Snake's 10g reef puddle

[snakeblitz33]

The gang valve that I had my ATO attached to to put water in the tank broke last night. The plastic hose barb couldn't stand the tension I had it under. I don't know. Anyways, I'm going to go get a new gang valve and another 5g of RO/DI water.
I was hoping to get a water change done while my wife is at church.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I have to rethink the return pump in the sump. Im thinking about taking it completely out and putting the filter intake in its place and make sure the ato sensor doesnt have any problems.
I gotta let the system start leveling out. This next weekend i will test my water parameters to see where they are.
I have a $65 credit with my fish store that i will be using to buy the majority of the PAR38 bulb. I dont want to put a whole lot of money in this little tank, , but at the very least i need a decent light.
Still waiting on a bill from the hospital. Im not looking forward to it.
Also thinking about selling some stuff off and buying a small motor scooter to save on gas and insurance.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I made a trade. I am getting a rapid led mixed bulb for my octopus skimmer. I think it is more than a fair trade.
Im trying to trade my calcium reactor for an mp10. Lots of views but so far no bites. I guess ill have to throw in some additional equipment to sweeten the pot.
I have to rethink my filtration system. My macijet powerhead is way too much of a return pump. Im thinking about switching it to an azoo pump or using thr actual penguin filter as the return pump. I might also take some of the additional equipment out of the sump chamber and just run the ato and maybe a temp probe in it. Less equipment in the small sump the better. It wont interfere with the ato senser.
Anyways. One week of cycling down. One more to go i think. This friday i will take a water sample up to the fish store and have them check it out. I dont want to have any more mistakes.
I also need to find some better temp regulation somehow. Ugh. Anyways, i gotta get back to work.

 

[sweatervest13]

Nice trade!! LED's baby!!
I hope the trade for the MP10 goes well too. You may have to sweeten the pot a bit, but I am sure you will get some bites.

 

[snakeblitz33]

As the tank sits now...
The duning is being caused by the Maxijet 1200 powerhead. I'm going to take it completely out and re-do the sump configuration.
The PAR38 trade is going well. I got a response and an address to ship it. Seems like it's going through as planned.
The MP10 trade isn't going very well at the moment. Maybe I will find a trader pretty soon, who knows.
Trying to get the house clean before the next school season.

 

[mohawkninja]

I like your rockwork. How many pounds of rock?

 

[snakeblitz33]

I don't know how many pounds. Probably a good 20lbs if not more. I just had a lot left over and I picked out some of the better pieces. I wanted a lot more in this tank then I used to put in there - so that the rock would be the main bulk of the filtration of this tank. It still gives me plenty of room for frags and colonies.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I put the filter intake in the sump chamber but now i am rethinking it. Its suvking air in at one point. I think i will put it back where it was originally. Good experiment though. I think i might add some filter floss back in the sump portion as well. Ill go to the fish store this saturday to get some more saltwater for a water change.
The par38 deal is still strong. Im cleaning the skimmer tonight and packing it tomorrow. The trade for the mp10 is still going on. I have a few views but no hits so far. Hopefully i can get my hands on one.
My sister in law had a stillborn baby girl today. Sad, but everything happens for a reason. My finger is healing up but the numbness is still there. I had a cold over the weekend and th worse of it yesterday but im feeling much, much better now since i stopped taking an antibiotic. I have about two weeks till school starts again. Whew. Busy busy.

 

[2quills]

Gl on the trade. School time already? Ugh, sorry for your sister in law and her family.

 

[eric b 125]

Seth, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister in law.
That LED trade sounds pretty good, I wish you luck with it. The tank looks good dude! I dig the rock work

 

[snakeblitz33]

Thanks yall. Well, im not better yet. I have strep throat! So they gave me my regular antibiotic this time.
I moved a couple of the rocks around. I think you will be able to see it all better with the new light. I got to pack up that skimmer too. I think i just landed a trade for an MP10 as well. So, basically, i have or will have in the next week or two everything i could ever want for this tank. and it is small enough to be easy to maintain and large enough not to be burdensome in the financial department.

 

[2quills]

That's excellent, Seth. Sounds like you're finding some balance with the crazy schedule.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I got in my par38 bulb today! Its pretty! Pics tonight. Still though, im kinda curious how it will be enough light. Lol. Its bright but i am used to really bright.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/396018/snakes-10g-reef-puddle/40#post_3528734
I got in my par38 bulb today! Its pretty! Pics tonight. Still though, im kinda curious how it will be enough light. Lol. Its bright but i am used to really bright.
Fingers crossed! Hopefully the sacrifice in brightness will gain you some extra usable radiation. Waiting for pics!

 

[eric b 125]

Good. I'm glad that trade went through for ya! Looking forward to seeing pics

 

[snakeblitz33]

I was told that it is very possible to keep sps corals with this bulb.
I hope that guy ships me my mp10 soon.
Im gonna test my water this evenig and have a test done at the lfs on friday to see if the tank is cycled. If it is, i might buy a zoa colony or something.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Eric, that calcium reactor is still for sale/trade. Just to let yah know.
I am going to see if photobucket is cooperating this morning. Pics to come.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/396018/snakes-10g-reef-puddle/40#post_3528894
I was told that it is very possible to keep sps corals with this bulb.
I hope that guy ships me my mp10 soon.
Im gonna test my water this evenig and have a test done at the lfs on friday to see if the tank is cycled. If it is, i might buy a zoa colony or something.
Wait, I am confused... Do you have your own test kits?? Why have the LFS test to see if you cycled?? Just curious.

 

[snakeblitz33]

SV:
1. Because it is free
2. Because my api salt test kits are two years old.
I have seachem tests for calcium, alk, mg, and phosphate but i dont have an accurate kit that you would use to cycle a tank. So ill test it with my kit fist and then havr the lfs test it later to be sure the tank is cycled.
My mp10 will be on its way Thursday. Seems like i wont get it this week but next. In any case, i have faith the guy will send it.
I have everything i need to build a diy led system for my ten gallon. Heck, i even have an apex jr that i can program to dim it up and down. Lol. What i might do is order some leds one week, a driver the next and so on until i have it all together. I think i might need to build a canopy anyway to keep my daughter out of the tank. Im not really going to put a whole lot of extra money into the tank since school is coming up and a lot of my spare money is going towards food at school.
I am considering taking down my 75g planted tank permanently and start compartmentalizing my stuff. I have too much stuff and i need to get rid of some of it. I realize that. Lol. Plus, im not really sure that i will be living in my trailer much longer. We pay way too much in rent for where and what we live in and the electric bill has gone up to nearly $300 a month. Rent and electric combined is half of what my wife earns each month. So we might be looking at downsizing and doengrading our bills and expectations until i get out of school and have a decent job.

 

[eric b 125]

This is fixin to be a sick 10 gallon! For me, having more than one tank is too much work. Heck, even a DT and QT is enough work.