Sacul1573's 90g - RIP

It is recommended 100 LBS for LIVE rock for that tank...or thereabouts. Dry rock is considerably lighter than live rock (water weight). For example, I used around 35-40 LBS of dry rock in my 84 Gallon...and it is full.

 

I'm glad you mention that, hadn't thought about it. LOL, there's NO WAY I'd be able to get more than 120 lbs of dry rock in there, the fish would be cramped...

I'll probably stick with my 60 pounds for now and see how it goes.

 

I'm sitting fat and happy tonight. Parameters are all pristine; after replacing the old rock with the new, phosphates dropped from 2ppm to 0 in about 3 days. Now undetectable. Also have my first specks of coralline algae growing on the acrylic overflow! Celebrated by adding a few small frags and a skunk cleaner shrimp.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
PH: 8.2
dKH: 9
PO4: 0
Calc: 480
Temp: 78
Salinity: 1.0242 (slowly rising to 1.026)

FTS:


Coralline algae on upper right:


A few small frags:


One more:


Close up of the Zoas:


Thanks for viewing!

 

Pics Update 03-19-2011

It's been a while, and a couple of additions since my last post. A six-line wrasse, yellow watchman goby, and skunk cleaner, plus a few more corals. Parameters are right where I want them, and I'm starting to see a little pink coralline on the rocks now. Cyano is all but gone, now just regular algea for my CUC to munch on.

Anyone know how to adjust the white balance settings on a DSLR to match your tank color, or is it pretty much experimentation? I might just have to ask my sis. Pics with the blue bulbs show up way bluer than they should be.

Also, for those interested, a pic of my freshwater Fluval Edge is at the end of the post.

FTS:
Daylight


Dusk


6-line and red chalice:


Keeping a watchful eye on the rest of the tank:


Corals showing good growth and eating well:



The motley crew:


What's under the tank, left then right side:



Freshwater Fluval Edge, with currently 1 orange molly and 3 bloodfin tetras. I've been begging my wife to let me convert it to saltwater, but she doesnt want "her" crew to have to move to the unsightly 10 gallon tank in the garage. I do like it though, sits off one end of our dining room table:


Hope you enjoy!

 

Tank looks great. Love that one mix zoanthid frag, nice chalice too. What bulb are using on the sump.

Beautiful fresh water, I like the look of the fluval for fresh water.

 

I believe there's 39 watts of 6500k CFL (one 13watt, one 26 watt), plus the undercabinet light. Any suggestions/feedback?

I do love that zoa frag as well, the red really pops against the green, and there's several baby heads starting to stick out.

If you know the exact names of any of the corals you see here, please feel free to post them.

 

Few more additions of the swimming variety, and probably the last of these type of additions.

Anthias:




FTS:


I've started dosing MicroBater7, and can already see the difference in the skimmate I'm pulling. Contemplating carbon dosing, I might wait until Steve is done with his test. Baseline:

 

Can I ask what kind of sand you're using? And where you got it?

It's pretty fine looking. Does it blow around a lot in your current?

 

I actually started out with sugar size sand, but removed most of it due to sandstorms. I now have the next size up, not sure, but most of the grains are the size of small rice or a bit smaller. Eventually, the larger size pieces come to the top.

Got it at PetCo, lol. Not live sand, but just regular aragonite.

 

The Prodigal Fish returns... and battle with bryopsis

One of the (two) blue chromis in my tank went missing shortly after my previous FTS, about 2 weeks ago. Very unusual, as they are always the first ones to be out and about. After a few days of checking the sump/filters, I had written him off to the CUC.

I was doing some work on my overflow this weekend (I'm an engineer, always tinkering), and the result was 1 night of a very small water drop into the overflow section. Anyway, the next morning while sipping coffee, I had to rub my eyes a few times, because I saw 2 blue chromis swimming around! So after 2 weeks, he's finally back in the main tank, and seems very happy about it. Poor guy probably got sucked into the overflow section at night while sleeping, and couldnt get out until the opportunity afforded to him the other night. Made my day, I love that little guy!

I've developed some bryopsis on some rock and the sandbed, I think carried in on the chalice. Great. So, ordered a Mag test kit (finally a kick in the butt to get it), and I've already started raising Mag by 50 ppm per day with Kent Tech-M. I figure by the time I get the kit, I'll be under, but close to the target 1500-1600.

Sorry, no pics right now... BUT, I have an order of frags being made by a very kind fellow 3reefer, and pickup is scheduled for the 23rd. Look for pics then! ;D