Tank Build

So ya don't need those powerheads? Bill

Yes we do, only have one semi decent powerhead in the tank and the other is on its last legs. Need a few more to get the crazy water current that salt tanks want.

Oh, and you probably won't actually need 2 part for about 6 months at least depending on bio load, watch your alkalinity to tell you when to supplement and dose the 2 part, and monitor to make sure your dosing is on par with your consumption. For the most part, simple water changes will keep your trace elements where they need to be for a while. Once you do start dosing 2 part, google DIY 2 part, or look at the bulkreefsupply 2 part package. I personally stay away from the "commercially" packaged and available 2 additives because they're expensive. The DIY 2 part is the cheap way to go, but the BRS package is the SAME stuff, and you don't have to mess with sourcing magnesium chloride or calcium chloride (since you live in Florida this is hard to find at hardware stores, though you can order Prestone Driveway Heat from autozone.com to use for calcium chloride Magnesium chloride is harder to find, though magnesium sulfate is just Epsom salt.)

I've also come to believe the MOST important part of my reef tank is my ATO.

Ya I did read the back of the 2 part stuff, got it half price because it came in with a used tank the boss bought, so it will get me going till I really figure out the hows and whys of it.... so for the moment its the lfs stuff till we fully comprehend all the stuff

All that needs comprehending is this... Don't dose what you're not testing for. If you're calcium is holding at 440 - 480 ppm, and your alkalinity is holding between 7 and 9 dkh, then there's no reason to dose. So now you got time to figure out the relationship between the two, and to a lesser extent magnesium. Water changing twice a month should keep your parameters in line for a good while. Now that I dose I only water change when my magnesium drops, because I don't read nitrates.

well our calcium is at 480 and don't have a test for alkalinity yet.

It's probably going to be about 7 if you're using IO salt.

Sorry did have the test it was 11 and Calcium 400

Pic of Cherry the watchman gobie Not the best pic but he's fast!

I think the Coraline algae is starting to grow well and use up the calcium in the water

couple more pics

Question: Anyone know what this stuff is? (The whitish stuff that looks like spider egg sacs)

I got all awesome yesterday and contacted an old buddy who does local tank maintenance! He hooked me up with all the live rock I needed and is coming by later in the week to pick up angels in trade I even got the reaction chamber for a calcium reactor from him
PICS





vix and I spent near an hour last night getting them all stacked in a pretty way that they would be structurally sound too, left some sand area open for anything that wants to be on the sand and have lots of good places in all levels of the tank to put corals!
Mushrooms!

Itty bitty purple and white feather duster!

and I dont know what this is? Good or bad?

This tank is like starting all over in the hobby LOL. Learning new parameters and equipment and stocking for a reef tank is shall we say mind boggling!

Yes it is!!!!

Nah. I don't know cuz the pic's not that great but your unidentified thing looks like a mojano. The spiderweb stuff might be a sponge

Ok I was afraid it might be a mojano, they come in all sorts of colors that they are hard for me to ID still. I do know I have at least one aptasia in there ans will get a peppermint shrimp to deal with them. Do the peppermints eat mojano too?

Got more stuff pics soon!

This



is now this

file fish will eat it all, but they're ugly. Just think... for years you been trying to get F0 stock. Now you'll be begging for F1 or even F2 or F3 if you're lucky enough to find them.

Man I know! Tank raised always lives better than wild stuff!!!

mushrooms

feather duster

Leather coral

Now for the shiny new stuff!
Blue leg hermit crabs


Emerald crabs


I am 90% sure that these are "is it nippy in here" zoas




Some spiffy blue zoa, clueless what kind (thinking Polar ice caps or tub's blues)



some nifty zoa, like eagle eye but not...

Damn you Fern.. I've got too much on my plate to be even considering salt but you are testing my resolve!.. Bill in Va.

That's all part of my evil plan
Just wait till I get more nipples and some blue orgasms muahahahahaha

So some member delivers wood to you and now your trying to give me some wood too?...You two timing wench... Bill in Va.