My Virgin attempt at Marine

[Silentlurker]

After 4 weeks of preping and research, I've finally gotten down to setting up the tank and equipment. A good one week was spent 4 coating the WI stand with 4 coats of anti rust paint and apply nano sealant over it as well as 6 coat varnish on the wood placed on the stand.

Last evening, cleaned up the tank and filled it up with aged tap water to test if tank was leaking and also setup the Fluval C4 HOB and wave maker.

Today, setup both the RO BH1000 skimmer and light set.

I know the wires are extremely messy but planning to move in a couple of months time so unlikely to tidy it up for the time being.

Due to the two HOB, I can't position the light set in the middle and might have to supplement with another Par38

Unfortunately, cycling hasn't started and I'm running fw in it for the time being.

Any recommendations for placement of equipment to tidy the setup will be much appreciated.

Tank Specs: 45cm cube (approximately 90L)

Skimmer: Reef Octopus BH1000

Filter: Fluval C4

Wavemaker: Tunze 6045

Lightset: Maxspect Glaive 30cm

[Angel Keeper]

This tank won't last long... After a short while, we'll see an upgrade... Muhahahaha...

Angel Keeper

[Silentlurker]

This tank won't last long... After a short while, we'll see an upgrade... Muhahahaha... Angel Keeperhttp://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/128217-Angel-Keeper's-5-Feet-Mixed-Reef-Tank'>

Yes, that's the plan. This is a 'test water' setup if I want to put more time and investment into a 3x2x2 in the next 6 months. Anyway, plan is to collect my rock scape from Iwarna this weekend and start cycling. Then it's another 2-3 week wait for the tank to be ready to accept some livestock.

[Angel Keeper]

What are you having? Reef tank? Corals? FOWLR?

Angel Keeper

[Silentlurker]

What are you having? Reef tank? Corals? FOWLR? Angel Keeperhttp://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/128217-Angel-Keeper's-5-Feet-Mixed-Reef-Tank'>

Currently looking at 5-8 small fishes/inverts and simple hardy corals as I have no plans to get a rodi system or chiller for the cube.

[Angel Keeper]

That means your tank specific gravity will be at least 1.024... Temperature should be about 29 degrees... Not much media to grow nitrifying bacteria plus no RODI would probably mean high nitrates and phosphates after cycling... I hate to be an ice bucket but you may have much problems... You probably should consider running biopellets and Rowasphos / Ultraphos in reactors...

Angel Keeper

[Silentlurker]

That means your tank specific gravity will be at least 1.024... Temperature should be about 29 degrees... Not much media to grow nitrifying bacteria plus no RODI would probably mean high nitrates and phosphates after cycling... I hate to be an ice bucket but you may have much problems... You probably should consider running biopellets and Rowasphos / Ultraphos in reactors... Angel Keeperhttp://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/128217-Angel-Keeper's-5-Feet-Mixed-Reef-Tank'>

Thanks for the heads up. Originally planned for FOWLR but as I got more poisoned, decided to include hardy corals. Guess I might have to revert back to plan A and go FOWLR again.

[Angel Keeper]

FOWLR will not be so demanding on water parameters... You still need to look out for nitrates though...

Angel Keeper

[Bulldozer]

Eh.... Can I say something?

STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since you haven't start ...... you may wanna STOP first.

Get a Bigger tank and Start ... Because you will surely want to change to a bigger tank soon ... pretty soon.

Might as well skip this step and go direct to bigger tank.

LOL .....

[Silentlurker]

Eh.... Can I say something? STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since you haven't start ...... you may wanna STOP first. Get a Bigger tank and Start ... Because you will surely want to change to a bigger tank soon ... pretty soon. Might as well skip this step and go direct to bigger tank. LOL .....

Thanks but I'm moving in 6 months and too much hassle moving a bigger tank with sump. Currently have a 5x2.5x2.5 with sump and a 3x2x2 fw at home. Just decommed a 2x1.5 also to make space for the cube. So another big tank is out of the question for now. Plan is to keep a fgt for my fw and get a 3x2 reef tank for living room. This current tank is to get my feet wet in the marine environment. On the other hand, if someone wants to take over my 3x2 L340 pleco tank (proven breeding colony) with 2xL46, I'll surely give the bigger tank a serious thought. LOL

FOWLR will not be so demanding on water parameters... You still need to look out for nitrates though... Angel Keeperhttp://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/128217-Angel-Keeper's-5-Feet-Mixed-Reef-Tank'>

Ya. Regular wc will have to do for the time being.

[Angel Keeper]

Welcome to the addictive club!

Angel Keeper

[solasido]

It is not addictive but worst... obsessive!

[yq33]

I think fowlr is only fun for a big tank, where you can get the huge angels and tangs haha

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Silentlurker]

Yes it is indeed addictive and obsessive. I find myself planning for next tank even before this one is up.

Anyhow, can I get some advise on the skimmer inlet and outlet setup? Below is a pic of the current layout.

On the left is the outlet pipe which I put the sponge provided on the outlet to prevent bubbles (figured the sponge goes there as I couldn't find where else to fit it and its a perfect fit for the outlet)

For the inlet on the right, I understand that it's better to be skimming the surface but the provided pipe does not allow the fish protector to reach the surface. Is there any other solution besides sawing off the inlet pipe to a shorter length? I've tried removing the whole inlet pipe but it feels like it's glued to the elbow joint.

