Beginning of another but first to me 58G Reef tank - Page 2

manishkasera · 07/04/2009, 09:31 PM

4-Jul-2009

I'm back from my vacation to Ottawa, it was a nice trip, i really liked the city. Will post some picture from Canada day later with some aquarium pictures.

Today upon arrival i did perform my first water change of almost 12%-15% of total water volume.

Then this evening I did check my parameters:
PH: 7.8 (raised to 8.0)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-5

Today I also added my first live stock that consists:
4 Zebra hermit crabs
1 Turbo snail
1 Nassarius snail
1 Blood Red Fire Shrimp
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
1 Torch Coral (5 heads)
1 Multi color Ricordea Mushroom Rock

Milhouse · 07/04/2009, 10:46 PM

Just out of curiosity, what are the dimensions of the tank? I thought only Oceanic made 58g. AGA makes a 65 with almost the same specs, except it's 36x18x24. Just wondering.

manishkasera · 07/05/2009, 06:36 PM

Milhouse - my tank dimensions are 36*18*21.

manishkasera · 07/05/2009, 06:41 PM

My SG: 1.026

Here is my McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, love this fish, very active fish:

Torch Coral:

Zebra Hermit Crab:

My only Turbo snail munching on algae:

Finally FTS:

manishkasera · 07/05/2009, 07:13 PM

I have 3-4 inches deep sand bed. I went with special reef grade substrate instead of fine sand.

Do you forsee any issue or even positive comments?

manishkasera · 07/06/2009, 03:03 PM

Anyone?

manishkasera · 07/07/2009, 06:56 PM

I checked my water parameters today.

SG: 1.025 - 1.026
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-5 (couldn't decide if it was zero so somewhere in the middle)
Temperature: 81.6 (towards the end of light cycle, 30 minutes before MH goes off)

So everything looks great, touch wood.

For now I'm using tap water (except last water change where I bought water from LFS), maybe that is causing some hair algae that is growing all over. I know what you people will say, NO NO.

I'll buy RO/DI unit, which one you guys suggest? How is his one:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/RO/DI-...duct_info.html

I want to be able to buy something from online shop that will ship to Canada me without having to pay for brokerage or any other overhead.

Also what do you guys suggest to feed my wrasse? Currently I tried flakes, new marine pellets and frozen brine shrimp, out of these she have eaten only shrimp. Does anyone have the same wrasse if so what do you feed them?

manishkasera · 07/08/2009, 02:37 PM

Hmmmmmm.........seems no one is interested ;-)

Come on guys I have several question, need someone to chime in, counting..............

muddysr5 · 07/08/2009, 03:58 PM

I think it is a slow day here on RC. I'll bump you up

I feed Rod's to my tank. Everyone LOVES it! And - while it is a bit pricey, he seriously has something in his food for everyone in the tank. No joke, my anenome has literally doubled in size (last 3 - 4 months since I have had it) and it has been eating Rod's food.

As far as any of your other questions go, I am not sure I am your best resource. I am still a newb and would prefer not sounding stupid

manishkasera · 07/08/2009, 04:32 PM

Hey muddysr5, with 300G setup you hardly is Newbie, atleast from my standards.

What is Rod's ? Could you please post me some link.

manishkasera · 07/08/2009, 07:36 PM

Since I introduced my Nassarius I never saw it.

I took advise and decided to lower the height of my rock work so I can place more stuff and also it will give more swimming room for fishes. I moved two of my rocks to sump area.

Tomorrow when water clears up I'll post new pictures.

manishkasera · 07/11/2009, 04:47 PM

OK, did not get the chance to click pictures and post as promised.

Today I went on shopping spree and bought various livestock:
Small colony of duncuns
Some Neon polyps
Purple pumping xenia
hammer coral
Some kind of sponge
Little Blue tang
Flame angel

Here are some pictures:

Can someone tell me what kind of sponge is this?

Can someone tell me what kind of Ricordia is this:

FTS that shows flame angel:

manishkasera · 07/11/2009, 04:57 PM

Some pictures from Ottawa trip:

That's all for today.

manishkasera · 07/13/2009, 05:39 AM

Yesterday I went and bought the 20G brute container for water change and when going out for extended period to take care of auto topoff for prolong period.

