My Sexy Tank

Pristine · 01/10/2013, 09:06 PM

Hi everyone. My name is Pristine and I'm new to this wonderfully educating hobby. I know this hobby I'm getting into is very expensive and fun. I know that you have to be very patient in this hobby. I have 4 kids so I can tell you that I have patience. I look forward to your advice on everything. So let me tell you what I have. I bought a 24 gallon Cardiff aquarium. It's the same company that makes salona aquariums. I call my tank My Sexy Tank because I believe by the time I'm done with everything that's what it will be. SEXY!!! I want to have corals too so I bought a led light fixture. This light has 55 LEDs and each light is 3 watts with a 90 degree optical. Cost me 500. Tank cost me 900. My friend think I'm crazy. I bought 40 pound of carribean live sand and 30 pounds of premium figi live rock. I have a korlia 750 pump and a korlia slim protein skimmer. I'm using instant ocean salt mix but for coralMy house has filtered water so I mixed the salt with that and put water treatment. Had a very hard time with the aqua scaping. I'm cycling my tank with shrimp. And my ammonia is at 8.0. When can I take the shrimp out. Please feel free to comment or give any advice on what I should do next. Thanks. Here is my aquarium picture .

Slystone · 01/11/2013, 12:38 AM

I'm too new to give you any useful advise, but you have a beautiful and sexy aquarium. Nice job on your aquascape.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 01/11/2013, 12:52 AM

Pristine

To Reef Central
Very sexy and clean setup indeed! I would suggest you take it slow and let the tank fully cycle, patience is key, nothing happens fast in this hobby but disaster! How long have you had the shrimp in there? Stay on consistently testing your water parameters. Once your tank fully cycles it will be ready for some fun and stocking it, make sure your ammonia, nitrite are zeroed out before adding anything, hope this helps.

BAGGERZ13 · 01/11/2013, 02:34 AM

I love the aquascape! It's a great looking tank. Like another member has said take things slow. If you change too much stuff in your tank at once you can crash your tank amongst doing other things. Just keep reading and reading and do more reading. It's a never ending process of learning. HTH

JCKoenig · 01/11/2013, 05:23 AM

Welcome! You look like your off to a great start, take it slow and you should be good. Water changes are your best friend! You may want to look into a RODI unit depending on what that filter setup you have on your water.

thebkramer · 01/11/2013, 07:49 AM

WELCOME TO RC & THE ADDICTION!!

already looking very sexy!!!

take your time and have fun with it!!!! my only suggestion is.. if you haven't already.. take the time and read the stickies up top while its cycling (and when/if your kids give you a min lol) LOTS of great info in there!!!!
here are a few of my Favs links!
WaterKeepers New to RC
WaterKeepers New to RC2
Capns Log Book
Sk8rs-How to Start a Tank
Sk8rs Blog
Sk8rs Recommended Reads
RO/DI Unit

So again.. Welcome!!

RC is full of friendly, experienced reefers that Love to help!!! You've come to the right place!! and added yet another addiction!

Sugar Magnolia · 01/11/2013, 08:07 AM

You'll definitely want to invest in a RO/DI unit. Using treated tap water will lead to nuisance algae problems that can really make your live rock look nasty. At the very least, until you do get a RO/DI unit, use bottled distilled water for your top-offs and water changes.

To Reef Central

schatzi · 01/11/2013, 08:12 AM

It can't be said enough, RO/DI. It (among a few other things) can make the difference between sweet success and frustrating failure. The best justification i can give you for spending money on an RO unit, or buying RO water, is that you've already spent a bunch of it. You don't want the initial investments to go to waste because you skimp somewhere else. Believe me the only return on those initial purchases will be having a successful tank. If you end up in disaster and try to sell it all off you'll get pennies on the dollar back. Stick to your plan, go slow and it should turn out great.

BTW, your aquascape is great looking! Good job

Cymonous · 01/11/2013, 08:16 AM

What brand of test kits are you using? If it has been a week and your Ammonia really is at 8ppm, then I would say your shrimp can come out if it hasn't already broken into goo.

Pristine · 01/11/2013, 03:56 PM

First, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful welcoming party. I love this site cuz everyone gives a lot of love and knowledge. Now let me answer everyone questions. The shrimp has been in there for about five day now. My amonnia is at 8.0. When do I take out the shrimp? I use API master reef test kit. I heard a lot of negative reviews about it so please tell me what is the best test kits out there for reef. I will look into buying RODI system asap. But for now I will use bottled distilled water for my water change. Now I don't want to be full of myself but I can't stop looking at my sexy tank even though it has nothing in there. Can you imagine when I have corals and fish in there. I'm thinking of putting it on utube. Thank you all and please keep sending me any suggestions.

