removed 5 gallons and replaced with fresh water 5 gallons. now is 1.023 (afer 30 min) will see how it looks tomorrow. I want...

Thanks for the info, that's a relief. I was hoping it dissolve fast.

Hello all, sorry for the dumb question :oops: I am going to be using Kent sea salt. If I mix it into 5 gallon buckets, how long should I wait before I can use the hydrometer to measure specific gravity, or is there a rough estimate how much to add to make it easier? I realize the salt can...

My plan is for a reef setup. I would prefer to not use a wet/dry. I wanted to use the emperors and yes they have biowheels. If I use them should i take out the biowheels, use only for mechanical filtration? I do want to use live rock/invertabrates for biologic filtration, but wasnt sure the...

I have a plywood tank and it works just fine (although for freshwater). I used epoxy paint from these folks (Aquatic Eco systems). 4-5 coats...

Hello all, first post. I am going to be setting up my first saltwater tank and have been reading some of the guides and posts. My tank is a 55 gallon (48 x 18 x 18) . I originally planned to use 2 emperor 400's for filtration with a powerhead for water movement. The more I read the more it...