Newbie Build Thread - TheBends - Page 2

TheBends · 10/03/2010, 08:06 AM

Test 9:00am 10/3/10

PH ~7.75 (Unstable, fluctuating between 7.5 and 8.0)
Ammonia Less than 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping)
Salinity ~1.0265

I have another batch of water finishing cooking, should be doing a water change this afternoon and will have more water ready for tomorrow morning.

I was searching around through my totes of old fish stuff and found some "antique" hang on back filter floss / activated charcoal filters that my great-grandmother once used. They reminded me of a HOB fuge and I immediately began scheming, here is what I came up with:

The tube connects to an old powerhead I had sitting around and the two couplings connect to two different "fuges".

Here are the fuges and the little trays that go inside them:

I have since painted the CPVC assembly with black krylon fusion, I also realized that I only used two of these fuges but have a third and have room for a third, so why the heck not add the third? Additionally, I will be adding valves for tuning flow and a y-split to allow me to use the powerhead for water changes. Will post more pictures when version two is complete.

On a semi-related note, I added the two Convict Cichlids to my 90 gallon freshwater system a few weeks ago. I picked out two from the store that we determined were a male and a female however once their colors began to show I got worried that they were both female. I sulked around for the past couple of weeks however this morning I woke up to this:

TheBends · 10/03/2010, 09:30 AM

I just realized I haven't posted pictures yet.

Here are the HOB fuges as they currently sit (Version 1) - I will be picking up parts for version 2 and hope to have it completed by this evening.

TheBends · 10/03/2010, 01:27 PM

Only ended up getting 2 valves since I didn't realize how big and expensive they would be - $5 per valve for 1/2" CPVC valves.

Test 2:25pm 10/3/10

Performed a 4.5 gallon (16%) water change.

PH ~7.75 (Stabilizing here, a little low)
Ammonia 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping)
Salinity ~1.0275 (Whoops! Will try to carefully back it down and even it out)

Will be doing another 4.5 gallon water change tonight, hoping to bring the Ammonia down.

Will update fuge work tomorrow as I am waiting for the light fixture so I know what will be in the way and what won't be. I am hoping

TheBends · 10/04/2010, 06:46 AM

Light fixture arrives today, woohoo!

Test 7:45am 10/4/10

Performed a 4.5 gallon (16%) water change.

PH ~7.75 (Stabilizing here, a little low)
Ammonia Less than 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping)
Salinity ~1.0260 (Would like it at 1.0265, will need to work on tuning my salt mix)

Still seeing noticeable levels of ammonia and my pH is a bit low. Haven't been able to test for Alk but the kit should be in early this week along with a Calcium kit, once these arrive I will start regularly testing for these as well.

TheBends · 10/05/2010, 06:49 AM

Light fixture didn't arrive yesterday because FedEx decided not to deliver, I will make sure to be around today in order to receive my fixture

I did one more test last night and one this morning and received the same results I have been receiving.

Additionally, I tested the RO water I am using and the salt mix after it has been mixing for 18 hours.

RO Water Test:
pH ~5.0
Ammonia 0

Salt Mix
pH ~7.75
Ammonia Less than .6mg/L (This means it is the SAME reading as what I am getting in the tank)

I understand that salt mixes include a bit of ammonia, but doesn't this seem like a lot? Since the ammonia is coming from the salt mix, what should my next step be? My thought process says STOP water changes so that the bacteria in the tank can process the ammonia...

Calcium and Alkalinity kits won't be in until Thursday or Friday - ugh.

TheBends · 10/11/2010, 06:57 AM

So here's what has happened in the past week or so.

Light fixture arrived. I rewired it so that the ballasts controlled 1&3 and 2&4 - super simple and I would be happy to explain it to anyone who needs help.

CUC arrived! Snails arrived and were floated then dropped into tank, they all look great except for the larger ceriths which don't appear to have made it.

Along with the CUC came a wad of Chaeto which I added to one of the three media bins and it is already growing like a weed! Once it fluffs up a bit I will separate it and split it between all three bins.

Alkalinity, Calcium, and pH were low so I began dosing Kalkwasser.

5 Zoa colonies arrived on Friday and were dipped per "the guide":

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=451720

They look phenomenal! I have also been dosing Strontium and Molybdenum as per the Kent formula.

Sunday, went out and picked up a single Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp who has taken to hiding in one of the rock islands but is eating and appears to be doing well.

My next purchases will be 2 Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clowns and most likely a 6 Line Wrasse. I am looking for a fish who will bring the Cleaner Shrimp out as right now he just hides and as I understand the Wrasse is a good choice for this.

All opinions, good or bad, are welcome!

I also created this spreadsheet which is VERY helpful for keeping track of your daily / weekly routine.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7ipun713yjiulob

If the link doesn't work, let me know. It should be pretty simple to understand, but if you have any questions I would be happy to try and explain. Also, it is a Microsoft Excel 2007 Macro-Enabled worksheet.

