120 gallon salty build - Page 3

[Rcslade124]

p

 

[Rcslade124]

Done moving rocks for the night

 

[saltwater60]

You can see better than I can but that rock on the left looks to be very close to the front pane of glass. Just make sure you can get an algae magnet in between to clean the glass.

 

[Rcslade124]

It looks closer than it is will check in am

 

[Marsh980]

Looks awesome dude. You’re so close now, it’s touching distance

 

[saltwater60]

It looks closer than it is will check in am

Yeah it’s hard to tell in pictures sometimes. I just had to do that with a log in my FW planted tank and it’s a pain. No other way to do it. I knew it would be a pain but I couldn’t cut the entire back off the log so one branch sticks out too close at the bottom and I have to clean it by hand.

 

[Rcslade124]

Double checked magfloat fits between rock and glass. Now I need epoxy/mortar to lock in a few rocks. Rodi system is coming Wednesday. Then live rock and sand.

Lights come first or second week of May

 

[saltwater60]

Double checked magfloat fits between rock and glass. Now I need epoxy/mortar to lock in a few rocks. Rodi system is coming Wednesday. Then live rock and sand.

Lights come first or second week of May

Cool. Sorry I wasn’t being a pain but it matters to me and just wanted to give you an opinion. Rock work looks awesome. I’d be curious what you think of the wave maker and light.

 

[Rcslade124]

No not a pain. I am happy to check things to make my life easier

 

[AquaJunkie]

*watching

“Stay Fishy”

 

[Rcslade124]

So I'm almost done with purchases. I need live rock and I'm done. Have sand Cooper power salfert ammonia nitrate test kits. Tds meter and refractometer. Also ordered some aquaforest stone fix. So I'm almost ready to go.

 

[Rcslade124]

A week later I'm kinda liking this scape. Plumbing almost done. Need one more trip to lowes for soft pvc for return lines idk if I can manage it with the other drains. But just in case.


Copper tester and live rocks and we are done. Should be wet this week. And will add live rock next week or when it arrives.

 

[saltwater60]

A week later I'm kinda liking this scape. Plumbing almost done. Need one more trip to lowes for soft pvc for return lines idk if I can manage it with the other drains. But just in case.


Copper tester and live rocks and we are done. Should be wet this week. And will add live rock next week or when it arrives.

Looking good.

 

[Marsh980]

Looks great - Well done you

 

[Rcslade124]

These bad boys came in. 100% all channels. Super duper bright. Gotta get these return lines ran.

 

[Rcslade124]

This is going to take awhile 7 or 8 hrs in

 

[Rcslade124]

Got all plumbing in I have to cement the return lines into the bulkheads. I thought about not cementing them since the water will be flowing in. But I figure the pressure will blow it out the back. I need to hang the refugium light but it's my light for my sump area for now.

 

[saltwater60]

Got all plumbing in I have to cement the return lines into the bulkheads. I thought about not cementing them since the water will be flowing in. But I figure the pressure will blow it out the back. I need to hang the refugium light but it's my light for my sump area for now.

Looks great. I’d for sure cement the piping in. Pvc is not perfect and there could be a scoring or small channel that would cause a slow leak.

 

[Rcslade124]

I most definitely am. Just waiting for fill-up day #2 I just hope I have no leaks in the plumbing. I know I will just my luck. But should be mixing salt tomorrow night in the tank..

 

[saltwater60]

I most definitely am. Just waiting for fill-up day #2 I just hope I have no leaks in the plumbing. I know I will just my luck. But should be mixing salt tomorrow night in the tank..

So you’re as lucky as I am I see. I e had terrible luck lately.

 

[Rcslade124]

Normally not too bad. But I figure it cannot be this easy. Never used pvc cement but it's pretty straight forward. But we will see figure I'll have it fullish by this time tomorrow

 

[saltwater60]

Normally not too bad. But I figure it cannot be this easy. Never used pvc cement but it's pretty straight forward. But we will see figure I'll have it fullish by this time tomorrow

You should let the pvc cement cure for 24 hours before putting any pressure on the fitting. Also make sure you rotate the fitting a bit to spread the glue around. Also mark where you want the two fittings to line up. So dry for it and mark it then glue and match marks.

