A 55G link in the Golden Chain

[goldenmean]

Prologue to this tank (aka Planning stages)
http:55g-acrylic-tank-planning-stages.html



Well after months of planning and saving $$
The 55 gallon tank is running and filled with salt water!
After I set the syphon in the overflow and turned on the return pump
there was one small leak in the return plumbing. A little teflon tape fixed that.
Then there was just one little problem. I realized that the skimmer's electrical cord was partially under the stand. Doh!
Luckily I was able to lift the stand and tank just enough that my Husband was able to pull the cord out from under the stand. It doesn't look like there was any damage done to the cord.

Just a couple of pics

15g tall AGA tank modified for sump.

BTW
This thread's title refernces this childrens poem.
I find it describes my attitude towards reefing and Reef Sanctuary

I am a link in Amida Buddha's golden chain of love
that stretches around the world.
I must keep my link bright and strong.

I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing
and protect all who are weaker than myself.

I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts,
To say pure and beautiful words,
And to do pure and beautiful deeds,
knowing that on what I do now, depends
not only my happiness or unhappiness
but also those of others.

May every link in Amida Buddha's golden chain of love
Become bright and strong,
and may we all attain Perfect Peace.
Namu Amida Butsu

 

[AQTCJAK]

Nice start. I think it will look really good with some show quality LR

 

[BigAl07]

Wow! Good work. Glad you found the cord before it was too late.

Allen

 

[goldenmean]

I am going to order TambaBay SaltWater LR/LS tomorrow!
If I can get hold of them right away
So hopefully it will arive by Airline cargo in the next few days or early next week.
I will have to go to airport to pick it up
Faster and cheaper than fedex/UPS.

Glad you found the cord before it was too late.

I know I thought I had really messed up.
But i was actally able to lift the stand and tank full of water just a fraction-enough to pull the cord out

 

[goldenmean]

Well I ordered the 45g Package(90 lbs LR, 45 lbs LS, 45 hermits, 23 snails, 2 Tigar tail cukes, 1 star, 1 peppermint )shrimp from TBS.
I also ordered an extra 40 lbs of LS as I want at least a 4"DSB so that later down the path I can add a Blue Spot Jaw Fish. Now I just have to wait for TBS to call and confirm the order. They will ship via airline freight and I will have to run out to midway airport to pick up the rock.
I cant wait!

I put 35 lbs of sand in the tank tonight which combined with the TBS sand will total 120 lbs. That should give me about 4" sand.

 

[goldenmean]

I have already been emailing Richard from TampaBay Saltwater this morning.
Looks like I will be getting the 1st part of my Package later today!!!

 

[Anselth]

Good luck! Remember, patience is a real virtue here. I like the sump, did you DIY that?

 

[goldenmean]

Yes I did DIY the sump.
I knew I had very limiting dimensions in the AGA 55g stand.
SO I found the perfect size AGA tank (15g Tall) and Had a LFS order it for me.
Then I had 3 glass baffles cut to size.
The first baffle calms the water coming from the overflow because my Tunze skimmer recommends calmer water for more productive skimming.
There is a 2 inch gap below the baffle to allow water into the skimmer chamber. I also siliconed 2 glass swizzle sticks to the baffle and the left side of the tank so I could create a shelf with egg crate where I can run carbon if I need too.

Then after the skimmer/heater chamber I added 2 glass baffles as a bubble trap. Water goes over then under. I know many use 3 baffles for a bubble trap but 2 is really all that is needed. Why have water go over the last baffle and create new bubbles. The first chamber between the baffles is sufficient to stop them. Plus using 2 baffles gave me moe room in my return chamber.

I am the master of patience!
I have been planning (and saving) for this tank for over 7 months

I just got email from Richard at TBS.
My order is on a at the airlines already and should be in Chicago by 1pm
just 13 hours after I ordered it. Amazing!
I have to work til 5 - well maybe 4pm then I am off to Midway airport.

 

[boozeman]

nice start

 

[goldenmean]

:bigbounce Less than 18 hours after I placed my order
the TBS LR & LS is in the tank - Part 1 anyway.

I only saw one little crab as I unpacked the LR
but I did not use club soda to try to flush crabs or mantis out of the rock.
I wanted to get the Rock in my tank asap as I did not want to kill any sponges off.
I will deal with the crabs and such later. HA HA HA ! ( evil laugh)

I am going on vacation (Toronto) Sept 5-10 - short vacation I know but some one has to pay for this tank - so I will not be getting Part 2 of my TBS package until after I get back.

Here are a few pics just after Part 1 was added to the tank.
I added 35# CaribSea sand last night so that sand is what has made the tank so cloudy. The TBS sandjust kicked up more of the caribSea when I added it.

 

[sasquatch]

Merry Christmas!! hoo wee thats live rock! Keep clicking that camera, thats going to be a treat to see cured, very best of luck and have a safe trip.Steve

 

[AQTCJAK]

I had a tank that looked like that once then Vicki took my calcium away just because it was over 700 & the you could see the clams growing

 

[lcstorc]

Beautiful tank and beautiful poem!

 

[InLimbo87]

Looks like an awesome setup so far. Keep up the pics

 

[goldenmean]

Keep up the pics

OKAY.

The Morning after.
The cloud has lifted but it is still a bit foggy.
This is PRE AQUASCAPING.
I was just blindly putting the rock in the tank.

I have done some aquascaping this morning - of course!
but that has made the tank a bit more foggy
So those pics will follow this eve.

 

[Dentoid]

:bigblue: I like!
Can't wait to hear your experiences with this method. I will be following this thread closely! You may want to wait for the second shipment of rock before aquascaping, because it will be nicer rock. Full of life and prettier. When I ordered my package Richard sent several HHs that were not a part of the package. Wait until you see the sand come to life. Not like that bagged live sand that just sits there, worms, stars and all kinds of life will come out. I'm so excited for you!

 

[goldenmean]

24 hours later and the water has cleared up nicely and I have been able to do some preliminary aquascaping. As Scott recommends the real aquascaping will have to wait until I get part 2 of my LR.
Here are some more pics.

 

[Dentoid]

That looks great! Did you get a dry packet of starter bacteria with your package?

 

[goldenmean]

Did you get a dry packet of starter bacteria with your package?

Yes I did.
I knew they sent bacteria.
I just didnt know it was in a dry form.
I mixed it in 2 cups of tank water.
Let it dissolve for a couple of minutes.
then added it to the tank.
It reminded me of dry active yeast instead it was dry active bacteria.

I am testing twice a day for ammonia and I am to do a water change when ammonia gets over 1ppm.
I have an elos test kit but this test only reads ammonia at .05/.5/1.
So I bought another at the closest LFS (instant ocean)
which measures at .2/.4/.6/.8. It doesn't go to 1. but okay I can do a WC at .8
I have been testing using both test and getting very different readings.
Last night the elos test wasnt quite the same color at .5 so I figured about .4. The IO test read at .8
So to be safe I did a 10% WC.
Elos is supposed to be a better test kit but which do I believe.
I guess I need to go find a 3rd test kit and see what it reads.

But in the mean time it is time to test again.

 

[Dentoid]

I think you're suppose to leave the skimmer off for a couple of hours after adding the bacterial powder. I take it you are following the TBS instructions. You're a good tank mommy! Can't wait to see this one develope.