dobbs's blog

[dobbs]

Any and all advice is welcome...criticism is encouraged.

Welcome to my blog.

On Wednesday, May 24th, 2006, I prepared for the move of the newly acquired tank.

So, I purchased...

60lbs of Caribsea Aragonite #00790 "special grade" live reef sand. $90.00



35 Gallons of RO/SW mix. $35.00

I also made 10 LR stands out of 3" PVC unions - that I picked up at Home Depot. $18.00



On Thursday, May 25th, 2006, I purchased the established 65 gallon tank with a CPR Model CY194 filtration sytem, and all of the live rock that you see in the picture below. I was told that some of the rock is from the Great Barrier Reef. $500.00

My dad and I started the tear down and move at 4PM that afternoon. We had it up and running at 2AM the next morning.





As you can see the bowl in the 2nd picture, I had a small leak in the return valve, that was just about self-sealed. I had the bright idea to check it with my finger one last time. The leak worsened as soon as I touched it. I sat there for an hour hoping for it to go back to the way it was before my "just touch it to see" idea. No luck. I found a small funnel, cut some siphon hose long enough to reach the sump, and duct taped it under the valve. This is the way it's going to be until it comes down again. A plumber told me that it will eventually seal itself. The funnel stays...just incase.



BTW - Before getting home to set up the tank - I stopped at the LFS to pick up a new powerhead, and a submersible heater. I was kinda shocked at the prices....but, I didnt want to wait a week for an online purchase.

Here is what I got...

Maxi-Jet 1200 Powerhead $34.95



Hydor Flo Rotating Water Deflector. $22.99



Visa-Therm Stealt 200 submersible heater. $34.99

[dobbs]

On Friday, May 26th, 2006 I ordered the following....

American Marine Pinpoint Wireless Thermometer (includes one sensor) $34.95



American Marine Pinpoint pH Monitor Package $94.95



Current USA Lunar Light: Moon White Moon Light plus 1 additional link $26.00



Salifert Calcium Test Kit $22.95



Salifert KH/Alkalinity Test Kit $13.95




FasTest Saltwater Aquarium Master Test Kit $24.00 + $6.00 S&H



ATC salinity refractometer $18.50 + $8.00 S&H



I also stopped and picked up a few items to make myself a siphone hose with a shut-off valve. $16.00

[dobbs]

On Saturday. May 27th, 2006, I removed the bio material from the filter, added an air hose and muffler to the skimmer pump, and adjusted the skimmer.



Here is the tank after 2 days of filtering...

[dobbs]

On Saturday, May 27th, 2006, I purchased another 17 lbs of live rock. Half premium.

Here is the current Rockscape...

[dobbs]

On Wednesday, May 31st, 2006, I purchased the following...

2 Peppermint shrimp...



And 1 Percula Clown...

[dobbs]

On Monday, June 5th, 2006, I did my first water change after moving the tank.

Here are the test levels before my 1st 7 gallon water change...

Amonia 0
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0
PH 8.19
Calcium 400
KH 8.0
Alkalinity 2.86
Temp 84
Salinity...unknow...waiting for my refractometer.

[dobbs]

On Friday, June 9th, 2006, I added 2 Seio 620 Powerheads. They also came with the Sure Grip 50 magnetic PH holders. $100.00

As of Saturday, June 10th, 2006, I have the following....

1 Percula Clown
2 Peppermint Shrimp
6 Mexican Turbo Snails
2 Torchus Snails

[dobbs]

On Wenesday, June 14th, 2006, I added a blue background to the tank, and I did my second water change of 7 gallons.

Here are my test results...
Amonia 0
Nitrate 15
Nitrite 0
PH 8.17
Calcium 380
dkH 9.3
Alkalinity 3.31
Temp 82.2
Salinity 1.026

Earlier in the week I changed the rockscape. Here is a current picture...

[dobbs]

Today, June 15th, 2006 - I received my lights. Now I need to find a chiller...

48" Outer Orbit 2x150W 10K HQI-MH, 2x130W Dual Actinic, & 6 Lunar Lights.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=CU01042

[dobbs]

On Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 - Mary (mtfatwork) was nice enough to hook me up with several frags...They included green milli, bali tricolor, and an unknown tricolor.. (acro's). Pavona, Pink montipora digitata, Acan Lords, and some zoanthids.

Thanks Mary

[dobbs]

Today, August 15th, 2006 - I picked up a couple tank mates from OD.

An Orange Diamondside Goby


And a Pistol Shrimp.


A few weeks prior - I picked up...

A Watchman Goby


And a few Green Chromis

[dobbs]

On Wednesday, August 16th, 2006 - I purchased the following corals from Graham...

Ultra purple Formosa
Purple plating Monti with bright purple polyps
Frogspawn
Green plating Monti with purple polyps
Multicolored teal Acro
Purple tip Stag
True blue Zoanthids
Granulosa Acro
Yellow Turbinaria

Thanks Graham

[dobbs]

My current coral collection consists of the following (from - at a cost of)...

Green Milli Acro (mtfatwork $10)
Bali tricolor Acro (mtfatwork $10)
Unknown tricolor Acro (mtfatwork $10)
Pavona (mtfatwork $10)
Pink Montipora Digitata (mtfatwork $10)
Orange/brown Zoanthids (mtfatwork $10)
Ultra purple Formosa (Graham $20)
Purple plating Monti with bright purple polyps (Graham $15)
Frogspawn (Graham $25)
Green plating Monti with purple polyps (Graham $20)
Multicolored teal Acro (Graham $10)
Purple tip Stag (Graham $20)
True blue Zoanthids (Graham $10)
Granulosa Acro (Graham $10)
Yellow Turbinaria (Graham $20)
Hot pink Milli (Clownnut $15)
Yellow Milli (Clownnut $15)

[dobbs]

On Thursday, Aug 17th, 2006 - I purchased the following frags from a couple club members...


Hot pink Milli (Clownnut)
Yellow Milli (Clownnut)

Oregon Blue Tort (stuckey_t)
Multi-colored Plana (stuckey_t)
Larrry Jackson Purple Monster (stuckey_t)
BamBam Zoanthids (stuckey_t)
Miami Orchid (stuckey_t)
The Blue unknown Acro (stuckey_t)
Blue Challice Echino (stuckey_t)
Grape Alien Eye Echino (stuckey_t)
Lava Flow Echino (stuckey_t)
Idaho Grape Monti (stuckey_t)
Oxypora (stuckey_t)

Thanks again Li and Troy

[dobbs]

My current livestock...

1 Percula Clown
3 Green Chromis
1 Orange Diamondside Goby
1 Watchman Goby
1 Pistol Shrimp
2 Peppermint Shrimp
2 Mexican Turbo Snails
2 Torchus Snails