Jennylynn9579

Just wanted to update everybody, I brought baby fish home today, he's already in my tank, he was essentially QTd while growing up, and he's great! Out in the open almost immediately, right front and center! Gregg did a great job raising this guy, I can't wait to get him a few friends after he grows a bit more :-)

Thanks everyone for your input, I think I'm going to go with the Apex as I originally planned. From everything I can gather, it seems pretty user friendly, and as nice as the Reef Angel sounds, I'm just not quite that technically inclined, and don't have the time/brainpower needed to run the thing. I just wish the Apex didn't require extra (expensive) bits and pieces to run my Sol's and vortechs! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Is anyone using AI Sols? I have 2 now, will be getting two more for the upgrade, but I think there was some other accessory needed to run them with the Apex. And will the Apex run vortechs straight out of the gate or will I have to buy something else for that too? I assume the standard grade ph probe is fine, I wouldn't need the lab grade, right? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Which controller does everyone use? Im leaning towards the apex for the web and phone control capability, but open to consider other units.

Thanks! Good to know, my maxi minis are fine and I don't do anything for them. The RBTAs are good too, one split yesterday, both clones looking fine.

<br /><br /><br />No problem, I still have all the stickers and stuff on it, never saw water, so I'm hoping they'll let me return it, otherwise I'm going to have the ritz-Carlton of QT tanks! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Is the car for these similar to most other nems? I have 3 RBTA's and 2 maxi minis, will a rock new be OK in a 150 with these? My RBTAs are clones of one, not different specimens. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What do you think about time frame to add them? I figured I could add them about a month apart, meaning I'd QT the first one, then add it, QT the next for a month, add him, and so on... Is a month too short of a time to allow the tank to catch up to the bio load? I wouldn't be adding anything big between them, only small guys, like a royal gramma, some kind of goby, etc. I already have a pair of ocellaris, flame angel, 1 blue green chromis, red filefish, and a stupid yellowtail damsel that was purchased in a moment of insanity when i first got the tank, but has not been a problem...yet. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think some of you guys might have gotten confused, I never planned to get all of these fish, they're a list of the ones I like, and was looking for advice as far as how many would be good and what order to introduce them. The only one on that list that is a MUST HAVE is the purple. I know the purple and yellow are both zebrasoma, which is why I was concerned about the order they are added, because the yellow is almost a must have for me. Aquatic obsession, why would you avoid the white cheek, is it because of size? The draw of the white cheek for me was because I LOVE the Achilles, but know that is clearly not an option. It's so hard to choose between them all, but I think I am leaning towards Kole, Purple, Yellow, Hippo, in that order, and I plan to get them as small as possible. If I have any luck, my husband will love this tank enough to want his own big tank ( he wants an eel, which will NOT go in my tank), and I can then get a couple of the others. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Haha, no police needed, I asked if you were me, HOW MANY and what order. I was thinking 3 at most.

Henry, I have a brand new 55- gallon if you're interested, Id be willing to take 40 for it, I planned to use it as a sump but if was too tall.

I am thinking about the stock list for my upgrade, was thinking about the different tangs and the order they should be introduced. There are a bunch I like but obviously wouldnt be putting all in there. Out of the list, how many and what order would you introduce if you were me. I like : Purple* must have Chevron Yellow Kole Sailfin Hippo or powder blue White cheek It's a 150, lots of rockwork and hiding places. Just looking for advice, thanks!!

Good to know, I was hesitant to get into the acid thing, it's a little intimidating. I'm probably going to set the rocks up tomorrow or next weekend, I've got several projects going at once, but I'm tired of waiting! Do you think there's any benefit to a vinegar bath before the LC? Or is it too weak to make a difference? I've also heard of a bleach dip as well. I don't want to go through unnecessary steps that might cause problems down the line though...

Thanks! That was really helpful, I'm a step by step kind of person... After all was said and done, could those brute cans be used for mixing water for water changes or do the chemicals permeate the plastic? So you didn't do the acid bath, I'm guessing? I was wondering if that step is needed, I've read conflicting opinions.