My skimmer still is producing absolutely zero froath, doyou think something is wrong here or is it just thatIhave very light bio-load o nthe tank?

I would really appreciate any help here.

OzarksReef · 07/13/2009, 07:06 AM

Looking good - all the fish look healthy and the coral looks like it's settling in. The shot of your skimmer looks like it's not foaming at all. Is the end of the air hose open and sucking plenty of air in? What kind of impeller are you using - is it a pinwheel or mesh mod? You have plenty of bioload to be getting skimmate full time. Let's explore what's going on there a bit more...

The sponge is Trikentrion flabelliforme or "Spider Sponge." The white "lines" on it should open up to form zoanthid-like polyps...like this:

manishkasera · 07/13/2009, 11:20 AM

Thanks for replying OzarksReef (finally someone looked at it after long time).

Skimmer is really bothering me. It is running with it's original pump it came with. Yesterday even I opened and checked the impeller for any broken needle but everything seems to be all right, did not see anything abnormal. On one or more occasions air hose took a dip in sump, do you think that might have choked the tube and that is causing it not to be able to suck a lot of air? Should I remove the air valve and see if that makes any difference?

That is a beautiful picture of that sponge. Is that you have in your tank? If so could you tell me how are you taking care of it like light, water flow, food etc?

OzarksReef · 07/13/2009, 12:18 PM

On the skimmer - are you getting any white foam at all? If not, then no air is getting injected. It is either the impeller (not moving) or the hose is blocked. I would take off anything that is on the line - if you have an air valve, definitely remove it. You want as much air entering the venturi as possible.

If you do that and still don't have luck - and you want to pursue further, I'd suggest taking the impeller out and photograph it. When you place the pump in a bucket of water and power it on, does it circulate the water well?

I had a piece of this sponge in my system that was doing well, but it was very small and disappeared under my reef. I just kept it on the bottom (lower light) and it did really well. Seemed to like moderate, but indirect flow...

David

manishkasera · 07/13/2009, 12:50 PM

No, I don't see any white foam at all, there are micro bubbles but nothing that creates white foam or look in skimmer.

I'll try to remove the air valve when go back to home this evening and then see how does the Skimmer do.

In order to avoid any possibility I also ran this skimmer in Vinegar water also but no luck.

Skimmer is brand new.

I was reading some info on that sponge and seems won't live longer, I hope it is not poisnous.

manishkasera · 07/13/2009, 06:52 PM

Forgot to mentioned since yesterday I have switched off my left side Koralia pump as it was too muchflow for my Duncun and Torch to handle, duncun's were not opening up properly.

Looking at FTS from previous pictures do you think, there is better place to place that pump?

manishkasera · 07/13/2009, 06:55 PM

Hey OzarksReef, I opened the pump again and dsamble the whole skimmer in pieces and to my surprise there was a piece of styrofoam that got stuck in pump right where it suck air from that was blocking the whoe air.
Finally removed that piece and did put the skimmer in and Ahhh. it's working.
I can see a lot of bubbles coming and also foam is getting created.
Finally mystry solved.

OzarksReef · 07/14/2009, 04:26 PM

Glad you got the skimmer running properly! That will make a big difference - your livestock will appreciate it

manishkasera · 07/14/2009, 09:50 PM

Thanks Ozark.

Today i tested the water parameters:
PH: 7.9
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

I am assuming since my skimmer just started working that will help bring down the nitrate level.

I have 3"-4" deep sand band so was hoping that will help me keep my nitrate level in check.

Last two water changes were RO/DI and even top off is with RO/DI so that should also help, until I do not have RO/DI I am trying to buy it from LFS.

Pacific Reefs · 07/14/2009, 10:20 PM

Love your 58g! That was my very first tank and when I sold it I realize how much I liked it that I bought another one. Its great because there is no center brace and you can run a since halide over it. I was drooling at the Oceanic rimless version at the LFS the other day.

manishkasera · 07/16/2009, 09:31 PM

Thanks Pacific.
It is coming along nicely.

Tangweed · 07/16/2009, 10:05 PM

Nice set up

I had a 58 gal Oceanic for over a year. Very cool size tank. I miss mine, I'll be tagging along.

