JT & Shawnas 75

[jthomps123]

Hello everyone. It was suggested that I start a chronicle here; so here it goes. I've really enjoyed reading / viewing all the others so I thought i'd contribute.

Here is our 75, we purchased this used - set up for about 6 mos and not doing much - previous owner was wanting to upgrade and moving soon so I dont think stocking this tank was top priority. It came with a about 70 lbs or LR and a few assorted soft corals, mushrooms, a sponge, and a few crabs and a few snails (crabs have already gone resevior dog on 2 snails - dont remember crabs being so viscious! Could lack of any algae making them so carnivorous?).

The tank has been setup for about 7 days since the move, i dont think the previous owner had been running the lights much - brand new 150w 14.5k halides so i've been using eggcrate, a piece of acrylic and fiberglass screen to diffuse the intensity a bit until everything gets acclimated.

Here it was a few days ago before I reaquascaped (just rearranged so the dust is settling - new pics to come soon) I plan to add 50+ or so more of LR very soon before I start stocking. The previous owner gave me some API test strips and everything seems to be in order - havent tested calcium/phosphates yet - ive been topping off with tap water until my RO unit arrives tommorow. But im gonna give it a few more weeks -maybe - before adding anymore livestock. I should probably wait until I add more rock first but we'll see if my/our patience gets to us first.



Can I get and ID on this guy - a green leather maybe? He has not opened up or looked any different than this in all 7 days:


And another ID on this - this unattached piece feels very hard and I presume is long dead:


Details:
75 Glass
A couple power head up top (not sure of details)
Coralife SS skimmer (seems to be working 'possibly adequately')
15 Gal sump with refugium

Will post more soon. And thanks for the big welcome!
Jason and Shawna

[AQTCJAK]

Looks good

[JFK_Jr]

Very nice start...

[blue_eyes53813]

Looks Awesome..

[deaclauderdale]

The tank looks great! Are going LPS, SPS or mixed reef? Second coral looks like a cup or pagooda (forgive my spelling) coral and probally is not dead.

[tbittner]

Looks great!

First thing you should do is get some good test kits. I prefer Salifert. They are easy to use and very reliable and accurate.

Second, you said you're using tap water. Do you have copper pipes? Are you on a well or are you on city water? If you have copper, you might want to also get a copper test kit and just verify that you don't have copper in the water. Copper is deadly to inverts, including corals since they are classified as inverts.

After you get your RO/DI unit up and running, I'd be doing some massive water changes over the course of the next month or so. If you're going to add more LR, now would be the perfect time to do so. This way you get the cycling done all at once. Then the fun begins.

It does sound like the start of a FANTASTIC system! Reef keeping will teach you patience like nothing else ever could.

[vdituri]

Pic 1 is the same beauty I have.
It was called a neon green finger leather and is a joy! (when happy)

Here's a quick pic of what mine looks like when it opens up.

[Techno-Vicki]

Good call on the corals! Victor nice finger leather. They are not particularly easy.

Looks like a great start on the new tank. What fish are you planning to have in it? It is important to consider how many you want to have eventually, what kind you want to put in there (so they don't eat each other or become too territorial because they were put in before others).

So what prompted the purchase of the tank?

[Cassette87]

Very Nice looking setup for a start! Good idea to diffuse the light for a bit. Make sure to keep an eye on water temp with those lamps depending on how many hours you're running them. Aside from that, the advice given already is a point in the right direction, and it looks great so far!

[Craig Manoukian]

Originally Posted by jthomps123

(crabs have already gone resevior dog on 2 snails - dont remember crabs being so viscious! Could lack of any algae making them so carnivorous?).

And another ID on this - this unattached piece feels very hard and I presume is long dead:

In my experience hermit crabs start out as juvenile algaevores but morph into aggresssive and opportunistic adult feeding omnivores. Snails are on the menu as they become adults. The only readily available hermit that remains an algeavore is the Red Scarlet hermit with the yellow eye stalks.

I agree the SPS you think is dead is a Pagoda and could be very much alive.

Nice start and thanks for the chronical!

[boozeman]

nice reef

[Frankie]

I really like the aquascaping!
Welcome to RS!

[jthomps123]

Originally Posted by deaclauderdale

The tank looks great! Are going LPS, SPS or mixed reef? Second coral looks like a cup or pagooda (forgive my spelling) coral and probally is not dead.

Probably a mix of soft and hard, would like like to try some acropora down the road if possible.

Second, you said you're using tap water. Do you have copper pipes? Are you on a well or are you on city water? If you have copper, you might want to also get a copper test kit and just verify that you don't have copper in the water. Copper is deadly to inverts, including corals since they are classified as inverts.

After you get your RO/DI unit up and running, I'd be doing some massive water changes over the course of the next month or so. If you're going to add more LR, now would be the perfect time to do so. This way you get the cycling done all at once. Then the fun begins.

It does sound like the start of a FANTASTIC system! Reef keeping will teach you patience like nothing else ever could.

Thanks for the advice, I have new construction and believe most the piping in pvc, but I will double check. Will the ro/di unit remove copper from tap water?

Looks like a great start on the new tank. What fish are you planning to have in it? It is important to consider how many you want to have eventually, what kind you want to put in there (so they don't eat each other or become too territorial because they were put in before others).

So what prompted the purchase of the tank?

Not sure what fish - ones i'd like to house are Mandarin, and lawnmower blenny for sure, and possibly some sort of tang. And hopefully a shrimp of some sort. The prompt for the tank? Well i just moved and i'll be settled for quite a while - and have had the itch for a long time since being around them many years ago.

One question, do these halides put out UV? And if so should I leave the piece of acrylic there to help filter it?

Thanks for all the comments!

Jason

[tbittner]

Most RO/DI units will remove most metals, including copper, from the water. The reason I say water changes and lots of them is because most city water also has chlorine in it. That is deadly to everything. So massive water changes with RO/DI will eventually remove it.

In fact, once you get your RO/DI up and running, I'd recommend that you empty the tank, rinse the rocks off and scrub them and rinse them again with RO/DI water. Rinse out the tank with RO/DI, scrub it, then rinse again. There are chemicals added to city water that just isn't good for marine life. It would probably kill all good, beneficial bacteria.

Now, if you are on a well, then it's probably not that bad. Even with city water it may not be that bad but why not try to start off with good water. I think it will help you to be successful in the long run.

[jthomps123]

Well i've gotten my RO/DI unit up and running and let it flush out through the night, so today it is making water for my first change. (The initial intake of the first canister had was initially blocked off, the mold had to be punched through, not sure if this is standard but i figured it out after a bit).

Turns out my under-sink piping is comprised of some copper - so im assuming some has gotten into the tank - which might account for some of the coral being slow to open and respond. Hopefully water changes will help that as all other tests seem to be on par.

Is 24 hours plenty of dissolve time for new water?

Jason