I had a doggone snail climb into mine... Blocked the thing up almost 100%!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So Jim, what did you end up doing? I'm in the same boat, same rock and all, wondering how it turned out for you to help me decide what to do. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This was the original plan. Obviously my measurements on there won't apply. The green pipes bring water into the sump, red takes water away. In the center is my return pump and pump that would feed my carbon reactor, however, I reconsidered that and now plan to do a bigger pump with a manifold to allow for expansion. We toyed with being able to add in an automated water change system that just needed a couple valves turned. The refugium flow would be controlled with a ball valve. Will also have ball valves on both overflows. Would I need valves on the return pipes or check valves only? I think I considered a true union ball valve for that. Plan to use a combination of hard PVC and spa flex for easier moving of components. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm not worried about having to use the glass baffles, glass is cheap in comparison to acrylic sheeting. If I had cut those, that would be a different story. I was wondering what it would cost to get a bare bones basic acrylic sump made. I'm thinking 3 chambers, skimmer and overflow, return and heaters in the middle, refugium on the right. I had drawn up plans for the plumbing, I'll have to go back to find the pictures and I'll copy it into this thread. My skimmer is about 22" high, so I need clearance to pop the cup off and get it out over the front of the sump, which I never could've done with the 55. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ok new bump in the road- my husband put the 55 under the tank to see how it fit, and I underestimated how tall it is under there and realized there's no way to easily work under there :-( I am just glad I didn't silicone the baffles in place! Time to redesign the sump... Thinking of going acrylic but I don't want to drop 300-400 on it. So much to consider...

Ok, at least I now have a game plan. I didn't want to cure the rock separately because I wanted to build the structures and leave them in place. I have stability from when I bought my current tank, the lady said it would help with bacteria and stuff after re-setting up. So I guess it'll be time to order sand soon!!! Yay!

So I finally got the glass cut for my sump and will be siliconing tomorrow, and gathering all the plumbing bits for my 150 upgrade. I'm having trouble figuring out how to move forward with cycling. I have about 40 lbs of rock in my current tank, and 30-ish lbs of sand, which I will not be using in the new tank, except for a cupful or so for seeding purposes. I will use all new sand, most likely the arag-alive oolite. Now, I have about 90-100 lbs of dry rock, most of which is brand new BRS reef saver rock, Pukani, and branching rock. There is maybe 15 lbs of reef saver rock that was used for a short period of time but has been dry for over 6 months and there is no dead matter visible. I plan to use acrylic rods to support my rock structures. My questions are, what is the best way to go about cycling, given the above? Do I build my aquascaping, then soak/cure in a tub, or build them, place them and cycle everything together in the tank? And is there any benefit to using my old water from changes to fill the new tank? Will I have another cycle when I add all my current rock/livestock? Would it be beneficial to maybe add most of my live rock and leave the fish in the old tank until a cycle passes? Sorry for all the noob questions, once I get this thing up and running, I'm comfortable. I've just never started from scratch before! Thanks for any help :-) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So I drove from Baltimore down to BRK for the first time, I needed some emerald crabs and I wanted to see what they were about. Someone snapped up all the crabs, BUT I scored a Helfrichi firefish for $60, and he's so darn cute! He is acclimating well and already ate pellets! Loved the store, my husband even said he liked it better than othe LFS we've been to in MD! We will definitely go back!

^ +1 to everything, this was my first meeting, and I was really happy to walk out with a gift card and 2 extra frags! Thanks to Graham for the highlighter stag, I can pick out his sealed bags anyway, and I got a good size chunk of red monti cap from someone else! THANKS to everyone! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah, now that I look at them in brighter light, I don't see the spots on the fins. They look EXTRA grumpy, my watchman has permanent grouch face :-) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He's a blue spotted watchman goby. I have a yellow one, he's quite a character. Congrats on keeping up such a great looking tank for so long!