01/11/2013, 12:38 AM	#2
Slystone Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: WI Posts: 258	I'm too new to give you any useful advise, but you have a beautiful and sexy aquarium. Nice job on your aquascape. __________________ Nemomma (><((('> 28 gal nano cube, Rapid LED Retrofit, 50# LR 40# LS 2 ocellaris, yellow watchman goby. Firefish, yellow accessor

01/11/2013, 12:52 AM	#3
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	Pristine *To Reef Central* Very sexy and clean setup indeed! I would suggest you take it slow and let the tank fully cycle, patience is key, nothing happens fast in this hobby but disaster! How long have you had the shrimp in there? Stay on consistently testing your water parameters. Once your tank fully cycles it will be ready for some fun and stocking it, make sure your ammonia, nitrite are zeroed out before adding anything, hope this helps. __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

01/11/2013, 02:34 AM	#4
BAGGERZ13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Harford County MD Posts: 331	I love the aquascape! It's a great looking tank. Like another member has said take things slow. If you change too much stuff in your tank at once you can crash your tank amongst doing other things. Just keep reading and reading and do more reading. It's a never ending process of learning. HTH __________________ Tank Setup: RSM 130D Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 130D

01/11/2013, 05:23 AM	#5
JCKoenig Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 123	Welcome! You look like your off to a great start, take it slow and you should be good. Water changes are your best friend! You may want to look into a RODI unit depending on what that filter setup you have on your water. __________________ CAD Lights 8g. Nano Box Tide LED w/Storm controller

01/11/2013, 07:49 AM	#6
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	WELCOME TO RC & THE ADDICTION!! already looking very sexy!!! take your time and have fun with it!!!! my only suggestion is.. if you haven't already.. take the time and read the stickies up top while its cycling (and when/if your kids give you a min lol) LOTS of great info in there!!!! here are a few of my Favs links! WaterKeepers New to RC WaterKeepers New to RC2 Capns Log Book Sk8rs-How to Start a Tank Sk8rs Blog Sk8rs Recommended Reads RO/DI Unit So again.. Welcome!! RC is full of friendly, experienced reefers that Love to help!!! You've come to the right place!! and added yet another addiction! __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

01/11/2013, 08:07 AM	#7
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	You'll definitely want to invest in a RO/DI unit. Using treated tap water will lead to nuisance algae problems that can really make your live rock look nasty. At the very least, until you do get a RO/DI unit, use bottled distilled water for your top-offs and water changes. *To Reef Central* __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/11/2013, 08:12 AM	#8
schatzi Professional amateur Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: JC, MO Posts: 513	It can't be said enough, RO/DI. It (among a few other things) can make the difference between sweet success and frustrating failure. The best justification i can give you for spending money on an RO unit, or buying RO water, is that you've already spent a bunch of it. You don't want the initial investments to go to waste because you skimp somewhere else. Believe me the only return on those initial purchases will be having a successful tank. If you end up in disaster and try to sell it all off you'll get pennies on the dollar back. Stick to your plan, go slow and it should turn out great. BTW, your aquascape is great looking! Good job __________________ 125g Mixed Reef, 46g predator tank, 25g fuge, 39g frag/fuge, 70g sump, 29g clown tank.

01/11/2013, 08:16 AM	#9
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	What brand of test kits are you using? If it has been a week and your Ammonia really is at 8ppm, then I would say your shrimp can come out if it hasn't already broken into goo. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

01/11/2013, 03:56 PM	#10
Pristine Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	My Sexy Tank First, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful welcoming party. I love this site cuz everyone gives a lot of love and knowledge. Now let me answer everyone questions. The shrimp has been in there for about five day now. My amonnia is at 8.0. When do I take out the shrimp? I use API master reef test kit. I heard a lot of negative reviews about it so please tell me what is the best test kits out there for reef. I will look into buying RODI system asap. But for now I will use bottled distilled water for my water change. Now I don't want to be full of myself but I can't stop looking at my sexy tank even though it has nothing in there. Can you imagine when I have corals and fish in there. I'm thinking of putting it on utube. Thank you all and please keep sending me any suggestions.