Rescaping - 3 feet(L) x 1.5 feet(W) x 2 feet(tank)

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Started my reef project 2 months ago.

And to be honest as a newbie to this hobby, I was not able to do my proper homework before starting a reef tank.

Resulting to losing valuable $$ and live stocks due to wrong/inconsistent water parameters, overstocking, etc.

Below is how my previous tank looks like:

BEFORE

Steps I performed while doing the rescaping:

1. Planning ( Initially I intended to go for FOWLR but now I really want a reef tank with SPS, LPS in it ).

a. Getting the substrate ( bought two packs of Caribsea )

b. Solution to de-chlorinate tap water ( For tap water, I am lucky that our current apartment have an RO unit which is my water source )

c. Solution to establish Biological Filtration( Microbacter 7 )

d. Getting Medias ( ROWA carbon with mini reactor, ROWA Phos with mini reactor, Media balls, Coral chips, Ceramic Bio-Rings )

e. Foam to filter water after putting sand.

f. Added test kits for Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity ( Initially I only have Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and Phosphate )

g. Drawing a rock layout that will not hamper water circulation.

2. Remove all livestocks and put in a my QT container ( I am running my QT box with Deltec MCE 600 )

3. For the rocks to ensure minimal to zero pests, I did a freshwater dip for a whole day.

4. Initially planning to reuse my existing sand but eventually decided to remove it and start anew because there's alot of detritus build up(hard to reach areas) due to poor water circulation.

5. Cleaned the tanked to remove any algae build up and dried the tank for 4 hours.

6. Started putting the substrate and water

7. Filtered the water to clear from the floating substrate for almost a day.

8. Once the water was clear, I dissolved salt and put in my new sump.

9. Started putting my rocks in the Display tank and the rest I tried to fit in as much as I can in my sump.

10. Checked Salinity ( 1.025 ) and PH ( 8.3 )

11. Added the Microbacter 7 based on the directions.

12. Added also Ammonia nite out as I read that ammonia spike occurs for new tanks.

13. Now cycling for 5 days and will check my parameters tonight.

AFTER:

I know patience is the key to successful reefing but I've been really wanting to start stocking up.

Trying hard to suppress this urged to start stocking.

I know the longer I cycle the better. Sigh...

Please ask, comment or give any ideas/advices that will help in this new hobby of mine.

I would greatly appreciate it.

[ReDDeviLs]

looking good bro,

care to share more on equipment in the sump with photos?

guess u need to cycle ur tank abit more because i believe the bac on the liverocks were all dead after u soak them in freshwater for a day.

but no worries let them slowly build up again

[kenyee]

Very nice scaping in the after..water is gold..happy reefing..

[AquaReefer]

Love the new scape with 2 distinct islands.

[Bulldozer]

MUCH Better !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Swee !!!!!!!!!!!

[Sani Boyan]

Aaahh.... sweet. Planning is key! Now sit back, relax and plan on corals scaping.

[jand118]

Nice Landscape ! Refreshingly better than yr previous !

[Kelvin81]

Nice new scaping.. enjoy!

[spgohjc]

I like your scape bro. Gives better water circulation and hence debris management. Good height too. So water changes won't affect any LS on them. Not congested and fairly spacious for growth. At most can add a Causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia?

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

looking good bro,

care to share more on equipment in the sump with photos?

guess u need to cycle ur tank abit more because i believe the bac on the liverocks were all dead after u soak them in freshwater for a day.

but no worries let them slowly build up again

Thank you very much sir!

Below is the photo of my Sump set up.

I'm currently using the following:

Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus NW-150-6530

Mini Reactors: 1 with ROWA Phos

1 with ROWA Carbon

Return Pump: Hydor L40

Refugium: Handful of Chaeto and put some live rocks

Refugium light using EVO 12" LED

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Very nice scaping in the after..water is gold..happy reefing..

Thank you very much.

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Love the new scape with 2 distinct islands.

Thank you very much.

In this way, can put more corals and fishes have more room to swim..

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

MUCH Better !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Swee !!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you very much for the comment..

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Aaahh.... sweet. Planning is key! Now sit back, relax and plan on corals scaping.

When you mentioned coral scaping..

I was scratching my head, oh yeah where to place this and that.. hahaha..

But should be enough place..

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Nice Landscape ! Refreshingly better than yr previous !

Thank you.

I agree..

Last time when the fish hides or go at the back cannot find or see..

But arent my rocks to little?

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Nice new scaping.. enjoy!

Thanks for the comment sir Kelvin..

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

I like your scape bro. Gives better water circulation and hence debris management. Good height too. So water changes won't affect any LS on them. Not congested and fairly spacious for growth. At most can add a Causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia?

A bro advised to have proper water circulation that's why I came up with this scape.

Thank you very much for the comments.

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Water Parameters as of 2013/11/26

Salinity: 1.024

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

Ph: 8.8

Alkalinity: 13.4 dKH

Phospate: 0 ppm

Any comments, suggestions and advices would be greatly appreciated.

[jand118]

Bro

Yr dKH seems to be on the high side ( generally keep it betw 7-9 wld be fine )

As for the amt of rocks , on retrospect, personally i reckoned u can in fact be able to stack up another level for both Twin Towers to facilitate future placement for those light loving corals such as Sps ( if u're going over to the Dark side ! )

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Bro

Yr dKH seems to be on the high side ( generally keep it betw 7-9 wld be fine )

As for the amt of rocks , on retrospect, personally i reckoned u can in fact be able to stack up another level for both Twin Towers to facilitate future placement for those light loving corals such as Sps ( if u're going over to the Dark side ! )

Yeah its very high..

Please advice how to lower it?

Will 5% - 10% water change on a daily basis help lower Alkalinity?

[jand118]

Bro

Yr KH will come down surely and eventually as yr corals and stuff consume and grow albeit water change is another viable way out but most imptly it is the essence of being able to keep all our parameters stable that will determine our long term success. Hope that helps.

[sherman]

Salinity: 1.024

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

Ph: 8.8

Alkalinity: 13.4 dKH

Phospate: 0 ppm

Your Ammonia must be 0.

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Bro

Yr KH will come down surely and eventually as yr corals and stuff consume and grow albeit water change is another viable way out but most imptly it is the essence of being able to keep all our parameters stable that will determine our long term success. Hope that helps.

Thanks bro.

Will do water parameter religiously to ensure water quality.

[Fitzgerald Dizon]

Salinity: 1.024

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

Ph: 8.8

Alkalinity: 13.4 dKH

Phospate: 0 ppm

Your Ammonia must be 0.

Noted on this sir.

Today is my 6th day cycling the tank.

Hopefully everything will get better soon.

[Reefzzz]

Salinity: 1.024

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 10 ppm

Ph: 8.8

Alkalinity: 13.4 dKH

Phospate: 0 ppm

Your Ammonia must be 0.

bro, is the pH and Alkalinity unusually high?