My Tank

[unleashed]

So, here we go. You all heard me talk the talk so now its time for me to walk the walk.

Yesterday I moved the tank into my bedroom filled her up with freshwater then added salt when i was sure that there was no leaking. Miracle Mud was also added last night.

Pics from 6am this morning (NZ time):

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007092.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007093.jpg

As you can see, the water is very cloudy. All of the pumps were not on at this time to help the particles settle.


About 8.30am with lights and pumps on:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007094.jpg

[unleashed]

About 9am (NZ time) I bought some cured (15 years +) aquacultured live rock to. Becuase of its quality, I am able to add stock in straight away without having to worry about cycling. Also got an Azure Damsel (named Azzy) and some caulerpa


LR in box:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007095.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007096.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007097.jpg


Azure Damsel drip acclimating for 2 hours

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007098.jpg



BTW, sorry for the poor quality pics. These photos were taken with my cellphone

[cocoa_pleco]

nice! what size tank? 55g?

[unleashed]

nice! what size tank? 55g?
yeah. with 20g custom miracle mud sump

[Rue]

:19:

Nice! Need more pics!!!

[unleashed]

:19:

Nice! Need more pics!!!
will do

I'm just waiting for the cloudy crap to disappear. It was relatively clear after I go home from my exam - then i did some aquascaping which kind of cloudied the water a little bit more

[Rue]

...yeah, the cloudy water sucks! But I was surprised to find out it didn't take longer to settle down than it actually did...

[cocoa_pleco]

...yeah, the cloudy water sucks! But I was surprised to find out it didn't take longer to settle down than it actually did...

same with me, it takes only about 12-24hrs

[unleashed]

even though the water is slightly cloudy, the damsel is still out and about exploring the tank

[unleashed]

more pics taken this afternoon:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007101.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/19102007099.jpg

Will be getting more LR and possibly a 150W MH tomorrow as well

[TowBoater]

Never seen a 55g like that, thats cool! Good job on the tank but yea, I would look into more LR.

[crackatinny]

Somehow missed this one unleashed, I wish I had the courage to go a saltwater.

Keep us updated:thumb:

[spudbuds]

Very nice, that's going to look great. Good job!

[CAF]

Looking Good!!! Thanks for the pics!!!

[2manyfish]

Your tank is looking awesome! thumbs2: Love the damsel too!! :malelovies:

[unleashed]

Your tank is looking awesome! thumbs2: Love the damsel too!! :malelovies:
The thing I find with semi-aggressive damsels such as the azure i have, is that you can't keep them in a tank by themselves for too long, or the whole tank becomes their territory.

Also getting about 5kg more LR for the display and about the same amount for the sump

[stunner]

That's a cool setup. I've never seen a 55 gallon like that, what are the dimensions on it?

[unleashed]

well, just got back from buying more LR

Found a small BTA which means that I will have to upgrade my lights within the next fortnight

EDIT: Also forgot to say that I bought a nice size Kleins Butterfly

[unleashed]

here are some pics of the Miracle Mud sump:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007105.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007104.jpg

[unleashed]

got some more pics. Note the Klein's Butterfly and the new aquascape with the new LR

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007109.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007108.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007107.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007106.jpg

Again, sorry for the poor pics ... these photos were taken with my cellphone

[unleashed]

more pics taken when the white light was out:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007113.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007112.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007111.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/20102007110.jpg

[squirt_12]

WOW...very nice....that mud pump is very cool and it looks complicating....lol....i love your fish...what else ar you planning on putting into it??

[unleashed]

WOW...very nice....that mud pump is very cool and it looks complicating....lol....i love your fish...what else ar you planning on putting into it??
Miracle Mud sumps aren't too complicated to set up.

