Brekel's Beginnings: 1200x600x360 Reef
Introduction:
I’m new to the forum and new to reefkeeping, so figured I’d start a journal to track my progress and get some (hopefully)helpful input and feedback from you more knowledgeable lot out there.
I helped my Dad with a freshwater tank when I was a kid, and about 11 years ago I had a small temperate tank with a few seahorses in it for a couple of years. I’ve been looking at getting a reef tank set up since then. About 9 years ago I bought a tank and stand, plus a few powerheads and accessories that were on special at the time. Then a couple of house moves and a variety of family circumstances lead to things being put on hold.
Now, I take the plunge…
Reefing Since: Now
System Objectives: To create an attractive living display in the house, to learn a lot, and to have heaps of fun sharing the experience with, and teaching, the kids. My 3.5 yo daughter already insists we look at a coral or fish book everynight for her bed time story:) , so the enthusiasm is catching! And if I throw a book on fish at my 7 yo, a few days later he’ll come back quoting various facts and scientific names, and quizzing me to test my knowledge!:rolleyes
Type of reef: Mixed reef.
Display System:
Initial Fill Date: It’s been about 1/3 full with live rock curing in the bottom for three weeks. The next time I get a few hours free I’ll add the sand, do the aquascaping, and fill it up properly.
Display Tank Dimensions: 1200 long x 600 high x 360 deep (4’x2’x14.5”).
I’d prefer a tank with about twice the depth, but that’s the one I’ve had in storage.
If all goes well and it ends up looking good, hopefully I’ll convince the other half of the benefits of a larger tank
Display Lighting: DIY LED
Stand: Stained pine cabinet
Hood or Rimless: Hood to match the cabinet
Sump Design: None yet, looking at options for adding one.
Filtration: 20kG live rock, Aquaone G216 skimmer (may need to upgrade this, see how it goes…)
Support systems:
NSW or ASW: NSW collected from Goats Beach.
Display Water circulation: Have a few Heto and Hagen powerheads. Would like to upgrade to a wavemaker though.
Return Pump: -
Skimmer: Aquaone G216
Evaporation Top Up: Currently manual, will be automating later
Chemical additions:
Calcium Addition: Haven’t tested calcium yet, but adding limewater to maintain alkalinity and pH.
Alkilinity Addition: Limewater
Magnesium Addition: None yet
Prodibiotics Addition: None yet
Coral Food Addition: None yet
The LR seems to be doing ok. Ammonia reached zero in about 8 days, with a 50% water change on day 3 when it hit around 4.0. Sat on 2 for 2 days, then halved every day after that. I was away for a few days, and Nitrites were zero when I got back.
There were still a few small patches of stuff dying off, but I guess the bacteria were keeping up with the rate of production of nasties.
I’ve built the basics of my LED light, although some more tweaks are on the way. A week ago it looked like I was starting to get the expected diatom bloom I’ve read about at one end of the tank that gets a bit of direct sunlight. I’ve had the LEDs running for the last 5 days, and the diatoms haven’t progressed but what I guess is green hair algae has taken off in patches the last few days. I'll have to get nitrate and phosphate test kits and keep an eye on the levels.
I’ve found a couple of tiny dead crabs and a couple of dead limpets, but there seems to be plenty of things alive in/on the rock.
I'll fill it up properly as soon as I can. In the mean time I'm tweaking the lights and observing the various life forms that appear from the rock.
Can anyone tell me what this is? A couple of days the surface was covered in green, almost fluorescent dots, but it wasn't the day I took the photo:
Some leafy algae coming back under the lights:
I’m new to the forum and new to reefkeeping, so figured I’d start a journal to track my progress and get some (hopefully)helpful input and feedback from you more knowledgeable lot out there.
I helped my Dad with a freshwater tank when I was a kid, and about 11 years ago I had a small temperate tank with a few seahorses in it for a couple of years. I’ve been looking at getting a reef tank set up since then. About 9 years ago I bought a tank and stand, plus a few powerheads and accessories that were on special at the time. Then a couple of house moves and a variety of family circumstances lead to things being put on hold.
Now, I take the plunge…
Reefing Since: Now
System Objectives: To create an attractive living display in the house, to learn a lot, and to have heaps of fun sharing the experience with, and teaching, the kids. My 3.5 yo daughter already insists we look at a coral or fish book everynight for her bed time story:) , so the enthusiasm is catching! And if I throw a book on fish at my 7 yo, a few days later he’ll come back quoting various facts and scientific names, and quizzing me to test my knowledge!:rolleyes
Type of reef: Mixed reef.
Display System:
Initial Fill Date: It’s been about 1/3 full with live rock curing in the bottom for three weeks. The next time I get a few hours free I’ll add the sand, do the aquascaping, and fill it up properly.
Display Tank Dimensions: 1200 long x 600 high x 360 deep (4’x2’x14.5”).
I’d prefer a tank with about twice the depth, but that’s the one I’ve had in storage.
If all goes well and it ends up looking good, hopefully I’ll convince the other half of the benefits of a larger tank
Display Lighting: DIY LED
Stand: Stained pine cabinet
Hood or Rimless: Hood to match the cabinet
Sump Design: None yet, looking at options for adding one.
Filtration: 20kG live rock, Aquaone G216 skimmer (may need to upgrade this, see how it goes…)
Support systems:
NSW or ASW: NSW collected from Goats Beach.
Display Water circulation: Have a few Heto and Hagen powerheads. Would like to upgrade to a wavemaker though.
Return Pump: -
Skimmer: Aquaone G216
Evaporation Top Up: Currently manual, will be automating later
Chemical additions:
Calcium Addition: Haven’t tested calcium yet, but adding limewater to maintain alkalinity and pH.
Alkilinity Addition: Limewater
Magnesium Addition: None yet
Prodibiotics Addition: None yet
Coral Food Addition: None yet
The LR seems to be doing ok. Ammonia reached zero in about 8 days, with a 50% water change on day 3 when it hit around 4.0. Sat on 2 for 2 days, then halved every day after that. I was away for a few days, and Nitrites were zero when I got back.
There were still a few small patches of stuff dying off, but I guess the bacteria were keeping up with the rate of production of nasties.
I’ve built the basics of my LED light, although some more tweaks are on the way. A week ago it looked like I was starting to get the expected diatom bloom I’ve read about at one end of the tank that gets a bit of direct sunlight. I’ve had the LEDs running for the last 5 days, and the diatoms haven’t progressed but what I guess is green hair algae has taken off in patches the last few days. I'll have to get nitrate and phosphate test kits and keep an eye on the levels.
I’ve found a couple of tiny dead crabs and a couple of dead limpets, but there seems to be plenty of things alive in/on the rock.
I'll fill it up properly as soon as I can. In the mean time I'm tweaking the lights and observing the various life forms that appear from the rock.
Can anyone tell me what this is? A couple of days the surface was covered in green, almost fluorescent dots, but it wasn't the day I took the photo:
Some leafy algae coming back under the lights:
