First 70g FOWLR.... - Page 2

Octoman · 03-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Looking good! I suggest you toss a couple raw deli shrimp in to boost your cycle and get it prepared for bioload.

DeepFreeze · 03-26-2008, 01:37 PM

Shrimp were added this morning. I figured everyone adds shrimp to get things going, but I suppose there are still a few that add fish instead....Argh!!!

DeepFreeze · 03-29-2008, 05:48 PM

Well, I ran across a free 29g tank, so I am going to take another crack (pun intended) at using one as my sump/fuge. The megaflow model 2 is just too confining for my skimmer and it doesn't really provide for a fuge. Hopefully more pics to follow tomorrow.

DeepFreeze · 03-30-2008, 06:18 PM

Well, I think I have my final layout done. I took out the Megaflow Sump and replaced it with a 29g divided with the skimmer on the intake side, refugium in the middle, baffles, then return sump on the right. I picked up a $5 lamp from Home Depot and put in one of those CF daylight lights from HD as well. It took me a while to find the fine print, but the daylight CF's are 6500k. I also finished off my ATO, which is located in the container to the right of the tank. I am going to build a stand of some sort to cover the RO container at some point and put some books or something on top to make it look better. For now it is fully functional. The ATO has three switches to prevent overflowing the sump as well as draining the RO tank.
Lastly, since I had the tank drained in order to move it around and replace the sump, I redid the aquascape. I don't have the center cave anymore, but there is a nice overhang on the right side that isn't obvious in the pictures. I also managed to cover up most of the PVC with only a bit on the left side showing. The right side opening is in an opening I created with rocks. Once things clear back up I will get some better pictures of the aquascaping.
So far so good. Before I broke it down to redo the sump I was showing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The cycle is ticking along nicely. Now I should be done with moving things around and it can do its thing.
In the first picture you can see why I wanted a 36" tank. The wall between the hall and opening to the kitchen is exactly 36".

DeepFreeze · 04-01-2008, 01:24 PM

Here are some pics since things have cleared up. The tank is still cycling and showing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

DeepFreeze · 04-13-2008, 04:45 PM

Latest update:
My cycle is complete.
Parameters:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - Less than 5
PH - Fluctuates from 8.0 to 8.2
Phosphates - 0
Calcium - 400
dKH - 7.7
SG - 1.024
Salinity - 32
Temp - 77.7

I also completed my lighting for now. I am currently running two actinic 55w CF's, two current USA moonlights, and a 175w USHIO 10k MH. I am running the CF's from 9 to 9 and the MH from 1 to 7. The moonlights are on at night, obviously. The fuge light is on 24/7.
I added covers to the fans. The covers on top are your typical computer fan covers and are basically there to keep the cat from getting caught in the fans. The one on the right is a mirrored dragon cover that I found at a computer store online. It is pretty cool and I love dragons.
I also modded my skimmer. I did a gate valve mod and enkmat mod to the pump. I finished it a couple of hours ago and it is amazing how much of a difference it made. First, adjustments are so easy with the gate valve. Second, the enkmat mod seems to be chopping the air bubbles up more and I have much finer bubbles, as well as more of them. It already seems to be skimming better. Obviously I don't have much for it to skim right now, but it looks like it will easily keep up with the tank when it is completely stocked.
I have a bit of a diatom bloom, completely expected, and I will be getting 30 nassarius and 6 turbo snails next weekend to clean things up. I also expect to add the eel around in about two weeks. I anticipate adding the lionfish a couple of weeks after that. The rest of my cleanup crew are going to be 4 serpent stars (added later in the summer once the tank has had some time to mature a bit), a fighting conch, and two carribean striped cucumbers.
Pics will be added as things progress.

DeepFreeze · 04-27-2008, 01:11 PM

Latest update: I added three fighting conches, two turbo snails, and a snowflake eel. I am waiting until the eel decides to come out of hiding before I add any new pics. I also had a throw in of some red macroalgae that I forgot to get the name of.

plecosword · 05-21-2008, 05:42 PM

Looking good!, one question, for the PC lights, did you use Sheep, or sheet metal? forgot what its called.

