brooklynfish's Aquapod 12 journal

[brooklynfish]

I'm going to do this at last!

Ok, I have everything, including liverock. Here are specs for reference:

Aquapod 12 tank
2 MJ 900's (one of them as a return, replacing the stock 160 gph pumps)
16.5in. Sunpod(70w)
13.5 lbs of LR
10 lbs sand
50w visi-therm heater.
some carbon
running some foam to clear the water a litle bit
Came with bio-balls, but not using because everyone hates them......j/k
Wood stand made for a 20 gallon or 29 tall
small pump for mixing sw
BTW, I'm using tap water.
Instant Ocean bucket of salt.


Chemicals:
API tap water stuff
kent nano reef supplements
API test kits (ammonia, Nitrates, nitrites, calcium, and high range ph test kit)

Params:
sg: 1.024
temp: 80, even with the metal halide on and all the pumps running
Will test everything else very soon.

Also, pics to come soon!

What do ya all think?

[brooklynfish]

So far I noticed 2 aptaias or whatever their called (I'll juice them soon) and I also noticed plenty of feather dusters, at least 5.

Here are some pics:

The last pic is of my MH hard at work.

[Lorna]

Looks great so far. I would seriously reconsider the tap water unless you happen to know it is really good......no tds or minerals, silicate etc.

In a 12g water changes are only a couple of gallons so do them with grocery store water (not distilled but ro).......even that is better than tap water and isn't that expensive. You will be thankful when you don't have to contend with massive algae blooms.

[brooklynfish]

Thanks. My grocery store doesn't sell r/o water (No idea why). I emailed my lfs, and they don't sell it either. Does Petco sell water? If they do, i'll get it from them. I'm pretty sure that NYC's tap water is alright. However, its not perfect.

Updates:
Sg-1.023
ph-8.4
ammonia-0-.25
Ca- 380
not going to bother test nitrate and nitrites just yet.

I gotta get some joes juice, 5 aptaithings

[quaddity]

My Aquapod 12's I'm using grocery store RO/DI water for top offs and Catalina water for water changes. I figure a few gallons a month of changing is worth a $10 or so in NSW and not having to mix any water up. Petco sells their own brand of ocean water that is actually Catalina water but it's about $5 more for 5 gallons then my LFS sells it for.

[Lorna]

Even if you bought 1 gallon water from the grocery store....I think they sell for $1.50 or so a gallon.....I can buy 2.5g for about $2. Worth the no headaches that is for sure. When I first filled my 75 I bought the water from Culligan

[brooklynfish]

I'm going to try to look around at my grocery stores for some water. I'm sure that one of them has it.

Should I kepp my lights on while cycling? Right now, I'm keeping them on for 3 hours a day.

[brooklynfish]

An hour ago, I felt like testing ammonia, so I added the 8 drops of both bottles. when I looked at it, there was little clear globs of something in the test tube. The mixture inside the tube is thicker then water and feels like oil. I have no idea what the hell it is. I even tested my freshwater tank to make sure that it wasn't the test kit. Do you think it's the saltwater?

[Lorna]

not sure what that could be. I would retest with another kit.

[brooklynfish]

Yea, I'm going to go to petco and get another one. Strange, its only 18 months old....