OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Thank you much ricksreef!
The Rebirth/Rebuild of my 180g sps thread
- Thread starter Acronuts
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Thank you much ricksreef!
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Update:
Was able to start mortaring the aquascape today. The process was a bit troubling but working fast was the key.
The product from Marco Rocks is good but definitely you need a spray bottle. Mixing small amounts worked for me and a plan of action.
The places you plan on mortaring together need to be sprayed. The product as directed starts to harden within 10 mins. Working fast is key but as murphy's law things will not go right. LOL! I took the material in hands instead of the trowel and made balls about 2 inches round. You place the material then place your rock. Work the material quickly around the rock and crevices because it starts to dry. If you notice the material pulling away spray it with water and add a little more material and bingo the material stayed in place.
Be ready for possible mishaps and excess material falling off! Its ok next day it easily pics off glass or star board.
Tomorrow is filling up day!!!
Was able to start mortaring the aquascape today. The process was a bit troubling but working fast was the key.
The product from Marco Rocks is good but definitely you need a spray bottle. Mixing small amounts worked for me and a plan of action.
The places you plan on mortaring together need to be sprayed. The product as directed starts to harden within 10 mins. Working fast is key but as murphy's law things will not go right. LOL! I took the material in hands instead of the trowel and made balls about 2 inches round. You place the material then place your rock. Work the material quickly around the rock and crevices because it starts to dry. If you notice the material pulling away spray it with water and add a little more material and bingo the material stayed in place.
Be ready for possible mishaps and excess material falling off! Its ok next day it easily pics off glass or star board.
Tomorrow is filling up day!!!
rdnelson99
Aquarium Advice Addict
Looking forward to seeing some water in this tank. 
rdnelson99
Aquarium Advice Addict
Oh, by the way, being in construction for 30+ years has taught me one very important thing......Murphy was an optimist.
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Oh, by the way, being in construction for 30+ years has taught me one very important thing......Murphy was an optimist.
Lol!!!!!!
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
I have two questions that I am not sure about.
Since I am adding some of my old seeded rock to the sump, and adding bacteria,
1. Should I be ok adding a filter sock during the cycle ?
2. Should I be ok adding charcoal to the system yet?
Since I am adding some of my old seeded rock to the sump, and adding bacteria,
1. Should I be ok adding a filter sock during the cycle ?
2. Should I be ok adding charcoal to the system yet?
rdnelson99
Aquarium Advice Addict
Acronuts said:
I am no expert on either but I would say the sock is a good idea. I would wait on the carbon though. Seems like it would be a waste of money while cycling. I could be wrong though.
.
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
I am no expert on either but I would say the sock is a good idea. I would wait on the carbon though. Seems like it would be a waste of money while cycling. I could be wrong though.
Hmm sounds logical rdnelson.
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Well by the time some of you guys read this it is already Thanksgiving. I certainly hope that everyone had a good day and got to spend it with their families and beloved reef tanks.
Here is my latest update:
I tried to plan in advance for as many things that I would need in order to do this rebuild. From the details of the star board to the bacteria in the bottle.
Time and effort were also on the list and so was Murphy's Law, lol! After waiting 48 hrs for the mortar to cure I started to add salt water.
One of the bridges was in the garage drying and curing so this pic does not show it but gives you a perspective of the depth of the aquascape.
It did take me a few days to fill the tank. You guys know mix salt, wait, test, and then add either more RO water or more salt. I only have a 35 gallon garbage bin and it took awhile. I had no other storage container but have started to think about one. Any of you guys have one or can recommend a company that sells them? It would make my life much easier.
I continued to work on the aquascape and really feel that I am happy with the following:
Voila tank is filled!
Left side
Right side
Middle
FTS with Actinics
Well looks like a few days more of just letting it run then I will start adding the green chromis' and a couple of other fish.
Till then Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!
