120 gallon salty build

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

“stay fishy “

 

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.

 

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

 

Nothing like watching paint dry huh?

 

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

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.snore.zzzzzzzzzz.snore.zzzzzzzzzzz

 

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!!

 

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

 

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.

View attachment 690614

$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.

 

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

 

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!!!!

 

Wow getting close.

 

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

 

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.

 

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. View attachment 692067
Ignore my cords they are a mess. View attachment 692068
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!

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Those are some neat colored clowns.

 

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.

 

Those are some neat colored clowns.

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.

Yes black snowflakes. They are definitely interesting to watch. Amazing how calm the male is and the female is a nut job.
I'm pretty sure it's a diamond watchman goby. I was hoping for a sand sifters but pretty sure it isn't. It found a spot under a rock and just sits there all day and night.

 

Sorry so blue but this is his spot doesn't move unless scared

 

Yes black snowflakes. They are definitely interesting to watch. Amazing how calm the male is and the female is a nut job.
I'm pretty sure it's a diamond watchman goby. I was hoping for a sand sifters but pretty sure it isn't. It found a spot under a rock and just sits there all day and night.

Aren't all females..... yes i said it as i check that my wife isn't looking over my shoulder haha.

I'm pretty sure that's not a diamond watchman goby especially if its not spitting sand out. I might be getting one soon but can't remember what my LFS said it was called.

 

Maybe I just got lucky and it likes this crevice and didn't need to burrow.

 

According to Petco that's the only white goby they sell

 

According to Petco that's the only white goby they sell

Maybe, either way you have a great looking goby. So when are you getting your next additions haha

 

So here goes to planning. Royal Gramma has a spot on his tail. Could be a injury since he likes to hide inside of the rock. Keep up with feeding well. Live brine quality flake and frozen mysis. Will look out for more spots. Should've waited to qt but too late now

 

So here goes to planning. Royal Gramma has a spot on his tail. Could be a injury since he likes to hide inside of the rock. Keep up with feeding well. Live brine quality flake and frozen mysis. Will look out for more spots. Should've waited to qt but too late now

Fingers crossed it’s just a rock mark but keep us updated.

A lot of my fish even the clowns don’t like live brine, they just spit them out.... very strange

 

That sucks they spit them out. Easy live meal. I feed my brine a couple drops of phytoplankton make sure nutritional.

First snail rescue this morning. Seen it on my overflow box. Thought I could get him down. Nope he went down the main drain clogged on 5he gate valve. Had to open it up and get him to fall down. Then had to disassemble both main drains to get in their compartment. There went my 30 minutes of watching this am.

So far so good with the royal Gramma. Still one spot and eating so fingers crossed. Already know I am managing the disease.

Lastly for the morning I am thinking about starting a white worms in a container to versify the food options and slowly work flakes down. Even though the flakes are quality flakes I want to get to more live food. Will also start collecting vitamins and make my own foods.

 

That sucks they spit them out. Easy live meal. I feed my brine a couple drops of phytoplankton make sure nutritional.

First snail rescue this morning. Seen it on my overflow box. Thought I could get him down. Nope he went down the main drain clogged on 5he gate valve. Had to open it up and get him to fall down. Then had to disassemble both main drains to get in their compartment. There went my 30 minutes of watching this am.

So far so good with the royal Gramma. Still one spot and eating so fingers crossed. Already know I am managing the disease.

Lastly for the morning I am thinking about starting a white worms in a container to versify the food options and slowly work flakes down. Even though the flakes are quality flakes I want to get to more live food. Will also start collecting vitamins and make my own foods.

Its strange, they're not bothered about live food other than what a few of them pick off the rocks and sand bed. I suppose I should be pleased as I don't have a refugium or anywhere to breed my own. Currently my tank inhabitants only get frozen food, algae pellets and soon nori sheets. I add live copepods to the tank regularly so they might be getting eaten by my smaller fish and inverts.

Haha, snail rescue is always fun, however, mine has just been flipping them over. What you had to do sounds like a pain, hopefully you can get that rectified so it doesn't happen again.

Great news about the Royal Gramma.

I've not heard of or seen white worms as food for the fish, I’ve not seen them being sold at any UK fish stores. I don't feed flake and have never done so but making your own food sounds interesting.