MY TANK LOG

[RHAPALA]

OK TO THOSE COMMING HERE TO READ MY POST SORRY FOR THE CAPPS I'M AT WORK AND ITS OUT COMUTER SYSTEM. SO MY POST MAY BE AT TIMES IN CAPPS OR LOWER CASE...... SO THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME WHILE I POST AT WORK.......




OK HERE IT IS I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND I'M DOING A 75 GAL FISH WITH LR AND I HOPE ( HELP OF LIVE SAND FROM SOME OF YOU FINE FOLKS)
I'M ALSO AT THIS TIME GONNA PUT IN A SUMP SYSTEM USEING A 30 GAL. I'LL POST PICS AS I GO. AND WILL ALSO POST WATER READINGS AS I DO THEM AND TEMPS. I HAVE LEARNED SOMUCH IN THE LAST WEEK JUST FROM THIS SITE. AND FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MAKING MY TANK WHICH I HOPE ONE DAY TO SLOWLY TRANSFORM INTO A REEF


OK AS FOR LAYOUT OF THE 75 I HAVE READ AND TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE ON THE PROS AND CONS OF STACKING ROCK AGAISNT THE BACK WALL OR STACKING IT UP IN THE MIDDLE. I HAVE DECIDED TO STACK AGAINEST THE WALL NOT TIGHTLY BUT A GENTLE SLOPE WITH LACE ROCK AND LR PROLLY FIJI AND TONGA. I WOLL PLUMB 1/2 INCH PVC AROUND THE TOP OF THE TANK AND RIGHT DOWN THE BACK OF THE TANK SPANNING THE WHOLE BACK I WILL PLACE A I DONT KNOW A BRACHING PLUMBING ITS HARD FOR ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT I WANNA DO SO SOON AS THE TANK COMES IN I'LL PLUMB IT AND SEND A PIC OR TOO.

FOR BOTTEM MATTER I HAVE 40 LBS OF ARAGAMAX REEF BASE...... I WILL BE ADDING 30 LBS OF ARAGAMAX FINE SUGAR SIZED SAND AS A FILLER TO MAKE IT PRETTY.....I'LL ALSO ADD ANY SANDS LS THAT I BUY OR AM GIVEN TO THIS MIX.

AND WE HAVE ALREADY PICKED THE FISH WE WILL ADD IN A MONTH OR SO . THE ONE THAT STICKS IN MY HEAD THE MOST IS THE CLOWN FISH I HOPE I CAN GET A MALE AND FEMALE DONT KNOW IF THEY CAN BE SEXED AR THE SIZE I WANT OR NOT IN CASE YER WONDERING ON THE SIZE I WANT BABYS SOMETHING I CAN RAISE MYSELF THAT I KNOW I'M GETTING A YOUNG FISH AND NOT A FISH THAT IS SO OLD ITS CIRCLING THE DRAIN. I HAVE SOMUCH TO SAY I HAVENT THE CLUE REALLY ON WHERE TO START OR IF I AM JUST RAMBLING BUT I HOPE IT STARTS TO MAKE SENCE TO EVERYONE AND THAT I MAY BE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. WISH ME LUCK

JIM

[jojo22]

Sounds good buddy! Just to let you know clown fish are hermaphrididic (sp) so when you put them in together they will decide amongst themselfs who will be the male and who will be the female. Just as a note your base rock will "seed" quicker if you scatter it in with the LR and don't just put all of it under or on top of the LR.

Sounds like a plan and I know I can't wait to see pics.

[RHAPALA]

WELL AS MANY OF YA KNOW I JUST PUT MY FIRST TRUE SALT WATER FISH IN MY TANK ITS A CLOWN THE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE NEMO . BEFOR HAND I HAD HAD MY WATER TESTED 3 TIMES BEFOR THE BUY ALL READING WERE AT 0 ..............NOW I KNOW I SHOULD WAIT TILL I HAVE THAT 75 GAL SET UP BUT IT WAS A BABY AND I AND MY DAUGHTER REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THE BUY.................ON ANOTHER NOTE MY LR SEEMS TO BE GROWING ONE ROCK SEEMS TO HAVE WHAT SEEMS TO BE OVER A HUNDRED RED STIFF LIKE SPROUTS ON IT .......ANOTHER ROCK IS GETTING SOME NICE ORANGE, GREEN AND PURPLE COLOR TO IT AND ANOTHER ROCK YET AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT LOOKS WEIRD THERE LOOKS LIKE TO ALMOST HAVE A COCONE TYPE LOOK TO IT ONLY OTHER 2 WAYS I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT IS 1 MOLD LIKE WHITE WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE BLACK SPECKS ON IT OR SPIDER SILK LIKE WITH A BLACK SPECK IN IT I HAVE NOT NOTICED IF THE SPECKS MOVE OR NOT BUT I HOPE ITS SOMTHING GOOD AND NOT BAD HEHE I WILL TRY TO GET A FEW PICS MAYBE THOSE OFYOU WITH MORE KNOLDGE THAN I DO WILL HAVE A ANSWER FOR THIS STUFF THEN AGAIN YA MIGHT SAY SOMTHING ALONG THE LINE THATS IT IS TO EARLY TO SAY WHAT IT IS ANY CASE I'LL POST MORE LATER THANKS FOR LETTING BEND YER EAR A LIL

