My new project.

[highdesertreef]

I am beginning the conversion of my 35gal fresh to a 35gal marine. here are a few pics of the tank as it stands right now. Just waiting on everything to arrive before the true conversion starts.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0291.jpghttp://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0290.jpg

[V]

true conversion indeed. Phewwweee, you got to love a challange bud lol, cause your about to have one. welcome to dood, hope you enjoy your stay.

whats your current skill level in the hobby, just starting fresh or been down the salty road before? In saying this its not to harsh ok bud, 2 factors are already against you before you begin. Its not to say it wont work, just harder to manage.

1st is surface to volume ratio, cause she's a tall narrow tank, gas exchanges are kinda bottle necked in a way, your effectivly taking a football lengthed surface area field & trying to breath though the goal zone only if my weird analogy makes sence. You can get around this by having plenty of brisk water movement at the surface.

2nd is space, cause you dont have much. aqua scaping, fish territories hell even equiptment take up space,& its very rarely vertical. so just a thought to chew on anyways.

if your still keen to use your hex tank, then saddle up, cause the your wallets about to explode..lol

[Amphibious]

:rotfl::rotfl: ^^^ What he said! ^^^ He's ma man from down unda. Ya gotta love the way he talks. :cool!::dance::rotfl::rotfl:

[highdesertreef]

There will be quite a bit of lateral flow 800gph. Hoizontal flow will be about 200gph from a hang on fuge.

[Amphibious]

Considering displacement for sand and LR, you will have about 28 gallons of volume. At 1000 gph combined lateral and horizontal flow, your critters are facing a 35 times turnover rate per hour. This would be comparable to a human on a treadmill at full speed, 24/7, for the rest of his life. Which, come to think of it, would come to an abrupt end of course. My 135 is at 20 times turn over and that gives nice currents throughout the tank. I think you should give this more thought.

[highdesertreef]

The lateral flow will be facing opposite directions and alternating upper, lower and both. The tank will only see 1000gph for maybe 2-3 hrs a day. Also when it does it will be very chaotic. I have run theis setup past a few other members of my local reef club and they aggree that that should do fine.

[Amphibious]

Perhaps, if you had explained that flow design in your first post, I would have come to a different conclusion.

When posting, whether it be a question or statement, a response will be more or less accurate depending on the amount of detail given. Lacking details leads to superfluous posting which is a waste of time.

I still think your planned flow is too much for a 35 hex. I could be wrong. I hope you will do a tank build thread on this 35 hex. Your findings, in the flow area, whether good or bad will help others trying to make a similar decision.

Dick

[highdesertreef]

Sorry still new to this. This thread will serve as my tank journal. I will absolutely let everyone know how that fow pattern works. According to my research it might be a bit much if it was a square shaped tank, but because of the dimensions and shape I believe this type of flow should work well. I will let you know what I find out as this thread progresses.

[CarmieJo]

highdesertreef, I don't think that I have said :welcome: to TR!

If you would like your photos to show up as pictures in your post copy the IMG code instead of the Direct Link code.

[highdesertreef]

I would like to post the pics that way but dont want to edit them and have multiple copies on my computer.

[lReef lKeeper]

you wont have multiple copies on your computer. they will be kept on your photobucket account and their server. just copy the [IMG] code (bottom one on photobucket) and paste it in the thread.

[highdesertreef]

Isn't that what I did?

[lReef lKeeper]

it looks like you posted the direct image link. try the bottom link in the list under the pic on PB.

[highdesertreef]

Oh okay. I'll try that next time. I should be posting more pics on Saturday.

[Skurvey Dog]

if your still keen to use your hex tank, then saddle up, cause the your wallets about to explode..lol


I have never laughed so hard in my life V! That was so funny, but very sadly true! :shout:

[Skurvey Dog]

:welcome: to TR Highdesertreef! Glad you found us and I will look forward in following your new tank build. Hope all goes well.

[highdesertreef]

Here are the latest pics. The pumps, Lighting, and One part of the sand are in. The LR and the LS arrive tomorrow. http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0324.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0323.jpg

[highdesertreef]

Half the LR and the all the LS are in the tank. I will post pic when the "dust" settles.

[CarmieJo]

The sandstorm will get you every time. Can't wait to see how it looks!

