30 Gallon Reef build.

ndavis520 · 04/23/2015, 10:21 AM

Hi all! Have been a long time lurker, and finally built my own tank. It is a 30 gallon (long) tank with a 20(ish) gallon sump. Equipment wise, I have a ...punp! I can't remember the name, does fine though :P Also have a Corallife 65 Skimmer, Lighting is a Coral life T5 light fixture. I'll have to get the exact wattage if people would like to know. But without further ado..Pictures!

That's the tank the day after I added 30 lbs of live rock/sand.

Basic picture of the sump. Mostly the skimmer. Which I hate btw. Apparently it needs broken in?

A pic of the sump from a different angle. Not to great, I know.

Obligatory pic of my kitten named "Tink" who has made the whole process maddening with her constant need to play with EVERYTHING!

There you have it so far. The only difference is there is currently a damsel in the tank that a friend of mine put it when I was out one day. I have yet to catch the little jerk.. But the cycle is..cycling.

Perhaps any who actually read this thread can answer a question for me though. Aside from sponge filter, what else can I run in the trays? Is carbon needed? etc?

Thanks for viewing all!

ndavis520 · 04/23/2015, 04:21 PM

Updated tank shot of the cycling.

Just tested the water. Temp 80 PH 8.2 nitrite 2.0 Ammonia 0 nitrate 40 ppm. Was kind of shocked to see no ammonia.

Misled · 04/23/2015, 05:43 PM

Personally I'd remove the sponges all together. If you do keep them clean them every other day. You can run cabon or GFO in the trays, but you don't have to.

Where in da berg?

ndavis520 · 04/23/2015, 07:24 PM

A bit north of Pittsburgh actually. How about you? Why remove the filter sponge?

Misled · 04/23/2015, 08:11 PM

Sponges collect quite a bit of crap. Given time it can become a nitrate factory. Cleaning them every couple days keeps this from happening.

I'm in New Ken. What are your coral plans? Pm me in a couple weeks if you want a few shrooms.

ndavis520 · 04/24/2015, 05:49 AM

This is my first foray into Corals. I think my lightning is good for most soft corals etc. But I will definitely do that. Thanks!

ndavis520 · 04/25/2015, 09:50 AM

All seems to be well after fighting with the skimmer all day yesterday. Seems like I'll just have to slowly adjust it from here on out. Hopefully once it re-breaks in the microbubbles will calm down.

CafeReef · 04/25/2015, 09:54 AM

+1 for cat tax. Nice looking setup. I would remove the sponges as well, more work than they are worth

ndavis520 · 04/25/2015, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CafeReef

+1 for cat tax. Nice looking setup. I would remove the sponges as well, more work than they are worth

What would you suggest running in the trays if no mechanical filtration?

Dkuhlmann · 04/25/2015, 03:42 PM

If you have a sump with skimmer and enough lr and sand you don't need mechanical filtration. The biological filtration (lr and sand ) has replaced the mechanical. Throw the filters in the trash.

or use the filter material for scrubbing the walls of your tank

ndavis520 · 04/25/2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

If you have a sump with skimmer and enough lr and sand you don't need mechanical filtration. The biological filtration (lr and sand ) has replaced the mechanical. Throw the filters in the trash.

or use the filter material for scrubbing the walls of your tank

Provided I can get the damned skimmer to actually do something..

ndavis520 · 04/26/2015, 11:28 AM

Huzzah! I adjusted the intake flow a bit last night as you are supposed to slowly dial it back to fully open once a day. I'm about a third of the way closed atm, and it is now skimming like a champ.

It might turn into being useful if it keeps this up..

ndavis520 · 04/26/2015, 03:42 PM

Just tested the water as I got home. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 20 ppm, and ph 8.0. I want to do a water change so bad haha.

Dkuhlmann · 04/26/2015, 05:12 PM

You're almost there

ndavis520 · 05/01/2015, 04:22 PM

Cycle was done as of Thursday picked up a percula clown and the lfs threw in a mushroom and a zoa . I think. Pics to come!

ndavis520 · 05/01/2015, 05:14 PM

Pics as promised!

Was told that is a mushroom. Any more knowledgable people able to tell me any different?

Below I was told that is a Zoa? Does that sound right?

And a terrible pic of the percula acclimating.

Dkuhlmann · 05/01/2015, 06:35 PM

yes it's a fuzzy mushroom. I'd suggest putting it on a rock where you'd like to see many of them. They spread like wildfire once settled in and will spread. It does need to be higher on the rocks and not in the sand. IMO

ndavis520 · 05/02/2015, 08:46 AM

I reaquascaped last night. I'll see if I can't get a pic shortly..

ndavis520 · 05/02/2015, 08:58 AM

Here we are after the aquascape.

joshky · 05/02/2015, 09:00 AM

Looks like a spotted actinodiscus sp. and not the fuzzy mushroom variety rhodactis sp.

