When I started my first saltwater tank in Aug. 2010 I came home with a 55G AGA non-drilled tank, a standard canopy with two 24" 50/50 T8's, two Eheim canister filters (2227 and Pro3 2073), a HOB CPR Bak Pak skimmer, 2 Hydor Korolia power heads, a heater, 40 pounds of LR, three bags of live sand, a tap water filter, a box of Tropic Marin salt mix, a hydrometer, a bottle of Purple Up, a bottle of Instant Ocean Bio-Spira, and an Instant Ocean Test Kit. I washed everything, set it up and filled the tank with saltwater. I started my log. My plan was a FOWLR tank for a year then a reef tank...
What do you mean I'll want to upgrade right away?
- Thread starter LaurieC
- Start date
DrHarryLopez
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Ozone Park, Queens
Excellent! Logs are the best!
- Location
- Bay Ridge, BK
I use aqualog. It is free and for those of us who prefer a computer log as opposed to a notebook (I can barely read my own handwriting). 
http://www.joejaworski.com/aqualog/
http://www.joejaworski.com/aqualog/
Next came CUC and fish
After a month of letting the tank cycle until I got "0"'s, I added some hermits, Turbo and Nassarius snails. Finally something moving in the tank! Several weeks later the CUC was still alive and I added my first fish--three blue/green Chromis. As the weeks went by and the parameters remained good and cuc and fish seemed to be doing ok, I slowly added a few more fish and inverts. Two Occelaris Clowns, a Blood Red Fire Shrimp, a Scarlet Skunk Cleaner. Later, Two Neon Cleaner Gobies, Two Kauldren's Cardinals. The tank was getting more and more interesting, loads more to write about in the log.
After a month of letting the tank cycle until I got "0"'s, I added some hermits, Turbo and Nassarius snails. Finally something moving in the tank! Several weeks later the CUC was still alive and I added my first fish--three blue/green Chromis. As the weeks went by and the parameters remained good and cuc and fish seemed to be doing ok, I slowly added a few more fish and inverts. Two Occelaris Clowns, a Blood Red Fire Shrimp, a Scarlet Skunk Cleaner. Later, Two Neon Cleaner Gobies, Two Kauldren's Cardinals. The tank was getting more and more interesting, loads more to write about in the log.
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Nitrates!
I'd been warned that canister filters can be a nitrate factory, but the area for my tank didn't have room for sump. Even with water changes, I couldn't get my nitrates as low as I would like, so I decided I'd add a refugium with macro algae. I looked into HOB refugiums--not inexpensive. So I added a home-made in-tank refugium with some free Cheato to see if it would help first. Thanks RKARAGOZLER for the Cheato and thank you GUARDA for picking it up!!
I'd been warned that canister filters can be a nitrate factory, but the area for my tank didn't have room for sump. Even with water changes, I couldn't get my nitrates as low as I would like, so I decided I'd add a refugium with macro algae. I looked into HOB refugiums--not inexpensive. So I added a home-made in-tank refugium with some free Cheato to see if it would help first. Thanks RKARAGOZLER for the Cheato and thank you GUARDA for picking it up!!
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If I Just Removed that One Piece...
So the macro algae helped, but I still couldn't get my mind around the cost of a HOB refugium. Plus refugiums are kinda neat and you wouldn't be able to see it on the back of the tank. Hummmmm....I took another look at the area for the fish tank. The previous owner had made a floor-to-ceiling built in unit for his TV and entertainment center and this is where I had my 55G tank set up. Hummmmm...maybe I could get a sump in there if I just removed that one wooden divider...
So the macro algae helped, but I still couldn't get my mind around the cost of a HOB refugium. Plus refugiums are kinda neat and you wouldn't be able to see it on the back of the tank. Hummmmm....I took another look at the area for the fish tank. The previous owner had made a floor-to-ceiling built in unit for his TV and entertainment center and this is where I had my 55G tank set up. Hummmmm...maybe I could get a sump in there if I just removed that one wooden divider...
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I Lasted Two Months with a FOWLER
Now it was early October, my birthday and the frag swap. I really wanted to start adding corals to my tank. I decided to get serious lights for my birthday. I posted that I was looking for lights on MR and Russ of Saltwater Criters responded. As we talked, I thought hummmm....I'm getting lights, a sump, doing a refugium...I might as well get a bigger tank too! So I sent my plans to Russ and Jim and a that's when things got interesting!
Now it was early October, my birthday and the frag swap. I really wanted to start adding corals to my tank. I decided to get serious lights for my birthday. I posted that I was looking for lights on MR and Russ of Saltwater Criters responded. As we talked, I thought hummmm....I'm getting lights, a sump, doing a refugium...I might as well get a bigger tank too! So I sent my plans to Russ and Jim and a that's when things got interesting!
Frags from MR Frag Swap
A couple of the frags I picked up at the swap. Thank you: Saltwater Critters, Jadakiss, Cherry Corals, Pacific East, Got Frags, and Manhattan Aquariums!!
A couple of the frags I picked up at the swap. Thank you: Saltwater Critters, Jadakiss, Cherry Corals, Pacific East, Got Frags, and Manhattan Aquariums!!
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- Location
- Flushing, NY
I like the sketch of the dimensions. It looks similar to what I usually do. Great minds think alike!
