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zotzer

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Posts posted by zotzer

    zotzer's 46G bowfront

    in Dedicated Tank (Build) Forum

    So, I guess patience is a virtue that I don't posess. :) Bubbles are already creeping up the neck of the skimmer higher than even 3 hours ago, so that is good.

     

    Stuck a tiny bag of SeaGel in the intake chamber of the fuge (it's the only place I can find to stick any media at the moment..the bag wouldn't fit in the fuge's pre-skimmer), and I can actually make out some detail on the rocks now. Yes, the fog is lifting! This is good, as I still have some rock with nice little corals on it waiting to go in, but I have to be able to see. No worries, Steve. I have them in a bucket of SW with a small pump in there.

     

    Matt, if you read this....did you put anything over the overflow section of the cpr fuge, to prevent critters or macroalgae from getting in and clogging up the output? It's the only thing that I could forsee causing this thing to back up and cause a flood. I was thinking of eventually putting some nerite snails in the fuge, and worry about them venturing over the wall to the overflow.

     

    Saw two teeny tiny starfish climbing on the glass. This is too cool!! :)

     

    Thanks for bearing with the newbie, all!!

    Tracy

    zotzer's 46G bowfront

    in Dedicated Tank (Build) Forum

    Thanks Jason!

     

    I can't really find anything to adjust on this skimmer other than the height of the cup. It's still not pushing bubbles up into the cup. I went online and downloaded the instructions. It says it's normal for it not to skim at first (although this is a used one...so I don't know if the same applies), and that having hands in the tank will stop it from skimming due to the oils on your hands. Well...I guess I will just give it some time and see what happens.

     

    Water cleared up a bit but has a long way to go. I can only see the basic formation of the aquascape. Looks kind of eerie.

     

    I've already spotted a few little critters on the glass, though.

     

    Tracy

    zotzer's 46G bowfront

    in Dedicated Tank (Build) Forum

    · Edited by zotzer

    Well, I'm now "official". I have the tank set up, filled, and gurgling away!

     

    It was a long day of driving all over Northern Virginia to collect goodies, hauling it all in the house, and moving heavy stuff all around, but it's all done. Well, no lights yet. Will do that tomorrow, as the timer I bought is not going to work. Back to the drawing board on that one.

     

    The process was certainly not helped by a two hour power outage right in the middle of my aquascaping. It made me realize that I was glad to have bought the little $10 circuit-sensing battery-powered air pump. If there had been any higher life forms in there, at least it would have provided them some oxygen.

     

    I'd post pics, but right now, it's all just a foggy mess. Maybe I will awaken tomorrow morning to a pretty sight.

     

    Thanks to Steve(outlaw) for a wonderful deal on the tank, skimmer, lights, and lovely diverse rock! And to Matt (heartbreak) for a bargain on one of his old aquafuges. There was a little panic when I finally turned the power on, as I thought the HOB fuge would certainly overflow. I dialed back the flow, and it seems nice and steady.

     

    Question for everyone....how long before this remora starts sending bubbles up to the collection cup? I can see bubbles underneath, but nothing is coming up and over...even with the cup on the lowest setting.

     

    Thanks to everyone at WAMAS and this board, for being such awesome resources.

     

    I'm also officially POOPED (and wet..)! :)

     

    Tracy

    stocking list

    in New to the Hobby

    Hi all,

    Being so new to this, I could use your help. I think I've come up with a stocking list for my future reef tank (just talking the fishy part here). What order should I plan on adding them? There's no rush here...I have a very small quarantine tank, so this will all happen over the course of several months. Oh...the tank will be a 46G with large HOB refugium.

     

    So, here's the list....in what order do I add them to their new home?

     

    Basslet (pacific swales?)

    Flasher Wrasse (McCoskers?)