Just my 0.2 cents.

ndavis520 · 05/02/2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshky

Looks like a spotted actinodiscus sp. and not the fuzzy mushroom variety rhodactis sp.

Just my 0.2 cents.

Just googled both of these. Thanks for your input. It will definitely help me learn!

ndavis520 · 05/04/2015, 03:59 PM

So I'm not sure if I should start a new thread elsewhere, but I took a few pics of weird things in my tank.

The first one on the right, looks like a clear coral or something.

The second, is some kind of black thing sticking out from the sand. There is a snail nearby on the left, but it's definitely not one of its tentacles.

And third looks like a former small clam that's embedded into the rock. It doesnt open or close, though. So I assume what it once was is gone.

If anyone can identify anything that'd be awesome. They all could be a whole lot of nothing as well, but if they are something, neat!

ndavis520 · 05/12/2015, 02:42 PM

Just a couple of update pics. I still can't catch the stupid damsel, and the Percula would be better served in a 2 gallon bowl I think for as much as he moves round. ( He doesnt)

Just a full tank shot. I'm currently at the " I want to add things but shouldnt" stage.

ndavis520 · 05/17/2015, 11:21 AM

An update! I have successfully evicted the evil damsel. Woke up saturday morning and he was really attacking my clown. I made it a job to get him out of the tank. It was hell, but the bottle trick and a net finally worked. Cornered him behind a power head and used the net to scare him into the bottle.

I traded the damsel in for a new clown. But when I got home the lfs accidentally gave me a larger ocellaris. My first mistake with this tank =/ I had planned to bring her back today if they didnt get along. They didnt, and my perc killed the larger ocellaris after lights out

I got it out of the tank this morning, checked paramaters and have since gotten a new smaller perc, and picked up a new power head. These two percs are definitely getting along better. Also my daughter is none the wiser about her "nemos".

I'll see if I can't get some pics up later. Even though the sand looks terrible with purple algae all over it.

ndavis520 · 05/17/2015, 05:19 PM

Back with pics .But after some research, it is not algae at all, but cynobacteria. I am hoping it will go away by adding a second powerhead for flow. But apparently it is part of "the uglies" all newer tanks go through. But anyhow, onto pictures.

The new clown addition. Not near the amount of fighting that there was yesterday.

Mexican turbo snails puting in work. Also my zoas and a mushroom.

Unknown leather coral i saved from Petco, as well as my other mushroom on the otherside of tank.

There is also a sixline wrasse in the tank now, but he hasnt stood still enough to get a decent shot.

04/23/2015, 10:21 AM	#1
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	30 Gallon Reef build. Hi all! Have been a long time lurker, and finally built my own tank. It is a 30 gallon (long) tank with a 20(ish) gallon sump. Equipment wise, I have a ...punp! I can't remember the name, does fine though :P Also have a Corallife 65 Skimmer, Lighting is a Coral life T5 light fixture. I'll have to get the exact wattage if people would like to know. But without further ado..Pictures! That's the tank the day after I added 30 lbs of live rock/sand. Basic picture of the sump. Mostly the skimmer. Which I hate btw. Apparently it needs broken in? A pic of the sump from a different angle. Not to great, I know. Obligatory pic of my kitten named "Tink" who has made the whole process maddening with her constant need to play with EVERYTHING! There you have it so far. The only difference is there is currently a damsel in the tank that a friend of mine put it when I was out one day. I have yet to catch the little jerk.. But the cycle is..cycling. Perhaps any who actually read this thread can answer a question for me though. Aside from sponge filter, what else can I run in the trays? Is carbon needed? etc? Thanks for viewing all!

04/23/2015, 05:43 PM	#3
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Personally I'd remove the sponges all together. If you do keep them clean them every other day. You can run cabon or GFO in the trays, but you don't have to. Where in da berg? __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

04/23/2015, 08:11 PM	#5
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Sponges collect quite a bit of crap. Given time it can become a nitrate factory. Cleaning them every couple days keeps this from happening. I'm in New Ken. What are your coral plans? Pm me in a couple weeks if you want a few shrooms. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

04/25/2015, 09:54 AM	#8
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	+1 for cat tax. Nice looking setup. I would remove the sponges as well, more work than they are worth __________________ 50 Gallon cube

04/25/2015, 03:42 PM	#10
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	If you have a sump with skimmer and enough lr and sand you don't need mechanical filtration. The biological filtration (lr and sand ) has replaced the mechanical. Throw the filters in the trash. or use the filter material for scrubbing the walls of your tank __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

04/23/2015, 04:21 PM	#2
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Updated tank shot of the cycling. Just tested the water. Temp 80 PH 8.2 nitrite 2.0 Ammonia 0 nitrate 40 ppm. Was kind of shocked to see no ammonia.

