Documenting My New Tank!

[Reefland]

Ok, here are the test results as of this morning:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - ~2
ALK - 3.5meq/L 9.9dkH
Ca - 340

Ah yes, things are finally looking good! I am guessing the tank has been cycled for about 1 week now. There's plenty of life roaming the tank, a couple of hitch-hiker snails (3), lots of copepods and amphipods and worms!

The sand bed has lost the rusty brown diatoms and is bright white again and the coralline algae on the rock has stopped bleaching. We're on our way now!

Regards,
Scott Z.

[zhenya]

Hi Scott,
Glad to hear things progressing nicely and I guess cycling is just about done.You'll be stocking soon enough
What are your plans for the live stock?I know you probably mentioned it already but I have not read all your posts since I've returned from my trip,maybe tonight when everyone is snoring away....

[Reefland]

SPS, SPS, SPS, Clams and more SPS.

As far as fish, I am considering a Royal Gramma, pair of Percula Clowns and maybe, just maybe a Scopas Tang. I realize the Scopas would be pushing the minimum but I have always adored them.

Then, probably some more SPS.

Regards,
Scott Z.

[Barry N.]

Clams, clams, clam and SPS and clams

hehe

Barry

[zhenya]

Sounds like you're realy hooked on SPS and clams(Barry will be happy to read this )I think scopas will be just fine in a 75g tank and wont bother all your other fishes;) Good luck with hunting down perfect speciments but,I know you're a patient man and you'll get just the right ones.

[zhenya]

I knew Barry was typing faster than I did

[Barry N.]

Gene,

That is the thing I like about this BB, we can also have fun and also talk seriously as well.

Barry

[zhenya]

You said it Barry.This is my favorite BB by far.No one's breathing down on anybody's neck and people have a good semce of humor and tons of valuble info.
I can go on and on

[Reefland]

I think ya'll are jumping to fast here. No sense of humors, no fun, no nothing is allowed at RL!

Now don't force us to unleash our powers!

I am glad you guys enjoy your time and the atomosphere on Reefland.

Regards,
Scott Z.

[zhenya]

Thanks for reminding us Scott
We'll try to stay on our collective toes

[Barry N.]

Just have to watch that Clam forum mod Mark, that guy is tough ;)

Barry

[organicreefer]

five pages and no pic

you should be ashamed of youreself

we need to see youre "roqua -scape"

[Reefland]

I wish we had a camera to take a picture with. I have thought about getting a disposable and getting them developed on disk but it has only been a thought.

While I'm here, I will give a little update. We purchased some Nassarius snails and a few hermit crabs to keep the sand bed moving and a very nice Royal Gramma (only if he would ever come out of hiding). We are considering going tomorrow and looking around for our first coral.

Scott Z.

[tendar]

Maybe I should do the same thing for my sea horse tank I am starting to set up. I have only ordered the tank so far. But have pretty much planed out the rest of the tank.

[Reefland]

Tonight I replaced the MAG 18 return pump with a MAG 5 to eliminate the bubbles. I need to get one more piece of plumbing and then I will place the MAG 18 on a closed loop. Once I started up the MAG 5, I knew the tank would be free of bubbles and it still is. I can't tell you how much nicer it is to be bubble free!

Inhibitants to date are:
Snails, crabs, Royal Gramma, 2 black Ocellaris Clownfish and 2 SPS frags. I still need to get my second light set-up to complete the hardware but that will be real soon.

Michelle also got us a digital camera so I will be able to post some pictures for everyone in the next day or so.

Regards,

[kevinpo]

Scott,
What are your calcium and alkalinity readings now? They were quite out of balance last time you posted. It would be much better to get them at the appropriate levels before you start adding the livestock.

Regards,
Kevin

[Reefland]

Excellent point, Kevin. The last time I checked the ALK was right at 4 and the calcium was running at 400.

Regards,

[kevinpo]

Scott,
To be in balance your alkalinity should be at 2 meq/L with a calcium reading of 400 ppm or bring the calcium up to 440 ppm. IME it's much easier to let the alk drop than to try and maintain the higher calcium level (cheaper too )

Regards,
Kevin

[Reefland]

Thanks for the info, however if the 2 are maintaining at the levels above, are there any long term negative effects?

I haven't had a lot of time to play with our new camera but below is a decent picture of the left side of the tank (the only side currently lit).

[kevinpo]

Scott,
No negative impact as far as livestock that I've seen. It just makes it difficult to keep the calcium up if the alkalinity is out of balance.

Nice to finally see a picture

Regards,
Kevin