Yup. I started with dry rock and sand, so nothing was alive to begin with. It was recommended to me in order to keep the algae down. The complete tank is covered.
zak.payne's Fluval M60 Build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter SheldonC_
- Start date
I don't have any experience doing it this way, but I don't understand how the tank would ever completely cycle in this scenario. The nitrifying bacteria that you're attempting to cultivate are aerobic and will require a constant supply of oxygen to oxidize the ammonia supplied by your shrimp. I only mention this because you seem excited to get started and I think that your method might slow things down.
First step of Nitrification Process
Ammonia + Oxygen → Nitrite + Leftovers
If you like Chemistry
NH3 + O2 → NO2 + 3H+ + 2e− (1)
Blankets don't stop O2 exchange. Didn't you ever build a blanket fort as a kid?
I need some input on what to do with my filter chambers in the back of the tank. The first chamber will be a media rack, so water will flow through filter floss and through a bag of carbon, then it will move through the bottom of the baffle to.......*insert idea here*.
I've thrown around the idea of doing a fuge with chaeto, or putting in some sort of ceramic media, or a reactor of some sort. Really I have no idea. What would be the best thing to put here?
I've thrown around the idea of doing a fuge with chaeto, or putting in some sort of ceramic media, or a reactor of some sort. Really I have no idea. What would be the best thing to put here?
I have ammonia! I tested tonight and I am in between .2 and .4. The cycle is moving along! I plan to test for nitrates/nitrites next week sometime. I will probably do a full test (ammonia and nitrate/nitrite) at that time and start making a more detailed log. I have been keeping my salinity at 1.025 and my temp in the 78-78.5 range.
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Nothing much happening with the build. I'm still riding about .4ppm of ammonia, so it's still rising when compared to last weeks test. I did get a screen top made this past weekend. I managed to make it recessed to I'm quite happy with it. I need to pick up an MP10 though since there is no place for cords with the screen, oh well, I've heard nothing but good things about them despite the price tag. I am also waiting for inTank to finish up the Fluval M60 media rack so I can get that filled with filter floss and some Chemi-Pure.
If I seem to be missing something, please chip in! The waiting is getting hard. I just want life in the tank!
If I seem to be missing something, please chip in! The waiting is getting hard. I just want life in the tank!
Not sure if anyone is still paying attention to my build thread, but wanted to provide an update in case anyone is.
Things have been going very well, only loss was a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp a week after I got it. Still have no idea why or how. It had molted once already and I observed it eating. Anyways, a loss is a loss.
I have also added my Kessil A160 along with the inTank media basket. I LOVE them both. I have added a nice colony of acans, some small zoas, a pink boobie chalice and some other red/blue chalice that wasn't doing well in my dad's tank. So far, all the corals are growing and looking great! I'm really hoping I can start fragging some things and turn this hobby into some profits (LOL).
I will get around to posting pictures one of these days, I tried taking a few with my iPhone and wasn't happy with them, so I will have to try something else.
Things have been going very well, only loss was a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp a week after I got it. Still have no idea why or how. It had molted once already and I observed it eating. Anyways, a loss is a loss.
I have also added my Kessil A160 along with the inTank media basket. I LOVE them both. I have added a nice colony of acans, some small zoas, a pink boobie chalice and some other red/blue chalice that wasn't doing well in my dad's tank. So far, all the corals are growing and looking great! I'm really hoping I can start fragging some things and turn this hobby into some profits (LOL).
I will get around to posting pictures one of these days, I tried taking a few with my iPhone and wasn't happy with them, so I will have to try something else.
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FTS
Blue/Red chalice (not sure on the name)
Sun coral and Acans
Trumpet coral I picked up last week, already showing more swelled tissue!
Pink boobie chalice. Picture is awful and doesn't do it justice, the mouths are very yellow under my lights