125 Tank Diary

[browniebuck]

Okie Dokie...I have posted a few times about my new tank. I got a used 125 gallon tank, stand, wet/dry, skimmer, and ocean clear system for $250. I cleaned everything up and have it ready to go...I bought a reverse osmosis system off of e-something (auction)...I have a plumber coming over on Thursday evening to help with the installation of this (nothing in my house is normal...tried to install myself by attaching to my utility sink...however that is not standard size, so couldn't get it hooked up). I also contacted my LFS and was given an estimate of $50 for plumbing the tank and getting things up and running...so, I will finally be getting this thing up and running in the very near future....stay tuned!

 

[saltwaterkitty]

Can't wait to see how it comes along! Hopefully my build (probably a 55) will be just a few short weeks behind you!
Kat

 

[spanko]

Tagging along for the fun of a new build!!!!!

 

[browniebuck]

1 thing down, how many more to go??? Last night a co-worker's husband (also a student's father) came over to get my old spigot off of my utility sink and installed a 1/4" spigot that will hook right up to my RO unit (now I have to mount it...my dad is supposed to come over this weekend to do that for me...not having the use of an arm SUCKS!!!)...he was only going to charge me $30...but I felt bad having him drive 20 minutes, after working his normal shift, so I gave him $45 (still cheaper than if I would have tried to do it myself...I would have probably burnt my house down!).
Next up, get my LFS guy over to set up plumbing/fill the tank and make sure that everything runs as planned!
NOW for my updated fish list......(I know I shouldn't get ALL of these, but tell me what you think ...)
Clown tang (I know they are listed as Difficult, but my LFS will make sure that the fish is eating prior to selling it...so I will take my chances...have ALWAYS wanted one of these).
Blonde Naso tang
Blue Hippo tang
Maldives Lyretail Anthias (2 F 1 M)
Virgate Rabbitfish
Longnose Butterfly
Raccoon Butterfly
BiColor OR Flame Angel
3-5 firefish (purple and regular...added at the same time)
to go along with what is already there...Half Black angel and 1 ocelaris clown.
somewhere down the road...
4-5 cleaner shrimp
4-5 fire shrimp
3 pom pom crabs
3-5 porcelain/anemone crabs
40-50 blue or red leg hermits
50+ assorted snails (nassarius, mexican turbo, margarita, etc...)
Any potential problems??? Additions/subtractions??? Other cool inverts???

 

[xcali1985]

Originally Posted by browniebuck
http:///forum/post/3167604
1 thing down, how many more to go??? Last night a co-worker's husband (also a student's father) came over to get my old spigot off of my utility sink and installed a 1/4" spigot that will hook right up to my RO unit (now I have to mount it...my dad is supposed to come over this weekend to do that for me...not having the use of an arm SUCKS!!!)...he was only going to charge me $30...but I felt bad having him drive 20 minutes, after working his normal shift, so I gave him $45 (still cheaper than if I would have tried to do it myself...I would have probably burnt my house down!).
Next up, get my LFS guy over to set up plumbing/fill the tank and make sure that everything runs as planned!
NOW for my updated fish list......(I know I shouldn't get ALL of these, but tell me what you think ...)
Clown tang (I know they are listed as Difficult, but my LFS will make sure that the fish is eating prior to selling it...so I will take my chances...have ALWAYS wanted one of these).
Blonde Naso tang
Blue Hippo tang
Maldives Lyretail Anthias (2 F 1 M)
Virgate Rabbitfish
Longnose Butterfly
Raccoon Butterfly
BiColor OR Flame Angel
3-5 firefish (purple and regular...added at the same time)
to go along with what is already there...Half Black angel and 1 ocelaris clown.
somewhere down the road...
4-5 cleaner shrimp
4-5 fire shrimp
3 pom pom crabs
3-5 porcelain/anemone crabs
40-50 blue or red leg hermits
50+ assorted snails (nassarius, mexican turbo, margarita, etc...)
Any potential problems??? Additions/subtractions??? Other cool inverts???
I take it this tank wont have corals? If so theres probably a problem with the Butterflies and some of those angels. What ive learnt since I started with my tank is that if you want a reef tank. By two or 3 of the hardiest fish on your list and then stock all the corals you can buy/want/afford. Once your tank is where you want coral wise then stock your tank up with the rest of your fish.

 

[browniebuck]

won't have corals for a long time (at least until we move which will be at least 3 or 4 more years)...don't want to shell out the big $$$ for lights!

 

[browniebuck]

after mounting the RO system and fixing the few leaks that were present....I now want to get a TDS meter to make sure that the water that I am putting into my tank is good....I was wondering if anybody had any experience with one of the cheaper ones on the popular auction site...ranging from $13 to $25...are these worth it, or do I NEED to go for a higher priced model???

 

[browniebuck]

WOW...can't believe it is a month later, and the tank STILL isn't up yet!!! However...I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I now have an aquarium maintenance company (insured) coming to set the tank up on Monday night.
I will be using all of the LR from my 55 (which is now in my 30, which will be my QT) and the LS which has been rinsed until clear (and stored in a Rubbermaid container with water, heater, and PH and had the water tested...all clear). Assuming that all goes well, I shouldn't see a cycle using all cured LR and LS...right??? Everything has been in a running system while waiting.

 

[xcali1985]

You may get a spike always hard to tell. However, if you do should be small and quick.