04/23/2015, 07:24 PM	#4
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	A bit north of Pittsburgh actually. How about you? Why remove the filter sponge?

04/24/2015, 05:49 AM	#6
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	This is my first foray into Corals. I think my lightning is good for most soft corals etc. But I will definitely do that. Thanks!

04/25/2015, 09:50 AM	#7
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	All seems to be well after fighting with the skimmer all day yesterday. Seems like I'll just have to slowly adjust it from here on out. Hopefully once it re-breaks in the microbubbles will calm down.

04/26/2015, 11:28 AM	#12
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Huzzah! I adjusted the intake flow a bit last night as you are supposed to slowly dial it back to fully open once a day. I'm about a third of the way closed atm, and it is now skimming like a champ. It might turn into being useful if it keeps this up..

04/26/2015, 03:42 PM	#13
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Just tested the water as I got home. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 20 ppm, and ph 8.0. I want to do a water change so bad haha.

04/26/2015, 05:12 PM	#14
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You're almost there __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

05/01/2015, 04:22 PM	#15
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Cycle was done as of Thursday picked up a percula clown and the lfs threw in a mushroom and a zoa . I think. Pics to come! __________________ My 30 Gallon long build : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2498586 Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon, 20 Gallon

05/01/2015, 05:14 PM	#16
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Pics as promised! Was told that is a mushroom. Any more knowledgable people able to tell me any different? Below I was told that is a Zoa? Does that sound right? And a terrible pic of the percula acclimating.

05/01/2015, 06:35 PM	#17
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	yes it's a fuzzy mushroom. I'd suggest putting it on a rock where you'd like to see many of them. They spread like wildfire once settled in and will spread. It does need to be higher on the rocks and not in the sand. IMO __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

05/02/2015, 08:46 AM	#18
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	I reaquascaped last night. I'll see if I can't get a pic shortly.. __________________ My 30 Gallon long build : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2498586 Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon, 20 Gallon

05/02/2015, 08:58 AM	#19
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Here we are after the aquascape. __________________ My 30 Gallon long build : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2498586 Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon, 20 Gallon Last edited by ndavis520; 05/02/2015 at 09:01 AM. Reason: Pic didn't load. Boo. Now it did!

05/02/2015, 09:00 AM	#20
joshky Acros & Wrasses Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Central KY Posts: 2,546	Looks like a spotted actinodiscus sp. and not the fuzzy mushroom variety rhodactis sp. Just my 0.2 cents. __________________ Josh My 80g: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2677031

05/04/2015, 03:59 PM	#22
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	So I'm not sure if I should start a new thread elsewhere, but I took a few pics of weird things in my tank. The first one on the right, looks like a clear coral or something. The second, is some kind of black thing sticking out from the sand. There is a snail nearby on the left, but it's definitely not one of its tentacles. And third looks like a former small clam that's embedded into the rock. It doesnt open or close, though. So I assume what it once was is gone. If anyone can identify anything that'd be awesome. They all could be a whole lot of nothing as well, but if they are something, neat!

05/12/2015, 02:42 PM	#23
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Just a couple of update pics. I still can't catch the stupid damsel, and the Percula would be better served in a 2 gallon bowl I think for as much as he moves round. ( He doesnt) Just a full tank shot. I'm currently at the " I want to add things but shouldnt" stage.

05/17/2015, 11:21 AM	#24
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	An update! I have successfully evicted the evil damsel. Woke up saturday morning and he was really attacking my clown. I made it a job to get him out of the tank. It was hell, but the bottle trick and a net finally worked. Cornered him behind a power head and used the net to scare him into the bottle. I traded the damsel in for a new clown. But when I got home the lfs accidentally gave me a larger ocellaris. My first mistake with this tank =/ I had planned to bring her back today if they didnt get along. They didnt, and my perc killed the larger ocellaris after lights out I got it out of the tank this morning, checked paramaters and have since gotten a new smaller perc, and picked up a new power head. These two percs are definitely getting along better. Also my daughter is none the wiser about her "nemos". I'll see if I can't get some pics up later. Even though the sand looks terrible with purple algae all over it.

05/17/2015, 05:19 PM	#25
ndavis520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 52	Back with pics .But after some research, it is not algae at all, but cynobacteria. I am hoping it will go away by adding a second powerhead for flow. But apparently it is part of "the uglies" all newer tanks go through. But anyhow, onto pictures. The new clown addition. Not near the amount of fighting that there was yesterday. Mexican turbo snails puting in work. Also my zoas and a mushroom. Unknown leather coral i saved from Petco, as well as my other mushroom on the otherside of tank. There is also a sixline wrasse in the tank now, but he hasnt stood still enough to get a decent shot.