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10/03/2010, 08:06 AM	#26
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Test 9:00am 10/3/10 PH ~7.75 (Unstable, fluctuating between 7.5 and 8.0) Ammonia Less than 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping) Salinity ~1.0265 I have another batch of water finishing cooking, should be doing a water change this afternoon and will have more water ready for tomorrow morning. I was searching around through my totes of old fish stuff and found some "antique" hang on back filter floss / activated charcoal filters that my great-grandmother once used. They reminded me of a HOB fuge and I immediately began scheming, here is what I came up with: The tube connects to an old powerhead I had sitting around and the two couplings connect to two different "fuges". Here are the fuges and the little trays that go inside them: I have since painted the CPVC assembly with black krylon fusion, I also realized that I only used two of these fuges but have a third and have room for a third, so why the heck not add the third? Additionally, I will be adding valves for tuning flow and a y-split to allow me to use the powerhead for water changes. Will post more pictures when version two is complete. On a semi-related note, I added the two Convict Cichlids to my 90 gallon freshwater system a few weeks ago. I picked out two from the store that we determined were a male and a female however once their colors began to show I got worried that they were both female. I sulked around for the past couple of weeks however this morning I woke up to this:

10/03/2010, 09:30 AM	#27
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	I just realized I haven't posted pictures yet. Here are the HOB fuges as they currently sit (Version 1) - I will be picking up parts for version 2 and hope to have it completed by this evening.

10/03/2010, 01:27 PM	#28
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Only ended up getting 2 valves since I didn't realize how big and expensive they would be - $5 per valve for 1/2" CPVC valves. Test 2:25pm 10/3/10 Performed a 4.5 gallon (16%) water change. PH ~7.75 (Stabilizing here, a little low) Ammonia 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping) Salinity ~1.0275 (Whoops! Will try to carefully back it down and even it out) Will be doing another 4.5 gallon water change tonight, hoping to bring the Ammonia down. Will update fuge work tomorrow as I am waiting for the light fixture so I know what will be in the way and what won't be. I am hoping

10/04/2010, 06:46 AM	#29
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Light fixture arrives today, woohoo! Test 7:45am 10/4/10 Performed a 4.5 gallon (16%) water change. PH ~7.75 (Stabilizing here, a little low) Ammonia Less than 0.6 mg/L (Slowly dropping) Salinity ~1.0260 (Would like it at 1.0265, will need to work on tuning my salt mix) Still seeing noticeable levels of ammonia and my pH is a bit low. Haven't been able to test for Alk but the kit should be in early this week along with a Calcium kit, once these arrive I will start regularly testing for these as well.

10/05/2010, 06:49 AM	#30
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Light fixture didn't arrive yesterday because FedEx decided not to deliver, I will make sure to be around today in order to receive my fixture I did one more test last night and one this morning and received the same results I have been receiving. Additionally, I tested the RO water I am using and the salt mix after it has been mixing for 18 hours. RO Water Test: pH ~5.0 Ammonia 0 Salt Mix pH ~7.75 Ammonia Less than .6mg/L (This means it is the SAME reading as what I am getting in the tank) I understand that salt mixes include a bit of ammonia, but doesn't this seem like a lot? Since the ammonia is coming from the salt mix, what should my next step be? My thought process says STOP water changes so that the bacteria in the tank can process the ammonia... Calcium and Alkalinity kits won't be in until Thursday or Friday - ugh.

10/11/2010, 06:57 AM	#31
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	So here's what has happened in the past week or so. Light fixture arrived. I rewired it so that the ballasts controlled 1&3 and 2&4 - super simple and I would be happy to explain it to anyone who needs help. CUC arrived! Snails arrived and were floated then dropped into tank, they all look great except for the larger ceriths which don't appear to have made it. Along with the CUC came a wad of Chaeto which I added to one of the three media bins and it is already growing like a weed! Once it fluffs up a bit I will separate it and split it between all three bins. Alkalinity, Calcium, and pH were low so I began dosing Kalkwasser. 5 Zoa colonies arrived on Friday and were dipped per "the guide": http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=451720 They look phenomenal! I have also been dosing Strontium and Molybdenum as per the Kent formula. Sunday, went out and picked up a single Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp who has taken to hiding in one of the rock islands but is eating and appears to be doing well. My next purchases will be 2 Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clowns and most likely a 6 Line Wrasse. I am looking for a fish who will bring the Cleaner Shrimp out as right now he just hides and as I understand the Wrasse is a good choice for this. All opinions, good or bad, are welcome! I also created this spreadsheet which is VERY helpful for keeping track of your daily / weekly routine. http://www.mediafire.com/?7ipun713yjiulob If the link doesn't work, let me know. It should be pretty simple to understand, but if you have any questions I would be happy to try and explain. Also, it is a Microsoft Excel 2007 Macro-Enabled worksheet.