    Pair of Clowns (some variant of perc or ocellaris)

    Orange-spot blenny

    snail-only CUC

     

    Other "possibles" would be:

    Helfrichi firefish, or

    Falco Hawkfish

     

    This is all a work in progress, so I am open to all suggestions on placement order and/or species.

     

    Thanks for your help!!

    Tracy

    Do You Quarantine Your New Fish and Dip Your New Corals???

    in General Discussion

    Well, I don't even have a reef tank yet (picking it up this weekend), but have the QT up and cycling, and some flatworm Exit already in the bin o' fish stuff. :) While doing research on this hobby, I just read TOO many horror stories and realized I will do whatever I can to learn from the mistakes of others. :)

     

    While on this topic, what is the best all-around coral dip that people would recommend?

     

    Great topic!!!

    Tracy

    Bare bones quarintine tank

    in General Discussion

    I plan on having a small main tank (plan was for 30G, but now 46g), and will probably only keep two fish.

     

    Just got the QT, a 6g Eclipse. Drs. Foster and Smith had it on sale for $43, and it has everything you'd need (except maybe a heater and some PVC). It's acrylic, lightweight, and fully enclosed, so no one will jump out. Plus, it is easy on the eyes.

     

    I think it comes in a 12g as well, if you are looking for something larger.

     

    Tracy

    T5 lamp configuration

    in General Discussion

     

    the light spread and blend is very even. i like it a lot so far.

     

    I should have my coral into the holding tank tonight, i'll try and get some pics if anything is happy.

     

    That would be awesome! This board has been a godsend....everyone is so helpful!

    I am really hoping to make it to the social tomorrow to meet some of you.

     

    Tracy

    T5 lamp configuration

    in General Discussion

    Well, it looks like I will be taking the plunge and setting up my own tank, versus the all-in-one idea.

     

    I want to go with T5 lighting. In a 4-bulb fixture, what combination of lamps do people suggest? (actinic, blue, aquablue, sunlight.....seems like there are many choices!!)

     

    I do not plan on keeping SPS corals.

     

    I appreciate your help!!!

     

    Tracy

    nano reef plans

    in New to the Hobby

    also buy your sand from PA they have the best deals

    40lbs of sand for 24$!!! and 20lbs for 16$ (for live sand)

    HAVE FUN!!!

     

    Thanks for the tips! PA does seem to have great prices overall. I have a HUGE wishlist page there (and yes, 40lbs of live sand is in it!). I only wish they offered deals on shipping for such big orders. Oh well, when I'm back from vacation, I'll get this project started!

     

    So far, I think the long term stocking list is:

    -lots of ricordea and other miscellaneous easy corals

    -frogspawn (and if eventually I get the nerve, a BTA for the clowns)

    -a pair of onyx or picasso percs

    - blenny (probably a barnacle blenny)

    - small flasher wrasse

    OR -a little falco hawkfish

    - standard issue CUC

     

    It's so fun to plan, but I need to get down to business! :)

    Tracy

    nano reef plans

    in New to the Hobby

    And just keep watching the boards for socials that occur at different LFS. It'll be the best way to check out a new place and meet new people at the same time. --Mike

     

    Sounds fun... Thanks, Mike!

    nano reef plans

    in New to the Hobby

    · Edited by zotzer

    Thank you all for the nice welcomes!

     

    No doubt...when I stumbled on WAMAS and discovered membership was only $20 per year, I jumped on it. I am smart enough to know what I don't know...which in THIS case is just about everything! LOL

     

    One reason for the all-in-one, versus collecting items for less and doing it myself, is because I know that there is a big learning curve and this way, I'm a wee bit ahead of the game. There are goo gobs of these things out there, but I really didn't want to tinker too much with modifying them. After a bit (well, a lot!) of research, I knew I wanted a skimmer, a refugium, and all bio-filtration, and the Finnex was the single system that pretty much comes the way I want it.