Here is my latest update:
I tried to plan in advance for as many things that I would need in order to do this rebuild. From the details of the star board to the bacteria in the bottle.
Time and effort were also on the list and so was Murphy's Law, lol! After waiting 48 hrs for the mortar to cure I started to add salt water.
One of the bridges was in the garage drying and curing so this pic does not show it but gives you a perspective of the depth of the aquascape.
It did take me a few days to fill the tank. You guys know mix salt, wait, test, and then add either more RO water or more salt. I only have a 35 gallon garbage bin and it took awhile. I had no other storage container but have started to think about one. Any of you guys have one or can recommend a company that sells them? It would make my life much easier.
I continued to work on the aquascape and really feel that I am happy with the following:
Voila tank is filled!
Left side
Right side
Middle
FTS with Actinics
Well looks like a few days more of just letting it run then I will start adding the green chromis' and a couple of other fish.
Till then Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!
Adio800
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2011
- Messages
- 316
Looks great!! Happy Thanksgiving!
leftyfish
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Looks awesome, the rock work is very inspirational, I will be looking back to it in a few weeks when I do mine!
redsea
Aquarium Advice Addict
The rockscape looks fantastic!
AusAaron
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2011
- Messages
- 268
Looks fantastic. Excellent job on the rock work.
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Happy turkey day to you too! And thnxs!
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Thank you very much! My inspirations came from WWC, and diving in Maui.
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
The rockscape looks fantastic!
Thanks redsea! I like your signature!
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Thanks ausaaron! I appreciate your kudos!
OP
OP
Acronuts
Aquarium Advice Freak
Update: Week one of cycling the tank
The 180g went officially "LIVE" last week!
Week Two
I tested water and the results were as follows:
0.00 Ammonia
0.00 Nitrites
0.10 Nitrates
Ph 8.2
I decided to add my 8 green chromis' and my three springer damselfish from the holding tank.
Of course the springer damsels went swimming immediately into the cover of the crevises and holes inside the rocks.
The green chromis' basically hovered tightly together.
I am amazed! Why? Well it has been such a long time since I cycled a tank that I actually got nervous and wanted to wait another week to add the damsels!
Something else that shows how time has changed since the last time I cycled a tank is that there are numerous more types of damsels coming into the hobby like the Springer damsel. What a beautiful fish!
Well now that the fish are being added slowly to the display tank it was time to get the monster Reef Octopus skimmer running.
Here is a quick video:
Man this thing was running at full blast. At the widest opened setting the skimmer was still overflowing! Wondering wether I should keep it at the widest setting till it subsides.........?
Well that is it for now. Till next week when I add a couple more fish from the holding 55g tank.
The 180g went officially "LIVE" last week!
Week Two
I tested water and the results were as follows:
0.00 Ammonia
0.00 Nitrites
0.10 Nitrates
Ph 8.2
I decided to add my 8 green chromis' and my three springer damselfish from the holding tank.
Of course the springer damsels went swimming immediately into the cover of the crevises and holes inside the rocks.
The green chromis' basically hovered tightly together.
I am amazed! Why? Well it has been such a long time since I cycled a tank that I actually got nervous and wanted to wait another week to add the damsels!
Something else that shows how time has changed since the last time I cycled a tank is that there are numerous more types of damsels coming into the hobby like the Springer damsel. What a beautiful fish!
Well now that the fish are being added slowly to the display tank it was time to get the monster Reef Octopus skimmer running.
Here is a quick video:
Man this thing was running at full blast. At the widest opened setting the skimmer was still overflowing! Wondering wether I should keep it at the widest setting till it subsides.........?
Well that is it for now. Till next week when I add a couple more fish from the holding 55g tank.
Ibrahim
Aquarium Advice Addict
Looks great. I'm starting my 220g Shark tank soon.
redsea
Aquarium Advice Addict
Acronuts said:
Very nice. The Springer Damsel definitely looks great in that picture you posted! I don't think I had seen one before this. We're they expensive?
