Sindjin's 120gal Reef Ride & Photo Journal

[causeofhim]

Originally posted by Rendos
I have to say that I like this aquascape better than the others, but I still think you may want to leave enough room between the rocks and any glass for an algae magnet to fit through. Otherwise, the task of cleaning the glass will prove a difficult one down the line.

Looks good, though. Keep up the good work.

Ditto. I would move the rock away from the glass. You'll be happy later.

[Sindjin]

Yeah.... I guess I should.
DARN IT!

Oh well. What's one more tear down!

[Sindjin]

Here are tonights readings:

pH: 8.2
Temp: 80.2

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 20
Phosphate: 0.4
Calcium: 400

Im amazed at how much the Nitrites dropped in such a short period. Not to mention at the same time the Nitrates fell as well.
I cranked up the skimmer and wetskimmed like hell!

Now... the brown algae is creeping in. Even with a 3 hour photoperiod. Oh, Well. All part of the cycle. This weekend I will venture out and pick up some cleaners! I cant wait to actually see something moving besides pieces of dead sponges!

I'm also gonna rearrange my rock a little, too. I'll take more pics when I do!

[Sindjin]

Well, Now I can add a clean-up crew.

Ammonia: Zero
Nitrite: Zero
Nitrate: 10ppm
Phosphate: 0.4

Yep. It's cycled and the Nitrates are continuing to come down. The Phosphates are hovering at 0.4. Im confident that will lower as well as I continue to wetskim and export.

I rearranged my rock just a bit to give me room on the sides for flow and algea scraping. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Whats great is when I was moving the rocks around there was hardly ANY detritus coming off of them!

[Sindjin]

And there was Life...

I added 20 Pyramid snails, 10 Blue legged Hermits and 12 Scarlets. As soon as I placed the blue legged Hermits on the Starboard they all went and huddled around the small pile of detritus that accumulates in the front. They were munching away.
The snails were mowing the brown algea from the starboard and the Scarlets climbed into the rocks to eat. I am so excited to have things to look at! Plus more and more life is emerging from my live rock. I counted 4 new Polyps today and feather dusters are popping out all over the place!

My readings tonight are:

Ammonia: ZERO
Nitrite: ZERO
Nitrate: 5ppm
Phosphate: ZERO
SG: 1.025
Calcium: 400
pH: 8.2

I will wait another week...most likely two before adding anything else. Im thinking just a small mushroom rock to start with.
Should I wait longer?

[Sindjin]

Well... It's been only 3 weeks since I added my 90lbs of Uncured Fiji Live Rock into my tank. With a lot of work, it has completely cycled and I am seeing a lot of life emerging (Button polyps, clusters of tiny star polyps and featherdusters). My clean up crew is working hard and the Pyramid snails are doing a GREAT job on all the brown algae. All levels are good and stable and my Nitrate is almost zero. (.02ppm)

Here's a pic where you can see the brown algae going away and getting eaten:



I did rescape a little so now I can clean around the rock. I still have to work on hiding the Seio's.

[onefin]

Looking good!

[Sindjin]

Thanks onefin!

One thing that I forgot to mention... I have a lot of fine particulates floating around the tank and not much settling on the bottom. To me that's a good thing because my skimmer will eventually pull it out.

[Sindjin]

Not to keep perpetuating my own thread, BUT....

How long should I wait until I can add real livestock? I have my cleaning crew which has been in there almost a week with no change in levels.

I'm thinking of maybe something basic and hardy like mushroom rock or GSP's. OR part of me thinks I should a fish first.

What do you guys think?

[rdmpe]

Hey Sindjin,

Great thread. I appreciate all of your posts during the curing process. I think I am going to cure my rock in-tank also, in a similar process to yours. I am probably going to be buying "used" LR from local reefers as it becomes available.

I'm going to follow a similar process to yours except that I'll be adding a DSB at the end after the "crud" stage is over...

Keep the info and photos coming!

So when you do water changes did you just siphon the water out or do you have something more complex rigged up?

[Sindjin]

Thanks for the reply, rdmpe!!

I use the Python No Spill Clean and fill to siphon water out. I dont use the oversized gravel tube...just the 5/8" tubing to suck out deitritus.

My curing process was VERY successful. The uncured live rock cycled and cured pretty quick because I kept pulling it out, rinsing it, scrubbing it and doing massive water changes. Let me know if you have any questions...I'll more than happy to help!

One bit of advice I could give with running a DSB... have patience before adding sand. You'll be surprised at all the stuff coming out of the rock. It be a shame to start filling the DSB up with all that crud. So just keep the rock clean.

Good luck!!!

[Sindjin]

Well, since most of the stuff on the bottom is snail poop...and my Nitrates are at zero, I figured I could add 2 little pieces. What the heck!





