ricoop's 30g long build. UPDATED W/ PICS

So I kind of started this thread in the wrong area after I joined 3reef, as such that thread has died. I am restarting it here in hopes that it will keep going this time.

I started with a 30g long that I found on craigslist with a flimsy stand. Here is a quick equipment list and update on what i have done so far.

30g long tank
DIY Tank stand. 2x4 frame, wainscot covering
Coralife Super Skimmer 65
Koralia evo 425 and 550
finnex 100w titanium heater
4x39w T5 with LED moonlight and timer

Got the tank fairly cheap, and then resealed it.
Built the new stand as I didn't think the one it came with was up to par. Got some eggcrate to protect the bottom.

I ordered 50lbs of key largo dry rock from Marco's. It should be here tomorrow!!! I am finishing staining and sealing the new stand now. I will be doing my aquascape this weekend and then filling it up. CAN'T WAIT! Then its on to cycling.

Here are some pics of progress so far. The stand in the lighting pics isn't the new one, I wanted to get an idea of how things would look.

 

Greats start!

Congratulations on starting a new system, it's always very exciting.

 

really like that diy stand.. good job

 

Thank you both.

Fed Ex just came by. Marco Rocks here. Ended up getting 55lbs. I unpacked it and am so glad I used Marco. Great quality rock, very clean and porous. I told them what I was planning and they gave me what I needed to accomplish that. They packed it very well, very little breakage, and what did break off will be perfect rubble to put frags on.

Let the scaping begin!!

 

Well I'm up and running!

It was a very productive day for me. I got the rock, rinsed it and let it dry. Moved the stand into its new home and then started scaping. It's alot tougher than you would think, but I think I did ok. Made a trip to the LFS for some RO water, Red Sea salt, and sand. I think my layout on the rock will give me lots of room when I get to the coral stage and everything should get enough light. After the rock was in, I put in the stand. I went with 30lbs dry fiji pink, and then "seeded" that with another 10lbs of live fiji pink.

Thanks for hopefully reading and I look forward to any comments/suggestions.


Here are some picks, the water is a little cloudy from the sand, but is settling pretty quick.

 

Question: Should I be running the skimmer right now? I just filled the tank yesterday. I've read where some say go ahead so you can break it in, and some say not to so that you're not pulling out things that could help the cycle along.

 

Nice looking build. I like the dimensions on that tank. I would run the skimmer during the cycle.

 

Just realized I made a typo. I would NOT run the skimmer during the cycle.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

 

bump...please lol

 

Just a quick update. The cycle is on.

Only testing the big 4 right now but params are:

Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrite: .25ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
pH: 7.8

pH seems a little low to me, should I worry about it right now, and how high should I expect the ammonia to go?