Building my 56 gallon Column reef tank
- Thread starter monsinour
- Start date
monsinour
Active Member
So then 3" of sand in the fuge is good enough then. Gotcha.
edit: tested the water and these are the results:
PH 7.8 (kinda low right?)
Ammonia .5 ppm (so the next measurement will determine if its going up or down)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
all done at 80 degrees F.
Before I add my next 13 gallons of saltwater, I will test the water again. I plan on adding that watter around 10 or 11 Pm. The "dust" hasnt completely settled, but I did find some new "tree" like coral on the rock. The urchins are moving around, the corals have all opened up, and there are clams spitting out debris. So far so good I suppose.
edit: tested the water and these are the results:
PH 7.8 (kinda low right?)
Ammonia .5 ppm (so the next measurement will determine if its going up or down)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
all done at 80 degrees F.
Before I add my next 13 gallons of saltwater, I will test the water again. I plan on adding that watter around 10 or 11 Pm. The "dust" hasnt completely settled, but I did find some new "tree" like coral on the rock. The urchins are moving around, the corals have all opened up, and there are clams spitting out debris. So far so good I suppose.
btldreef
Moderator
They are purple urchins (purple rock urchins as some call them), I have one in my refugium. They're harmless. The only issue with them is that they sometimes like to rearrange loosely attached corals.
As for the dept of refugium sand, I always go with a DSB of at least 5" in my refugiums.
The halimeda (the macro algae you have growing) can become a nuisance and is a fast grower in the right conditions. It's usually not recommended to through into a refugium because it sucks up calcium. I would though a little in there, but keep it under control.
IMO, down the road, you may not want 3-4 urchins in one tank. You might want to consider traiding two or three of them for other CUC members.
As for the dept of refugium sand, I always go with a DSB of at least 5" in my refugiums.
The halimeda (the macro algae you have growing) can become a nuisance and is a fast grower in the right conditions. It's usually not recommended to through into a refugium because it sucks up calcium. I would though a little in there, but keep it under control.
IMO, down the road, you may not want 3-4 urchins in one tank. You might want to consider traiding two or three of them for other CUC members.
monsinour
Active Member
Well, there are 3 in there for sure, I can see 3 of them. Also on the bottom of the really nice rock is a feather duster. It also has another "tree" like coral on it and all kinds of other goodies. I havent even noticed that there is some college football on and have spent all my time looking at the tank and studing it. I have more pictures to upload and then post. BRB with the pics.
monsinour
Active Member
Candidate for some lemon juice yes? It just looks ugly.
This is the tank as it sits now. I dont have enough water to get everything going, but the power heads are on as is the heater. There is "flow" and the top of the water has some ripples so there is plenty of oxygen getting into the tank, yes? The rock formation is temporary as I still have to add between 20 to 25 pounds more. I have basically just set it up like this for now and will arrange it when I get the rest of the rock.
This is what i call the doughnut rock. It was part of the group that was $4.99 a pound. I saw the natural hole that went all the way through and thought, insta-cave!
monsinour
Active Member
For those of you trying to figure out what the "tree" coral is, I have better pictures. Here, in the foreground, is one of what looks to be a "younger" version of the other one. In the background is the other piece.
And here is the best pic i can get of the other piece of coral.
Anyone want to take a guess as to what it is?
And here is the best pic i can get of the other piece of coral.
Anyone want to take a guess as to what it is?
monsinour
Active Member
I honestly dont remember the smell of it. Then again, I am not best with smells right now. Even though the fostered cat is in another room and the door is closed, It is kind of effecting me and my allergies.
edit : Oh yea, i need a yes or no on the lemon juice for that ugly looking anemone.
edit : Oh yea, i need a yes or no on the lemon juice for that ugly looking anemone.
S
smartorl
Guest
I have two, they have a hard bumpy surface when the polyps are retracted. Mine are also kind of slim and long. I'll get some pictures tomorrow.
The thing that has me puzzled is the one picture where it looks to be out of water and the polyps look kind of jellyish. I don't know of any gorgs that are like that at all, the polyps completely retract.
The thing that has me puzzled is the one picture where it looks to be out of water and the polyps look kind of jellyish. I don't know of any gorgs that are like that at all, the polyps completely retract.
meowzer
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310482
I honestly dont remember the smell of it. Then again, I am not best with smells right now. Even though the fostered cat is in another room and the door is closed, It is kind of effecting me and my allergies.
edit : Oh yea, i need a yes or no on the lemon juice for that ugly looking anemone.
YES...on the lemon juice...I hope it works for you
If it doesn't, definitely get the Joe's Juice.....
SMARTORL...you have 2 of the Euniceas??????