Here is a LINK (http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/miracle_application.html)

The stock plan is:

2x cleaner shrimp

2x fire/blood shrimp

1x Royal Gramma

1x Mandarin Fish

2x Clarkii or Percula Clowns (Possibly - depends if I can think of any exotic fish)

4x Blue eye cardinals

Plus numerous corals and other sessile inverts

[squirt_12]

WOW...that tank is going to be well stocked...i can't wait to see the finished product.thumbs2:

[coachfraley]

Is it just me, or does that look more like a yellow tailed damsel than a royal gramma?

Damsel
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20060817190554/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/p_70444.jpg

Gramma
http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/fish/basslets/Grammas/Gloreto_files/image001.jpg

[Nick89]

Cool tank, saltwater tanks must be a lot of work and expensive to keep up with.

[2manyfish]

I think, Coach Fraley, that he means he will have a royal gramma in addition to the damsel and butterfly. For a total of 10 fish....


Your tank is looking good Unleashed! :thumb:
Just a couple of comments; because your tank is new and you added more rock it would be a good idea to keep close tabs on your water. Make sure you don't start another cycle. Butterflies will not tolerate any amount of ammonia...and add that mandarin after your tank has been up and running for at least 6 months. You want enough of a pod population to feed the fish. Have you ever heard of a mandarin diner? I will see if I can find the link for it....

[2manyfish]

Here you go....

www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_diner.html

[coachfraley]

I think, Coach Farley, that he means he will have a royal gramma in addition to the damsel and butterfly. For a total of 10 fish....


Oops!!!!

BTW, you have a great looking tank, nice start!thumbs2:

[spudbuds]

Very nice looking tank. I've got to start a SW tank. :sbiggrin:

[cocoa_pleco]

is this your first aquarium unleashed? i just looked at your profile.

mandarin fish are very cool. theyre really colorful. i saw a documentary on SW fish in the ocean on the discovery channel and they said that mandarin fish are going endangered from a short aquarium life span.

[unleashed]

is this your first aquarium unleashed? i just looked at your profile.

mandarin fish are very cool. theyre really colorful. i saw a documentary on SW fish in the ocean on the discovery channel and they said that mandarin fish are going endangered from a short aquarium life span.

no. I have had two marine aquariums prior to this one and have kept f/w since i was 5.

coachfraley - that photo of that damsel is not the species I have. Mine is an Azure Damsel which has similar coloration. (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)



Your tank is looking good Unleashed!
Just a couple of comments; because your tank is new and you added more rock it would be a good idea to keep close tabs on your water. Make sure you don't start another cycle. Butterflies will not tolerate any amount of ammonia...and add that mandarin after your tank has been up and running for at least 6 months. You want enough of a pod population to feed the fish. Have you ever heard of a mandarin diner? I will see if I can find the link for it....

This LR is fully cured and comes from some one of the most experienced reef aquarium keepers in New Zealand. He uses the same LR to set up MAF Importation Quarantine Facility holding tanks (he is an importer of stock and hardware). He also uses this rock to setup small tanks and then flog them off to newbies to the marine hobby. BTW, I am also monitoring the levels daily just to make sure.

[Rue]

You're making quick progress!!! Get a better camera! LOL...I wanna see lots of pics!!!thumbs2:

[coachfraley]

I really like the azure damsels...nice buy!

[unleashed]

You're making quick progress!!! Get a better camera! LOL...I wanna see lots of pics!!!thumbs2:
We only have a digital camera at the moment plus our cellphones (which I have been using). The camera that I used to have to take pics of my old bangaii cardinals (photo entered in POTM) fell in the ocean :(

[Rue]

Oh no! A bit too hard to get it back I betcha! :1:

Does your Mom have one you can borrow? Or the neighbour?

[unleashed]

Oh no! A bit too hard to get it back I betcha! :1:

Does your Mom have one you can borrow? Or the neighbour?


Even though I have a dive license, it might be a bit hard to find the camera in the harbour. However, will just have to swallow my pride and use the digital camera.

