Kevin's 36 gallon tank

[kwandrsn]

Ok so I decided to start another thread to show what all I do to my new saltwater tank.

Its a 36 gallon bow front
hydor circulation pump I believe its a 550gph
Maxi-jet 400 circulation 550gph
225gph power filter with built in oxy surface skimmer
150 watt visi therm heater
Coralife digital thermometer
Homemade lid made out of eggcrate
Coralife 130watt dual power compact fixture with a 10000k and a 420 atinic bulb
Coralife digital power center

Live rock and sand with tons of hitchhikers including brittle stars, mussels, worms and more also a mystery coral of some sort

added 2 fancy occ clownfish, 6 astria snails and 6 hermit crabs Tuesday

Added a small $20 leather frag yesterday

I am planning on adding:
2 spotted cardinals
1 citinis goby
1 orange spotted goby
1 six line wrasse
1 firefish
1 cleaner shrimp
1 pistol shrimp

More coral

 

[kwandrsn]

So the back glass is painted black and one side of, my tank is against the wall so I have a magnetic cleaner on the bow front its a bio cube curved glass one and a cheap Walmart one on the visible side.
Do you guys clean the back glass of your tanks? I seen some display tanks at my lfs and they have a lot of buildup on the back glass. I figured I would use a scrubber on the inside of the wall side. Should I scrub the back too or let it buildup?

 

[Cichlid-dude]

I personaly dont clean my back glass. Its basicaly personal preference, if you want to clean it go for it.

 

[kwandrsn]

I personaly dont clean my back glass. Its basicaly personal preference, if you want to clean it go for it.

I figured I would for a while. I kinda liked how lfs has one of theirs it looks like they actually have coral glued to the glass

 

[kwandrsn]

So here is my success story so to speak:
1/19 setup tank
1/23 ammonia at 2 added bio spira
1/24 ammonia 0 nitrite 5
1/26 both at 0 nitrate at 20
1/29 added fish

I used used dry sand and used dry rock and dead snail shells and 2lbs of live rock

 

[apet66]

Found your thread, I'm watching the evolution.

 

[kwandrsn]

Found your thread, I'm watching the evolution.

Maybe some day I'll have a nice reef like yours Tony.

 

[apet66]

Maybe some day I'll have a nice reef like yours Tony.

Why thank you my friend! Yours will be better! Never stop learning and don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[kwandrsn]

Why thank you my friend! Yours will be better! Never stop learning and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Yeah I learn something new every day. And I have to say if I hadn't found this forum I would have never started a saltwater aquarium (thanks guys now I'm gonna stay broke... I'm joking) but seriously I doubt my wifes freshwater tank would have been as much of a success as it had been and I wouldn't have even thought of starting a reef. plus I wouldnt have made a friend that shares my enthusiasm about fish (Tony aka apet66)

 

[apet66]

Why thank you Kevin, your very kind. Glad to have you as a friend.

 

[Convict2161]

Looks good!! Have you thought about adding more rock to give the tank height and the illusion of being bigger then it actually is?

 

[kwandrsn]

Looks good!! Have you thought about adding more rock to give the tank height and the illusion of being bigger then it actually is?

Yeah I plan on it eventually. I want to make a structure out of putty or drill the rock. But yeah I'm gonna add more

 

[Convict2161]

Awesome. Can't wait to see this tank progress.

 

[kwandrsn]

Ok so I am changing my filter media which had carbon filters in all 4 slots and 2 foam pads in the final slots. I am running blue floss in the first two slots and nitrate and phosphate removing pads in the final slots. The blue floss was cheap at $1 a foot and the other 2 were $8 each and I can only get 4 pieces out of each so I have enough to change them out again. Any suggestions on how often to change them and also if this is a good setup

I'm running floss in the first two slots using the reusable cages
Then a piece of nitrate pad and phosphate pad on each side stuffed in it

 

[apet66]

Remember to keep the old filter pads in for a few days so you don't wipe out all the bb in them.

 

[kwandrsn]

Remember to keep the old filter pads in for a few days so you don't wipe out all the bb in them.

I didn't really think it would matter cause I had been rinsing in tap water didn't figure there was any left lol

 

[kwandrsn]

I left one of the carbon pads in

 

[apet66]

Cool beans!

 

[apet66]

I have 3 boxes for ya.

 

[kwandrsn]

I have 3 boxes for ya.

Oh Cool thanks, does it say how much it makes?