[highdesertreef]

The two best hitchhikers I have seen so far have to be the baby Pistol shrimp its only about 1/2 inch long but still pretty cool and second a cuke that came in in a piece of the LR. Not to mention about 20 little snails and who knows what else.

[CarmieJo]

There are probably lots more critters that you haven't seen yet. Have you tried spying on the tank with a flashlight after lights out?

[highdesertreef]

Not yet. I will try tonite. With the moon lighting on. I did spy a small white crab about 1/8 inch. The Cuke was dead this morning so I ja d to remove it but everything else seems to be fine. there are about a dozen or more barnacles and I think there are a few corals along with at least one condi anemone.

[highdesertreef]

Sorry there havent been any new pics yet but I am dealing with a very cloudy tank. As you can see from the previous pics it was quite clear but has been white cloudy for about 3 days now. I am keeping ammonia below 1ppm with water changes and there is no bad smell. Still trying to figure out what caused this. Any ideas on what night have caused this and/or tips on how to clear it up would be greatly appreciated.

[R. Deschain]

It's generally recommended not to change your water until the cycle is over with. Also, the sand storm will clear in time. It all looks good so far! :)

[CarmieJo]

Sounds like you have die off on the LR you ordered. Your cycle is certainly in full swing. Water changes will lengthen the cycle but may save some of the hitchhikers. The cycle won't kill the good bacteria that you need for biological filtration.

[Skurvey Dog]

Gosh.... all this hurry up and wait. J/K I just wanted to drop by and see how things were progressing for you. Cycling takes patience, but gives one time to work on all the other gazillion and one things that must be done and thought about! :D

[highdesertreef]

It started to clear up yesterday morning and is much better today. Ammonia is steady at 1ppm.

[highdesertreef]

Well this will be interesting. The remainder of the LR is comming on Saturday, but yesterday I fell off a 20ft extension ladder at work and severly sprained my foot. I can barely walk and can't put any weight on it. I hope I can put all this together.

[CarmieJo]

Oh no! I guess with a 20' fall I guess it is lucky that you did not break your neck.

[highdesertreef]

Very true.

[V]

gazillion :D


Gazillion (http://www.gregology.net/Gazillion/)

You spin me out my girl! Hyper link that baby for a word you pulled out of the hat that actualy exists...lol


Bud, ive gota know!!! - How do you keep the water from spilling?
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0324.jpg

[CarmieJo]

:rotfl: ZeroEdge aquariums are all the rage here in the US! :rotfl:

[highdesertreef]

This is a little photo intensive. Here are the pics. The two Condy's decided they liked those spots.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0517.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0518.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0519.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0520.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0521.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0522.jpg

[highdesertreef]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0523.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0524.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0525.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0526.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0527.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0528.jpg

[highdesertreef]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0529.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0530.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0531.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0532.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0533.jpg

[V]

bud, im liking your chalange here, i turn my attention for 5 min & your off & racing.

Your pictures are different, kinda got a gentle visual feel em, i like it personally- what camera you using or what light do you have running on the tank on those shots?


17/05
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0323.jpg

4/06
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0517.jpg

I might advise unless you have prevoius skills in the salty ways that you keep the stocking alittle slower bud. Fair bit of edditions given the time frame of 4 weeks bud, esspecially cause it need to cycle in that time as well;) unless of course it was a mixed bag at the start?

Id also advise just in the interest of cleaning & protection of livestock during cleaning ect ect, that you keep most things away from the glass.

Your last update was alittle while ago though, & im definately interested in your piece of ocean here, so re-new the posts lad! :agree:

[highdesertreef]

The camera is a Nikon CoolPics and a Cannon ZR200 MiniDV. Been busy. I started a new job and not much time left over. My protien skimmer went out about a two weeks ago and the tank crashed. No money for a new one yet because of the job change money is a bit tight this month. The only thing that survived is one perc clown which I added about two days before the skimmer conked out and all the sponges. I am running an old penguin power filter with purigen added for the time being, and am battling a major green film algae outbreak. Its all over the glass but the rock and sand are fine. I am now cleaning the glass about every two to three days. Any tips for the new clean up crew would be much appreciated.


P.S. I decided to let my old ten gallon run and now have the beginnings of a pod farm which is kinda cool.

