skioutwest
Member
Hello everyone. Thought I would start a tank thread to share my experience with you all, as well as to gain some knowledge from all of you experts here on RS.
I purchased this tank used back on Jan 18th, risking my life as I drove in an ice storm from Philly down to DC. The tank was in great shape and the price was right at $400. It had no modifications, so I was able to start from scratch.
I got it home and immediately ordered some supplies online:
Basic Saltwater Test Kit (API)
StevieT media rack
RO/DI filter
Tunze 9001
2 bags of Agra-Alive Fuji Pink
Replacement fans (the ones on the tank were really noisy)
Chemipure Elite
Purigen
Refractometer
And a bunch of other maintenance stuff
I added water and sand on Jan 28th and immediately realized that I made a mistake by not washing the sand....what a mess. I plan on vacuuming the tank after the cycle. Here is a pic
I also added the live rock, which I got from Premium Aquatics. This was a fiasco within itself, because a snowstorm hit and the package got delayed for two days while sitting on the truck. Needless to say, the rock was not in the greatest shape. The shop was going to replace it, but they are in the process of moving and did not have any good rock left (not sure I believe them, but oh well). I decided to keep this rock, as the pieces are pretty nice and fit the tank well I think.
After a week of clearing out, I 'scaped the rock:
Then I later realized that there were likely not enough horizontal surfaces for corals and such, so I re-scaped and this is where I stand now.
So, at this point, I am almost two weeks into my cycle. Nothing living in the tank due to the rock being frozen on the truck for two days. I have some Ammonia reading, but not very much. Thought I had a Nitrite reading, but it was zero tonight. Will just need to be patient I suppose...
Thanks in advance for any participation in my thread.
Cheers,
-Mark
I purchased this tank used back on Jan 18th, risking my life as I drove in an ice storm from Philly down to DC. The tank was in great shape and the price was right at $400. It had no modifications, so I was able to start from scratch.
I got it home and immediately ordered some supplies online:
Basic Saltwater Test Kit (API)
StevieT media rack
RO/DI filter
Tunze 9001
2 bags of Agra-Alive Fuji Pink
Replacement fans (the ones on the tank were really noisy)
Chemipure Elite
Purigen
Refractometer
And a bunch of other maintenance stuff
I added water and sand on Jan 28th and immediately realized that I made a mistake by not washing the sand....what a mess. I plan on vacuuming the tank after the cycle. Here is a pic
I also added the live rock, which I got from Premium Aquatics. This was a fiasco within itself, because a snowstorm hit and the package got delayed for two days while sitting on the truck. Needless to say, the rock was not in the greatest shape. The shop was going to replace it, but they are in the process of moving and did not have any good rock left (not sure I believe them, but oh well). I decided to keep this rock, as the pieces are pretty nice and fit the tank well I think.
After a week of clearing out, I 'scaped the rock:
Then I later realized that there were likely not enough horizontal surfaces for corals and such, so I re-scaped and this is where I stand now.
So, at this point, I am almost two weeks into my cycle. Nothing living in the tank due to the rock being frozen on the truck for two days. I have some Ammonia reading, but not very much. Thought I had a Nitrite reading, but it was zero tonight. Will just need to be patient I suppose...
Thanks in advance for any participation in my thread.
Cheers,
-Mark