OP
OP
Castle136
Active Member
**7 July Update**
Been letting the tank cycle a bit, I say cycle but thanks to TBS live rock and live sand, it’s really just me letting the die-off and increased phosphates come down.
I’ve re-done the aquascape (pics to come) and also added a refugium. Since I’m not using the Ref Sea AIO protein skimmer (just preference in my nutrient export plan, mentor input, and tank im trying to “recreate” as my first ever saltwater reef tank), the water level in my back sump was all kinda of out of wack. After much tinkering to trying to have the same flow as WWC demonstrates in their flow video - but failing to recreate a suitable case in my tank - I stopped trying to force a square peg through a round hole and just raised the water level to almost near the top of the tank. The sound of water trickling was the issue with having flow be right but level so low it sounded like the Fontana Della Barcaccia during a monsoon was my biggest issue. As a result, the flow in the back of my sump isn’t great. However, I’m adjusting because now that will be my known detritus collection point and I’ll be vacuuming out the back more frequently to compensate for the lack of flow through the sump. Also as a result, and to increase long-term nutrient export stability, I got some chaeto and added it to the back of my sump where the skimmer would go and a tunze fuge light. Very happy with the setup thus far and seeing an increased stability in my pH level the last week as a result. Got some good pods and a bristle star from the awesome local reefer who gave me some excess chaeto!
So the current “problems,” and I know these are very small compared to whatever lies ahead, are the die off leading to elevated phosphates, thus keeping my lights off and no coral going in, and two unfriendly hitchhikers from the live rock that have eluded me (a gorilla crab and Florida stone crab - they vex me as every time I try to capture them they scurry under the rock and elude me once more; and so I persist. But no injuries or deaths of cuc that I’ve seen so not too bad).
My phosphates have been as high as 0.3. After getting this measure I did a 75% w/c and got them down to 0.11. I’ve gone to 5 gallon w/c every 3 days the last week and saw levels go from 0.11 to 0.2 to 0.26 as of Saturday 5 July. So die off is still there from the live rock but seems to be slowing down. My nitrates are sitting happy at 3ppm the last week after my w/c (only rising from 1ppm after my 75% w/c). Light has remained off to date since getting the tank wet on 17 June.
My current tank inhabitants are
- 2 snowflake clowns (of which I’m looking to sell one because in my naivety and inexperience in this hobby I bought a pair thinking I’d be good but realized from my mentor that future aggression would severely limit my future desired stock list. Have yet to be able to find a home yet),
- Yellow watchmen goby (waiting to add the pistol shrimp until I don’t have the elevated PO4 that may require another massive w/c)
- Cuc of 5 blue leg hermits, a bunch of snails I can’t ID that came with the rock, and pods/brittle star that came with the chaeto.
Excited to see everything living and moving this far in the tank and very excited and loving the hobby!
Been letting the tank cycle a bit, I say cycle but thanks to TBS live rock and live sand, it’s really just me letting the die-off and increased phosphates come down.
I’ve re-done the aquascape (pics to come) and also added a refugium. Since I’m not using the Ref Sea AIO protein skimmer (just preference in my nutrient export plan, mentor input, and tank im trying to “recreate” as my first ever saltwater reef tank), the water level in my back sump was all kinda of out of wack. After much tinkering to trying to have the same flow as WWC demonstrates in their flow video - but failing to recreate a suitable case in my tank - I stopped trying to force a square peg through a round hole and just raised the water level to almost near the top of the tank. The sound of water trickling was the issue with having flow be right but level so low it sounded like the Fontana Della Barcaccia during a monsoon was my biggest issue. As a result, the flow in the back of my sump isn’t great. However, I’m adjusting because now that will be my known detritus collection point and I’ll be vacuuming out the back more frequently to compensate for the lack of flow through the sump. Also as a result, and to increase long-term nutrient export stability, I got some chaeto and added it to the back of my sump where the skimmer would go and a tunze fuge light. Very happy with the setup thus far and seeing an increased stability in my pH level the last week as a result. Got some good pods and a bristle star from the awesome local reefer who gave me some excess chaeto!
So the current “problems,” and I know these are very small compared to whatever lies ahead, are the die off leading to elevated phosphates, thus keeping my lights off and no coral going in, and two unfriendly hitchhikers from the live rock that have eluded me (a gorilla crab and Florida stone crab - they vex me as every time I try to capture them they scurry under the rock and elude me once more; and so I persist. But no injuries or deaths of cuc that I’ve seen so not too bad).
My phosphates have been as high as 0.3. After getting this measure I did a 75% w/c and got them down to 0.11. I’ve gone to 5 gallon w/c every 3 days the last week and saw levels go from 0.11 to 0.2 to 0.26 as of Saturday 5 July. So die off is still there from the live rock but seems to be slowing down. My nitrates are sitting happy at 3ppm the last week after my w/c (only rising from 1ppm after my 75% w/c). Light has remained off to date since getting the tank wet on 17 June.
My current tank inhabitants are
- 2 snowflake clowns (of which I’m looking to sell one because in my naivety and inexperience in this hobby I bought a pair thinking I’d be good but realized from my mentor that future aggression would severely limit my future desired stock list. Have yet to be able to find a home yet),
- Yellow watchmen goby (waiting to add the pistol shrimp until I don’t have the elevated PO4 that may require another massive w/c)
- Cuc of 5 blue leg hermits, a bunch of snails I can’t ID that came with the rock, and pods/brittle star that came with the chaeto.
Excited to see everything living and moving this far in the tank and very excited and loving the hobby!
