Azhorsegal's 125 gallon tank

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 11:46 AM

Hi All!

It's been a while since I've been on here. Been busy setting up my 125 gallon reef tank and was spending time on another forum. Things are starting to get a little hostle,

so I thought I would come back over here. Besides, I have LOTS of pics to show all of you. First here is all my equipment:

125 gallon reef ready overflow tank
DIY stand (canopy and doors are being built)
30" sump/refuge
2 Aqualight T-5 36" Double Lamps 10,000k/Actinic
ASM G2 Protein Skimmer
Mini Aqualight 9" for the refuge
2 Hydor Koralia #3 (850 gph each) Powerheads (LOVE THEM)
Little Giant #4 Return pump
160 lbs of rock (100 lbs lr)
100 lbs of sand (20 lbs ls)

I think that's it.........

Hubby making the stand.

Hubby really got into the details.

The wood we used was cherry (for the outside)

My husband also did all the plumbing. Not bad for someone who's never put together a fisht tank before.

More pics to come in a few minutes........

skeeter-doc · 03/27/2007, 11:59 AM

looking good

any more pics?

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 12:05 PM

80 lbs of dry sand with base rock.

Nemo and Marlin hanging out in QT.

February 21, 2007, Live rock added with live sand. Now the wait begins.

March 15, 2007 Cycle is complete and clean up crew is added (hermits, 2 cleaner shrimp, 3 emerald crabs, cerith snails, nassarius snails)

I keep my hermits in my refuge.

Still more to come.........

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 12:08 PM

Added my feather dusters last week.

March 20, 2007

Nemo and Marlin would have already been put into the DT, but 2 1/2 weeks into the QT time they showed signs of ich.

So they will have been in Hypo for three week come this Thursday. I will then start to raise the salinity and then hopefully by Tuesday have them in the DT. After they go in I will then add one fish/species at a time every three weeks, as that's the time I'll keep them in QT (that's of course if they don't show signs of illness). This is the rest of my fish list:

2 Bangaii Cardinals
3 Jawfish
3 Lyretail Anthias (1 male, 2 females)
Orange Spotted Blenny
Royal Gramma
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Flame Angel (maybe)

Of course I will be getting my more timid fish first. It will take some time, but that will help me stretch out my money.

nsreefer · 03/27/2007, 01:51 PM

Looks like you're off to a great start. I as well recently migrated from another forum, not due to hostility, but due to the site becoming more focused on making money for the administrator, rather than advancing the hobby. Good luck and enjoy!.
Mike

nsreefer · 03/27/2007, 01:54 PM

Oops! I also forgot welcome back to reefcentral!

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 02:12 PM

Thanks nsreefer. LOVE your avatar picture.

reefdna · 03/27/2007, 05:35 PM

keep the pics coming! Especially of the equipment.

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 05:44 PM

OK, I have some more pics I'll share:

All my wires are now up and out of the way.

Left Side

Right Side

Out hunting for food.

I think that's all the pics I have, until I start adding fish.

Icefire · 03/27/2007, 05:52 PM

Do a 6week hypo to be sure.

reefdna · 03/27/2007, 06:06 PM

Nice!

azhorsegal · 03/27/2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Icefire
Do a 6week hypo to be sure.

Well, with the life cycle of ich 3 weeks will kill the parasite, and I started counting after there were no spots, so it's been a little longer than three. Of course 4 might be better, but I don't think 6 is necessary. But thanks for the input.

azhorsegal · 03/28/2007, 05:36 PM

Bump.

azhorsegal · 03/29/2007, 09:53 AM

OK, no pics but some interesting things happened over night. First let me say what I did yesterday. I added 3 tsp. of Kent Marine Liquid Calcium because my calcium level was 350ppm, and then I also added 4 tsp of Kent Marine Superbuffer-dKH because alk was low (1.7) and pH was 8.0. Well this morning all levels are still the same , but one of my shrimp has molted (had no idea they molted their antanas), one hermit crab in the sump is out of it's shell dead (now being eaten by the others) and one hermit is out of it's shell, but still alive hanging out in the cheato. I'm pretty sure this little guy is dieing because he's lost a leg and there is spiderweb like tracks over the rock and some on the side of the sump, I think that's coming from the dieing hermit. I tested everything else and this is what I came up with:

Calcium 350ppm
Phosphate 0.1
pH 8.0
Alk 1.7
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.05 (I think this may be a false reading, because it's never read 0)
Nitrate 10
Salinity 1.025
Temp 78.6

So what do you think, just a coincidence and the cycle of life, or something else might be wrong? According to the directions on the calcium I'm supposed to add some every day, but how do I get it up to the level that I need. I should have it up to 450ppm, right? And the Superbuffer sais to add daily until I get the levels of pH and alk that I need then add weekly. Is that right?