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310482
I honestly dont remember the smell of it. Then again, I am not best with smells right now. Even though the fostered cat is in another room and the door is closed, It is kind of effecting me and my allergies.
edit : Oh yea, i need a yes or no on the lemon juice for that ugly looking anemone.
YES...on the lemon juice...I hope it works for you
If it doesn't, definitely get the Joe's Juice.....SMARTORL...you have 2 of the Euniceas??????
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by smartorl http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310484
I have two, they have a hard bumpy surface when the polyps are retracted. Mine are also kind of slim and long. I'll get some pictures tomorrow.
The thing that has me puzzled is the one picture where it looks to be out of water and the polyps look kind of jellyish. I don't know of any gorgs that are like that at all, the polyps completely retract.
Yes that picture is taken with it out of the water. I have a piece that i dont have a pic of where those things retract into the coral stalk. But this one retracts only when its disturbed. When it comes out of the water, those polyps just kinda go limp and lay against the stalk. About ready to do my next water test to see if 7 hours made any difference.
Originally Posted by smartorl http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310484
I have two, they have a hard bumpy surface when the polyps are retracted. Mine are also kind of slim and long. I'll get some pictures tomorrow.
The thing that has me puzzled is the one picture where it looks to be out of water and the polyps look kind of jellyish. I don't know of any gorgs that are like that at all, the polyps completely retract.
Yes that picture is taken with it out of the water. I have a piece that i dont have a pic of where those things retract into the coral stalk. But this one retracts only when its disturbed. When it comes out of the water, those polyps just kinda go limp and lay against the stalk. About ready to do my next water test to see if 7 hours made any difference.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310563
You got some really nice pieces of LR. Your aquascaping should look really nice
Thank you. In a week or 2 I am going back to get more. I dont think adding more LR to the tank will cause much harm to the enviroment, but I am planning on waiting until I have 0 ammonia and nitrite for a week after the last addition of LR to the tank before I get the first inhabitants.
edit: water test results at 1:45 am (yea its late, but i have to clean the grooming van for my wife for her big brew ha ha tomorrow)
PH 8
ammonia .5
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
80 degrees
SG 1.022
I know i have to make stronger water when adding it into the DT and sump. I am shooting for an SG of 1.025 as this is what the LFS has in their sale tanks. If I can get close enough to that, the acclimation time shouldnt be as long for the critters, right?
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310563
You got some really nice pieces of LR. Your aquascaping should look really nice
Thank you. In a week or 2 I am going back to get more. I dont think adding more LR to the tank will cause much harm to the enviroment, but I am planning on waiting until I have 0 ammonia and nitrite for a week after the last addition of LR to the tank before I get the first inhabitants.
edit: water test results at 1:45 am (yea its late, but i have to clean the grooming van for my wife for her big brew ha ha tomorrow)
PH 8
ammonia .5
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
80 degrees
SG 1.022
I know i have to make stronger water when adding it into the DT and sump. I am shooting for an SG of 1.025 as this is what the LFS has in their sale tanks. If I can get close enough to that, the acclimation time shouldnt be as long for the critters, right?
btldreef
Moderator
Yes, and 1.025 is also a good number for reef tanks. I'm surprised that your LFS keeps their fish tanks at that high, most keep them around 1.021 and only worries about salinity in the reef tanks.
I have a feeling that you're not going to see very much of a cycle, but still a good plan to wait until there is 0 ammonia reading for at least a week.
I have a feeling that you're not going to see very much of a cycle, but still a good plan to wait until there is 0 ammonia reading for at least a week.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310602
I have a feeling that you're not going to see very much of a cycle, but still a good plan to wait until there is 0 ammonia reading for at least a week.
I sure hope so. Now that everything is up and going, sump included, everyone in the houes is asking me,"how long before nemo and marlin are in there dad?" It is painful to say that i don't really know. And when I give them the guesstimate of 3 to 4 weeks before we can even think about fish, CUC members are first and then there is the 2 week wait after them, is painful to their ears. What is rather funny, exactly 1 month from now is my birthday. Heres to hoping that we get to add fish to the tank on my birthday!
So yes, all the water tha I need is in the system now. Whats really scary is that i barely hear the system working so I freak myself out when I dont hear it and expect a pool of water on the floor. Since I dont need SW right now to fill up the tank, and I dont think i should do water changes if the ammonia spike isnt too high, should I go ahead and premix some water and store it for when I need to do some water changes? How long can mixed SW keep in an air tight container? I will be taking measurements here in a few minutes. edit forthcoming.
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310602
I have a feeling that you're not going to see very much of a cycle, but still a good plan to wait until there is 0 ammonia reading for at least a week.
