PA Reef

Jason25 · 09-18-2007, 07:31 AM

Hello,

After many years of keeping freshwater aquariums, I finally made the change to saltwater and have decided to make my 1st tank a reef tank. I must say I am a bit nervous because parts of it seems a bit difficult. So far after much reading I am starting to feel a little better. I have a 55 gal corner tank with an xp3 canister filer around a 3" CC bed and about 25 lbs. of live rock. The tank has been running for about 2 months and about 2 weeks ago I added 4 fish, 2 yellowtipped damsels and 2, 3 stripped damsel, 1 has died already and I chalked that up to a sick fish from the LFS. I am going to experiment with LED lighting on this tank. I work in electronics and have spent some time researching LED's to get the correct wattage and the correct spectrums I need, hopefully all goes well. I will be making moonlights most likely tomorrow as long as my LED's come in today. Being that I have a corner tank my space is limited when concerning LR use so I am a bit confused as to how much I should use. Any advice will be appreciated and wish me luck, I do not want to kill any sea creatures but I have a feeling it may happen eventually.

lcstorc · 09-18-2007, 07:49 AM

Welcome to RS!
First and best advice I can give is to go slowly. Reef tanks take a long time to build and usually we are just not patient enough to let the tank prepare itself.
As far as LR you want 1-2 lbs per gallon. The amount really depends on how porus the rock is. The bacteria we need is found inside the rock so the more porus the rock the less you need to have.
Best of luck and take your time.

DrHank · 09-18-2007, 08:14 AM

You've picked a great place to to get all the help you need. We all work together to try and help each other out.

caitrina · 09-18-2007, 08:22 AM

Welcome to RS glad to have you aboard. I take it that PA in your subject line stands for Pennsylvania? If it does and you don't mind me asking, where in Pa? I am originally from York, Pa., but have been in Fl for many many years now.

Anyway,welcome and if no one has said it yet, we like pictures!

kathywithbirds · 09-18-2007, 08:31 AM

Hi!! I'm right over the Walt Whitman Bridge in Jersey.

Soooo... looking for something like the Solaris are you? This whole LED thing is awesome, too bad it's SOOO pricey though.

boozeman · 09-18-2007, 09:03 AM

sasquatch · 09-18-2007, 09:07 AM

Welcome to RS Jason! Steve

Jason25 · 09-18-2007, 09:15 AM

As far as the Solaris yes that's the concept but I am building my own using around 400 1 watt LED's, York huh? I am in Ephrata PA right outside of Lancaster. I am currently using fiji LR which is very porus.

Dentoid · 09-18-2007, 09:16 AM

Welcome to the Sanctuary! Looking forward to seeing you around!

kathywithbirds · 09-18-2007, 09:31 AM

Hey I might pick your brain about that area, might move there next spring...

I like the domino and striped damsels. I have a domino who thinks he's a dog. Name's Spot. Had a blue tail that had to GO, he was a mean sucker.

AQTCJAK · 09-18-2007, 11:37 AM

Welcome Aboard

Jason25 · 09-19-2007, 07:09 AM

A few pics of the Lunar Lights I made last night.

caitrina · 09-19-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason25

As far as the Solaris yes that's the concept but I am building my own using around 400 1 watt LED's, York huh? I am in Ephrata PA right outside of Lancaster. I am currently using fiji LR which is very porus.

Hey, I know where you are...

guess I should since York is across the river from Lancaster.

blue_eyes53813 · 09-19-2007, 08:32 AM

Hello Jason Welcome to RS.. Cant waite to follow your progress on your tank.

BigAl07 · 09-19-2007, 08:36 AM

Looking good Jason. Just keep in mind that anything you make for the Reef Tank needs to be sealed in some way to keep salt creep and moisture out. Somehow or another salt creep seems to get into just about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING no matter how well we protect it. The Salt Creep will quickly and completely corrode all of your hard work on electronics if not kept at bay.

I'll be following your project as well.

