My 150g build thread - Page 5

Thinslis · 09/13/2007, 07:22 PM

Ok I guess I'll take the 100th post in my build thread. I can't believe I've made it this far really.

I've decided to relax this evening and not do any aquascaping. I think I'll do that on Saturday.

Lionfish, all good things to those who wait =) and Thank you for the kind words for my build. All the feedback is much appreciated, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself here =) LOL

seastar12 · 09/13/2007, 07:35 PM

Wow, very nice clean, organized setup. Good job!

Thinslis · 09/13/2007, 07:52 PM

Thank you Seastar, I've put in a lot of hours working on fixing this tank up. I visited a local reefer tonight and picked up another 20lbs of Live rock (mostly rubble for my fuge) and I can say 100% I do not regret painting the back fo the tank. His tank was AWSOME, but I couldn't help but notice the stick on back blue background that had rippled. That happend to my last tank and didn't want to deal with it again.

I just did another ammonia test and I'm not sure if my test strips are any good... I can clearly see dead worms sicking out of pieces of my "used to be live" rock but ammonia still reads 0 after several days. I figured there would be at least some level of detectable ammonia by now?

I added some cut up frozen brine shrimp to the tank, we'll see if that gets anything going.

beaupierce · 09/13/2007, 09:57 PM

You may want to put some plants in your sump. You can put them in the sand and throw a couple of rocks over them. It is the best natural filtration you can have. I have done this in my system and wow what a difference. It really helps in the filtration process. It is just letting nature do what it normally does.
Other than that looking good.

Thinslis · 09/14/2007, 04:32 AM

Beaupierce: Thank you, Yes I plan on putting some Cheato in the fuge this weekend if I can find some =)

Thinslis · 09/14/2007, 07:50 PM

Ok just got back from MACNA, armed with Test kits, a fuge light, salt, and Cheato =)

Ammonia test = 0
Nitrites = 5

Thinslis · 09/15/2007, 07:31 AM

I did some aquascaping this morning, it didn't turn out exactly how I had hoped but it will change over time as I add fish.

I'll try to get some more shots once the water clears. What do you think?

Thinslis · 09/16/2007, 04:06 PM

I had to change the aquascaping a little, the flow was eroding the sand under one of the rocks on the right side. Kinda upset, during the process a rock slide happened and put a 1 inch scratch in the glass =(

Water is still cloudy, water peramiters are still the same.

I appear to have an aptiasia in my fuge, I havn't been able to get a good picture but I am pretty sure that is what it is.

Abaco24 · 09/16/2007, 04:35 PM

Since your are asking for opinions ........No offense since you have worked hard on this project, but it looks like a pile of rocks just thrown into the tank.

Maybe try two islands in the middle with a bridge. It looks like you have the rocks to at least try that layout or something besides the traditional "wall" effect.

Thinslis · 09/16/2007, 06:20 PM

Thank you for your comments. I will keep that in mind when I rearrange my rocks again =)

Thinslis · 09/17/2007, 03:12 PM

The water cleared up today, white cloudiness is no more. If only the sand would stop kicking up off the bottom =(

Nitrites are going down....

Nitrites 1, Ammonia 0, SG .028, Temp 80

Here are a couple pics of my adjusted aquascaping, no real drastic changes

You'll see the cliff over this cave entrance is more pronounced and the rock in the top middle of the tank now sticks out into the tank.

t11t5 · 09/17/2007, 05:52 PM

Thinslis, The left Tunze pump. The front cover with the vents in it. Turn it so the non sloted part is on top. This will help stop algea growth, blocking water flow.
The left pump is good. just a tip....

Thinslis · 09/17/2007, 06:42 PM

Fixed, I've been looking at that for awhile but have been lazy and didn't feel like fixing it, but now I have =)

Thinslis · 09/18/2007, 03:20 PM

I came home today to find brown algae starting to grow on my rocks and sand. I'll have some water tests later, but I'm happy to see that my cycle is starting the next phase =) I'll try to get some pictures as well if I can, the spots are pretty small though.

Thinslis · 09/20/2007, 03:48 PM

Day 3 of Brown algae and it is very previlent in the tank right now. Covering a few rocks and spoty across the rest and some of the sand.

Water: Ammonia .25, Nitrites .3, SG .027, Temp 80.

Thinslis · 09/21/2007, 03:21 PM

wow that brown stuff grows fast! Its covering at least double the area it was yesterday. I leave my lights on while I'm at work so 6:30am - 4:30pm. I sure hope this stuff dies out as fast as its growing in! I lent my camera out so I can't take any pictures at the moment, but as soon as I get it back, I'll snap a few!

