10 gallon nano reef journal (pics)

unwritten law · 06-25-2009, 03:19 PM

I know my nitrite test is the same scale, and my nitrate test is different. I may need to search for a SW scale for the ammonia but on the card it doesn't specify. Either way its a red sea kit and it came out as really light yellow. But really I don't think it matters since its only been 24 hours.

Also I went out and added another 5 gallons... I need to add about another 5 to top it off. I temporarily arragned the rock and so far I like it but considering how much I would re arrange my FW tank during the intial phase... we'll see....

Pics once it clears up after the rock rearrangement or after I get more water... Today or tomorrow.

unwritten law · 06-25-2009, 06:51 PM

With 50/50 light

50/50

10000K

20 gallon tall...spray painted background..... got two maxi jet 400 (106gph each) plus my canister (185 gph).... 15lbs of sand... 16lbs of sand.... 130watt PC

The rock looks a lot more colorful than in the pics.

zoalover34 · 06-26-2009, 09:51 PM

Lookin good man! Looks like you could use about 10 more lbs of rock or so IMO.. Looks like it's got some good colors on it! Did you say u got it from liveaquaria?

unwritten law · 06-26-2009, 09:55 PM

yeah That's where I got it... I would like some more rock.. at least another 5lbs...Now if I do get more rock, would I have to do it like right now while the tank is still cycling? Or if I know it is completely cured can I get it whenever... I'm pretty sure I gotta do it now. I do think my LFS is getting more rock soon, like this week and he only gets premium pieces.

Lotus · 06-26-2009, 10:59 PM

It would be better to cycle any additional rock now. If you get it later, you'll have to cycle it outside the tank (in a bucket) before you can add it.

At least now you have a better idea of the aquascape, so you can buy something that would look good.

The flat pieces will be good for corals, down the road. It makes it easier to place them if the rocks are flattish.

unwritten law · 06-26-2009, 11:06 PM

I just want a larger piece to put under all the smaller pieces on the right for now. I got a bunch of small pieces which were harder to deal with than the larger ones but I got to make a bunch of cool caves.... The entire left side is more or less hollow.. and the right side isn't bad either.

I'll make a trip out to the LFS later and see if they got any rock... I'd like to get some more before my first week of cycling is through...

Today my levels were about the same.. even with more than twice as much R/O water .

ammonia = 0?
NO2= 5+
NO3=20
Salinity= 1.023
temp= 80
alkalinity=medium/low
pH= 8.0

Lotus · 06-26-2009, 11:33 PM

Those nitrite spikes can get pretty high. It's a good sign of a strong cycle, though.

unwritten law · 06-27-2009, 12:35 AM

yeah I am pretty sure mine is off the charts...My ammonia test is for SW but it comes up as zero.... Testing to see if it works on my other tanks wouldn't really work either cause they all should be zero... Does this mean I just some how avoided a first ammonia spike or do I just need to wait for it...

Lotus · 06-27-2009, 10:40 AM

It's possible you avoided the ammonia spike. With nitrites that high already, there's obviously ammonia being produced.

unwritten law · 06-27-2009, 08:46 PM

NH3=0
NO2=5+
NO3=80!
pH=~8
Salinity=1.023
Alkalinity= Normal

alkalinity and nitrate went up... which I guess makes sense.. Just waiting for nitrite to drop and pH to raise a bit... still under the 8.0+ titration mark.... Most likely I'm gonna get some more rock tomorrow or Monday. My LFS wont get any new till about Thursday, so I'll just get some of their uglier base rock, which is what I want anyways... 4-5lbs...

06-25-2009, 03:19 PM	#31
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	I know my nitrite test is the same scale, and my nitrate test is different. I may need to search for a SW scale for the ammonia but on the card it doesn't specify. Either way its a red sea kit and it came out as really light yellow. But really I don't think it matters since its only been 24 hours. Also I went out and added another 5 gallons... I need to add about another 5 to top it off. I temporarily arragned the rock and so far I like it but considering how much I would re arrange my FW tank during the intial phase... we'll see.... Pics once it clears up after the rock rearrangement or after I get more water... Today or tomorrow. __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami

06-25-2009, 06:51 PM	#32
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	With 50/50 light 50/50 10000K 20 gallon tall...spray painted background..... got two maxi jet 400 (106gph each) plus my canister (185 gph).... 15lbs of sand... 16lbs of sand.... 130watt PC The rock looks a lot more colorful than in the pics. __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami Last edited by unwritten law; 06-25-2009 at 07:01 PM..

06-26-2009, 09:51 PM	#33
zoalover34 Super Fish Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent, OH Posts: 1,237	Lookin good man! Looks like you could use about 10 more lbs of rock or so IMO.. Looks like it's got some good colors on it! Did you say u got it from liveaquaria? __________________ Tankless at the moment

06-26-2009, 09:55 PM	#34
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	yeah That's where I got it... I would like some more rock.. at least another 5lbs...Now if I do get more rock, would I have to do it like right now while the tank is still cycling? Or if I know it is completely cured can I get it whenever... I'm pretty sure I gotta do it now. I do think my LFS is getting more rock soon, like this week and he only gets premium pieces. __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami

06-26-2009, 10:59 PM	#35
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	It would be better to cycle any additional rock now. If you get it later, you'll have to cycle it outside the tank (in a bucket) before you can add it. At least now you have a better idea of the aquascape, so you can buy something that would look good. The flat pieces will be good for corals, down the road. It makes it easier to place them if the rocks are flattish. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

06-26-2009, 11:06 PM	#36
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	I just want a larger piece to put under all the smaller pieces on the right for now. I got a bunch of small pieces which were harder to deal with than the larger ones but I got to make a bunch of cool caves.... The entire left side is more or less hollow.. and the right side isn't bad either. I'll make a trip out to the LFS later and see if they got any rock... I'd like to get some more before my first week of cycling is through... Today my levels were about the same.. even with more than twice as much R/O water . ammonia = 0? NO2= 5+ NO3=20 Salinity= 1.023 temp= 80 alkalinity=medium/low pH= 8.0 __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami

06-26-2009, 11:33 PM	#37
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	Those nitrite spikes can get pretty high. It's a good sign of a strong cycle, though. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

06-27-2009, 12:35 AM	#38
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	yeah I am pretty sure mine is off the charts...My ammonia test is for SW but it comes up as zero.... Testing to see if it works on my other tanks wouldn't really work either cause they all should be zero... Does this mean I just some how avoided a first ammonia spike or do I just need to wait for it... __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami

06-27-2009, 10:40 AM	#39
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	It's possible you avoided the ammonia spike. With nitrites that high already, there's obviously ammonia being produced. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

06-27-2009, 08:46 PM	#40
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,350	NH3=0 NO2=5+ NO3=80! pH=~8 Salinity=1.023 Alkalinity= Normal alkalinity and nitrate went up... which I guess makes sense.. Just waiting for nitrite to drop and pH to raise a bit... still under the 8.0+ titration mark.... Most likely I'm gonna get some more rock tomorrow or Monday. My LFS wont get any new till about Thursday, so I'll just get some of their uglier base rock, which is what I want anyways... 4-5lbs... __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, yellow watchman goby, sixline wrasse, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 5 tiger barbs, 2 keyhole cichlids, yoyo loach, cherry barb, blue gourami