Aquatop Recife 24

[Gumbies R Us]

Following! Excited to see where the tank goes!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Looking great. I have my wave maker in about the same spot-- I point the return flare straight to the top to give the surface aeration/oxygenation, and use the wave maker for flow deeper inside the tank, like you have it.

 

[putsumranchonit]

Looking great. I have my wave maker in about the same spot-- I point the return flare straight to the top to give the surface aeration/oxygenation, and use the wave maker for flow deeper inside the tank, like you have it.

I did point the flare more straight towards the surface after I noticed the debris accumulating on the surface. What type of livestock do you keep in yours?

 

[JumboShrimp]

They key is to really research the tar out of your fish selections, and chose wisely, because a 24-gallon fills up fast! Most people read the descriptions on Live Aquaria .com and Saltwater Fish .com, as well as other sources. Right now we have a pair of Clowns (not my choice-- but the office staff insisted that 'Nemo' was a must ), a Sixline Wrasse, a Firefish, and I think a Yellow Tail Damsel (I can't recall). Lol. It has minimalistic rock work, just as a stylistic choice.

 

[putsumranchonit]

They key is to really research the tar out of your fish selections, and chose wisely, because a 24-gallon fills up fast! Most people read the descriptions on Live Aquaria .com and Saltwater Fish .com, as well as other sources. Right now we have a pair of Clowns (not my choice-- but the office staff insisted that 'Nemo' was a must ), a Sixline Wrasse, a Firefish, and I think a Yellow Tail Damsel (I can't recall). Lol. It has minimalistic rock work, just as a stylistic choice.

Can’t go wrong with nemo! This tank won’t see many fish. The two clowns and a goby are it for me. This will be mostly coral.

 

[putsumranchonit]

2/19
Went to LFS and got salifert alk/calc tests and a hanna checker for phosphates. Also snuck another zoa frag home. Nitrite finally coming down. I should be able to get an accurate nitrate reading in the next couple of days. Water change coming soon.

Nitrite: ~0.25
Phosphate: 0.14ppm
Alk: ~8.0 dKH
Ca: 410ppm

 

[beancounsel]

Hi. I'm totally new and am following along! Thanks for posting! I literally just set my tank up (and I'm literally brand new to tanks period).

Quick questions. First, I'm using the standard return pump and I've found that water leaks from the display tank through the hole where the return-pump duckbill is located back into the return-pump reservoir. Do you consider that an issue/have any suggestions, if so?

Second, how much water should be in the return-pump reservoir? My water-level is barely above the pump itself; thoughts?

 

[putsumranchonit]

Hi. I'm totally new and am following along! Thanks for posting! I literally just set my tank up (and I'm literally brand new to tanks period).

Quick questions. First, I'm using the standard return pump and I've found that water leaks from the display tank through the hole where the return-pump duckbill is located back into the return-pump reservoir. Do you consider that an issue/have any suggestions, if so?

Second, how much water should be in the return-pump reservoir? My water-level is barely above the pump itself; thoughts?

That’s a good question. I believe my water level is too high because I have no waterfall effect in the rear chambers. Which makes me think that’s why my pH is chilling at about 7.9.

I’ll be performing the tanks first water change tomorrow and will let you know because I’m going to adjust the level.

 

[putsumranchonit]

2/20
9:18PM EST
After work there was a fish store nearby. I had to stop in. Small shop, fish weren’t too healthy, but the guy had a solid selection of coral that was pretty affordable. Frags all the way up to whole colonies. I’ve never seen this before, but he was growing GSP on plastic spheres and hung them off of his led lights. They were floating balls of GSP. Very very cool.

I realized I didn’t test phosphates properly yesterday. New test kit, learning curve. Today I followed the correct procedure. Need to get some phosphate in there. Can’t get an accurate nitrate reading with presence of nitrite.

Temp: 78 F
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
pH: 8.0
Phosphate: 0.00 ppm
Alk: 8.4 dKH

2/21
No testing

2/22
10:50AM EST

When lights came on today, i noticed diatoms starting. Interesting, as soon as nitrites zeroed out, we get a diatom bloom.

Temp: 77 F
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
Nitrite: 0.00ppm
Nitrate: 0.0ppm
pH: 7.9
Alk: 8.4 dKH

2/23
7:00PM EST

Added an ATO system today. I’ll be honest I had no idea what I was doing while initially setting up. I have the pump coming out of a 5g bucket. For return hose I had it submerged in my return chamber and it siphoned a gallon or two out of the tank into the 5g bucket. Thank god it was only half full or else that would’ve been messy. Removed the return line from underwater and now it works perfect.