I think Toddrtrex has the coolest 58 on RC

07/05/2009, 06:41 PM	#29
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	New pictures added on 5-Jul-2009 My SG: 1.026 Here is my McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, love this fish, very active fish: Torch Coral: Zebra Hermit Crab: My only Turbo snail munching on algae: Finally FTS: Last edited by manishkasera; 07/05/2009 at 07:10 PM.

07/08/2009, 03:58 PM	#34
muddysr5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 207	I think it is a slow day here on RC. I'll bump you up I feed Rod's to my tank. Everyone LOVES it! And - while it is a bit pricey, he seriously has something in his food for everyone in the tank. No joke, my anenome has literally doubled in size (last 3 - 4 months since I have had it) and it has been eating Rod's food. As far as any of your other questions go, I am not sure I am your best resource. I am still a newb and would prefer not sounding stupid __________________ Hindsight is 20/20. Current Tank Info: 300 gal, 125 gal, 125 sump

07/11/2009, 04:47 PM	#37
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	OK, did not get the chance to click pictures and post as promised. Today I went on shopping spree and bought various livestock: Small colony of duncuns Some Neon polyps Purple pumping xenia hammer coral Some kind of sponge Little Blue tang Flame angel Here are some pictures: Can someone tell me what kind of sponge is this? Can someone tell me what kind of Ricordia is this: FTS that shows flame angel: Last edited by manishkasera; 07/11/2009 at 04:52 PM.

07/16/2009, 10:05 PM	#50
Tangweed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 1,002	Nice set up I had a 58 gal Oceanic for over a year. Very cool size tank. I miss mine, I'll be tagging along. I think Toddrtrex has the coolest 58 on RC __________________ Thanks! Jeremy Current Tank Info: 90 gal with 40 gal breeder sump / fuge, Octo skimmer, lights and some water.

07/04/2009, 09:31 PM	#26
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	4-Jul-2009 I'm back from my vacation to Ottawa, it was a nice trip, i really liked the city. Will post some picture from Canada day later with some aquarium pictures. Today upon arrival i did perform my first water change of almost 12%-15% of total water volume. Then this evening I did check my parameters: PH: 7.8 (raised to 8.0) Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0-5 Today I also added my first live stock that consists: 4 Zebra hermit crabs 1 Turbo snail 1 Nassarius snail 1 Blood Red Fire Shrimp 1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp 1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse 1 Torch Coral (5 heads) 1 Multi color Ricordea Mushroom Rock

07/04/2009, 10:46 PM	#27
Milhouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 722	Just out of curiosity, what are the dimensions of the tank? I thought only Oceanic made 58g. AGA makes a 65 with almost the same specs, except it's 36x18x24. Just wondering.

07/05/2009, 06:36 PM	#28
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Milhouse - my tank dimensions are 361821.

07/05/2009, 07:13 PM	#30
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	I have 3-4 inches deep sand bed. I went with special reef grade substrate instead of fine sand. Do you forsee any issue or even positive comments?

07/06/2009, 03:03 PM	#31
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Anyone?

07/07/2009, 06:56 PM	#32
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	I checked my water parameters today. SG: 1.025 - 1.026 PH: 8.2 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0-5 (couldn't decide if it was zero so somewhere in the middle) Temperature: 81.6 (towards the end of light cycle, 30 minutes before MH goes off) So everything looks great, touch wood. For now I'm using tap water (except last water change where I bought water from LFS), maybe that is causing some hair algae that is growing all over. I know what you people will say, NO NO. I'll buy RO/DI unit, which one you guys suggest? How is his one: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/RO/DI-...duct_info.html I want to be able to buy something from online shop that will ship to Canada me without having to pay for brokerage or any other overhead. Also what do you guys suggest to feed my wrasse? Currently I tried flakes, new marine pellets and frozen brine shrimp, out of these she have eaten only shrimp. Does anyone have the same wrasse if so what do you feed them?

07/08/2009, 02:37 PM	#33
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Hmmmmmm.........seems no one is interested ;-) Come on guys I have several question, need someone to chime in, counting..............

07/08/2009, 04:32 PM	#35
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Hey muddysr5, with 300G setup you hardly is Newbie, atleast from my standards. What is Rod's ? Could you please post me some link.

07/08/2009, 07:36 PM	#36
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Since I introduced my Nassarius I never saw it. I took advise and decided to lower the height of my rock work so I can place more stuff and also it will give more swimming room for fishes. I moved two of my rocks to sump area. Tomorrow when water clears up I'll post new pictures.

