Is this hobby always so frustrating?

bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Photo of aquascaping....not sure I like how it looks in the photo, but I've played with it for 2 days now..
Tested tonight:
Salinity - 1.025
ph 8.3
nitrates/nitrites - 0
mg 900
ca 410
Background not on - highlights the algae ;-o new live rock, marco rock and original rock.
Thoughts?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
AHHHHH put that background on (black or blue?)!!!! Also clean that glass up! LOL
Just takes a min with a magfloat! Rockwork looks okay...u need lots more and id start building it up higher on one end that the other so u get a nice slope look!

 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I have another 2 large pieces to put in. I think I might pull it all out and start over, have small pieces on bottom and no good ledges to add stuff on later. I worked at the glass a bit tonight, will do more tomorrow.
Cuc-5 turbo snails, maybe 5 -8 hermits. 1 peppermint shrimp. I did add about 5 snails and 4 hermits a couple weeks ago, but all the snails died, crabs are quite small, but they are still around-need more?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
i like the black myself...its all personal opinion though!
I think most of us have changed our aquascape like 20 times before finding one we like!
Things i have learned are that the big rocks work better for base and the diff shaped not so round ones are good for stacking and making it kool! LOL
Also i do a lil wiggle test to make sure its stable. Dosent hurt to push it down in the sand either....
With saltwater tanks though u want constant everything so everytime u put ur hands in ur tank ur adding something to the water that the skimmer has to pull put so find a rock work u like and stick with it....i top my water off twice a day to keep the salinity constant as i can as well!
Idk i wish i had some more tips for u lol....its my bed time though so im poop'd
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
take the powerhead and put it half down the side pointing up until the top of the water ripples .it will help with the ph and gas exchange.looks pretty good so far
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Will probably go with black, tank is beside a window (blinds kept closed) but will help with the sun. We angled the pump to ensure flow along the back of the tank. I'm going to redo rocks tonight, the new ones live ones are really cool, the big dry ones will do on the bottom. Glad to know the aquascaping is something most adjust. Funny I had a dream about a gargantuan tank....think I'm addicted lol:laughing:
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubblegurl http:///t/387494/is-this-hobby-always-so-frustrating/60#post_3411953
Will probably go with black, tank is beside a window (blinds kept closed) but will help with the sun. We angled the pump to ensure flow along the back of the tank. I'm going to redo rocks tonight, the new ones live ones are really cool, the big dry ones will do on the bottom. Glad to know the aquascaping is something most adjust. Funny I had a dream about a gargantuan tank....think I'm addicted lol:laughing:
Hey Bubblegurl, I enjoy reading thru this thread. Its a good one. My suggestion for your aquascape is just to remember to leave some space in the front and the sides of the glass so you can get your magfloat by the rock smoothly. This way you can clean your glass everyday!!! Like someone else said its okay to have the rock touching in the back of the glass. This should give you more room for your aquascape. HTH
BTW I lived in Calgary for a bit when I was growing up. Lived there for three years but it was when I was real young. It seems as though that there are some decent LFS there. Keep up the good work, you will have a great looking tank.
 