03-26-2008, 12:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,666 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Looking good! I suggest you toss a couple raw deli shrimp in to boost your cycle and get it prepared for bioload. __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

03-26-2008, 01:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Shrimp were added this morning. I figured everyone adds shrimp to get things going, but I suppose there are still a few that add fish instead....Argh!!!

03-29-2008, 05:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Well, I ran across a free 29g tank, so I am going to take another crack (pun intended) at using one as my sump/fuge. The megaflow model 2 is just too confining for my skimmer and it doesn't really provide for a fuge. Hopefully more pics to follow tomorrow.

03-30-2008, 06:18 PM	#19 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Well, I think I have my final layout done. I took out the Megaflow Sump and replaced it with a 29g divided with the skimmer on the intake side, refugium in the middle, baffles, then return sump on the right. I picked up a $5 lamp from Home Depot and put in one of those CF daylight lights from HD as well. It took me a while to find the fine print, but the daylight CF's are 6500k. I also finished off my ATO, which is located in the container to the right of the tank. I am going to build a stand of some sort to cover the RO container at some point and put some books or something on top to make it look better. For now it is fully functional. The ATO has three switches to prevent overflowing the sump as well as draining the RO tank. Lastly, since I had the tank drained in order to move it around and replace the sump, I redid the aquascape. I don't have the center cave anymore, but there is a nice overhang on the right side that isn't obvious in the pictures. I also managed to cover up most of the PVC with only a bit on the left side showing. The right side opening is in an opening I created with rocks. Once things clear back up I will get some better pictures of the aquascaping. So far so good. Before I broke it down to redo the sump I was showing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The cycle is ticking along nicely. Now I should be done with moving things around and it can do its thing. In the first picture you can see why I wanted a 36" tank. The wall between the hall and opening to the kitchen is exactly 36".

04-01-2008, 01:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Here are some pics since things have cleared up. The tank is still cycling and showing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

04-13-2008, 04:45 PM	#21 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Latest update: My cycle is complete. Parameters: Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - Less than 5 PH - Fluctuates from 8.0 to 8.2 Phosphates - 0 Calcium - 400 dKH - 7.7 SG - 1.024 Salinity - 32 Temp - 77.7 I also completed my lighting for now. I am currently running two actinic 55w CF's, two current USA moonlights, and a 175w USHIO 10k MH. I am running the CF's from 9 to 9 and the MH from 1 to 7. The moonlights are on at night, obviously. The fuge light is on 24/7. I added covers to the fans. The covers on top are your typical computer fan covers and are basically there to keep the cat from getting caught in the fans. The one on the right is a mirrored dragon cover that I found at a computer store online. It is pretty cool and I love dragons. I also modded my skimmer. I did a gate valve mod and enkmat mod to the pump. I finished it a couple of hours ago and it is amazing how much of a difference it made. First, adjustments are so easy with the gate valve. Second, the enkmat mod seems to be chopping the air bubbles up more and I have much finer bubbles, as well as more of them. It already seems to be skimming better. Obviously I don't have much for it to skim right now, but it looks like it will easily keep up with the tank when it is completely stocked. I have a bit of a diatom bloom, completely expected, and I will be getting 30 nassarius and 6 turbo snails next weekend to clean things up. I also expect to add the eel around in about two weeks. I anticipate adding the lionfish a couple of weeks after that. The rest of my cleanup crew are going to be 4 serpent stars (added later in the summer once the tank has had some time to mature a bit), a fighting conch, and two carribean striped cucumbers. Pics will be added as things progress.

04-27-2008, 01:11 PM	#22 (permalink)
DeepFreeze Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Latest update: I added three fighting conches, two turbo snails, and a snowflake eel. I am waiting until the eel decides to come out of hiding before I add any new pics. I also had a throw in of some red macroalgae that I forgot to get the name of.

05-21-2008, 05:42 PM	#23 (permalink)
plecosword Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,128 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: First 70g FOWLR.... Looking good!, one question, for the PC lights, did you use Sheep, or sheet metal? forgot what its called. __________________ --Andre "A ship in the harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for." !!!20g for reals!!!

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