cracker

My Nitrites are skyrocketing already,. and ammonia dropping quick.....seems too quick for me.... Any ideas why this would happen so quick? Its only been a week. Semi cured i suppose, maybe stuff doesnt die that badly after all.

Jeez .....have another beer Reef!!!

Filling with a 1000 GPH bilge pump. Takes 20 minutes to fill to about the 900litre mark. not too bad, I wouldnt get a bigger pump in the top opening anyway....Nice to sit back and admire the harbour late at night anyway....quite pleasant!

1.5 tonne trailer unit that will probably rust rather quickly!!! Tank holds 1000 litres.

Ordered the unit for the main tank. I am building it!! The top is a 2200 x 800x 40 piece of black granite! Sitting on varnished Macrocarpa legstands.

I have got Sump in place. New rock cycling! Time to be patient...I hate being patient!! Total sump volume = 351 litres, (At the level shown)

Proper Schmoper!!! I have heard that Jansens is the same as Auckland hospitals. They use it in their dialysis machines.

Look up phytoplankton on the web....It is lots of different things in the water column....Brine shrimp etc need certain things. Rotifers etc, These are all phytoplankton or types of plankton. A cleaner and Fire shrimp are actually classifies as "MacroZoo Plankton". Have a squizz on the net....interesting.

I got up at 1AM and couldnt find the bugger..... :-? Try tonight.

Ive just got home and spotted my crab sitting next to the suspect Acro. The Actnics are still running. Will get him tonight! exactly the same crab, very difficult to make out unless you know what youre looking for. Cheers Westy!

What time did you get him?

Damn, I got one Acro with the same problem..... And... I got the same type of crab... :-? Oh well 3AM this morning I'll get him!

I think I have tested it in the past.....was the best I found...same stuff I use. will be interesting with a colourometer!

Honestly Michael, you dont need your sump bigger than half of your display volume. You can still have another 3rd tank for a 30% water change tank, but 4 six footers may be overkill. What was the main reason you were thinking of this system?

Bloomin' heck...Jestski, you must be special!!

Pie, it does look better then Takapuna though......Much better.... :-?

No issues here either actually...that's what skimmers are for!!!! It keeps your skimmers on their toes!!

I run mine at about 26. This gives an allowance of 2 or 3 degrees in the hotter months when temp increases are difficult to control. Chillers make life easier if you have one. 29 degrees is about as high as you want to let it get really. Last year I added heaps of ice cubes as topoff water on the really sweltering days! Should get a chiller really......

Also, try and remove all your bio balls and filter wool as these assist with Nitrate production. if you have lots, do it slowly so as not to shock the bacteria population. Even a small pouch of filter wool can produce heaps of nitrate. Also you could just try and move your return pump as far away from the sump return as possible. This will help with the "Fine bubble" problem.

780W x 1180L x 600H

New sump delivered and pretty much ready to go. I have built an inlet channel, (LH side photo) that flows main inlet all the way to the far end of the tank. This channel allows additions, such as rowaphos and carbon bags when required. It also flows into a stage one chamber for skimmer number one. 100% plastic cistern valve in side for auto top off following filtration. Now for the cabinet.......

NOW I have time to sort out what I'm going to sit this bloody display tank on. 2100x800mm wide may require either a custom cabinet or something made by myself....depends on time etc.....got a couple of months to think about it now whilst the above is cycling!!

Today I have started the arduous process of curing sand and rock/debris for the new sump setup. Some was semi cured, so hopefully wont take too long. Then again, curing 80 odd kilos of sand may take a bit..... :-? (Half Coral sand and half 1mm Aragonite.....great mix!! Looks nice). Running airstones and a small hang on filter to grab the crap out. Mainly sand in the glass tank with a bit of LR. The bucket has semi cured LR only running 1 x airstone. Check the depth of sand in there...I will stir it up weekly during cycling. That TEMP tank is 1200 Long by about 350mm high, Gives an idea of the amount of sand. Had a spare flouro setup, so thought it wouldnt hurt....Running it standard photo periods. I will add a heater tomorrow, (Got a spare), to assist with speeding up the process, then I will add a few Chromis to it. (Couple of weeks maybe).

If Aiptasia are grown out of the way and no where near corals, you can just leave them....they actually look quite nice. Check Jansens, Mt Roskill, Bens got them everywhere! If they spread....Get out the ol' JJ!

Cheap too!