JIM

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

The "mold" type thing sounds like a sponge. They are good things. The are filter feeders. Whenever I've taken tanks down or moved rocks around, the bottoms are covered with sponges. I have yellows, pinks, whites, and greens. All pretty, too bad they like the undersides of the rocks. (low light)


Angie

[RHAPALA]

I HAVE POSTED PICS OF THIS IN THE GALLERY

[RHAPALA]

ok next in the i hope many updates to come with all them being better than my last ................today i went to my lfs and dumped 700.00 on a new tank ,salt 60 lbs of sugar sized aragamax sand 60 lbs of asorted lr my tank is a 75 gal that came with a stand , heater, 110 gal over the side filter a long handle scrubbie, net and a few other lil tidbits i also bought 60 lbs of asorted lace and lava rocks i still have tons to buy yet like my pump for my sump hehe...a better test kit a skimmer and better lighting ..........oh yeah almost forgot the tank came with a all class tinted top and lights just a standred lighting system tho..... i will post pics later after my wife calms down a lil right now shes a lil hot if ya all get my drift hehehe

[jojo22]

I wouldn't use the glass top as it will restrict gas exchanges at the water surface. Put now you have some glass that me work somewhere in your sump!

[RHAPALA]

I DID PUT THE TOPS ON THE TANK HOWEVER THERE IS ABOUT 3 INCH GAP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TANK LIDS I REALLY LIKE THE LOOK OF THE GLASS TOPS TOO ALSO NOT TOO SURE ON THE LIGHT BUT ITS THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT I HAVE EVER HAD ON A TANK ... ALSO AS A SIDE NOTE I BOUGHT A FEATHER DUSTER AND ADDED IT TO THE TANK MY 30 GAL THAT IS ITS A COOL LIL SUCKER I DO HAVE SOME EYE DROP LIQUID FOOD FOR ITEITHER WAY MY TANK HAS NOW GROWN BY ONE LIFEFORM..........BTW THEY ARE STILL IN THE 30 GAL BUT THE 30 GAL IS NOW UNDER THE 75 GAL IN THE STAND I ALSI REMOVED MUCH OF THE ROCK AND 85 % OF THE SAND FROM IT TOO AND PUT IT ALL IN THE 75 GAL. I ALSO BORROWED A DIATOM FILTER TO HEL CLEAR THE TANK FASTER WHEN I LEFT HOME THE 30 GAL WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND THE 75 GAL I COULD MAKE OUT THE ROCKS I WAS TOLD TO LET THAT BABY RUN ALL NIGHT

[jojo22]

I understand the gap put think of it like you being in a box with just a little gap to get air. There will NOT be as much oxygen exchange as there will be if you leave them off. Your house most likely does not have that kind of air movement to push the air under the glass.

[RHAPALA]

OK THAT MAKES SENCE

[jojo22]

Not tryin to be mean just want to see you happy with your tank. You have my number if you need to use it on anything.

[perpetual98]

Ya big meanie! :)

[hummer]

whay to go rhapala good luck on the tank and wife lol ...lol mine would of go here dad,'s fire-arm and shot me if i would done that!!!

[RHAPALA]

ok today 11/24/06 i wentto my lfs and got a bulb for my single strip light i have its a 10k 40 wat coral life bulb i know its not anuff for corals but 10k is a good start till i can afford the lights i really want... i was looking at aqua light lighing system a 48 inch light is about 260 at the store ...........other items i have yet to get
skimmer 125 for 188
uv light 18w for 118
skimmer/overflow orer the side box for57
and the mag drive 12 for 142
plus all the other stuff i yet need exe tubing for the plumbing
so add that all up on top of the 800 i already spent i need around 900 dollars to finish setting up this tank............thats just the hardwear

then i get to start on the corals and fish and and and and and and and well ya get my drift hehehe

[RHAPALA]

oh yeah btw i just wanted to add they most fish stores try to sell ya everything ya dont need .................well i have such a good rapport with the owner on this store that he tries to talk me out of the things i think i need ..........

also i think i may have a nuff ofa turn over rate with my mag 12 and the ofer the side filter i have now which i have now its turn over rate is 500 gal a hr so with that and the mag 12 turns into about 1700 gal a hr other the mag 12 i may upgrade that to the mag 18

[RHAPALA]

OK UP DATE TIME AND YES I'M WORKING IN THE 911 CENTER TODAY.