Sepeku · 03/29/2007, 10:40 AM

I'd hazard a guess to say the spider web things were probably from vermitides.

mg426 · 03/29/2007, 10:54 AM

Sweet looking setup.

drummereef · 03/29/2007, 12:28 PM

Great looking tank, azhorsegal! Now's the time to look into the chemistry of the tank too. Buffers aren't a good long term solution to alk probs. Check out these articles to read more on the subject. I use a 2-part suppliment to keep alk/ca in balance. Works great.

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102605

Shinok · 03/29/2007, 12:37 PM

What species of Clown do you have. I used to have those nice dark colored clowns with the black outlining, but everywhere I go to find another are all light orange, they don't even look attractive to me.

azhorsegal · 03/29/2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shinok
What species of Clown do you have. I used to have those nice dark colored clowns with the black outlining, but everywhere I go to find another are all light orange, they don't even look attractive to me.

My clowns are false percs and are the color you see in the picture, dark orange, very nice I think. I got them from Petco (no flaming please), and they are doing great. I've seen those lighter ones you are talking about and I don't like them either. I've had mine for about 6 weeks now and they are doing great. I love them!

azhorsegal · 03/29/2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sepeku
I'd hazard a guess to say the spider web things were probably from vermitides.

What's vermitides? Good or bad?

azhorsegal · 03/29/2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Great looking tank, azhorsegal! Now's the time to look into the chemistry of the tank too. Buffers aren't a good long term solution to alk probs. Check out these articles to read more on the subject. I use a 2-part suppliment to keep alk/ca in balance. Works great.

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102605

Thanks for sharing. I'm a big reader and want to learn all I can, so I appreciate the info.

Scuba_Steve · 03/29/2007, 01:06 PM

Just a type of tube worm. They filter feed so i guess you could say good..... but they really arnt beneficial and make those annoying webs, so good is a strong word. They do no harm.

Scuba_Steve · 03/29/2007, 01:09 PM

Great looking tank btw! Im debating 120, 125, and 125 wide. I second the 2 part, well actually 3 part if you include mag. Here is a good RC sponsor (

I should get paid for these)
http://www.twopartsolution.com/

Shinok · 03/29/2007, 01:11 PM

Yeah, I saw them at Petco also, but was a little iffy buying them. Some days their tanks look great, sometimes I turn around and walk out

Gonna check it out today, thx for the info.

azhorsegal · 03/29/2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shinok
Yeah, I saw them at Petco also, but was a little iffy buying them. Some days their tanks look great, sometimes I turn around and walk out Gonna check it out today, thx for the info.

I know what you mean, it can be scary sometimes. I actually got lucky that day, because they were listed for $16.95 each, not bad, right? Well, when I got home I realized they only charged me for one, so I got two false percs for $16.95!

03/27/2007, 11:46 AM	#1
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	Azhorsegal's 125 gallon tank Hi All! It's been a while since I've been on here. Been busy setting up my 125 gallon reef tank and was spending time on another forum. Things are starting to get a little hostle, so I thought I would come back over here. Besides, I have LOTS of pics to show all of you. First here is all my equipment: 125 gallon reef ready overflow tank DIY stand (canopy and doors are being built) 30" sump/refuge 2 Aqualight T-5 36" Double Lamps 10,000k/Actinic ASM G2 Protein Skimmer Mini Aqualight 9" for the refuge 2 Hydor Koralia #3 (850 gph each) Powerheads (LOVE THEM) Little Giant #4 Return pump 160 lbs of rock (100 lbs lr) 100 lbs of sand (20 lbs ls) I think that's it......... Hubby making the stand. Hubby really got into the details. The wood we used was cherry (for the outside) My husband also did all the plumbing. Not bad for someone who's never put together a fisht tank before. More pics to come in a few minutes........ Last edited by azhorsegal; 03/27/2007 at 12:12 PM.

03/27/2007, 05:35 PM	#8
reefdna Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 1,156	keep the pics coming! Especially of the equipment. __________________ The true measure of strength is not how many trials you have faced..... but rather how you face each trial. Current Tank Info: 250 Acrylic mixed reef w/3 400W MH in mini Lumenarc's, 1/3 HP chiller 80 gal sump

03/27/2007, 05:52 PM	#10
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Do a 6week hypo to be sure. __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

03/27/2007, 06:06 PM	#11
reefdna Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 1,156	Nice! __________________ The true measure of strength is not how many trials you have faced..... but rather how you face each trial. Current Tank Info: 250 Acrylic mixed reef w/3 400W MH in mini Lumenarc's, 1/3 HP chiller 80 gal sump

