xandrew245x
Member
I didn't even know you had a thread for your tank! I read through the majority of it, and it was interesting to see your progress. I see you started with a sand bed, what made you change your mind to go bare bottom?
Snake's 20g Nano Build thread
- Thread starter snakeblitz33
- Start date
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
It looks cleaner and I can get more water flow in the tank without worrying about sand storms. It also let's the tank run more sterile which is good for SPS corals.
I got my packages in today. First thing I did was calibrate my refractometer and check my salinity. Guess? 1.028!!!!! I am going to slowly decrease my salinity a bit. I got the vinyl tubing to hook up the reactor. That should be online tonight.
Now I'm getting down to business! Hehe
I got my packages in today. First thing I did was calibrate my refractometer and check my salinity. Guess? 1.028!!!!! I am going to slowly decrease my salinity a bit. I got the vinyl tubing to hook up the reactor. That should be online tonight.
Now I'm getting down to business! Hehe
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Lol, I've been working on the tank some this evening... getting all the new equipment installed. 
Also took my wife out to eat. Yum.
Just for you, my luv. hehe
That montipora is going through heck and back..... I know it's not my water quality or water parameters. I guess when it was shipped, I should have put some heat bags in the shipping container. When I got the frags in, the water was extremely cold. I think that the temp just got to them. The only one frags that survived were the big orange monti which is trying it's best to heal up, a colt coral, and a few mushrooms.
Also took my wife out to eat. Yum. Just for you, my luv. hehe
That montipora is going through heck and back..... I know it's not my water quality or water parameters. I guess when it was shipped, I should have put some heat bags in the shipping container. When I got the frags in, the water was extremely cold. I think that the temp just got to them. The only one frags that survived were the big orange monti which is trying it's best to heal up, a colt coral, and a few mushrooms.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Some halimeda algae that's growing strong.
A little colt coral and a shroom that survived.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
My sump... sorry for the overexposure. Basically, algae scrubber on the right, phosban reactor and skimmer in the middle, return pump and auto top off on the right. I run carbon in the return pump chamber.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I am a little disappointed in the pumps that I bought. Those JBJ wavemaker 500gph kit seemed a little too good to be true... I don't think it puts out 500gph, but it doesn't matter. It's still a lot of flow and it's on a wave maker. It sure does look a lot better than that eyesore of a pump that I had in there earlier.
On another note - I think that my T5 lights are about ready to be upgraded. I turned off my actinics and the daylights looked extremely yellow. I think it's about ready to be upgraded to some ATI bulbs. If I can, I think I may order like one a week or so until I get all four. Since my wife doesn't work anymore for the time being, I'm having to scrape money together for my hobby.
On another note - I think that my T5 lights are about ready to be upgraded.
I turned off my actinics and the daylights looked extremely yellow. I think it's about ready to be upgraded to some ATI bulbs. If I can, I think I may order like one a week or so until I get all four. Since my wife doesn't work anymore for the time being, I'm having to scrape money together for my hobby.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
lol, yeah, I could buy some SPS frags and let them grow out while I am waiting. lol. Just gotta get together about $100 to buy a few different pieces. I think I'm pretty much set on equipment for the time being.
I have had a cold that has been lingering for 3 weeks now. It's not fun coughing and sneezing every five minutes and waking up for a hours on end every single night coughing.
I'll post my water parameters later. I'll test sometime this weekend when I have time. I'm just dirt tired right now.
I have had a cold that has been lingering for 3 weeks now. It's not fun coughing and sneezing every five minutes and waking up for a hours on end every single night coughing.
I'll post my water parameters later. I'll test sometime this weekend when I have time. I'm just dirt tired right now.
E
eric b 125
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/387674/snakes-20g-nano-build-thread/300#post_3450104
Is running the Phosban eventually going to starve out the algae growth on the scrubber? I think I have read somewhere that you want to run a ULNS. Won't this eventually starve out the scrubber?
+1, this is what I was thinking as I was reading.
That monti could just be pissed off at all of the salinity changes and then sitting in a high SG environment. They are tough cookies, though, and I'm sure it can spring back. You'd be amazed how many times I was ready to write off my cap and it came back.
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/387674/snakes-20g-nano-build-thread/300#post_3450104
Is running the Phosban eventually going to starve out the algae growth on the scrubber? I think I have read somewhere that you want to run a ULNS. Won't this eventually starve out the scrubber?
+1, this is what I was thinking as I was reading.
That monti could just be pissed off at all of the salinity changes and then sitting in a high SG environment. They are tough cookies, though, and I'm sure it can spring back. You'd be amazed how many times I was ready to write off my cap and it came back.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
If the scrubber dies back some, then so be it. Lol. My Wife likes to feed the fish more than necessary so I have no problem with excess nutrients. Lol. I'm just looking out for the health of my corals. I am going to build a scrubber in that 10g tank and if it produces then it produces.
My skimmer is finally kicking in and going strong.
I'm going to remove a half a gallon of saltwater today and keep measuring salinity. I might do it with the airline tube to suck up some detritus on the bottom of the tank.
Im also going to make my home made ca alk and mag solutions today. Fun fun. I'm using randy Holmes farley's recipe that will slightly increase pH when added.
I have never had a reactor before so I'm pretty psyched about it.
My scrubber now is producing ok, I think I need to change the bulbs out ASAP. I'm going to take my scrubber off line sometime this week and rePlace it with that modified 10g scrubber. Just kinda preparing for a bigger tank here and there. Lol.
My skimmer is finally kicking in and going strong.
I'm going to remove a half a gallon of saltwater today and keep measuring salinity. I might do it with the airline tube to suck up some detritus on the bottom of the tank.