 

[Rcslade124]

Lucky it will be 24 hrs for all cement before use. I should be at the point of drains being used today it's been 24 hrs and return will be tomorrow before use

 

[AquaJunkie]

24 hrs really isn’t required but if your not in a hurry it don’t hurt

“stay fishy “

 

[saltwater60]

24 hrs really isn’t required but if your not in a hurry it don’t hurt

“stay fishy “

I agree. But it’s best and is recommended for anything under pressure. Of course our aquariums are generally less pressure anyways.

 

[Rcslade124]

Day 2 began about 3 hrs ago let's say halfway

 

[saltwater60]

Nothing like watching paint dry huh?

 

[Rcslade124]

Omg it's terrible. I have thought about running wast line into another di and try to double production

 

[Rcslade124]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.snore.zzzzzzzzzz.snore.zzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Rcslade124]

Omg finally. Finally finally. 1 bag of salt in test salinity in morning but omg finally!!!! My 5g betta tank is louder than my overflow super happy tonight. In the dog house but happy!!

 

[Nick72]

Really enjoying this thread and seeing how the build is coming along. Well done Rcslade124

I couldn't help notice the string holding the doors closed.




$9 - Just saying

 

[Rcslade124]

Really enjoying this thread and seeing how the build is coming along. Well done Rcslade124

I couldn't help notice the string holding the doors closed.




$9 - Just saying

Yeah I know. I have been tunnel visioned when I went to Lowe's and have forgotten the door locks I need. I did put magnets inside to keep the closed but I gotta keep kids out of the cabinet. That's on my list.

 

[Rcslade124]

Specific gravity of 20. Added another half a bag of salt. I'm guessing it will be 25ish tonight. Next up sand. This will be a fun time

 

[Rcslade124]

Salinity is around 36-37 1.027ish. so I added sand and ammonia to start this cycle off. A day or so before I can see to move sand around. Skimmer is on foaming all over it's self. But we are cycling!!!!

 

[saltwater60]

Wow getting close.

 

[Rcslade124]

Yup I need to drain and clean the 20L I have that is going to be a qt tank and bleach was it and get a couple fish for qt time. Then when ammonia starts dropping I'll get live rock. I'm stoked. Need to raise skimmer a few inches though

 

[Rcslade124]

So my ammonia lost alot of strength. It took me 209 ml to reach 1.5 in tank.used up 6 ammonia test to verify. Got refugium light hung up. Added sponge filter under skimmer to raise it up. Have a sweet floral smell was worried about it but guess many others experience it also.

Ignore my cords they are a mess.

Peak brightness. Have lights set to a planned power level while cycling. Once ammonia drops to zero ordering 10 lbs live rock and will add a few Mollie to test water and be ready for algea.

 

[saltwater60]

L

So my ammonia lost alot of strength. It took me 209 ml to reach 1.5 in tank.used up 6 ammonia test to verify. Got refugium light hung up. Added sponge filter under skimmer to raise it up. Have a sweet floral smell was worried about it but guess many others experience it also.

Ignore my cords they are a mess.

Peak brightness. Have lights set to a planned power level while cycling. Once ammonia drops to zero ordering 10 lbs live rock and will add a few Mollie to test water and be ready for algea.

Looking great!

 

[Rcslade124]

Update.
I found some Dr tims one and only on sale. So I added 3 bottles and checked ammonia and after 2 days I was at 0. So I added some ammonia back to 1.5ppm. I am now cycling ammonia in about 30ish hours.

Next step I want to add live rock. My questions are if my nitrite is 5+ and nitrates 100+ do I need to treat live rock like livestock and do a large water change first?