I am a fan of mushrooms, so I got these from the LFS, today. $25.00 each...what a bargain! The green Mushrooms glow beatuifully in the Actinics!

Im still seeing a little brown algae but it has slowed tremendously and the pyramid snails are doing a great job! So far, I havent lost a member of my clean-up crew.

[Sindjin]

one more...

[rdmpe]

Thanks Sindjin, I'll start with a question right away! When doing all of those big water changes, do you just use the least expensive salt mix you can get your hands on? I hate to have to spend $100 on salt that I'm going to end up pouring out in the yard in a matter of weeks! Also, I only have a 44G rubbermaid can for mixing water for changes. That will not be such a huge change for my 180G tank... I'm thinking I may need a second can at least temporarily.

[gkarshens]

Tank looks good! I can't wait to start moving stuff in to my new 125.

[meinkfr]

Tank looks awesome. I've been following along from the start, and have to say thanks for teaching me so much about curing live rock! Now I can use the info on my own upgrade!

[Sindjin]

When doing all of those big water changes, do you just use the least expensive salt mix you can get your hands on?

Well, I used Reef Crystals. I get the 5gal bucket for $60.00 at my LFS. (they have a discount club!) I wanted to make sure all the trace elements were present when putting the rock thru all that stress. Truth is, it probably wouldn't matter though.

[Sindjin]

I've been following along from the start, and have to say thanks for teaching me so much about curing live rock! Now I can use the info on my own upgrade!

Your Welcome! I was actually amazed at how quickly the rock cured and cycled!

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

[Sindjin]

Hello Everyone!

So far, things are going quite well. I have myself in a routine of 30% WEEKLY water changes. Of course I also scrub the glass and siphon detritus. All of my levels are perfect. I'm actually quite astonished about that!

Here's a pic I took today:



The brown algae has pretty much stopped growing...even with my dual 250w 10k MH's running full cycle. I do see bits of hair algae here and there but I am assuming that is normal for being such an immature system. One thing for everyone who has been reading my thread for the Live Rock Cycling aspect.... A lot of the indigenous Macros are growing out of the rock at this point. To me it's fine for now... It looks very natural and it's not overwhelming. For some of you however, it my not be ok. If that is the case, then I would Cook your rock for a few months in total darkness as to kill any macros. I am planning on keeping them in check...how? I have no idea. By hand or perhaps something will eat them. I would love any suggestions on reef safe critters that munch on Macros.

The Coralines are AMAZING for being such a new setup. All of my cycling work paid off... I preserved alot of the Coralines and Im very happy about that.

I did add a fish, but haven't been able to capture him on "film" yet. It's a Strawberry Pseudochromis. Gorgeous color! The purple is amazing and the blue in his eyes is unreal. We'll see how he will fair in the reef. So far so good...but he's the only fish.

Comments always welcome!

[Sindjin]

Oh, one other thing...

I'm planning on adding some more base rock to the back right corner to bring that part of the reef higher.

What do you think?

[rdmpe]

I think the tank looks great. You may not want to make the rock too high, you need to leave plenty of room for those huge SPS of the future!

[Sindjin]

rdmpe,

Thanks for the compliment!

What the picture doesn't capture is depth. In addition to wanting to raise it a bit higher, I also want to bring out more of the center of that right side "mound" and develop more surfaces for coral placement.

[Chelsey]

Awesome tank What does your stocking list consist of?

[Sindjin]

Awesome tank What does your stocking list consist of?

Thank you, Chelsey!

So far? Not much:

1 colony of Green Fluorescent Mushrooms
1 colony of Red Bullseye Mushrooms
1 Strawberry Pseudochromis
10 Blue Legged Hermits
12 Scarlet Legged Hermits
20 Pyramid Snails

I plan on adding slowly. Next will be one more coral...but I'm going to rescape a little first before adding anything else.

[Sindjin]

Ok Folks, Here's an update.
I took some close-ups and wanted to post some pics I just took.
Im going to do the weekly cleaning and water change so I wanted to get some pics while the water was still clear!

Here's a full shot... notice all the damn macros coming back to life and covering the rocks. Serves me right for not Cooking my Rock.



Here's a fairly nice ZOO Colony I picked up for $20.00 at the LFS.



Here's a Softie (Finger Leather) I got from a friend.



Can anyone tell me what that cluster is at the top? They are really tiny polyps of some sort. THey survived the Curing process:



Here's the two Mushroom clusters I have as well. Notice the hair Algae because I didnt Cook my Rocks.



I am battlng the Indigenous Macros and some hair algae but I cut my lighting a bit, Im keeping up with the cleaning and Im going to add a **itload of snails. I already have a bout 40 but its not enough.

The bottom line? I have learned that if I were to do this all over... I would have DEFINATLY COOKED MY ROCKS FIRST!!!!!

Comments welcome as always!!!