Allen

09-18-2007, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,002 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	PA Reef Hello, After many years of keeping freshwater aquariums, I finally made the change to saltwater and have decided to make my 1st tank a reef tank. I must say I am a bit nervous because parts of it seems a bit difficult. So far after much reading I am starting to feel a little better. I have a 55 gal corner tank with an xp3 canister filer around a 3" CC bed and about 25 lbs. of live rock. The tank has been running for about 2 months and about 2 weeks ago I added 4 fish, 2 yellowtipped damsels and 2, 3 stripped damsel, 1 has died already and I chalked that up to a sick fish from the LFS. I am going to experiment with LED lighting on this tank. I work in electronics and have spent some time researching LED's to get the correct wattage and the correct spectrums I need, hopefully all goes well. I will be making moonlights most likely tomorrow as long as my LED's come in today. Being that I have a corner tank my space is limited when concerning LR use so I am a bit confused as to how much I should use. Any advice will be appreciated and wish me luck, I do not want to kill any sea creatures but I have a feeling it may happen eventually.

09-18-2007, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,913 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Welcome to RS! First and best advice I can give is to go slowly. Reef tanks take a long time to build and usually we are just not patient enough to let the tank prepare itself. As far as LR you want 1-2 lbs per gallon. The amount really depends on how porus the rock is. The bacteria we need is found inside the rock so the more porus the rock the less you need to have. Best of luck and take your time. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

09-18-2007, 08:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: PA Reef You've picked a great place to to get all the help you need. We all work together to try and help each other out. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

09-18-2007, 08:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
caitrina Golden Moray Join Date: May 2007 Location: Somewhere in Florida Posts: 2,588 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Welcome to RS glad to have you aboard. I take it that PA in your subject line stands for Pennsylvania? If it does and you don't mind me asking, where in Pa? I am originally from York, Pa., but have been in Fl for many many years now. Anyway,welcome and if no one has said it yet, we like pictures! __________________ A reef tank is like a potato chip, you can't have just one! Chronicles Cat's Healing Gift: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ling-gift.html Cat’s 90 Gallon Toy: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...allon-toy.html 24 G Mystery Pod: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...stery-pod.html

09-18-2007, 08:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,714 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: PA Reef Hi!! I'm right over the Walt Whitman Bridge in Jersey. Soooo... looking for something like the Solaris are you? This whole LED thing is awesome, too bad it's SOOO pricey though. __________________ (\ /) This is Bunny crying. ( ; ; ) He thinks Brainy and Bunnina . ' ' ...are having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Start: 163.5 Current: I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale...

09-18-2007, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

09-18-2007, 09:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Welcome to RS Jason! Steve

09-18-2007, 09:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,002 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef As far as the Solaris yes that's the concept but I am building my own using around 400 1 watt LED's, York huh? I am in Ephrata PA right outside of Lancaster. I am currently using fiji LR which is very porus.

09-18-2007, 09:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,240 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: PA Reef Welcome to the Sanctuary! Looking forward to seeing you around! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

09-18-2007, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,714 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: PA Reef Hey I might pick your brain about that area, might move there next spring... I like the domino and striped damsels. I have a domino who thinks he's a dog. Name's Spot. Had a blue tail that had to GO, he was a mean sucker. __________________ (\ /) This is Bunny crying. ( ; ; ) He thinks Brainy and Bunnina . ' ' ...are having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Start: 163.5 Current: I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale...

09-18-2007, 11:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,031 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Welcome Aboard __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-19-2007, 07:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jason25 Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,002 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef A few pics of the Lunar Lights I made last night.

09-19-2007, 08:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,349 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Hello Jason Welcome to RS.. Cant waite to follow your progress on your tank. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

09-19-2007, 08:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,884 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: PA Reef Looking good Jason. Just keep in mind that anything you make for the Reef Tank needs to be sealed in some way to keep salt creep and moisture out. Somehow or another salt creep seems to get into just about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING no matter how well we protect it. The Salt Creep will quickly and completely corrode all of your hard work on electronics if not kept at bay. I'll be following your project as well. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

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