     

    And indeed, I presume I will want to go bigger one day, and this will let me learn a bit while I figure out how to "do it myself" on a bigger system. Have seen photos of several ricordea-dominated tanks, which I LOVE, and seeing how tiny those things are, and the expense involved in acquiring them, small has an advantage there as well! :)

     

    Thanks for all of the tips on the live rock and sand too!! When I am ready to start adding things, can I just post in the forum that I am looking to buy it?

     

    I plan to venture out to BRK one day this week too. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit!!! I see they have Picasso Clownfish on their website, so I will ask them about the black true percs as well.

     

    James reiterated Premium Aquatics. One reason I thought of getting my LR from them, is that I plan to order my tank and supplies from them as well. Sounds as if they are a nice, reputable supplier?

     

    I forgot to ask another question, which might be simple, but I don't know the answer. I plan to just get a small glass tank and sponge filter from Walmart or something to use as a quarantine tank. Do I put the filter sponge in the back of the main tank *while* it is cycling, or after, or does it matter? (I plan to just stash it in one of the chambers until I need it for new additions).

     

    Thanks again, guys! Look forward to meeting you all in person one day. I can invite everyone over when it's all set up for some pizza and beer and critiques. :) That is, if you don't mind big dogs...my other high-dollar hobby (that, and an addiction to cruising. Heaven help me when I realize I need to take up scuba-diving!) LOL Two of my three pooches can be seen here.... www.zotzybriards.com

     

    Tracy

    nano reef plans

    in New to the Hobby

    Hi all! I am brand new here (live in Ashburn and work in Herndon), and have been actively lurking for the past week or so.

     

    As a friend was setting up a new FOWLR tank in his new home about a month ago, I got to researching this hobby, and am interested in setting up a small reef tank of my own. While studying up, I stumbled on WAMAS and am SO GLAD I did!!!

     

    Anyway, I don't even have a tank yet, though I have shopping carts filled up all over the WWW. :) This will be a long slow process. I probably won't get started until August, and envision 6 months or so until it is really on it's way to what I envision.

     

    I figured I'd post up my plans and ask for some feedback, since nothing is yet set in stone, and there is time to change course.

     

    The tank I have my eye on is a Finnex 30g glass tank, which comes ready to go with a protein skimmer, T5 lighting, and a refugium (with light). The only initial add-ons I have planned right now are a hydor-flow for the stock system, and the addition of a Koralia 1 or 2. Oh, and of course a heater (titanium or glass for this?)

     

    I plan to use a combination of 20lbs Arag-alive oolite, and 20lbs arag-alive fiji sand, and another 40lbs of LR. My first question... where to get the live rock? Right now I am leaning toward Premium Aquatics cured LR. I looked at TBS, but feel that may be too "alive" for my goals. Would like to have a little more control over what ends up in such a small tank.

     

    Ultimately, I envision a softie tank....ricordea, mushrooms, zoa. And I plan to add either an easy anemone imposter (ie torch or frogspawn), or maybe an anemone if I get brave and feel confident. Recommendations here would be greatly appreciated.

     

    As for fishies....I'd really like to find a pair of Onyx True Percs, but haven't figured out how to find a pair which will reliably turn black. Marine Scene said I'd just have to take my chances with young A. Percs and hope they turn black....that can't be right, can it? That or Picassos. I have a long time to decide.

     

    The only others I really plan to add are a blennie (because I LOVE them)....maybe a little Barnacle Blennie (but would like suggestions for a small tank), and a Goby/Shrimp pairing.

     

    Also, for salt, since I will be starting from scratch, should I go standard IO, or use IO Reef?

     

    Lastly, has anyone done a snail-only clean up crew? Is this even feasible to leave out the crabs?

     

    I look forward to getting to know you all, and relying on your collective wisdom during this process. I'll be out most of the morning/afternoon at a dog show and transporting a rescue dog up to Baltimore, but look forward to responding to your feedback when I get home.

     

    Thanks all, and nice to "meet" you!

    Tracy

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