 

[browniebuck]

That's what I thought...leave it alone for a few days, test and add my current stuff (half black angel and percula clown...and a few hermits) and SLOWLY add things to my QT.
Now....for yet another version of my stocklist.....
FISH
Half black angel
Either take my clown back and get two or get one out of a bunch that is smaller than mine
Bristletooth Tomini tang
Clown tang (I still haven't talked myself out of this one)
Blue Flasher Wrasse (say that fast...flash yer what???)
Foxface (debating on regular yellow or decorated/vigrate)
Longnose Butterfly (have a LFS that will order and not sell until eating...for both this guy and the clown tang)
3-5 Dispar anthias (1 male)
3-5 firefish (purple and regular...added together)
Green mandarin (down the road)
Inverts
3-5 Cleaner shrimp
3-5 fire shrimp
50 mixed red and blue hermits
50 nassarius snails
5-10 mexican turbo snails
1-2 conch (either queen or fighting)
5-10 nerite snails
5-10 margarita snails
1 Blue tuxedo pincushion urchin
Does anything need added or subtracted??? I doubt that we will get ALL of the fish listed, but they are what interest us most.

 

[browniebuck]

Well...my "aquarium service company" turned out to be unreliable...they didn't show and didn't return my phone call until 5 days later....now, I have someone else that is supposed to be here at 6:00...I really hope that this ends up happening...or the tank is going on craigslist tomorrow!!!

 

[fretfreak13]

Did you ever call that guy I gave you the number for? Or check out C-SEA? They, especially the C-SEA people, will love to help. I was just gonna comment on the pom pom crabs you had in the stocklist, but I saw you removed them. I have one in a FIVE gallon and I never see it, I could only imagine in a 125.

 

[browniebuck]

well...I had forgotten about him...just feel a little guilty asking for someone to help and having them come all the way from Cleveland...not to mention that I would feel obligated to pay them not only for their work, but also for their time and gas to get down here. I guess if it doesn't get set up today, I will have to consider paying the extra chunk for your guy to come down.
I didn't check C-Sea due to the fact that I am a cheapskate and didn't want to pay to join...in the grand scheme, what is $20...right??? I just figured that I would try to get someone local so that the price wouldn't go up too much.

 

[eric b 125]

what's up BB? my fingers are crossed for you. let us know if the guy shows or not

 

[browniebuck]

husband and wife showed up...they seemed a little lost, but they seemed to develop a plan and are on their way to Lowe's to get the necessary items for plumbing...I have my fingers crossed, that's for %^$& sure!!! I have 2 - 19 gallon tubs filled with fresh saltwater, a 64 gallon trash can filled with fresh RO water, and another 25 or so gallons in my 30 gallon temporary tank (will become my QT tank when all is said and done)...to go along with the 18 or so gallons that I have in the back of my Jeep...
If this doesn't work out, I think that you will see me on the 10 o'clock news (just kidding...nobody go out and call the cops on me)!!!

 

[browniebuck]

I now have a 125 that is nearing completion...I need to wait for my RO to make more water overnight, make more saltwater, then start moving my rock into the new tank and turn everything on. We checked everything that we could, only concern is getting the overflow started, which I am not too worried about.

after waiting over 2 months, I finally have plumbing, water in the tank, sand in the tank, snails that were in the sand that was in a tote are in the tank (and already scurrying about)...It's a Christmas MIRACLE!!!

 

[eric b 125]

so what now: only matching the overflow rate and return pump rate? then you're ready to roll?

 

[browniebuck]

first I have to get it full...right now it is only about 2/3 full, which doesn't reach the overflow...
Once I get it full (I guess I have to move the LR in as well to make sure I don't overflow the tank!), I will start to tinker with overflow and return rates...how wonderful would it be if I plugged the pump in and everything worked perfectly....in a perfect world.
Once I have everything flowing...I am going to introduce my clown and his angel buddy to the tank (all of the rock and sand is fully cured, going directly from tank to tank...shouldn't have a cycle, though I will test).
Then, assuming that everything is going well...time for a big invert order along with one or two fish to go into the quarantine tank (whether or not I will be able to keep them in that tank for a month remains to be seen...but I will try!).
Any ideas on stock order?

 

[browniebuck]

I am looking for lights for my tank...it is a 125 with a center brace (not AGA...could be Perfecto). Should I get 2 36" x 18" lights or should I look for 1 72" X 18" light? In terms of price, I would think that getting 2 36" would be cheaper and safer (less length to break) but I am not sure. I was looking at 2 36" PC fixtures, however I am not sure how the mounting brackets would work with the center brace. Any ideas?

 

[browniebuck]

UPDATE!!!
I finally have my tank up and running with no problems (knocking on wood as I type this). I added about 30 lbs of LR (thanks Jshepherd) and have things going well. Last night, we went to our LFS and saw (for the third week) a 2-3"long nosed butterfly that looked VERY healthy, we witnessed it eating both from the LR as well as frozen, and decided to bring it home. Considering that the fish was in the LFS (in a coral tank, so no copper treatments) for at least 3 weeks and looked perfectly healthy, I acclimated him and added him directly to the display. I was very hesitant to do this, but he was eating not only frozen but was also a voracious grazer on the LR that was in the coral tank...I hope that this doesn't come back to bite me on the hind end, but...I couldn't resist.
I will post pictures as soon as the camera batteries charge...he is a beauty!!!

I also have a shipment of shrimp, hermits, and snails coming tomorrow (I think...haven't gotten the confirmation e-mail yet...) and then we will add our angel and trade in our clown to get a pair to avoid any problems there...coming together, FINALLY!!!