New livestock today: 3 trochus snails and another zoanthid frag


Temp:
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrite: 0.0ppm
Nitrate: 0.0ppm
pH: 8.0
Phosphate: 0.06ppm
Alk: ~8.2dKh

2/24
no testing

2/25
7:28PM EST

Alk isn’t really being consumed. I’m guessing there are a lack of Alkalinity absorbing sources in the tank right now. Will test again after I add some LPS corals. I think I’ll test again Friday and then let the LFS do a spin test to compare my parameters to theirs.

Today I pulled my zoas out, broke the frag plugs off and then super glued them to the rocks because the snails were wreaking havoc.

Temp: 77 F
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrate: 0.0
pH: 8.0
Alk: 8.4dKh
Calcium: 450ppm

2/26
6:48PM EST

Snails are **** like it’s going out of style, sand bed is covered in snail waste. Impressive. Will add Nassarius snails this weekend if I can source from LFS. Also planning to add some more corals this weekend. Really going for some LPS and maybe a tester SPS so i can get a gauge on alk consumption to begin eventually dosing.

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.025

2/27
7:54 PM EST

Today I had a hunch to buy a new nitrate test since I kept getting 0 readings with API. Got a Salifert kit. Reads 50ppm. Test API to reference. 0ppm. Wow someone’s lying here.

I viciously shook both reagent bottles for API, retest. 40ppm. Holy smokes, I’ve probably been ready for a water change for a week now. Oh well, the zoas and mushrooms were content.

Tomorrow I will perform a water change and start a new baseline for alk and calc consumption with the new LPS additions.

New livestock today:
2 Nassarius snails
3 Zoanthid varieties
1 Acan frag
1 Chalice frag
1 Frogspawn

Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
Phosphate: 0.00
Nitrate: 40-50ppm

 

[putsumranchonit]

2/28
7:30PM EST

Did a water change today. I’d guess it was around 4 gallons. Looking at doing another one tomorrow because nitrates still seem pretty high. It’s like the water change didn’t even put a dent in them. Used water from the LFS. I’m guessing it was some coral pro because my Alk jumped 1+. Corals are opened and colored today. They don’t seem to mind at the moment.

Ordered a smart plug so I can control wavemaker and return pump from my phone for easier water changes. Also
ordered an orange filter so I can start posting some progress pics.

Adjusted my water level. It was a couple inches too high initially. Now it’s fully dialed.

Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
pH: 8.0
Nitrate: ~50ppm
Phosphate: 0.02ppm
Alk: 9.6dKh
Calcium: 425ppm
Magnesium: 1200ppm

Forgive the windex photo. Filter should arrive in a couple days

 

[kingranch2003]

Hi. I'm totally new and am following along! Thanks for posting! I literally just set my tank up (and I'm literally brand new to tanks period).

Quick questions. First, I'm using the standard return pump and I've found that water leaks from the display tank through the hole where the return-pump duckbill is located back into the return-pump reservoir. Do you consider that an issue/have any suggestions, if so?

Second, how much water should be in the return-pump reservoir? My water-level is barely above the pump itself; thoughts?

Do you have an ATO on this chamber? You definitely want at least a few inches or more a over the return pump to prevent running the pump dry. How high is the water in the 3rd compartment? You may just need more water in the tank.

 

[kingranch2003]

2/28
7:30PM EST

Did a water change today. I’d guess it was around 4 gallons. Looking at doing another one tomorrow because nitrates still seem pretty high. It’s like the water change didn’t even put a dent in them. Used water from the LFS. I’m guessing it was some coral pro because my Alk jumped 1+. Corals are opened and colored today. They don’t seem to mind at the moment.

Ordered a smart plug so I can control wavemaker and return pump from my phone for easier water changes. Also
ordered an orange filter so I can start posting some progress pics.

Adjusted my water level. It was a couple inches too high initially. Now it’s fully dialed.

Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
pH: 8.0
Nitrate: ~50ppm
Phosphate: 0.02ppm
Alk: 9.6dKh
Calcium: 425ppm
Magnesium: 1200ppm

Forgive the windex photo. Filter should arrive in a couple days

Surface flow looks like it's rocking!

 

[kingranch2003]

2/20
9:18PM EST
After work there was a fish store nearby. I had to stop in. Small shop, fish weren’t too healthy, but the guy had a solid selection of coral that was pretty affordable. Frags all the way up to whole colonies. I’ve never seen this before, but he was growing GSP on plastic spheres and hung them off of his led lights. They were floating balls of GSP. Very very cool.

