This may be my longest post ever on any message board I have ever used...and thats saying something.I am going to lay it all out for critisism,opinion and suggestion.What I would appreciate is those with experience chime in on whats right and whats wrong IYO.
You will have to pardon the pics...the cam and I are at odds it seems,I know what I want,but I get what it gives me lol.
First a total (and terrible) tank shot.This is just to get a feel how much rock the is...I have no idea of the actual weight (guesses welcome).
I have 80 pounds of coral substrate.A good four inches though out I would say.
I know the pic looks green,but the tank is clear as a bell.The rock and substrate are beige or off white.Very clean and cool look imo even if its only going to get better lol.
The water is tap water though and I know that is not what many do.What I would like to do is test the tank for what makes tap water bad (phosphates for instance) and remove it.I'm not normally an "add chem" kinda guy,but I want this to be my starting point and get a feel for the potential or lack there of so to speak.
Using instant ocean btw.
Rock and substrate:
Right side rock:
Left side rock:
My most interesting piece imo:
There are also two pieces (small) of live rock in there with nice purple and green coraline on it.
Lights:
These are common and seem to be enough for low light coral.The specs are 2 55W at 6700 and 2 65W at 10,000.
Top:
Water pump:
I have a 9.58 utility pump.It more of a pond pump but it it moves a lot of water.Its rated at 950 gph.It currently under the stand with tubing running to both intake and output homemade pvc "things".
This will eventually (soon) be put in a rubermade tub and syphon break holes will be drilled into the inlet and outlet in case of failure.
The pump:
The output...with two outlets,one foward and one along the back of the tank:
The intake and heater (300w visitherm..(.I have one more for I'm going to add,but its on loan at the moment).
Filtration:
The only filtration is on magnum 350 at the moment ..its rated at 350 gph.
I have another,but have yet to see if I can get it working.This filter has two media options,one you see here which is a sleeve too catch solids.
Works well imo.The other is a 1 micron cartridge...havn't tried it yet.It also has options on the inside for charcoal or other extras in an inside chamber.
The tank has two snails in it that came in on the live rock.Thats it for live stock.I added a pinch of food to help whatever bacteria might be present survive and the substrate and the rock were added yesterday.
How does it look equipment wise?
Oh.... I need protein skimmer suggestions as well....gonna get one of those for sure,just haven't yet.
You will have to pardon the pics...the cam and I are at odds it seems,I know what I want,but I get what it gives me lol.
First a total (and terrible) tank shot.This is just to get a feel how much rock the is...I have no idea of the actual weight (guesses welcome).
I have 80 pounds of coral substrate.A good four inches though out I would say.
I know the pic looks green,but the tank is clear as a bell.The rock and substrate are beige or off white.Very clean and cool look imo even if its only going to get better lol.
The water is tap water though and I know that is not what many do.What I would like to do is test the tank for what makes tap water bad (phosphates for instance) and remove it.I'm not normally an "add chem" kinda guy,but I want this to be my starting point and get a feel for the potential or lack there of so to speak.
Using instant ocean btw.
Rock and substrate:
Right side rock:
Left side rock:
My most interesting piece imo:
There are also two pieces (small) of live rock in there with nice purple and green coraline on it.
Lights:
These are common and seem to be enough for low light coral.The specs are 2 55W at 6700 and 2 65W at 10,000.
Top:
Water pump:
I have a 9.58 utility pump.It more of a pond pump but it it moves a lot of water.Its rated at 950 gph.It currently under the stand with tubing running to both intake and output homemade pvc "things".
This will eventually (soon) be put in a rubermade tub and syphon break holes will be drilled into the inlet and outlet in case of failure.
The pump:
The output...with two outlets,one foward and one along the back of the tank:
The intake and heater (300w visitherm..(.I have one more for I'm going to add,but its on loan at the moment).
Filtration:
The only filtration is on magnum 350 at the moment ..its rated at 350 gph.
I have another,but have yet to see if I can get it working.This filter has two media options,one you see here which is a sleeve too catch solids.
Works well imo.The other is a 1 micron cartridge...havn't tried it yet.It also has options on the inside for charcoal or other extras in an inside chamber.
The tank has two snails in it that came in on the live rock.Thats it for live stock.I added a pinch of food to help whatever bacteria might be present survive and the substrate and the rock were added yesterday.
How does it look equipment wise?
Oh.... I need protein skimmer suggestions as well....gonna get one of those for sure,just haven't yet.