Ghurlag's 29g Reef

[ghurlag]

Hey all!  I've been really busy the past couple days setting up the 29g setup I bought from reeflover.  The current configuration, as I understand it:

Hardware:
29g drilled (DIY overflow)
10g sump with LR and "post-consumer" DIY skimmer
Unknown return pump (feeds skimmer and display tank)
Koralia 2 (600 GPH) in display tank
40-50 lbs of Live Rock overall
75W Metal Halide

Livestock:
1 Lemon Damsel
2 snails

Future plans:
Lunar LED lights
UV Sterilizer
Unspecified corals, anemones
2 - ocellaris clowns
1 - Royal Gramma
1 - Goby (Watchman maybe?)
2-3 - Peppermint shrimp

I am REALLY excited about the next few months as the system stabilizes and comes to life.  I'm hoping there isn't too big a crash with live rock die off from transport.  It was extremely cold outside...  Here's the first pic, less than an hour after setup, before the damsel and snails were added:

[HUNGER]

sounds good the pic didnt show up tho

[Reefd Up]

Sounds good...+1 on the pic not showing (use photobucket or such and insert the IMG code...uploading directly onto the site isn't always the easiest.) 

What type of corals are you looking to keep?  Further down the road, you may want to increase your lighting if you plan to keep higher light-demand corals like SPS.  (Such as 2x75W, a 150W, or supplemental T-5's). 

[ghurlag]

I tried the image link and it worked for me...  I'll move it over to photo bucket and see what I can make happen.

I also agree that the light might not be enough.  It makes a nice shimmer, but the live rock lights up like it's a few feet below the surface.  If I can get the pic up, you should see what I'm talking about.

[ghurlag]

Let's try this...

[HUNGER]

lol nope

[slandis3]

It worked for a minute

[ghurlag]

okay, let's try this.  Since I am obviously forum-inept, here is a link to my blog's Reef page:

http://ghurlag.wordpress.com/reef/

If it doesn't work... ... ... let's just not think about that 

[ghurlag]

BTW, I can't afford another MH light for a long time.  Any additional recommendations on what I can do about getting enough light for corals?  T-5's sound great, but what should I be looking for?  Gerber's has the Coralife dual T-5 lights, 30-inch for ~$55-$60.  I need to be able to budget for a UV sterilizer, too.  I'm in it for the long haul.

[Kenn]

Go for a watchman Goby with a coral banded ( my personal fav) or tiger pistol shrimp. They pair up great, park themselves in front of the tank (most of the time) and can be tons of entertainment. Just make sure the tank is good and cycled first.

If you can find any patience for sale grab as much as you can ! It helps a lot ! 

[Reefd Up]

BTW, I can't afford another MH light for a long time.  Any additional recommendations on what I can do about getting enough light for corals?  T-5's sound great, but what should I be looking for?  Gerber's has the Coralife dual T-5 lights, 30-inch for ~$55-$60.  I need to be able to budget for a UV sterilizer, too.  I'm in it for the long haul.

Keep an eye out for sales and frag swaps.  DIY T-5 setups are fairly inexpensive if you're handy.  I've posted a DIY 70W MH setup that isn't too bad either.  But, from the looks of your tank, you should be ok for a while (softies...some LPS) ...unless...you wanted to get straight into SPS coral. 

Just curious, why are you planning on running a UV sterilizer? 

[ghurlag]

UV sterilizer will be simply a periodic polisher, possibly run when new critters are added to combat any parasites that hitchhike.  For my application it will be overkill, hence why it's not so high on the priority list.  I know that while killing the baddies, the goodies that pass through are flash fried as well...

For right now, I need to brush up on my light spectrum knowledge and ensure that I have the best setup.  Most of the DIY T-5 setups, by the time it's all said and done, run pretty close to the $60 mark, so I'm not sure which way I'll go on that.

Anybody have any recommendations on kalkwasser dosage?

[slandis3]

Anybody have any recommendations on kalkwasser dosage?

