**former thread of the month** Rebuilding the Reef - Log of a 90 Gallon Restarted - Page 16

CPT. MURPHY · 02/01/2005, 12:10 AM

looks great !

Jamesurq · 02/01/2005, 07:57 AM

Thanks Cpt. Murphy!

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 11:47 AM

So I did a few things yesterday.

Finished the trim and carpeting on the new fishroom roof....
Trimmed out the door and wall corners.
Spackled the plywood walls in preperation for a finish coat of some sort.
Bought a new fish - A Yasha Hasa Goby....

I'd get a picture of him - but he's nowhere to be seen. Put him in and he hid immediately. I'm sure he'll find some cave to make his home and I'll never see him again. Knowing a new $50 fish is in the tank is good enough for me...

Also, I noticed that there was considerable algae growing in the overflow!!

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 11:52 AM

So being the DIY type person I am I decided that there had to be something I could make myself to completely cover it....

That's when I saw this in the garage - it's the top to one of the rock curing tubs that I showed on page 1 of this thread... I figured, I don't need it for anything else...

So I grabbed a hacksaw and drew a basic rectangle for the size of the overflow.

I then trimmed the edges and cut a couple holes (one for the overflow and one for the return) and pushed it into place. It's held in by being the right size - and apart from a slightly oversized hole for the overflow tube, it shouldn't allow any light into the box...

Problem solved - cost.... Nothing.

thrlride · 02/02/2005, 12:13 PM

Little URQ helping you there?

Good idea James!

Kip · 02/02/2005, 12:14 PM

better watch out... there are child labor laws ya know

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 12:43 PM

Thanks guys....

Oh - that mysterious Oceanic brown algae - I'm almost tempted to believe it.

Thankfully my cleanup crew has eaten all of it where they can reach, but inside the closed loop outputs and the overflow, it's looking pretty brown and slimey....

thrlride · 02/02/2005, 12:45 PM

I needed some salt to get my tank up to SG so I bought a 20 or so pound container of Oceanic. I hope I don't have the same problems. Maybe Kips snails will take care of it if I see it.

Kip · 02/02/2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Oh - that mysterious Oceanic brown algae - I'm almost tempted to believe it.

aw c'mon... not you too?!!?

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thrlride
Maybe Kips snails will take care of it if I see it.

Bingo - whatever it is - those snails go crazy over it.

And kip - I know, I know, it's unbelivable that I would say such a thing - but I'm gonna have to try it for myself. A sterilized jar filled with 35 ppt Oceanic is gonna sit under a light in the next day or two...

I won't be changing salts - unless Oceanic want's to buy back the three buckets I have in the garage... But I'd still like to know if the ruhmors are true...

TheCoralNabber · 02/02/2005, 01:22 PM

James, what did you ever do with that huge 35 lb piece of LR. I read that you left it out of this new setuo. I remember seeing that piece the few times I came to your place and just being amazed with it. Just wondering

Dan

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 01:39 PM

oh - it's in there. :-)

I just kept the pieces lower in the tank - and with the overflow not being in the corner of the tank I was able to cram more rock in there. I also took out a few of the smaller pieces to accommodate it.

Here's an outline of the rocks - the 4 that are outlined in yellow are the big 4. The one in the middle I think is the one you're referring to - it's probably about 35 lbs - the one on the top right is just as big...

Kip · 02/02/2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

And kip - I know, I know, it's unbelivable that I would say such a thing - but I'm gonna have to try it for myself. A sterilized jar filled with 35 ppt Oceanic is gonna sit under a light in the next day or two

yeah.. last water change i did.. i put a LOA 65watter over the rubbermade w/ 15g of oceanic in it... let it set for a week (maybe not long enough)... i got nothing.... maybe you will find something that leads you to a possible bad batch.

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 03:35 PM

Yeah - we'll see.

I feel like the "tests" that have happened prior to now have had quite a few possible contaminant issues.

Do you think my sealed sterile jar on a sunny window is conclusive?

Probably not - since my TDS was a little up off zero... Good enough for me though I presume.

Kip · 02/02/2005, 03:39 PM

its tough to come up with a good test... you put water under any light and things are gonna happen.. .unless you can vacuum seal your house.

i am still happy with my salt... so i am staying put... my rocks, sand, etc are clear as a bell so no worries.... but thats not to say the next batch i open could be horrible. then again, you can say that about anything.

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 04:16 PM

I guess with the jar - I would seal the jar - not vacuum seal it - but it shouldn't be an issue having a very small amount of air in there...

We'll see what happens. - Wish I had a test kit to see if the PO4 levels are high.

melev · 02/02/2005, 07:35 PM

They do sell those, ya know.

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 07:46 PM

true.... But maybe if I wish reaaaallly hard one will materialize...

I guess it's one of those things I've never needed... (knock wood).

melev · 02/02/2005, 09:16 PM

You just don't know you need it. One day you'll test it, and then it will be a whole new battle.

Jamesurq · 02/02/2005, 09:32 PM

very big skimmer, macroalgae, and a pretty decent water change routine - I'll just hope for the best...

I've got 4 kids - enough battles to fight...

Jamesurq · 02/10/2005, 02:12 PM

Update of sorts:

Snails hatched.

Here's a picture the day before they did.

They're all over the place now - probably had about 50 hatching around the same time.

AJP · 02/10/2005, 02:23 PM

Well James it is good to see that you are still alive. Hope the tank is doing well. You also havent been in the lounge in ahwile. Naughty Naughty.