Enjoy your weekend all!

Thinslis · 09/24/2007, 04:12 PM

Some current pics. I think I spotted some green algae maybe.

oldreefer76 · 09/24/2007, 05:13 PM

Nice Diatom bloom, should be time to add a clean up crew soon

Thinslis · 09/27/2007, 06:09 AM

Brown algae seems to be subsiding and I have visible green hair algae starting to grown on my power heads, overflows, and some on the rocks.

I'm still having issues with my powerheads blowing sand around. Things were not bad when I had the Tunze's set at 20% but I kicked them up to pulse ever 3mins between 30% and 20% and switch pumps ever 10mins. =(

Not sure what to do here....

Thinslis · 09/27/2007, 09:15 AM

Anyone have suggestions on a good cleanup crew?

derrikd · 09/27/2007, 09:30 AM

very nice start

kawicivic · 09/27/2007, 07:28 PM

what are you looking for CuC wise? I have hermits, astrea, nassarius, peppermint shrimp (for aiptasia) and an emerald crab (good for macro algae and bubble algae)

Thinslis · 09/28/2007, 05:04 AM

I don't think I'll have Emerald crabs, pepermint shrimp and cleaner shrimp I will have for sure. As for the rest, I'm not 100% sure, I opened another thread to get suggestions and opinions on what sanils and crabs to get, we'll see what the results are. I should be ready to put some in when I get back from Chicago on the 6th.

kawicivic · 09/28/2007, 05:19 AM

I'll be in chicago on the 6th too (for a wedding)... lol. Although I only have like a 100 mile trip.

I am looking to pick up some cerith snails too. Supposed to eat real small wastes. The nassurius I have (not the vibex.... the big ones) are extremely active when feeding. Cant say anything bad about the astrea or any turbo variety... they do a good job with the glass. My peppermint demolished my aiptasia in less than a week and the emerald did great for everything except the bubble algae which I am patiently waiting for him to find. I am hoping I made the right choice going with him since they can be somewhat iffy in a reef. So far so good with the hitchhiker zoos and polyps.

Eagles · 09/28/2007, 08:46 AM

Just been reading along with the thread tonight, you're tank looks nice! Can't wait for future pics

09/13/2007, 07:22 PM	#101
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Ok I guess I'll take the 100th post in my build thread. I can't believe I've made it this far really. I've decided to relax this evening and not do any aquascaping. I think I'll do that on Saturday. Lionfish, all good things to those who wait =) and Thank you for the kind words for my build. All the feedback is much appreciated, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself here =) LOL __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/13/2007, 07:52 PM	#103
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Thank you Seastar, I've put in a lot of hours working on fixing this tank up. I visited a local reefer tonight and picked up another 20lbs of Live rock (mostly rubble for my fuge) and I can say 100% I do not regret painting the back fo the tank. His tank was AWSOME, but I couldn't help but notice the stick on back blue background that had rippled. That happend to my last tank and didn't want to deal with it again. I just did another ammonia test and I'm not sure if my test strips are any good... I can clearly see dead worms sicking out of pieces of my "used to be live" rock but ammonia still reads 0 after several days. I figured there would be at least some level of detectable ammonia by now? I added some cut up frozen brine shrimp to the tank, we'll see if that gets anything going. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/14/2007, 04:32 AM	#105
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Beaupierce: Thank you, Yes I plan on putting some Cheato in the fuge this weekend if I can find some =) __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/14/2007, 07:50 PM	#106
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Ok just got back from MACNA, armed with Test kits, a fuge light, salt, and Cheato =) Ammonia test = 0 Nitrites = 5 __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/15/2007, 07:31 AM	#107
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	I did some aquascaping this morning, it didn't turn out exactly how I had hoped but it will change over time as I add fish. I'll try to get some more shots once the water clears. What do you think? __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/13/2007, 07:35 PM	#102
seastar12 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 245	Wow, very nice clean, organized setup. Good job!

09/13/2007, 09:57 PM	#104
beaupierce Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 419	You may want to put some plants in your sump. You can put them in the sand and throw a couple of rocks over them. It is the best natural filtration you can have. I have done this in my system and wow what a difference. It really helps in the filtration process. It is just letting nature do what it normally does. Other than that looking good.