Im also going to make my home made ca alk and mag solutions today. Fun fun. I'm using randy Holmes farley's recipe that will slightly increase pH when added.
I have never had a reactor before so I'm pretty psyched about it.
My scrubber now is producing ok, I think I need to change the bulbs out ASAP. I'm going to take my scrubber off line sometime this week and rePlace it with that modified 10g scrubber. Just kinda preparing for a bigger tank here and there. Lol.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, that montipora is a tough cookie. Lol. I bet when I get the SG down a bit and stable, it will all heal up. I'm not really worried.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmyreef http:///t/387674/snakes-20g-nano-build-thread/300#post_3450196
Looks good Seth. Thanks for posting...
You're very welcome! Sorry that my picture taking skills suck. My iPhone takes really grainy pics for some reason.
I got my salinity down to 1.027 today. I'm going to wait another two days or so to take out another half gallon of saltwater. It's kinda like doing an unintentional water change. lol.
I didn't feel like working on that womans bike today, ... after 3 weeks, I'm still sick with a cold or something - whatever this is, it sux! I have a sinus headache that has been pounding for the last five days, and gets worse after I cough. The only relief I get is when I lay horizontally.
Tomorrow is our baby shower. For some reason, I got wrapped up in to going to it. I guess that's ok because some of the men from my family are going to be there as well. At least I'll have someone to talk with.
Well... I think I'm off to make some home made chemical mixes for my tank. lol If anyone is interested in exactly what I am doing, let me know and I'll post the recipes and whatever else. lol
Originally Posted by luvmyreef http:///t/387674/snakes-20g-nano-build-thread/300#post_3450196
Looks good Seth. Thanks for posting...
You're very welcome! Sorry that my picture taking skills suck. My iPhone takes really grainy pics for some reason.
I got my salinity down to 1.027 today. I'm going to wait another two days or so to take out another half gallon of saltwater. It's kinda like doing an unintentional water change. lol.
I didn't feel like working on that womans bike today, ... after 3 weeks, I'm still sick with a cold or something - whatever this is, it sux! I have a sinus headache that has been pounding for the last five days, and gets worse after I cough. The only relief I get is when I lay horizontally.
Tomorrow is our baby shower. For some reason, I got wrapped up in to going to it. I guess that's ok because some of the men from my family are going to be there as well. At least I'll have someone to talk with.
Well... I think I'm off to make some home made chemical mixes for my tank. lol If anyone is interested in exactly what I am doing, let me know and I'll post the recipes and whatever else. lol
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Taking a step back and looking at all of it - I am actually becoming satisfied with the setup so far.
I just gotta get together a couple hundred bucks and put in an SPS order.
Since I am going to be moving around July or August into a new rent house (pray for us!) after my wife gets a decent job as an Elementary School teacher, I don't really want to get any SPS that are really hard to take care of or very sensitive to changes in water. I just want something that will look pretty and grow well.
Does anyone have any SPS coral suggestions?
I know that I want to get:
1. Green Bali Slimer (I don't know why, but I've always liked this coral, lol)
2. purple montipora digitata
3. Green Pociliopora
4. Pink birdsnest (mainly for my wife, lol)
5. Orange montipora capricornis (already have)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
?? I only want 10 species in this small of a tank. Any suggestion for blues or tri-colors?
I just gotta get together a couple hundred bucks and put in an SPS order.
Since I am going to be moving around July or August into a new rent house (pray for us!) after my wife gets a decent job as an Elementary School teacher, I don't really want to get any SPS that are really hard to take care of or very sensitive to changes in water. I just want something that will look pretty and grow well.
Does anyone have any SPS coral suggestions?
I know that I want to get:
1. Green Bali Slimer (I don't know why, but I've always liked this coral, lol)
2. purple montipora digitata
3. Green Pociliopora
4. Pink birdsnest (mainly for my wife, lol)
5. Orange montipora capricornis (already have)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
?? I only want 10 species in this small of a tank. Any suggestion for blues or tri-colors?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Woohoo! Good news!
The orange montipora is actually starting to come back a bit! I was able to see some of its polyps extend for the first time in weeks. It's coloring up nicely too in some spots. I really think its going to make it. I'll try to get my salinity a point lower over the course of the next few days. It might be the phosphate reactor combined with the wave maker that is really helping. Who knows, mightbe the skimmer too. I'm so happy! Makes me happy bringing it back to life again.
I know I need to replace my light bulbs next. Lol. Never ending work, eh?
The orange montipora is actually starting to come back a bit! I was able to see some of its polyps extend for the first time in weeks. It's coloring up nicely too in some spots. I really think its going to make it. I'll try to get my salinity a point lower over the course of the next few days. It might be the phosphate reactor combined with the wave maker that is really helping. Who knows, mightbe the skimmer too. I'm so happy! Makes me happy bringing it back to life again.
I know I need to replace my light bulbs next. Lol. Never ending work, eh?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Alright. So. I tested my ca and alk levels this evening.
Ca: 400
alk: 9dKh
I don't have a magnesium test kit. I'm thinking once the salinity comes down a little and temp stabilizes, I'll take a toothbrush to a piece of liverock with some coralline algae on it to speed up some coralline production.
In the next few weeks, that montipora will probably start looking better and better. She I gain a little more confidence, I'll put in an order for some more coral. I'm getting excited!!!
Ca: 400
alk: 9dKh
I don't have a magnesium test kit. I'm thinking once the salinity comes down a little and temp stabilizes, I'll take a toothbrush to a piece of liverock with some coralline algae on it to speed up some coralline production.
In the next few weeks, that montipora will probably start looking better and better. She I gain a little more confidence, I'll put in an order for some more coral. I'm getting excited!!!