I sure hope so. Now that everything is up and going, sump included, everyone in the houes is asking me,"how long before nemo and marlin are in there dad?" It is painful to say that i don't really know. And when I give them the guesstimate of 3 to 4 weeks before we can even think about fish, CUC members are first and then there is the 2 week wait after them, is painful to their ears. What is rather funny, exactly 1 month from now is my birthday. Heres to hoping that we get to add fish to the tank on my birthday!
So yes, all the water tha I need is in the system now. Whats really scary is that i barely hear the system working so I freak myself out when I dont hear it and expect a pool of water on the floor. Since I dont need SW right now to fill up the tank, and I dont think i should do water changes if the ammonia spike isnt too high, should I go ahead and premix some water and store it for when I need to do some water changes? How long can mixed SW keep in an air tight container? I will be taking measurements here in a few minutes. edit forthcoming.
monsinour
Active Member
Water measurements
SG 1.024
80 Degrees F
PH 7.8 (little low again yes?)
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
I can see that the ammonia went down, but the nitrite and nitrate didnt go up. So the obvious question is, where did the ammonia go? Now that the water is all in the tank, and I have to take some out for when the new rock arrives, I will have to take extra out and add more in to get the SG to 1.025. As far as the PH is concerned, what can I do naturally, no chemicals or buffers, to raise it up? Doesnt it need to be between 8,1 and 8.3 for fish?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310620
I always have fresh SW on hand. If you leave it in a container with a powerhead, or air stone, it can last for quite a while actually. I usually use mine within 10days, but even at the 10day mark, it's fine.
Well, If I were to mix it up, I would have to store it in the basement where it would be really dark. I have a spare pump for now so keeping it moving wouldnt be a problem. Right now i am not sure if we are geting the rest of the rock next week Friday or in 2 weeks, so I wont brew up a batch just yet.
When the lights went out, a little red, i think it was red as it could have been brown, worm came out to swim around. It was really tiny, maybe half an inch long and barely a sixteenth of an inch thick. I am assuming that this was a good critter and didnt chase him out of the tank. Then again, if there were fish in the tank, the way he was swimming around, he would have been someone's midnight snack.
SG 1.024
80 Degrees F
PH 7.8 (little low again yes?)
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
I can see that the ammonia went down, but the nitrite and nitrate didnt go up. So the obvious question is, where did the ammonia go? Now that the water is all in the tank, and I have to take some out for when the new rock arrives, I will have to take extra out and add more in to get the SG to 1.025. As far as the PH is concerned, what can I do naturally, no chemicals or buffers, to raise it up? Doesnt it need to be between 8,1 and 8.3 for fish?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310620
I always have fresh SW on hand. If you leave it in a container with a powerhead, or air stone, it can last for quite a while actually. I usually use mine within 10days, but even at the 10day mark, it's fine.
Well, If I were to mix it up, I would have to store it in the basement where it would be really dark. I have a spare pump for now so keeping it moving wouldnt be a problem. Right now i am not sure if we are geting the rest of the rock next week Friday or in 2 weeks, so I wont brew up a batch just yet.
When the lights went out, a little red, i think it was red as it could have been brown, worm came out to swim around. It was really tiny, maybe half an inch long and barely a sixteenth of an inch thick. I am assuming that this was a good critter and didnt chase him out of the tank. Then again, if there were fish in the tank, the way he was swimming around, he would have been someone's midnight snack.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310635
Sounds like a baby bristle worm.
I have to run to teach a class for a little while, BUT, I would not be too concerned with pH just yet, 7.8 really isn't that bad, especially for a new tank. Are you even running your lights yet at a regular daily cycle?
Lights come on at 10 and off at 10. But the lights were only on for about 4 hours yesterday. I will test it again after the wedding i have to attend tonight. I am not that concerned yet simply because there isnt anything really in the tank. I was just wondering what I could do to raise it without chemicals is all.
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/20#post_3310635
Sounds like a baby bristle worm.
I have to run to teach a class for a little while, BUT, I would not be too concerned with pH just yet, 7.8 really isn't that bad, especially for a new tank. Are you even running your lights yet at a regular daily cycle?
Lights come on at 10 and off at 10. But the lights were only on for about 4 hours yesterday. I will test it again after the wedding i have to attend tonight. I am not that concerned yet simply because there isnt anything really in the tank. I was just wondering what I could do to raise it without chemicals is all.
monsinour
Active Member
Um, how important is it to have the chemi pure elite in the tank right now? I was running through the mental list of everything i needed and when I got to the skimmer section of the sump and made the note that the skimmer wasnt there, I also noticed that the filter bag was not in there and the contents were not in there. oopsie?