Jamesurq · 02/10/2005, 03:19 PM

yeah - partly because I've been busy - mostly because it's become a little too childish.

I'll be back I'm sure...

Kip · 02/10/2005, 03:45 PM

congrats on the snails

now you can sell em for a buck a piece and become a multi-millionaire like me

Jamesurq · 02/10/2005, 03:48 PM

so THAT's how you do it!

Let me ask you this - does your CBB eat them at all?

02/02/2005, 12:13 PM	#380
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	Little URQ helping you there? Good idea James! __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

02/02/2005, 12:14 PM	#381
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	better watch out... there are child labor laws ya know __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

02/02/2005, 12:45 PM	#383
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	I needed some salt to get my tank up to SG so I bought a 20 or so pound container of Oceanic. I hope I don't have the same problems. Maybe Kips snails will take care of it if I see it. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

02/02/2005, 01:22 PM	#386
TheCoralNabber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 554	James, what did you ever do with that huge 35 lb piece of LR. I read that you left it out of this new setuo. I remember seeing that piece the few times I came to your place and just being amazed with it. Just wondering Dan __________________ This spot for rent for frags! Back at it... Watch out or I'll Nab your Corals! Current Tank Info: 12g nano been going since '04 has been mostly FO but not adding some more corals

02/02/2005, 03:39 PM	#390
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	its tough to come up with a good test... you put water under any light and things are gonna happen.. .unless you can vacuum seal your house. i am still happy with my salt... so i am staying put... my rocks, sand, etc are clear as a bell so no worries.... but thats not to say the next batch i open could be horrible. then again, you can say that about anything. __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

02/01/2005, 12:10 AM	#376
CPT. MURPHY Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,148	looks great !

02/01/2005, 07:57 AM	#377
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Thanks Cpt. Murphy!

02/02/2005, 11:47 AM	#378
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	So I did a few things yesterday. Finished the trim and carpeting on the new fishroom roof.... Trimmed out the door and wall corners. Spackled the plywood walls in preperation for a finish coat of some sort. Bought a new fish - A Yasha Hasa Goby.... I'd get a picture of him - but he's nowhere to be seen. Put him in and he hid immediately. I'm sure he'll find some cave to make his home and I'll never see him again. Knowing a new $50 fish is in the tank is good enough for me... Also, I noticed that there was considerable algae growing in the overflow!!

02/02/2005, 11:52 AM	#379
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	So being the DIY type person I am I decided that there had to be something I could make myself to completely cover it.... That's when I saw this in the garage - it's the top to one of the rock curing tubs that I showed on page 1 of this thread... I figured, I don't need it for anything else... So I grabbed a hacksaw and drew a basic rectangle for the size of the overflow. I then trimmed the edges and cut a couple holes (one for the overflow and one for the return) and pushed it into place. It's held in by being the right size - and apart from a slightly oversized hole for the overflow tube, it shouldn't allow any light into the box... Problem solved - cost.... Nothing.

02/02/2005, 12:43 PM	#382
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Thanks guys.... Oh - that mysterious Oceanic brown algae - I'm almost tempted to believe it. Thankfully my cleanup crew has eaten all of it where they can reach, but inside the closed loop outputs and the overflow, it's looking pretty brown and slimey....

02/02/2005, 01:39 PM	#387
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	oh - it's in there. :-) I just kept the pieces lower in the tank - and with the overflow not being in the corner of the tank I was able to cram more rock in there. I also took out a few of the smaller pieces to accommodate it. Here's an outline of the rocks - the 4 that are outlined in yellow are the big 4. The one in the middle I think is the one you're referring to - it's probably about 35 lbs - the one on the top right is just as big...

02/02/2005, 03:35 PM	#389
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Yeah - we'll see. I feel like the "tests" that have happened prior to now have had quite a few possible contaminant issues. Do you think my sealed sterile jar on a sunny window is conclusive? Probably not - since my TDS was a little up off zero... Good enough for me though I presume.

02/02/2005, 04:16 PM	#391
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	I guess with the jar - I would seal the jar - not vacuum seal it - but it shouldn't be an issue having a very small amount of air in there... We'll see what happens. - Wish I had a test kit to see if the PO4 levels are high.

02/02/2005, 07:35 PM	#392
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	They do sell those, ya know.

02/02/2005, 07:46 PM	#393
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	true.... But maybe if I wish reaaaallly hard one will materialize... I guess it's one of those things I've never needed... (knock wood).

02/02/2005, 09:16 PM	#394
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	You just don't know you need it. One day you'll test it, and then it will be a whole new battle.

02/02/2005, 09:32 PM	#395
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	very big skimmer, macroalgae, and a pretty decent water change routine - I'll just hope for the best... I've got 4 kids - enough battles to fight...

02/10/2005, 02:12 PM	#396
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	Update of sorts: Snails hatched. Here's a picture the day before they did. They're all over the place now - probably had about 50 hatching around the same time.

02/10/2005, 02:23 PM	#397
AJP Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,652	Well James it is good to see that you are still alive. Hope the tank is doing well. You also havent been in the lounge in ahwile. Naughty Naughty.

02/10/2005, 03:19 PM	#398
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	yeah - partly because I've been busy - mostly because it's become a little too childish. I'll be back I'm sure...

02/10/2005, 03:45 PM	#399
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	congrats on the snails now you can sell em for a buck a piece and become a multi-millionaire like me __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

02/10/2005, 03:48 PM	#400
Jamesurq Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,470	so THAT's how you do it! Let me ask you this - does your CBB eat them at all?