S

siptang

Guest
Hang in there bubble girl. Trust me when I say this, most of us in the hobby go through some sort of adversary like yours. You are not alone and this will make you a better reefer for the future. I had similar incident and I did massive water change and with that water taken out, I cleaned the rocks of the brown and red algae with a tooth brush. Siphoned out red algae and other gunk in the bottom after scrapping it and such... it's alot of work but it's do-able. Hang in there!!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang http:///t/387494/is-this-hobby-always-so-frustrating/60#post_3411967
Hang in there bubble girl. Trust me when I say this, most of us in the hobby go through some sort of adversary like yours. You are not alone and this will make you a better reefer for the future. I had similar incident and I did massive water change and with that water taken out, I cleaned the rocks of the brown and red algae with a tooth brush. Siphoned out red algae and other gunk in the bottom after scrapping it and such... it's alot of work but it's do-able. Hang in there!!
LOL...very true....read some of my threads.....I ALWAYS have an issue
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/387494/is-this-hobby-always-so-frustrating/60#post_3411958
Hey Bubblegurl, I enjoy reading thru this thread. Its a good one. My suggestion for your aquascape is just to remember to leave some space in the front and the sides of the glass so you can get your magfloat by the rock smoothly. This way you can clean your glass everyday!!! Like someone else said its okay to have the rock touching in the back of the glass. This should give you more room for your aquascape. HTH
BTW I lived in Calgary for a bit when I was growing up. Lived there for three years but it was when I was real young. It seems as though that there are some decent LFS there. Keep up the good work, you will have a great looking tank.
The help and suggestions have been fantastic, and I'm trying to use as much of the suggestions as possible, so keep em coming!! I only have rock touching on one side of the tank and a few places in the back. We keep the front of the tank clean, that's easy, its the back that's a bit challenging. If I get into the tank tonight, I will do a good clean up.
We do have a couple of good LFS here, I've found 2 that I really like. One is a bit pricier than the other but they are both willing to talk to me, even say come in just to visit, not have to buy anything. The city has grown and its always construction season on the roads....all good!
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang http:///t/387494/is-this-hobby-always-so-frustrating/60#post_3411967
Hang in there bubble girl. Trust me when I say this, most of us in the hobby go through some sort of adversary like yours. You are not alone and this will make you a better reefer for the future. I had similar incident and I did massive water change and with that water taken out, I cleaned the rocks of the brown and red algae with a tooth brush. Siphoned out red algae and other gunk in the bottom after scrapping it and such... it's alot of work but it's do-able. Hang in there!!
Thanks Siptang! I'm hoping now that I've added in more rock and equipment that the tank will settle. Once I'm done aquascaping, I'll add in more cuc, the big snails have done alright but seem to have gotten lazy....lol A question I have is when we changed over from FW to SW, we left some of the rock in the bottom of the tank and added sand on top, I don't think this is a huge contributor to the algae as the tank was clean before adding the corals - just wondering if anyone else has ever done this. We thought it would be good to help the tank cycle.
I'm not ready to give up! I keep saying the support has been awesome here and I can't say thanks enough!
@Meowzer - I'm also learning its an ongoing learning process and it doesn't matter how much experience you have, there's always something new to try. Keep your head up as well!!! Maybe one day I can help you back??!!
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
this hobby is all about patience .patience and more patience....that being said a 6 month tank is a new born.after a year thats when it will really start to do its own thing and take care of itself.you can help it along with filters and skimmers.but nature needs to take its course over time.as the tank matures it will usually self correct except if you do something dramatic like add 5 fish at one time.it took me years to get my reef close to where i want it.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
+1 on the patience
+1 on learning more and more....always something to learn in the SW world!
+1 on ur tanks being older and older is more better!
new tanks are usually under a yr!
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
have now added all new rock - 39lbs total, 10.5 live rock, 28.5 dry for a total of 55lbs rock in the tank. Started over with aquascaping and I really like how this looks now. its a bit slanty, but I'm ok with it (wiggle tested everything, its solid). Black background on, need to find some tape for the sides....
Poor fish hid in a corner while I was messing around...corals were placed back close to their original positions as they seemed fine.
I'm going to pick up more cuc this week. Otherwise, I'm leaving this alone for a bit.
Patience...think I'm ok as long as i stay out of the LFS...lol
baby tank...yep, need to remember that!
learning more...my head is spinning but that's ok...
all the help and encouragement over the last bit...PRICELESS. Big thanks everyone....
Updated pics! I changed my camera settings so they wouldn't be so large...first is full tank, then right and left side.
 
jack520

jack520

New Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387494/is-this-hobby-always-so-frustrating/20#post_3410399
Hi, 20g water change is enough. Run carbon, that little film of algae on the one coral can make it agitated and start a chemical war. The power heads should be enough not allow any dead spots. I take a stick and a plastic ribbon Ilike what you find on a kids bike handle, tie it to the end of the stick and move it around the tank....if the ribbon drops it's a dead spot...adjust the power heads.
Not every area will have the same flow, that's perfectly fine, some corals will want to be under strong flow and some not so much. However no areas in the tank should have a spot where there is no water current.
On my 75g I had three power heads and a spray bar on top to move the surface. I have however found a nifty trick. You can take a $20.00 maxijet...attach a piece of PVC pipe to it...drill a few holes (the fewer holes the stronger the spray) cap it off good and tight and there you go, a great spray bar (I painted mine)...you can put it vertical and eliminate the need for so many power heads. It would make a wall of spray to keep your corals happy and plenty of water movement....one on each side would do. Lots cheaper than purchasing two or three $70.00+ power heads, or give you time to save for some really nice ones like the MP40s.
You still must move the surface water, either rig a spray bar, or point a power head up from the middle of the tank.
Here is a pictuure sowing what I'm talking about..... I placed this one in back of my finger leather coral to keep it clear of hair algae that I'm in the middle of battling. I attached the pipe with a piece of flex hose, and painted it. When I had the power head in the corner it was not seen except for the pipe, I can also twist the pipe to aim the spray where I want it.

Thank you for you share,you can call me hereCheap Coach Pursesgmail.com
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Needed a bit of retail therapy tonight so stopped at lfs on my way home from work. Thought I'd pick up a nitrate test as we ran out, get home and my glass is green. Opened test and it expired in 2007....taking it back, used it anyway and results were 0, but probably not accurate. This has to be caused by food. We have no issues with the brine shrimp, but I know that's not good for the fish. I fed them Pacifica plankton last night, they don't like this, too big so lots in the tank. This morning mysis shrimp. I rince before feeding and I try to keep the pieces same size or smaller than the cubes. Any thoughts?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
+1 on the magfloat...dont get a cheap sinker! I had one once upon a time...it was a pita!
Magfloats are the way to go!
Good job on rinsing the food with ro or ro/di before feeding! I like to mix herbivore food and mysis and some coral blend together to make my own cubes! Make a lot at once and freeze em! Than u can just feed em to the tank!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top