55g Work in Progress, w/pictures new aquascape and sump

Well I just cant seem to be satisfied with my rock work. Every time I clean my glass I start moving rocks. I will be adding rocks before to long and maybe I can come up with a scape I like. Lol

Looks like I am at the beginning of a diatom bloom. Just another step to an aged aquarium. I thought you guys would like some pics. Enjoy

 

I checked my water parameters today, and the Nitrites have dropped down from off the chart to 0.0 in a matter of 2 days. Yipee my DT is cycled.... My QT however is still over 5.0 in Nitrites, but I know it is just around the corner now.

Time to order my CuC for my DT and do a water change.

 

I bought a few inhabitants for my DT yesterday. My son named them Elmo (misbar clown), pepper (peppermint shrimp), purple fish (dottyback)
Elmo is by far the most active and less shy, right now. The peppermint shrimp is hiding alot. When he first got into the tank he started hanging out at the water line. Now he is in the rock work somewhere. The dottyback swims in and out of the cracks and crevices of the rocks. You see him go in one hole the he pops out of another.

 

yay for you zgetman!! Your first fish and invert! woo hoo! So happy for you. Love the names now Elmo instead of Nemo - I think you may have a blooming, creative mind there

 

He has never seen Finding Nemo. But he watches Sesame Street alot, and loves Elmo.

 

Well I guess it is time for some updates to my thread..

First off, I finally got a skimmer for my tank. I bought a used AquaC Remora of ebay. I do need to replace the pump as I don't think it is working at its max capacity. I am probably going to buy the cobalt 1200 or equivalent. The skimmer took 3 or 4 days to break in on my tank and now it is producing an olive green watery skimmate. I empty and clean the cup every couple of days and it is always the same.

I had a bout with Red Slime and I am still fighting it in areas of my tank. I used Red Slime remover a few days after I got my skimmer, and it helped out a bunch. I now only have a spot about the size of a dollar in the very front of my tank.

My pastor came by my house and gave me a cobalt blue damsel, a couple weeks after I got my skimmer. I wish I could show you guys a picture but that bugger is so fast and shy its not funny.
After adding the new fish my purple dottyback decided he was king of the tank and started chasing the damsel around. It took a couple of weeks for the dottyback to back off chasing the damsel but I still catch him every once in a while being a bully.

After about 2 weeks of my damsel being in the tank my peppermint shrimp went AWOL. I have moved rocks on the right side of my tank and I have not seen him. I don't know if he is in the left side rocks or if he died or got eaten. I guess only time will tell. My wife says that she thinks he was eaten by the other fish.

I have posted in another thread about my fish tank stand build. I guess I can post some pics or a link to the build thread here but I will do that later. I am getting closer and closer to having my reef tank completed. I just have to take my time.

I will try and keep you guys posted on any more changes to my setup. And I have some pictures coming.

 

Cobalt Damsel - Colby

Purple Dottyback - Purple

Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish - Nelmo

Tank Stand Picks.

 

Dont think you need to worry about strength there pal, very nice

 

Looking good! Just a side note, cyano is normal in a new setup so refrain from using any red slime remover since it will upset your new tanks biofilter. It's important for all the bacteria to continue to colonize. You'll have to adjust power heads to increase flow a few times in certain areas, all part of a new system. Congrats on the additions.

 

you put your sand in before water? I was told to fill up with water then submerge the sand bag in the tank water with a cut on corner. This way the sand get stirred up really bad.
Can put rock scape in before water.