GruntSculpin's Big-Nano

[GruntSculpin]

Argonite is clearing up, I knew enough to rinse it but I had to learn my lesson the hard way. Some will be removed so I that once I add the stuff from my current 20x10 tank I end up with 1/2-1". I'd really like a shrimp/goby pair(will do more research).

There's the current FTS including some of the livingroom. This tank has become the most prominant piece of furniture in the apartment. You may notice that I used PVC for my flow direction in the tank, this was probably a mistake, and I tried to loosen those up some this morning, but they look like they're here to stay. I think the threads don't quite match up.

As much as I love the sparse layout, I think I'm going to rely on a pyramid of live rock for my primary display so things look good from all three sides. This additional 20-30lbs is my next purchase. While my current corals sit under my 96watt PC. I think I've decided that a 4 tube T5 retrofit is what I want for lighting. With a Seio in tank for extra water movement my total wattage sans heater should be well under 150. This is good for the summer, I hope.

Chris

[skeety]

lookin' good!


Sorry to hear about the PVC problem. BEEN there! I alway dry fit everything now before gluing! Many a' mistake have I made. (sigh)

Tanks coming along nicely!

[GruntSculpin]

Added the live rock and corals last night. Everything is doing hugely well in the New clean water. Now I just need 20 lbs of new live rock.

[skeety]

Originally Posted by GruntSculpin

Added the live rock and corals last night. Everything is doing hugely well in the New clean water. Now I just need 20 lbs of new live rock.

Wha...wha...WHAT?

How do you do that, and NOT post a picture?

hehehehe

j/k sounds great!

[GruntSculpin]

Built a skimmer today. In sump asperation model. Its bubbling away, but I think I want to try a HOB injection model... Acrylic is really fun to work with.

Chris

[GruntSculpin]

The worst conversation I have personally ever had with myself about reeefing:

"Uh oh, is my return pump cavitating?
"Where's my waterline?
"Where did my water go?
"Why is there a snail on the eurobracing?
"Uh oh"

I had tossed a filtersock on the stockman to pull some of the argonite dust from the water. While I fiddled with my skimmer in the sump I kicked up a whole new batch of it that clogged the sock.

Chris

[VWD]

Your tank is looking good.

[GruntSculpin]

Picking up 25lbs of live rock tommorrow through TRT classifieds. =D

Will take pics of that process.

Chris

[GruntSculpin]

And now with 25lbs of liverock. While I was picking it up I saw that he had an old excalibur skimmer powerd by a rio800, for 10 bucks I'm on my first cup of skimmate.



We'll let this settle in. I've moved a lot faster than I was planning to, and I want to see how things react for a while. You can see the diatoms on the glass, so I'm at teh very least going through an algae cycle. I tested params and everything was at least as good as the old tank. I'm very excited about the skimmer.

Chris

[skeety]

Very nice! I know you think it looks bad, but when I see diotoms at the stage, I see PROGRESS!!


Coming along very nicely!!

[GruntSculpin]

Exciting new FTS... Featuring my Blenny in a cameo role.



Chris

[skeety]

looks GREAT!!!


(but I can't find the blenny. Is it like "Where's Waldo?") heheh

coming along very nicely!

[GruntSculpin]

The blenny is in the upper left under the very dark live rock.

I've got a red-flatworm thing going on. I added the powerhead to make things uncomfortable for them. 150gph of flow in a small tank is really ripping. The end of the current "loop" was sweeping my xenia rock off the top of the tank, so I moved them. When I add some monti in a couple of months that will be a good place to put them.

Looks like I'm getting into the green algae. Hopefully things won't be too rough now that I'm using RO/DI water and skimming.

Chris

[Casey]

Looks great.

[GruntSculpin]

Made some additions. I added a single tiny Blasto M, along with a hydropora frag to see how that does. I also added a Tiger Pistol and a yellow watchman goby. The shrimp and goby seem to have paired up and the enterance to the burrow is in the least viewible place possible.

I really need to learn more patience.

For lighting I picked up a used Finnex 4 bulb fixture. It should provide good diffuse light for a primarily LPS tank. Its sitting directly on the bracing, which makes it 7" from the top of the LR for the couple of pieces of lower-light SPS I want to try. I can add the german bulbs as funds are available.

Corraline and green algae has started to spread. Will add more Ceriths, might have to pull my hermits but I really like the little guys.

Chris