I was going to post this in the Reefs for Beginner's forum but I realised that this is a more appropriate place for updates about the progress of our tank.
75g tank with built in overflow
Custom (self built) stand
2 Maxxima Hi-S RO/DI units
MarineTC HSA-250X protein skimmer w/PSW-10 automatic waste collector
MTC MINICAL calcium reactor
10lb C02 tank with C02 regulator
Variety of powerheads
several pumps
Custom built sump that is adequate for a 250g system
Current 1/3 HP In-Line Tower Chiller
Coralife 492W 48" combo light
Aqua Ultraviolet Classic 25w UV Sterilizer.
115 lbs. of live rock and 60 lbs of live sand.
The tank has been cycling for exactly seven days now. IMHO I think it is going quite well as the cycle readings seem to be following an appropriate pattern. We are first time reefers, but I have had a grreat deal of expereince with marine/reef systems thanks to a friend who used to design and install them for a living. Plus my boyfriend is a science teacher. Can't hurt to have a sicence geek on your side, can it? :wink1:
We saw a spike in ammonia on Tuesday night, and it has been slowly climbing back down. Now the Nitrite has peaked and is finally returning to normal. I think we are deinitely nearing the end of our cycle. We did a water test this morning and the parameters are:
Ammonia = 0 (it was at 1 yesterday)
Nitrite = 8 (it was a 10 yesterday)
Nitrate = 10 (has not gone higher than 10)
pH = 8.2
(no recent calcium readings...)
----------------
*Our readings from August 26th were:
Ammonia = 8
Nitrite = 0.3 (3 mg/liter)
Nitrate = 0
pH = 8.0
CA = 360 mg/liter
----------------
I started noticing the little copepods and worms about three days ago. They probably came in on the livesand. Then I discovered a hitchhiker Featherduster Worm on one of the live rocks on Wednesday. He seems to be a bit happy, albeit lonely.
Our chiller arrived yesterday so we are going to plumb that into the setup this afternoon, along with the UV sterilizer. I know it would have been easier to plumb them in before cycling but we got a bit ahead of ourselves. It shouldn't be too hard though as we are plumbing everything into the sump, so we won't have to shut down the system.
The one draw back is that we have all this equipment external to the stand. Protein Skimmer and chiller. There simply isn't enough room inside to safely house everything. *Next time* we'll build a bigger stand to house everything or at least design it is such a way that the external equipment can be disguised. I don't mind it so much though. It really is just an aesthetic issue.
I think another few days or so and we are going to pick up some cleaner crew invertebrates to populate the tank, i.e. crabs and shrimp. All depending on our water parameters.
I will post the pics shortly, I am still in the process of taking them. I know you guys love to see pictures so I am trying to get some good ones. :splitspin
Thanks for reading...and I'll update as soon as there is something to tell.
75g tank with built in overflow
Custom (self built) stand
2 Maxxima Hi-S RO/DI units
MarineTC HSA-250X protein skimmer w/PSW-10 automatic waste collector
MTC MINICAL calcium reactor
10lb C02 tank with C02 regulator
Variety of powerheads
several pumps
Custom built sump that is adequate for a 250g system
Current 1/3 HP In-Line Tower Chiller
Coralife 492W 48" combo light
Aqua Ultraviolet Classic 25w UV Sterilizer.
115 lbs. of live rock and 60 lbs of live sand.
The tank has been cycling for exactly seven days now. IMHO I think it is going quite well as the cycle readings seem to be following an appropriate pattern. We are first time reefers, but I have had a grreat deal of expereince with marine/reef systems thanks to a friend who used to design and install them for a living. Plus my boyfriend is a science teacher. Can't hurt to have a sicence geek on your side, can it? :wink1:
We saw a spike in ammonia on Tuesday night, and it has been slowly climbing back down. Now the Nitrite has peaked and is finally returning to normal. I think we are deinitely nearing the end of our cycle. We did a water test this morning and the parameters are:
Ammonia = 0 (it was at 1 yesterday)
Nitrite = 8 (it was a 10 yesterday)
Nitrate = 10 (has not gone higher than 10)
pH = 8.2
(no recent calcium readings...)
----------------
*Our readings from August 26th were:
Ammonia = 8
Nitrite = 0.3 (3 mg/liter)
Nitrate = 0
pH = 8.0
CA = 360 mg/liter
----------------
I started noticing the little copepods and worms about three days ago. They probably came in on the livesand. Then I discovered a hitchhiker Featherduster Worm on one of the live rocks on Wednesday. He seems to be a bit happy, albeit lonely.
Our chiller arrived yesterday so we are going to plumb that into the setup this afternoon, along with the UV sterilizer. I know it would have been easier to plumb them in before cycling but we got a bit ahead of ourselves. It shouldn't be too hard though as we are plumbing everything into the sump, so we won't have to shut down the system.
The one draw back is that we have all this equipment external to the stand. Protein Skimmer and chiller. There simply isn't enough room inside to safely house everything. *Next time* we'll build a bigger stand to house everything or at least design it is such a way that the external equipment can be disguised. I don't mind it so much though. It really is just an aesthetic issue.
I think another few days or so and we are going to pick up some cleaner crew invertebrates to populate the tank, i.e. crabs and shrimp. All depending on our water parameters.
I will post the pics shortly, I am still in the process of taking them. I know you guys love to see pictures so I am trying to get some good ones. :splitspin
Thanks for reading...and I'll update as soon as there is something to tell.