I realized I didn’t test phosphates properly yesterday. New test kit, learning curve. Today I followed the correct procedure. Need to get some phosphate in there. Can’t get an accurate nitrate reading with presence of nitrite.

Temp: 78 F
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
pH: 8.0
Phosphate: 0.00 ppm
Alk: 8.4 dKH

2/21
No testing

2/22
10:50AM EST

When lights came on today, i noticed diatoms starting. Interesting, as soon as nitrites zeroed out, we get a diatom bloom.

Temp: 77 F
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0.00ppm
Nitrite: 0.00ppm
Nitrate: 0.0ppm
pH: 7.9
Alk: 8.4 dKH

2/23
7:00PM EST

Added an ATO system today. I’ll be honest I had no idea what I was doing while initially setting up. I have the pump coming out of a 5g bucket. For return hose I had it submerged in my return chamber and it siphoned a gallon or two out of the tank into the 5g bucket. Thank god it was only half full or else that would’ve been messy. Removed the return line from underwater and now it works perfect.

New livestock today: 3 trochus snails and another zoanthid frag


Temp:
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrite: 0.0ppm
Nitrate: 0.0ppm
pH: 8.0
Phosphate: 0.06ppm
Alk: ~8.2dKh

2/24
no testing

2/25
7:28PM EST

Alk isn’t really being consumed. I’m guessing there are a lack of Alkalinity absorbing sources in the tank right now. Will test again after I add some LPS corals. I think I’ll test again Friday and then let the LFS do a spin test to compare my parameters to theirs.

Today I pulled my zoas out, broke the frag plugs off and then super glued them to the rocks because the snails were wreaking havoc.

Temp: 77 F
Salinity: 1.025
Nitrate: 0.0
pH: 8.0
Alk: 8.4dKh
Calcium: 450ppm

2/26
6:48PM EST

Snails are **** like it’s going out of style, sand bed is covered in snail waste. Impressive. Will add Nassarius snails this weekend if I can source from LFS. Also planning to add some more corals this weekend. Really going for some LPS and maybe a tester SPS so i can get a gauge on alk consumption to begin eventually dosing.

Temp: 78F
Salinity: 1.025

2/27
7:54 PM EST

Today I had a hunch to buy a new nitrate test since I kept getting 0 readings with API. Got a Salifert kit. Reads 50ppm. Test API to reference. 0ppm. Wow someone’s lying here.

I viciously shook both reagent bottles for API, retest. 40ppm. Holy smokes, I’ve probably been ready for a water change for a week now. Oh well, the zoas and mushrooms were content.

Tomorrow I will perform a water change and start a new baseline for alk and calc consumption with the new LPS additions.

New livestock today:
2 Nassarius snails
3 Zoanthid varieties
1 Acan frag
1 Chalice frag
1 Frogspawn

Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
Phosphate: 0.00
Nitrate: 40-50ppm

Oh yeah! There's some color!

 

[kingranch2003]

I just realized I wasn't following your thread! You can link it to your profile as your build thread. Then you'll get the "my tank thread" badge/link by your name that users can click on if you want.

 

[putsumranchonit]

I just realized I wasn't following your thread! You can link it to your profile as your build thread. Then you'll get the "my tank thread" badge/link by your name that users can click on if you want.

I was wondering how to do that.

 

[putsumranchonit]

No more windex photos. Camera lens filters have arrived. Snapped a few photos.

 

[putsumranchonit]

I love this mushroom, it gives me such florida vibes. It reminded me of the Miami Dolphins color scheme. I’m not a football fan at all, but it still reminds me of home.

 

[JumboShrimp]

The lenses makes all the difference.

 

[putsumranchonit]

Welp, found this guy on marketplace selling cheap sticks… Pray for me chat.

Also grabbed a two head hammer off him for pretty affordable. It didn’t look very happy in his tank so hopefully I can nurse it back to full potential.

 

[putsumranchonit]

2/29
9:45PM EST

I believe a testing error was made with Alk after the water change yesterday. No biggie, I didn’t make any changes or add anything to the water after. This was confirmed by retesting the water the way I made the error yesterday and producing the same result as the previous alk reading. The mistake was adding an extra mL of water to the test tube, diluting the reagent and producing an inaccurate reading.

I’ve also went ahead and tested the water I used for the WC and it’s more aligned with my Alk today. The alk I used from LFS water came out to ~7dKH. Quite low. So my alk swung down from 8.4-8.0… Will be much more mindful moving forward. Could’ve been worse. Lesson learned.

Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
Alk: 8.0dKh