[V]

im strapped for time ATM bud, but here ....... "BUMP" for chime in! :agree:

[Skurvey Dog]

Wow HDR, sorry to hear about the tank crashing. It can sometimes be very costly when you have a mechanical failure, not only moneywise, but time invested and emotional attachment. I was alarmed to hear of your fall from such a great height and firmly believe you must be part cat to come away with only a minor foot injury. Am hoping that it healed properly and you are right as rain. :up: Good luck with your new job venture and hope that it not only provides for your needs, but is rewarding also. Keep us posted. I am a little reluctant to give advise due to your current situation of a tank crash and also because you are running what I personally call a nano. Which of course it isn't. But there is very little margin for error at all with small water volumes and I feel others can do you a greater service chiming in. :D

[highdesertreef]

Wow HDR, sorry to hear about the tank crashing. It can sometimes be very costly when you have a mechanical failure, not only moneywise, but time invested and emotional attachment. I was alarmed to hear of your fall from such a great height and firmly believe you must be part cat to come away with only a minor foot injury. Am hoping that it healed properly and you are right as rain. :up: Good luck with your new job venture and hope that it not only provides for your needs, but is rewarding also. Keep us posted. I am a little reluctant to give advise due to your current situation of a tank crash and also because you are running what I personally call a nano. Which of course it isn't. But there is very little margin for error at all with small water volumes and I feel others can do you a greater service chiming in. :D

The foot healed fine. The new job is great its only a mile from my house so I am saving about $400 a month in gas which is a good thing since the tank crashed. I am just letting it recover and until I get my new skimmer. which should be in about a week. Its a CPR BAK-PAK 2+ the newest model. Getting a great price as it is factory seconds with the full warranty I.E. there is a blemish in the acrylic or something doesn't look quite right.

[highdesertreef]

how does this sound for my new clean up crew?

1 Lytechinus variegatus urchin
1 Serpent Star
2 Lysmata wurdemanni Peppermint Shrimp
5 Nerite Snails
20 Nassarius snails
3 Paguristes cadenati Scarlet hermit crabs
10 Calcinus laevimanus Zebra hermit crabs
1 Neopetrolisthes sp. Porcelain crab

[CarmieJo]

Just make sure that you avoid green brittle starfish.

[highdesertreef]

this is a caribbean brittle star.

[CarmieJo]

That should be safe, the greens are from the Indo-Pacific.

[highdesertreef]

I had one before the crash. It had been in the 10 gallon for about 1.5 years with no problems.

[highdesertreef]

My new CPR BakPak arrived today. I put it together and installed it and it was collecting skimmate within minutes. nice green stinky crap. My new clean up crew arrives on Friday via a LFS. One of the owners of the store is a marine biologist and he said that my crew should work well. Will post pics after they clean up the tank a little.

[highdesertreef]

Well lots of death, algae, more death, hours of plucking algae by hand and than more clean up crew additions later. Here a some updated pictures of the tank.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0702.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0703.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0704.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0704.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0704.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0709.jpg

[Amphibious]

Well, you got some healthy green growth. What are your water parameters?

[rayme07]

Are you using tap or RO. I would defiantly think about getting a good CUC.

[highdesertreef]

CUC? I use RO. I have been battleing the hair for months since the tank crash. The paramaters are fine. There was an ammonia spike two days ago because I accidentaly added a little to much Zoomax. but other than that no other spikes. I don't mind the algae as it adds a natural look to the tank. As long as it doesn't choke out my corals it's fine.

[Skurvey Dog]

Thanks for posting the pics. You do have some serious algae growing and perhaps it is using the nitrates to fuel it's growth and that's why your readings are staying normal. I hope that your new clean up crew does a good job for you. It's amazing what a good job they can do when you have a good combination. Red legged hermits, nerite and cerith snails all seem to love green algae and will help keep the sand bed stirred up too. You might want to pull your koralias and get them cleaned back up so they can have a long life. Look forward to seeing your progress. :up:

And most of all...... glad to hear about the new job and money you're saving on gas. Glad you have healed well and are back to snuff!

[highdesertreef]

I actually cleaned the tank and the Koralias today after work. Removed about 1 cup of algae. My new ceriths and hermits love the algae but most of the snails are less than 1/2 inch yet so they have a time keeping up. I have been moving the PH's around to deprive the algae of the mass that builds under them as well as when I do a water change I started blowing the rock off before removing the water. You should have seen the algae a few months ago. The clean up crew is now; 50 assorted ceriths, 10 nerites, 15 nassarious, 1 medium emerald crab, 5 white hermits and 5 blue leg hermits. I plan to add a few chestnut turbans as well when the LFS gets them back in stock. What sucks is that the nearest LFS is now 60 miles away. The closer store closed.