OK I HAVE DONE AFEW THINGS 1 I ADDED MY RACK TO MY TANK (MY WIFE HATES IT!) BUT I TOLD HER GIVE IT A FEW MONTHS IT WILL OR AT LEAST SHOULD OVER GROWN WITH THE GOOD STUFF SUCH AS ALAGE AND WHAT NOT.........ALSO I HAVE ADDED A FEW CRITTERS 5 RED LEGED HERMITS AND 5 SNAILS AND AROUND 10 WORMS. I ALSO HAVE A ADULT FEATHER DUSTER 2 MOLLIES AND A NEW CLOWN....I MAY GET ANOTHER CLOWN THIS WEEKEND HOWEVER I OPTED NOT TO GET THE TRUE CLOWNS AND GOT THE CHEAPER FALSE CLOWNS

[hummer]

wheres the pics... jimmy love to see it!!!

[RHAPALA]

working on that hehe

[RHAPALA]

ok took these last night.......well some were taken last night i hope yall like them

[RHAPALA]

i plan on adding some more base rock to this tank ..........and did i state that my wife hates the rack? i told her to deal with it tho

[hummer]

lol tell soon you wont even see it ..p.s i cant even tell theres water in there its so clear.!!

[RHAPALA]

oh yeah 75 gal of water in this sucker hehehe

[jojo22]

Lookin good bud!!!

[RHAPALA]

ok just in i went to my lfs anf got another false clown and 2 yellow damisals(sp)i'll get pics later

[jojo22]

WHAT A TEASE!!

[RHAPALA]

umm sorry thats yellow tail damsels.............so total lifeforms i have added sofar is 2 mollies 2 clowns 2 damsels 5 hermits 5 snails 60 lbs of live rock 1 feather duster about 6 bristle worms..............there is still more i want but i will add that later.


my questions is this 2 clowns or 3 to 6 clowns???? and same question for the damsels????

[RHAPALA]

ack!! woke up this morning to find one of my damsels dead:( :( :( looks like i need another now

[bobert]

sry to hear that:(

how did it die?

[RHAPALA]

i'm not sure other than i found him stuck to the intake for my filter .......and i mean he was stuck there good thats a powerful filter i have

[Iconz]

Sorry to hear it bud. Man 1 fish MIA, and one KIA... a rough start. Keep pluggin' though, you'll get there!

[RHAPALA]

oh yeah we are a plugging away the good thing about the yellow tail is they are cheap $ 6.00 so they are easy anuff to replace altho i only wanna keep 2 ofthem i'm also looking for a schooling fish anyone have any clue on a good one? looking for a school of maybe 6 fish

[hummer]

jimmy on line though foster&smith the coralife simmer 220gal one is only $149.very good buy!!!

[RHAPALA]

yeah i think i saw that my lfs i think wants maybe 240 for it so thats a **** of a saving

[hummer]

ask to see if there match prices or even come close

[carpenterwrasse]

I doubt they will match f&s but i did have buy a skimmer from a lfs but returned it when i found it cheaper on line....something my wife taought me is watch shipping charges. price +shipping sometimes is just as expensive as lfs watch for the shipping dealsit is worth it if you get free shipping with bigger orders....

[RHAPALA]

ok today my wife did a lil impulse buying at the lfs..........i know bad bad bad bad boy hers what i got i put my lights on layaway they are the mh pcs with the moon led lights price tag 788.00 my daughter had to have this yellow angel fish a emrald(sp) crab 2 red crabs ..............before anyone asks about the pics for the crabs i'm a dumb *** i should have gotten a pic befor i put them in the tank they took right off when they got in i did do a fresh water dip on everything 2 mins sofar my new angel is loving his new home i will deff get a pic after my kids go to bed they are bugging ther living you know what out of me right now.

[graphixx]

what kind of angel you got in there??? you want to make sure its not a coral nipper. and I would keep that stock you got there for a while and not add anything for a bit. that is still a pretty new tank. you want to make sure the biological filtration can handle the bioload. and keep testing your water. you dont want to kill off those nice new critters you got. but sounds like your well on your way my friend!!!!
NOW WHERE ARE THE DAMM PICS!!!! ;)

[RHAPALA]

sorry is some are a lil fuzzy they are a fast fish my yellow tails and the angel

[hummer]

jimmy you take pics like me ...lol.lol.lol.i always get yeled at for pics 50%dont turn out thank god for digital.....;)

thay look good

[RHAPALA]

atleast the pick of my new fish turned out really well