my tank diary

[animal_artist]

still in the early steps of things but not far off from adding RO an LR just waiting until i can borrow a large water drum.http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12110001-1.JPG
this is with both lights on 1xmarine white 1x blue moon
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12110003.JPG
with the white on only
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12110001.JPG
and the blue only of course lol.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12120002.JPG
full tank and diy stand
the tank is 2ft x 1ft x1ft the powerhead is just sitting on the base for now it will be put on its holder once full of water.

[kevo66]

I see lots of potential mate, keep us updated with lots of pics!!

[animal_artist]

just wish it was up n running lol

[kevo66]

at least yours has water in, mine doesnt lol!

[animal_artist]

i wish mines had water mines dosent pmsl its empty mate. am waiting to get a hold of a water butt so i can buy the water.

[kevo66]

Ah rite!! ;)

[animal_artist]

sorry ive not been up dating lol me bad ,,
there's not really any point in posting pics but ,, the tank has been filled with RO water ( cheers Bunglebubs ). and its been running to make sure everything is fine. and today i went and bought 3 bits of LR from UDA within 20 mins of putting it in the tank n before adding sand i had a look and ive got feather dusters and poss an orange mushroom ( will ad pics once water has settled and cleared ).
pmsl can tell am a noob as i am excited at the sight of a duster n shroom.

[animal_artist]

update with some pictures. i have already re-arranged the rock before taking the pic lol. the tank is now sitting crystal clear just wish the damn heater would stay stuck , its brand new and i have tried putting the suckers into boiling water and that worked for all of 2hrs and it came off the glass again grrrr.
this is the test readings for past 3 days

DAY 1

S.G 1.025
PH 8
NITRITE 0.25
AMMONIA 0.50
NITRATE 0
-------------------
DAY 2

S.G 1.025
PH 8
NITRITE 0
AMMONIA 0.25
NITRATE 0
-------------------
DAY 3 ( TODAY )

S.G 1.025
PH 8
NITRITE 0
AMMONIA 0
NITRATE 0
--------------------

i didnt believe this so i tested 3 times and all 3 times came back with same readings.http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12210030.JPG
the above pic was how the tank looked the night before i started testing the water.
will add a pic later on today as it looks now, oh yer also forgot to mention i will be adding 2 more bits of LR to bring me up to a total of 5 kg

[animal_artist]

new up to date pic as promised http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12230008.JPG

[animal_artist]

since the last pic ive added a cleaner shrimp , and today my order of the cleaner crew and first coral has arrived ,
6 red hermits
10 turbos
1 peppermint

and the coral is a Singapore Dragon Eye Zoa.
will fire pics up later on this evening or once batts have charged.

[zimreef]

can tell am a noob as i am excited at the sight of a duster n shroom.

Not just a noob thing :p - I have done that on each tank that I've set up, and each one has produced a slightly different set of hitchhikers. Very interesting part in proceedings! ;)

Be careful when adding more live-rock to a tank that size as you will probably have a mini cycle all over again unless the rock has been really well cured. Your cleanup crew and zoa colony (which is a colonial anemone and not a real soft coral) should be OK but more delicate stuff once introduced may not cope.

Looking forward to seeing the tank take shape!

John

[animal_artist]

as far as more LR being added i am not really adding main bits as i am leaving room for some softies and more zoas so allowing for what rock they come attached to. but i keep an eye the tank as its right beside my comp in my bedroom so anything looks wrong am in with test kit.
other wise i leave well alone :),

wish the damn batts would charge lol should have asked santa for loads of spares lol.

[zimreef]

allowing for what rock they come attached to

Good thinking! The live-rock that new corals etc is attached to mounts up very quickly in a small tank such as yours.

Look forward to the pics!

John

[animal_artist]

my plan is to only go for 4 / 5 coral , zoa mix and then leaving it well alone to all grow and fill out . my thinking behind this is that 4 / 5 big specimens is better than a pick and mix of loads and loads of smaller specimens once matured and grown on if that makes sense lol.

[zimreef]

Yes it does definitely make sense and I think will look a lot more "natural" for it. Admire your planning, self-discipline & patience! ;)

John

[animal_artist]

some more pics of my tank taken last night and today, not the worlds best pics lol sozzo
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12300024.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12300019.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12300017.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2006_12290029.JPG

[Reef bloke]

Nice to see life in there James,no idea what the fish of choice are for nano's,perhaps someone will chime in.

[animal_artist]

well after some long thought n help from a good mate , i rekon i will make it a species tank for coral gobies :) and add a double seastar at a later date and use zoa's etc for main colour n more life :), will do for my first tank probs not long till i look into an upgrade of tank anyway lol.
my zoa still settling in and shedding its outer skin ( has started to re grow now )

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01020008.JPG

[Twistedpro]

nice start to the tank, i look forward to seeing it mature

[kevo66]

Looks good, mine is still empty :(

what shrimp have you got? Looks like a cleaner and a Pepermint??

[jacksprat]

ye they are a cleaner and a peppermint.

I find peppermints do better in pairs though as they are rather timid

[kevo66]

I was gonna go for two cleaners in mine but dont want em to be too crowded when they grow!

[animal_artist]

my peppermint was in a pair but the other sadly didnt make delivery but the one thats left has become mates with the cleaner.
getting fed up with T8 as my lighting allready so i am looking into going for a 3 x 24watt T5 unit but i would need to mod it some what to fit the top of my tank. not going to explain to complicated lol

[animal_artist]

new n up to date pic of tank just taken today.
and i now have a yellow watchman goby allowing him to settle before i take pics. its a lil cloudy as i had just disturbed the sand oops



http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01200015.JPG

[kevo66]

Looking good, lets see the watchman then!!

[animal_artist]

a pic of the watchman in the bag ignore the cam shake pmsl
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01200005.JPG

[kevo66]

a pic of the watchman in the bag ignore the cam shake pmsl
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01200005.JPG


He's a nice lil fella! Any other plans re: fish?

[animal_artist]

a perc clown me thinks the more n more i see them in shops the more n more i fall in love with them am sad to say lol .
but will be adding more rock first then get the lighting upgraded to T5's before any more fish i reckon.

[kevo66]

Sounds good, slowly does it with the rock though eh?!!

[animal_artist]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01200021.JPG
n my new zoa thanks to quebee
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_01200013.JPG

[animal_artist]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/2007_02030030.JPG

tank just after i put in the rest of LR.