07/11/2009, 04:57 PM	#38
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Some pictures from Ottawa trip: That's all for today.

07/13/2009, 05:39 AM	#39
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Yesterday I went and bought the 20G brute container for water change and when going out for extended period to take care of auto topoff for prolong period. My skimmer still is producing absolutely zero froath, doyou think something is wrong here or is it just thatIhave very light bio-load o nthe tank? I would really appreciate any help here.

07/13/2009, 07:06 AM	#40
OzarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 418	Looking good - all the fish look healthy and the coral looks like it's settling in. The shot of your skimmer looks like it's not foaming at all. Is the end of the air hose open and sucking plenty of air in? What kind of impeller are you using - is it a pinwheel or mesh mod? You have plenty of bioload to be getting skimmate full time. Let's explore what's going on there a bit more... The sponge is Trikentrion flabelliforme or "Spider Sponge." The white "lines" on it should open up to form zoanthid-like polyps...like this:

07/13/2009, 11:20 AM	#41
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Thanks for replying OzarksReef (finally someone looked at it after long time). Skimmer is really bothering me. It is running with it's original pump it came with. Yesterday even I opened and checked the impeller for any broken needle but everything seems to be all right, did not see anything abnormal. On one or more occasions air hose took a dip in sump, do you think that might have choked the tube and that is causing it not to be able to suck a lot of air? Should I remove the air valve and see if that makes any difference? That is a beautiful picture of that sponge. Is that you have in your tank? If so could you tell me how are you taking care of it like light, water flow, food etc?

07/13/2009, 12:18 PM	#42
OzarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 418	On the skimmer - are you getting any white foam at all? If not, then no air is getting injected. It is either the impeller (not moving) or the hose is blocked. I would take off anything that is on the line - if you have an air valve, definitely remove it. You want as much air entering the venturi as possible. If you do that and still don't have luck - and you want to pursue further, I'd suggest taking the impeller out and photograph it. When you place the pump in a bucket of water and power it on, does it circulate the water well? I had a piece of this sponge in my system that was doing well, but it was very small and disappeared under my reef. I just kept it on the bottom (lower light) and it did really well. Seemed to like moderate, but indirect flow... David

07/13/2009, 12:50 PM	#43
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	No, I don't see any white foam at all, there are micro bubbles but nothing that creates white foam or look in skimmer. I'll try to remove the air valve when go back to home this evening and then see how does the Skimmer do. In order to avoid any possibility I also ran this skimmer in Vinegar water also but no luck. Skimmer is brand new. I was reading some info on that sponge and seems won't live longer, I hope it is not poisnous.

07/13/2009, 06:52 PM	#44
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Forgot to mentioned since yesterday I have switched off my left side Koralia pump as it was too muchflow for my Duncun and Torch to handle, duncun's were not opening up properly. Looking at FTS from previous pictures do you think, there is better place to place that pump?

07/13/2009, 06:55 PM	#45
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Hey OzarksReef, I opened the pump again and dsamble the whole skimmer in pieces and to my surprise there was a piece of styrofoam that got stuck in pump right where it suck air from that was blocking the whoe air. Finally removed that piece and did put the skimmer in and Ahhh. it's working. I can see a lot of bubbles coming and also foam is getting created. Finally mystry solved.

07/14/2009, 04:26 PM	#46
OzarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 418	Glad you got the skimmer running properly! That will make a big difference - your livestock will appreciate it

07/14/2009, 09:50 PM	#47
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Thanks Ozark. Today i tested the water parameters: PH: 7.9 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 10 I am assuming since my skimmer just started working that will help bring down the nitrate level. I have 3"-4" deep sand band so was hoping that will help me keep my nitrate level in check. Last two water changes were RO/DI and even top off is with RO/DI so that should also help, until I do not have RO/DI I am trying to buy it from LFS.

07/14/2009, 10:20 PM	#48
Pacific Reefs Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,768	Love your 58g! That was my very first tank and when I sold it I realize how much I liked it that I bought another one. Its great because there is no center brace and you can run a since halide over it. I was drooling at the Oceanic rimless version at the LFS the other day.

07/16/2009, 09:31 PM	#49
manishkasera Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vaughan ON, Canada Posts: 148	Thanks Pacific. It is coming along nicely.