30 Gal. update with pics

[Chasman]

I’ve past the three month mark and things are going well. I’d like to thank all those who have helped me out and especially Ninong, who always has very good words of wisdom.

The first pic includes the small piece of furniture to the right of the stand which holds my ATO reservoir. Love that thing!!! Since I don’t have a sump, I was always filling the tank up every night. Not any more!! I’m using 12 volts to the float switch and a relay to kick on the reservoir pump.

The other shots are just around the tank so you can see what’s going on. It’s a small set-up, but quite healthy.

The skimmer is a CRP retrofit by ecosystems. Seems to work OK.

The gadget with the small red dial is the heater. 200W inline and works extremely well.

Chasman

[Chasman]

Inside the tank all the critters are doing fine. The water parameters are where they should be. I have zero nitrates and now with the ATO system I put in, the salinity stays very stable at 35ppt.

Chasman

[Chasman]

Couple of close ups. Not quite used to this new camera just yet.

Chas.

[Steve McKay]

Looks pretty good,Chasman.I'll give you an "A" on looks,an "A" on neatness,an "A" for not having a Yellow Tang,but the final grade is "B+" for having crushed coral.

[Chasman]

Yea I know, rookie mistake on the argonite. But it's only about 1/4" deep and almost non existant in the back of the tank. That's what the EcoSystem folks recommend. Although it has not caused any nitrate issues at this point.

[Steve McKay]

I made the same mistake with my 30,but corrected it when I upgraded to my 50.You can correct that mistake easily,just take out as much crushed coral as you can carefully and replace it with sand.I don't think it will disturb your animals or cause any adverse affects.Just scape the CC into a pile slowly,push it into a clean plastic container and remove it.Wash your sand well,then use a clean 3" PVC pipe at an angle to add the sand.This will reduce the amount of sand that enters the water column.This will help in the long run to keep nitrates down,if you keep the CC it will trap detritus and in time your nitrates will rise and the battle of the water changes will begin.

[Chasman]

Steve, Thanks for the input.

Based on what I have I'm not sure if it would make much of a difference. The reason I say that is I don't want a DSB (That's in the fuge). At the moment I can suck out the detritus with a water change. If I have a 1/4" of fine sand, I'm stuck. Can't clean it!

By the way I will never have a yellow tang again. Did that back in the late eighties. Watched it die basically. I think I will only put one more fish in this tank, if any.

Thanks Chas

[Steve McKay]

That seems fair enough and reasonable,the tang comment bore no relationship to you.I just put that in there,I've run into to many people here lately that have tangs in small tanks one in a 15gal.If you keep it clean you should be ok,I didn't know about the fuge that will be a good benefit.

[Chasman]

Don't worry, no offence taken:

I had about an eight year run with FO marine tanks in the late eighties and early ninties. Killed most of my subjects. It was when I went to a real shallow sand bed that I had my best results. I guess that still hangs with me.

Chas.

[Chasman]

Sorry this thread turned out to be such a buzz kill. Wasn't supposed too.

[Steve McKay]

You started this thread on Friday night,you and I might not have a life but some do.Give it time.Patience is the name of the game.

[Parrothead]

Chas,

As far as cleaning the sand, there are critters that live to do just that for you, keep that in mind

[Chasman]

Along what lines are you thinking Robert for cleaning sand. I had a few tips from Ninong when I purchased my snails and he wasn't too sure if some of the sand dwelling/sifting snails would be OK in such a shallow sand bed. He wasn't so high on hermit crabs and I'm not so much either. Would like to hear your ideas. I have three astria and three trochus snails.

Thanks
Chas.

[Steve McKay]

Did you say hermit crabs,hu,hu,don't ever say hermit crabs again. I would rather see you with CC than have hermit crabs,IMO there is no such thing as a reef safe hermit crab PERIOD.

[Chasman]

Steve:

Couldn't agree more. No crabs for me. I still have a very small one I need to rid myself of. My crab trap is a bit too big for the little bugger right now.

[Steve McKay]

That's why they make hunting rifles with scopes.

[Fish Lawyer]

That's why they make hunting rifles with scopes.

Yeah but I think you would need bullet proof glass for that method...

[Parrothead]

That's why they make hunting rifles with scopes.

He can be hired out, he's got a reputation for being a dead shot when it comes to crabs

[Parrothead]

if you are sticking with a shallow sand bed, you are gonna be limited in respect to a clean up crew, some creatures like burrowing some don't, we will have to work on this

[Chasman]

I set up a 20 gal. this way in 1990 that I had two fish in for five years. They out lasted my marriage.
At the moment I'm not having any problems with it. My nitrates are undetectable and all of my other water perameters are good.

I would like to get an ornamental shrimp of some kind, but I don't think they do much but pick at available food in the sand. But that wouldn't hurt either.

Chas.