My 55 gallon

[omni2226]

I have not tried this myself, but supposedly if you run just actinic lights it helps the coraline algae grow without helping the "nastys".
Nice looking start.
I let people rush me on stocking and tried the chemical/manmade things to hurry things up the first time.
Im building a new system from scratch (all diy plywood system) and like you I am not getting in a hurry this time. Heh took me two weeks just to put the primer on four feet of wood.
I am enjoying it this time around.
On the sump did you use the cast acrylic or the plexiglass stuff from Lowes/Homedepot?

[davidryder]

If you get the newest version of Firefox (Internet Browser) it has a built-in spell checker when you use forms. I LOVE it's a lot like MS Word's spell check when you right click and it shows suggestions.


^^^It underlines misspelled words in red

Get Firefox Now

And plus, it's free, safer than MS Internet Explorer, and much lighter.

Originally posted by kwaters
A few great accomplishments:

I finally got an ammonia spike today. Tank is 10 days old and my test paper finally turned...

I registered as a premium member! (got tired of spelling words that I usually know incorrectly)

Made it to the 100 posts point. Still having a little trouble with the custom avitar, but hopefully I will figure it out!

Everyone keeps asking me "when are you putting in fish"? I am glad that I am not in too much of a hurry. The diatoms are present, but the skimmer is working well and hopefully, they (algae) will run out of fuel soon.

Anyway...thanks to all of you RC memembers for keeping me tied to the computer. Afterall, the tank is right here so what better place could there be????

Kris

[kwaters]

Thanks for the info on the browser. I had been waiting to upgrade anyway. We will see if the spell check works here!

Good luck on your tank. I just made my second batch of DIY rocks.

I am grateful for all of the information here!

Lets test.... suscribed or subscribed.

Kris

[davidryder]

I think you have to click on the Spell Check button... it's a separate process

[kwaters]

Well, dunno if that worked. Maybe I have to do something else. Anyway, I used acrylic from a local distributor. Acrylite I think is what it is called. I used 3/8 which was a little cheaper than 1/2, but just as strong.

It was a fun experience and ran me about $90.00 for everything. A lot cheaper, plus a custom fit!

Kris

[jerryreefrigger]

It's nice to see a thread on how to start a tank the right way. #1 ingredient - patience. It eliminates so many problems that happen to reefers that try to go too fast and stock the heck out of there systems right away.

slow and steady wins the race in this hobby.

Great looking tank. Nice job.

[kwaters]

Thanks,

Life has taught me a lot of patience. And by the way, I like my little wrinkles that are popping up. I've earned them.

Kris

[davidryder]

kwaters - do you have this below your forms? That's how you have to spell check, it's a button that pops up a window

[kwaters]

Ah, yes...that handy spell check button. Will help out in the future on late night posts after too many cervezas!

Oh, it doesn't do other languages....

Fun.

Kris

[kwaters]

Next question....custom avitars. I have tried resizing and resizing. I use photobucket, my other photo software, and still to big.

Info on this would be great.

kris

[davidryder]

open it in mspaint, press CTRL+W and try that if you haven't already. Paint shrinks images a lot with that.

[kwaters]

Boy,

Aren't you a great help!

Thanks,

Kris

[davidryder]

I live to serve.

[kwaters]

hmmmm....

[kwaters]

24 Days later....

My parameters have not changed much...the only thing is a small spike in Nitrates.

I purchased 4 snails today, and those suckers (literally) went right to work. They have about a 1/3 of the rock clean.
They do stir up more than consume, so I pumped up the skimmer to "wet". Hopefully the tank will be "clean" in the next few days.

I am mixing up a batch of water for a change....but still waiting. I'd hate to disturb the "cycle".

Kris

[specialkb]

Looks really good i got my 55 up and running this weekend, but cant seem to get my skimmer to work just right yet not sure what's going on with it.

[kwaters]

What type of skimmer do you have, and how is it not working?

Kris

[kwaters]

Just a little update. I love snails (at least for now). Funny, I always bought the Lochs for the FW tank to rid myself of those buggers. The have cleaned ALL of my rock and are now working on my acrylic. I am keeping the lights off as much as possible, waiting now for my T5's to arrive :-) .

When it is a little cleaner, I post some more pics. I also have about 80 lbs of DIY rock curing...this should add tremendous effects to the aquascape.

The skimmer is working great! All of the gunk the snails broke off ended up in the collection cup. I have a few mod plans for it, but will hold off for now. It seems to be doing just fine.

[kwaters]

well i got my lights today, but unfortunately three out of the four where broken! that really made mad. you would think with all the fragile stickers on it that they would be more carful. but any ways with the one light it looks vary good. it even has moon lights and they look awesome!!!

any way, emailed the vender and asked for prompt repalcement... we'll see!

[specialkb]

I know how that is i got mine with 2 broke lights then they started acting up so i sent them back now im still waiting on them. but im only working on 3 weeks of up time. so i got a little bit of time.

[kwaters]

I emailed fostersmith today...they are expressing me the three bulbs that were broken....good customer service if you ask me!

The tank looks GREAT! I love the lunars. The snails have cleaned things up very well! I worry now that they will run out of food. I also got a spectrometer. I am going to calibrate and test it tonight....

We'll see how that works.

[kwaters]

Update:

Got the 3 replacement bulbs for the lights. They sure add a difference to the tank. I will have to use a fan in the sump during the summer.

My first batch of DIY rock is almost complete. I changed the watere today and will test the PH tomorrow. If ok, it will go into a tub of RO water and soak for a few more days with a few water changes in between. I am hoping it will add a little depth to the aquascape. I also have another 50 lbs or so that I made from left over mortar from the bath remodel. I'll know in about a month how that turns out!

The snails and the new little blue legged hermits are great. They are really working on the tank. Check my new thread for sand cleaners (animal in nature) and feel free to add your comments.

(was going to add the link but.....)

Thanks a bunch.

[kwaters]

Wow. It has been a long time since I have added anything to this thread and it has almost been an entire year since I set up my tank. I have grown in this hobby as much as my tank has grown!

The tank is doing great! I have only lost 1 fish in the last year...and that was my two spot goby. He was fine one day and dead the next. Go figure. All of the other inhabitants are doing great! The two clowns and Grumpy the six line get on famously. They now have the company of a fox face (the center of all attention) and a new compadre-a yellow spot goby.

The tank is mostly soft corals, consisting of several Kenya Tree and a large Devil's hand. A few pulsating Xenia wave their little hands as well. I have two or three different zoanthoid colonies, and a few different polyp colonies. I love watching these grow out quickly!

I also house a few LPS coral-a love Favites Brain and a Wellsophyllia Brain that is purple and florescent green. There are two different candy cane corals and a torch coral.

All of my original equipment remains and is working fine. I recently added a closed loop to supplement flow to the bottom part of the tank. I look forward to adding more of my homemade rock and building up the aqua-scape!

Anyway, just thought I'd chime in and say thanks to all that helped along the way. I added a few Pics so enjoy!

Kris

Full Tank


Wellsophyllia


Favites


Fishes


Devils hand