The Tap Water Filter Wasn't Going to Cut It
The best thing I did was decide to order a RO-DI unit. I read a bunch of articles on what RO-DI units do and how they work. Then I purchased a Spectra-Pure Max-Cap RO-DI system with a pressure gauge and two inline TDS meters. I can fill a 45G bin in less than a day. It has made water changes a breeze and now I'm confident the water is safe for the tank.
http://www.spectrapure.com/St_MaxCap-RO-DI.htm
The best thing I did was decide to order a RO-DI unit. I read a bunch of articles on what RO-DI units do and how they work. Then I purchased a Spectra-Pure Max-Cap RO-DI system with a pressure gauge and two inline TDS meters. I can fill a 45G bin in less than a day. It has made water changes a breeze and now I'm confident the water is safe for the tank.
http://www.spectrapure.com/St_MaxCap-RO-DI.htm
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How Am I Going to Move the 55G?
Next issue was that the new 90G tank I ordered was going in the same space where my 55G was currently set up. Also, I was going to have to reinforce the shelf under the 90G and remove that one piece of wood to fit a sump. I had to move that 55G, but how?
I found a free 55G and stand on MR marketplace (thank you Stbarnabas!), so I brought it home and used white vinegar and a razor blade glass scraper to clean up the tank. Stinky!! I then filled the tank with RODI water to make sure it held water and tested it for copper. A-ok.
I put the new 55 on the bottom of the stand near my tank and siphoned the water from my tank into the new 55. I moved the LR into the new tank as the water siphoned out, making sure not to disturb the sand bed. Then I moved the fish into the new 55. Fast guys! That took quite awhile and a big thanks to my husband for playing goalie with a second net.
Finally my tank was empty of everything except the sandbed and little bit of water. My husband and I moved the tank to the top of the stand. I siphoned the water back in, moved the LR and the fish over to the original tank. Phew! The largest of my clowns seemed to get miffed as he snuck up and bit me towards the final stages of the move. Guess he wasn't pleased with having to move twice! Also, I could not find my beloved mystery wrasse I looked everywhere. The empty tank, the little bit of sand in the bottom of the now empty tank, the floor, the outlying area, the towels I'd used to mop up water. Nothing. She was gone and I was very bummed out.
Next issue was that the new 90G tank I ordered was going in the same space where my 55G was currently set up. Also, I was going to have to reinforce the shelf under the 90G and remove that one piece of wood to fit a sump. I had to move that 55G, but how?
I found a free 55G and stand on MR marketplace (thank you Stbarnabas!), so I brought it home and used white vinegar and a razor blade glass scraper to clean up the tank. Stinky!! I then filled the tank with RODI water to make sure it held water and tested it for copper. A-ok.
I put the new 55 on the bottom of the stand near my tank and siphoned the water from my tank into the new 55. I moved the LR into the new tank as the water siphoned out, making sure not to disturb the sand bed. Then I moved the fish into the new 55. Fast guys! That took quite awhile and a big thanks to my husband for playing goalie with a second net.
Finally my tank was empty of everything except the sandbed and little bit of water. My husband and I moved the tank to the top of the stand. I siphoned the water back in, moved the LR and the fish over to the original tank. Phew! The largest of my clowns seemed to get miffed as he snuck up and bit me towards the final stages of the move. Guess he wasn't pleased with having to move twice! Also, I could not find my beloved mystery wrasse
I looked everywhere. The empty tank, the little bit of sand in the bottom of the now empty tank, the floor, the outlying area, the towels I'd used to mop up water. Nothing. She was gone and I was very bummed out.Attachments
How the Mystery Wrasse got it's name
A full day later the Mystery Wrasse appeared, swimming around the tank as though nothing had happened. I think she was hidding in a piece of the LR and rode over in the LR to the new tank. Now we know how the Mystery Wrasse got it's name!
A full day later the Mystery Wrasse appeared, swimming around the tank as though nothing had happened. I think she was hidding in a piece of the LR and rode over in the LR to the new tank. Now we know how the Mystery Wrasse got it's name!
Did I Mention I've Never Used a Power Tool?
Well, it came time to build the reinforcement for the 90G. The last time I worked with wood was seventh grade shop class. I made a cutting board for my mother. The teacher cut all of the wood and I glued it together. I looked up DIY stand plans and videos online and Rkaragozler directed me to a very helpful site:
http://www.garf.org/calculators/BuildStand_2.asp
I got the 2 x 4's and plywood from Midtown Lumber on West 25th St. near 8th Avenue. They will cut wood for you and they cut the plywood bottom of my stand. 212-675-2230. Great guys!
Well, it came time to build the reinforcement for the 90G. The last time I worked with wood was seventh grade shop class. I made a cutting board for my mother. The teacher cut all of the wood and I glued it together. I looked up DIY stand plans and videos online and Rkaragozler directed me to a very helpful site:
http://www.garf.org/calculators/BuildStand_2.asp
I got the 2 x 4's and plywood from Midtown Lumber on West 25th St. near 8th Avenue. They will cut wood for you and they cut the plywood bottom of my stand. 212-675-2230. Great guys!
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The Stand
Well it took all day and a hand from my Super (thank you Fernando!), but the stand came together piece by piece. Made sure to measure and remeasure each piece, pulling the stand out each time to make sure everything would be snug under that shelf and tight against the walls otherwise it wouldn't be much help supporting all that weight.
Well it took all day and a hand from my Super (thank you Fernando!), but the stand came together piece by piece. Made sure to measure and remeasure each piece, pulling the stand out each time to make sure everything would be snug under that shelf and tight against the walls otherwise it wouldn't be much help supporting all that weight.
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