I've seen setups on you tube that shows a different type of fish protector covering the inlet pipe that can reach the surface. Any idea where I can get those?

[Silentlurker]

Fiddled with the inlet and pushed it all the way up and it's now about 1.5in off the surface. Realised that it was probably designed like that so that when WC is done, the skimmer is not starved of water. Also prevents the skimmer from running dry in the event the water level drops by 2-3inches.

[Silentlurker]

Finally got around to start cycling the tank. Put in caribsea live sand and the scape from iwarna today.

Also added in a MP and prodibio startup to start cycling the tank today.

Did some test and here are the parameters:

Salinity 1.024

Ph 7.8

Ammonia 1.5

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0

Phosphate 0.1

Are the readings consistent with a startup tank? Also find it weird that the ph is so low.

[blackcell]

The PH is low most likely of your cycling process. What are the chemicals are you using ?

185 Gallons - 5ft tank since nov 2013

[Silentlurker]

The PH is low most likely of your cycling process. What are the chemicals are you using ? 185 Gallons - 5ft tank since nov 2013 http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/120013-tank-project-5ft252-newbie-punggol-21/'>http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/120013-tank-project-5ft252-newbie-punggol-21/

No chemicals used except probidio startup and a 20lb bag of Caribsea live sand (Hawaiian black). Salt mix (Skimz pur reef salt) is with declorinated tap water (used prime for declorination).

[Silentlurker]

Day 3 of cycling. Parameters as follows:

Salinity 1.025

Ph 7.8

Ammonia .25

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 10

Phosphate 0.1

Temp: 29.3

Topped up evaporated water with salt mix to push sg to 1.025

[blackcell]

Hi bro,

You need to watch out on your temperature once you get your livestocks. You need to cultivate the bacteria and the filter that you have is not enough to help that biological filtration process and therefore longer cycling. The filter Is the heartbeat of marine keeping. The rocks that you use are not live and it's harder to absorb nitrifying bacteria, It will eventually.. I strongly recommend a minimum Canister Filter to help and keep your marine stock alive. Anyway, you will learn along the way. Cheers and good luck !!

185 Gallons - 5ft tank since nov 2013

[Silentlurker]

Hi bro, You need to watch out on your temperature once you get your livestocks. You need to cultivate the bacteria and the filter that you have is not enough to help that biological filtration process and therefore longer cycling. The filter Is the heartbeat of marine keeping. The rocks that you use are not live and it's harder to absorb nitrifying bacteria, It will eventually.. I strongly recommend a minimum Canister Filter to help and keep your marine stock alive. Anyway, you will learn along the way. Cheers and good luck !! 185 Gallons - 5ft tank since nov 2013 http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/120013-tank-project-5ft252-newbie-punggol-21/'>http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/120013-tank-project-5ft252-newbie-punggol-21/

Thanks for the advice. Contemplated using a canister but during my research, realized that it might become a nitrate factory if the canister is not cleaned regularly. Seeing that my tank temp has not gone down below 29 even at night, thinking of getting a chiller. On the lookout for a pre loved chiller and might use a canister to drive the chiller.

[asg]

Bro, your current filter capacity (mechanical, Bio, chemical) is severely not enough for any fish. Like the bro above, I could strongly recommend a canister too so that you can keep some fish and coral. Keep water parameters good in small tank is no joke at all, you will need all the right equipment to ease your work.

[Silentlurker]

Bro, your current filter capacity (mechanical, Bio, chemical) is severely not enough for any fish. Like the bro above, I could strongly recommend a canister too so that you can keep some fish and coral. Keep water parameters good in small tank is no joke at all, you will need all the right equipment to ease your work.

Noted on the advice. I'll recycle my Pro 3 for this tank then. Filter medium to use exactly the same as fw? Eg. Biohome, substrate Pro, Coral chips etc?

Thanks.

[asg]

Noted on the advice. I'll recycle my Pro 3 for this tank then. Filter medium to use exactly the same as fw? Eg. Biohome, substrate Pro, Coral chips etc?

Thanks.

Hi! Bro. It would be good to have all three types of filters in your canister. for Bio filter, choices include biohome, bio-sphere, NP reducing pellets (XL). For mechanical filter could be combination of rough and fine filter floss and for chemical filter you can have rowophos (for po4), AC (for organic waste), Chemipure ellite (for NO3 + PO4), Doctor G nitrate remover, etc.

[Silentlurker]

Hi! Bro. It would be good to have all three types of filters in your canister. for Bio filter, choices include biohome, bio-sphere, NP reducing pellets (XL). For mechanical filter could be combination of rough and fine filter floss and for chemical filter you can have rowophos (for po4), AC (for organic waste), Chemipure ellite (for NO3 + PO4), Doctor G nitrate remover, etc.

Once again, thanks for your advice and recommendations. As cleaning the canister can be rather troublesome, I rather not include items that need replenishment (eg. Rowophos, chemipure elite etc) as forgetting to replace means it becomes a ticking timebomb. Think I will fill it with the usual bio filtration media and use daily/weekly dosing for PO4 removal. NO3 removal will just have to rely on regular WC.

Task for the weekend then is to decomm the HOB filter and implement the Canister. Will keep the HOB to run AC or Chemipure in the future if needed.