09/16/2007, 04:06 PM	#108
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	I had to change the aquascaping a little, the flow was eroding the sand under one of the rocks on the right side. Kinda upset, during the process a rock slide happened and put a 1 inch scratch in the glass =( Water is still cloudy, water peramiters are still the same. I appear to have an aptiasia in my fuge, I havn't been able to get a good picture but I am pretty sure that is what it is. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/16/2007, 04:35 PM	#109
Abaco24 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southwest GA Posts: 53	Since your are asking for opinions ........No offense since you have worked hard on this project, but it looks like a pile of rocks just thrown into the tank. Maybe try two islands in the middle with a bridge. It looks like you have the rocks to at least try that layout or something besides the traditional "wall" effect.

09/16/2007, 06:20 PM	#110
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Thank you for your comments. I will keep that in mind when I rearrange my rocks again =) __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/17/2007, 03:12 PM	#111
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	The water cleared up today, white cloudiness is no more. If only the sand would stop kicking up off the bottom =( Nitrites are going down.... Nitrites 1, Ammonia 0, SG .028, Temp 80 Here are a couple pics of my adjusted aquascaping, no real drastic changes You'll see the cliff over this cave entrance is more pronounced and the rock in the top middle of the tank now sticks out into the tank. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/17/2007, 05:52 PM	#112
t11t5 I love Bass Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,847	Thinslis, The left Tunze pump. The front cover with the vents in it. Turn it so the non sloted part is on top. This will help stop algea growth, blocking water flow. The left pump is good. just a tip....

09/17/2007, 06:42 PM	#113
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Fixed, I've been looking at that for awhile but have been lazy and didn't feel like fixing it, but now I have =) __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/18/2007, 03:20 PM	#114
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	I came home today to find brown algae starting to grow on my rocks and sand. I'll have some water tests later, but I'm happy to see that my cycle is starting the next phase =) I'll try to get some pictures as well if I can, the spots are pretty small though. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/20/2007, 03:48 PM	#115
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Day 3 of Brown algae and it is very previlent in the tank right now. Covering a few rocks and spoty across the rest and some of the sand. Water: Ammonia .25, Nitrites .3, SG .027, Temp 80. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/21/2007, 03:21 PM	#116
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	wow that brown stuff grows fast! Its covering at least double the area it was yesterday. I leave my lights on while I'm at work so 6:30am - 4:30pm. I sure hope this stuff dies out as fast as its growing in! I lent my camera out so I can't take any pictures at the moment, but as soon as I get it back, I'll snap a few! Enjoy your weekend all! __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/24/2007, 04:12 PM	#117
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Some current pics. I think I spotted some green algae maybe. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/24/2007, 05:13 PM	#118
oldreefer76 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fairview Park Ohio Posts: 2,452	Nice Diatom bloom, should be time to add a clean up crew soon __________________ 15G and working on getting better Current Tank Info: 15G and building

09/27/2007, 06:09 AM	#119
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Brown algae seems to be subsiding and I have visible green hair algae starting to grown on my power heads, overflows, and some on the rocks. I'm still having issues with my powerheads blowing sand around. Things were not bad when I had the Tunze's set at 20% but I kicked them up to pulse ever 3mins between 30% and 20% and switch pumps ever 10mins. =( Not sure what to do here.... __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/27/2007, 09:15 AM	#120
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Anyone have suggestions on a good cleanup crew? __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/27/2007, 09:30 AM	#121
derrikd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 3,356	very nice start

09/27/2007, 07:28 PM	#122
kawicivic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,316	what are you looking for CuC wise? I have hermits, astrea, nassarius, peppermint shrimp (for aiptasia) and an emerald crab (good for macro algae and bubble algae)

09/28/2007, 05:04 AM	#123
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	I don't think I'll have Emerald crabs, pepermint shrimp and cleaner shrimp I will have for sure. As for the rest, I'm not 100% sure, I opened another thread to get suggestions and opinions on what sanils and crabs to get, we'll see what the results are. I should be ready to put some in when I get back from Chicago on the 6th. __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/28/2007, 05:19 AM	#124
kawicivic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,316	I'll be in chicago on the 6th too (for a wedding)... lol. Although I only have like a 100 mile trip. I am looking to pick up some cerith snails too. Supposed to eat real small wastes. The nassurius I have (not the vibex.... the big ones) are extremely active when feeding. Cant say anything bad about the astrea or any turbo variety... they do a good job with the glass. My peppermint demolished my aiptasia in less than a week and the emerald did great for everything except the bubble algae which I am patiently waiting for him to find. I am hoping I made the right choice going with him since they can be somewhat iffy in a reef. So far so good with the hitchhiker zoos and polyps.

09/28/2007, 08:46 AM	#125
Eagles Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 29	Just been reading along with the thread tonight, you're tank looks nice! Can't wait for future pics