[rayme07]

I have a question how do you clean you power heads with a bleach solution or something different. Thanks :)

[highdesertreef]

heat water to 200 degrees, soak until you can handle the heat, than scrub with a stiff bristled toothbrush (one bought for this job, not yours or anyone elses). No soap, No bleach, No chemicals. All are dabgerous to your tank and bleach is espacially bad for you.

[highdesertreef]

Okay sorry I have not kept this up very well. But I might be doing another upgrade. This will be the big one. The last one I am allowed. Going to 100+ gallons. Depending of what size tank I can get my hands on and for how much. Got a guy who's gonna hook me up with dry rock and I am going to use Argonite (sp?) play sand mixed with the 100+lbs of LS I already have. I plan a long cycle/cure process. So even if I start in about 3-4 months it will be maybe a year from now until there is live stock in the tank. Except maybe my yellow tail damsels... JK. I will be needing help with plumbing in the sump. but stll in the planning stage right now.

[CarmieJo]

Sounds good. It used to be possible to buy aragonite play sand but I've not heard of anyone getting their hands on some for a couple of years. Whatever you go with if it isn't packaged for reefs I'd subject it to the vinegar test.

[highdesertreef]

We have a place in town that makes simulated stone. They also sell the sedimentary products to the public. They have 100% aragonite sand very cheap.

[V]

wow bud, natral look indeed..:eek: that was some battle on your hands..lol

earlier note, dont forget you can use vinagar for cleaning, even if you dont clean the solution off completely (which you would anyways) it would be consumed by your bacteria in the system.

good luck with your next step bud.

[Iron E]

I read this thread through and couldn't find mention of a UV sterilizer. Wouldn't that help w/ the algae thing?

Tom

[highdesertreef]

ok so this has been put on hold by the wife. She decided (last night) she wants me to buy the stand not build the stand. So now I need to save up even more money to do this upgrade. Oh well more time to plan.

[highdesertreef]

Started a new thread dedicated to the 120 build.

[highdesertreef]

Well my tank is FINALLY recovering from the algae outbreak. So here are some shots I took today.

Front
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0658.jpg
Right Side
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0659.jpg
Left Side
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/DSCN0660.jpg
New Zoas I got for my galaxia
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0801.jpg
Yes this is the 15 polyp colony I got for Christmas.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0802.jpg
Kenya Tree I also got for my galaxia
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0804.jpg

[highdesertreef]

A few of my fish. Yes I know that rabbitfish will outgrow my current tank, but I am going to upgrade in about 6 months and It will be one of the first in to the 120.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0805.jpg
This is the hardiest damn fish I own. It has survived 4 tank crashes since I got it 4 years ago.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0806.jpg
Monti Cap. If my son quites droping things in the tank maybe this will finall get a chance to grow.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0807.jpg
Unknown clams that came with my TBS LR.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0808.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0812.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk258/CU_kills/IMG_0813.jpg

[rayme07]

Your tank looks great. I'm glad your algae problem is getting better. :)

[highdesertreef]

Glad I took those early this morning. Now I've got a bacteria bloom. Did my water change last night with the last of a bottle of Cycle. I do this with every water change to replace any bacteria lost in the change. It must have been more concentrated being the very last of the bottle, because the water is milky white and the skimmer is going nuts.

[highdesertreef]

Your tank looks great. I'm glad your algae problem is getting better. :)

The rabbitfish loves the algae. Hopefully I wont have the problem in the new tank. Looking to have a tang in there as well.

[CarmieJo]

I'd save my money on the cycle. There is very little bacteria in the water (it lives in the rock and sand) so you are not going to be loosing any appreciable amount through a water change. I don't know what is in that stuff but I wonder if it it could be acting like fertilizer for the algae?

[highdesertreef]

After this I will do that. Been doing it for years it was something from my FW days.

[Skurvey Dog]

It is definately looking much better HD. :up: I know you were having a major battle with the algeas. I know it feels good to start heading in a positive direction. I like the new zoas.

[highdesertreef]

They are my new favorites