I have built a few of these for people. I run the top off water through it.

http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=3557.0

[HUNGER]

I have built a few of these for people. I run the top off water through it.

http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=3557.0

they work perrty good lol

[wolfeden3]

not to jack the thread but slandis remember if you get enough to make them i would still like one.
Thanks,
Garry

[ghurlag]

That is pretty sweet, however, I don't think I'm quite there yet.  I have a bucket of kalk that reeflover supplied with the tank I bought, and I'm not sure what the best approach would be for me to utilize it.  I gather top off water is the place to make it happen.  How much per gallon?

[UDJustin]

depends on coral load and how fast the corals are taking it up.+

[Reefd Up]

+1 on dosing kalk - you'll need to measure your magnesium, calcium, alkalinity, and pH to get a good idea of how to balance your tank with dosing kalkwasser.  Those 4 levels balance each other...so you really need to be checking all of those.  There's no simple formula for dosing according to tank size.  Here's a handy calculator:  http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html . 

If you're planning on only having a fish-only tank for a while, you shouldn't need to dose.  You still should check your levels to make sure the tank is cycling properly and to make sure your salt mix is good...but shouldn't need to dose with regular water changes.  Even people with softy-only coral tanks rarely have to dose due to the low levels of calcium in their "skeletal-spicule" systems.  LPS, SPS, and clams use much more cal/alk/mag - so you'll need to dose for those probably.

Random DIY post here...thought it was funny and interesting:  http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/1/lines/view?searchterm=kalk

[ghurlag]

Thanks, Reef'd Up.  I definitely want to ensure the water quality, salinity, etc., are all in check before adding any more inhabitants.  Any recommendations on test kits?  I can shop on my own, but I figure learning from others' experiences will be of better benefit.

[Reefd Up]

I personally use Salifert.  They're a bit expensive and can be hard to find sometimes (they come over on a boat...so sloooow).  But, they're pretty accurate, easy to use, and seem to be less of a pain than others.  There are some better test kits out (such as Lamotte), but they're either terribly expensive or terribly complicated.  I think some other people use Red Sea, but I didn't like it.  I use API kits for the basic stuff I don't test much anymore (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, etc).  Once your tank is cycled and stable, you'll quit testing those as much probably and just mainly test alk/ca/mag/pH/salinity/temp.  If you're interested in that brand test kit, Marine Solutions usually stocks a nice quantity of their kits.  Most of their kits range anywhere from $15 to $30, depending on where you get it and what kit it is. 

[Wall_Tank]

+1 on salifert.   But I've been using the Elos Mag kit lately,  it seems to handle the +1400 Mg range better.

I only test for Alk, Mg, Ca and NO3  (The NO3 if I see an algea change)   Ph is done via a probe and controller.

[ghurlag]

Well the, if anyone finds any salifert kits, let me know and maybe I'll pick some up. 

The tank is really clear today.  Lemon Damsel has been eating just fine and is very bright yellow.  I think one of the snails is headed for the big reef tank in the sky, but it wasn't right from the beginning.

My wife and son like "Chubby", as they have named the Damsel.  Any hopes that he will coexist with a couple clowns, a royal gramma, a watchman goby and some peppermint shrimp down the road? 

[Reefd Up]

Clowns and damselfish are closely related...so they can get rather territorial with each other...but plenty of people do it (and I accidentally am today...just was given a mated pair of clownfish who are now residing with a damsel.)  Royal Gramma's may pick on the watchman gobies since they are similar body shapes (royal gramma's can get pretty mean.)  Overall, I don't see a problem with that list, but just some things to watch out for.

With the couple of clowns, are you thinking about an anemone to go with them?  (You mentioned you had a son...most kids beg for "Nemo" and the home anemone.)  If so, you'll need to research your lighting options a lot more as most anemones require higher lighting (see other post of mine in your lighting thread.)  Just trying to help you forsee problems down the road. 

[cyberwollf]

I had my clowns for about 6 months and now they host in my Xenia ? ? Grows quick and doesnt need much light. Maybe that could work for you too, if you cant afford the lights yet

They dont HAVE to have a host either, they'll just pick something and host it, Mine used to host a shelf in the rocks before the xenia

[ghurlag]

An anemone is definitely part of the plan...  Gotta have the quintessential clownfish and anemone.  I haven't quite figured out what kind of anemone I would like, though.  Yet another area I am researching.  Even though it's all overwhelming, combining fish, corals, anemones, and various supporting invertebrates, I think the whole planning and design stage is a lot of fun.