BTW, my butterfly has extremely expensive tastes. He likes to eat expensive human foods such as whitebait (around $110NZD per kg) and fresh New Zealand scallops ($50NZD per kg) ... finely chopped of course :c7:. He won't touch pellet foods.

[unleashed]

I have one cleaner shrimps which are acclimating now. Cost me $65NZD. Will post pics soon

[unleashed]

just another update

I have just added a 150w 14k Aqua Medic MH as well as an amazing purple fungia coral

Will be getting pics up later tonight

[Rue]

...geez...you're so slow with the pictures! :laugh1blue:

Just kidding...looking forward to seeing the fungia...

[CAF]

PICS mate! We NEED Pics!!!

LOL

Thanks for sharing your prgress with us.

[unleashed]

couple of pics

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/24102007123.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/24102007125.jpg

[Rue]

Very nice! VERY purple!

But doesn't it need to be on the substrate?

[CAF]

Thanks for sharing!!! I Love the pics

[unleashed]

Very nice! VERY purple!

But doesn't it need to be on the substrate?
In the wild, fungia corals are actually found on the rocks (i have seen them myself). I have moved him to the substrate and in some shade to prevent him from being burned by the MH. He came from T5HO before going into my tank

[unleashed]

well. About 30 mins ago I managed to experience the beauty of life and the pain of death.

My cleaner shrimp decided to give birth to her live young. it was an amazing sight. However, the azure damsel had an all-you-can-eat buffet of baby cleaner shrimps. I did manage to get about 10 into my fuge, but the chances of their survival is minimal :(

[Futureboy]

Oh thats a shame

your tanks coming along really nicely it should be a beautiful sight when its done

and just like everyone else has said..I need to start a salt water!

[unleashed]

A few updates with pics on their way

My cleaner shrimp shed its shell the other day and had babies (none of which survived).

I found that the way that my TUNZE Nanostream was positioned was creating a 'whirlpool' like effect on the surface which was stopping particles from going down the overflow. I have just now moved the Nanostream to the other side of the tank and this appears to have solved the problem.

Last night I also attached my AquaMedic Oceanlight 150 pendant to the roof about 8-9" off the surface.

The biggest change of all.....

I had a very big diatom problem on my sand bed, glass and rocks. I have removed 99% of the sand (some small areas I couldn't get to...) and have it cooking with some dried rock. Since doing this there are no signs of diatoms apart from this parts where i haven't been able to get to with my magnetic scrapers.

Pics soon .....

[unleashed]

some pics:

full tank shot
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/29102007126.jpg


No Sand
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/29102007127.jpg


Mr Butterfly
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/29102007130.jpg

[unleashed]

Two more pics:

Mr Damsel
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/29102007129.jpg


Mrs Shrimp
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/aucklandreefer/29102007128.jpg

[Special-K]

love the pics! i'll probably get a damsel like that when my 12g comes :)

[cocoa_pleco]

nice!

im glad my 55g had extremely little diatom algae in the early stages. the few little patches have left now

[squirt_12]

VERY NICE....ok just clarify this for me please.....why do you not have any sand in the bottom????

[cocoa_pleco]

new tanks (under 4 months) are known to get this pestering red diatom algae thats hard to remove. it builds up on the sand and LR, so i think he had so much on the sand that he had to remove it and clean it

[squirt_12]

new tanks (under 4 months) are known to get this pestering red diatom algae thats hard to remove. it builds up on the sand and LR, so i think he had so much on the sand that he had to remove it and clean it
o...ok thanks for that cocoa....so he would beable to put the same sane back in right??? like after it gets cleaned?

[cocoa_pleco]

definitely, it occurs in most new tanks only

[unleashed]

There are several reasons why I removed the sand.

* Diatoms started with the introduction of the halide
* Apparently all corals prefer BB (bare bottom) tanks as the particles which are normally found on the substrate are blown around for them to eat
* It gives the tank a nice clean look

However, there is the possibility that I **may** add the sand back once it has finished cooking.