I want to get the bare bones strong and healthy. So I will start loading in pods and feeding phyto. Then when algea shows up add some cleanup crew and start refugium up. The qt first fish and add after qt

 

[saltwater60]

IMO it depends on what’s in the live rock and what you want to preserve. If it’s ocean rock with feather dusters and clams and you want those to survive I’d avoid adding them with high ammonia and nitrates.
Also IMO if the live rock is cured as in the die off of organisms has already occurred there should be lots of good bacteria on the rock anyway and a fish in cycle is ok. That’s what I always did.

 

[Rcslade124]

My cycle is almost done. I process the ammonia just wasn't sure if high nitrates and nitrite will kill off what's on the ocean rock. So I'm just going to do a waterchange and get some macro and live rock ordered.

 

[Rcslade124]

Changed 5 gallons. Will start another 5 in the next day. Checking parameters in a few. Not like 5g willpower anything much. Might add ammonia again to keep building bacteria while next 5 mixes.

 

[Rcslade124]

So I changed 25g out of the tank. Nitrates still show through the roof. So I ordered some macro algea from algea barn. Red ogo sea lettuce and pom pom that arrive Wednesday. All three are edible for fish. Going to try the ogo in the display. Hopefully they survive. I know ulva can tank over a tank. But I'm leaning towards a one spot fox face and small tang in the future. Plus I'd like to try to dry them out and make homemade nori sheets. If not I'll chop them up and add to homemade fish food when I get some herbivore in the tank.

Looking pods now. Tigger pods, apex pods and live phyto feast. I'm starting to get diatoms so time for cuc. Thinking about 5 blue leg hermits, and a couple snails.

 

[Rcslade124]

So algea arrived. I am super stoked first live anything for this tank. I hope it grows week and I don't regret no cheato. I tried to get macro that herbivore will want to eat. Any input if I placed it all so it will grow? Red ogo in DT and lettuce and pom pom in sump. I know it says to tumble some put my fuge just trust to push it into the return section. So I kinda wedged it like miss in freshwater tanks. Waiting on pods and phyto probably next week. Also nitrates are going down so this means nitrites are going down. Here's to step one

 

[Rcslade124]

Added my first pods today. Apex and tigger pods from reef nutrition. The whole system is off right now so they can settle. I should have released closer to the bottom so more would make it down there but there are alot down there. Might leave skimmer off for the night so they can try to find hiding spots. Then I'll clean filter socks out to release caught ones.
My red ogo looks bad. Maybe too early for that macro but only time will tell

 

[saltwater60]

Red algae is tough to keep long term honestly.
mid really be curious to see how you do keeping algae and if you find it worth the effort. I’ve always largely thought it’s just easier to buy sheets maybe not as fun. I truly wish you the best of luck with growing the algae as I think saltwater algae is really cool looking.

 

[Rcslade124]

Red algae is tough to keep long term honestly.
mid really be curious to see how you do keeping algae and if you find it worth the effort. I’ve always largely thought it’s just easier to buy sheets maybe not as fun. I truly wish you the best of luck with growing the algae as I think saltwater algae is really cool looking.

The red ogo is struggling. I hear they are nutrients hogs so maybe just too early. My pom pom is red and seems to be doing good. Pods all over the sand and rocks. It's exciting to see some life in there. I am going to look at Petco for some hermits maybe a few snails. Then PetSmart to look for a trio of mollies to put in there. They can ride the waves for a bit to help build nutrients.

 

[Rcslade124]

So this happened. I knew it would. Petco had no hermits go figure. Found a couple snails that were moving around the tank. Then I found these


And this little guy


No qt so there goes planning lol.

 

[saltwater60]

Those are some neat colored clowns.

 

[Marsh980]

Looking great mate.
What type of Goby is that? I might be getting one similar (well it looks similar). Do you know if that's a 'sand spitter' as I'm going to avoid them as I really don't want to be continuously brushing sand off my sand bed corals and rocks.