03/29/2007, 09:53 AM	#14
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	Coincidence or problem with water? OK, no pics but some interesting things happened over night. First let me say what I did yesterday. I added 3 tsp. of Kent Marine Liquid Calcium because my calcium level was 350ppm, and then I also added 4 tsp of Kent Marine Superbuffer-dKH because alk was low (1.7) and pH was 8.0. Well this morning all levels are still the same , but one of my shrimp has molted (had no idea they molted their antanas), one hermit crab in the sump is out of it's shell dead (now being eaten by the others) and one hermit is out of it's shell, but still alive hanging out in the cheato. I'm pretty sure this little guy is dieing because he's lost a leg and there is spiderweb like tracks over the rock and some on the side of the sump, I think that's coming from the dieing hermit. I tested everything else and this is what I came up with: Calcium 350ppm Phosphate 0.1 pH 8.0 Alk 1.7 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.05 (I think this may be a false reading, because it's never read 0) Nitrate 10 Salinity 1.025 Temp 78.6 So what do you think, just a coincidence and the cycle of life, or something else might be wrong? According to the directions on the calcium I'm supposed to add some every day, but how do I get it up to the level that I need. I should have it up to 450ppm, right? And the Superbuffer sais to add daily until I get the levels of pH and alk that I need then add weekly. Is that right?

03/27/2007, 11:59 AM	#2
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	looking good any more pics?

03/27/2007, 12:05 PM	#3
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	80 lbs of dry sand with base rock. Nemo and Marlin hanging out in QT. February 21, 2007, Live rock added with live sand. Now the wait begins. March 15, 2007 Cycle is complete and clean up crew is added (hermits, 2 cleaner shrimp, 3 emerald crabs, cerith snails, nassarius snails) I keep my hermits in my refuge. Still more to come.........

03/27/2007, 12:08 PM	#4
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	Added my feather dusters last week. March 20, 2007 Nemo and Marlin would have already been put into the DT, but 2 1/2 weeks into the QT time they showed signs of ich. So they will have been in Hypo for three week come this Thursday. I will then start to raise the salinity and then hopefully by Tuesday have them in the DT. After they go in I will then add one fish/species at a time every three weeks, as that's the time I'll keep them in QT (that's of course if they don't show signs of illness). This is the rest of my fish list: 2 Bangaii Cardinals 3 Jawfish 3 Lyretail Anthias (1 male, 2 females) Orange Spotted Blenny Royal Gramma Hippo Tang Yellow Tang Flame Angel (maybe) Of course I will be getting my more timid fish first. It will take some time, but that will help me stretch out my money.

03/27/2007, 01:51 PM	#5
nsreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Stratford, PEI Posts: 502	Looks like you're off to a great start. I as well recently migrated from another forum, not due to hostility, but due to the site becoming more focused on making money for the administrator, rather than advancing the hobby. Good luck and enjoy!. Mike

03/27/2007, 01:54 PM	#6
nsreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Stratford, PEI Posts: 502	Oops! I also forgot welcome back to reefcentral!

03/27/2007, 02:12 PM	#7
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	Thanks nsreefer. LOVE your avatar picture.

03/27/2007, 05:44 PM	#9
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	OK, I have some more pics I'll share: All my wires are now up and out of the way. Left Side Right Side Out hunting for food. I think that's all the pics I have, until I start adding fish.

03/28/2007, 05:36 PM	#13
azhorsegal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 488	Bump.

03/29/2007, 10:40 AM	#15
Sepeku Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 356	I'd hazard a guess to say the spider web things were probably from vermitides.

03/29/2007, 10:54 AM	#16
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Sweet looking setup. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/29/2007, 12:28 PM	#17
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Great looking tank, azhorsegal! Now's the time to look into the chemistry of the tank too. Buffers aren't a good long term solution to alk probs. Check out these articles to read more on the subject. I use a 2-part suppliment to keep alk/ca in balance. Works great. How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102605 __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/29/2007, 12:37 PM	#18
Shinok Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 19	What species of Clown do you have. I used to have those nice dark colored clowns with the black outlining, but everywhere I go to find another are all light orange, they don't even look attractive to me. Last edited by Shinok; 03/29/2007 at 12:42 PM.

03/29/2007, 01:06 PM	#22
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	Just a type of tube worm. They filter feed so i guess you could say good..... but they really arnt beneficial and make those annoying webs, so good is a strong word. They do no harm. __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

03/29/2007, 01:09 PM	#23
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	Great looking tank btw! Im debating 120, 125, and 125 wide. I second the 2 part, well actually 3 part if you include mag. Here is a good RC sponsor ( I should get paid for these) http://www.twopartsolution.com/ __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

03/29/2007, 01:11 PM	#24
Shinok Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 19	Yeah, I saw them at Petco also, but was a little iffy buying them. Some days their tanks look great, sometimes I turn around and walk out Gonna check it out today, thx for the info.