I'm back...

[cheese]

Hi Buddies!

Really pie-say to open a new topic on my case, thought of continue from my previous one, but closed liao. Anyway, thanks for all the encouragement left to me in my previous post. Really no hard feeling but instead caution me and guided me. And that I will never be left alone on this hobby. In fact, very touched...

To begin, I must CONFESS! My family cannot bare to leave the 3 clowns at my friend's hse. So, I hold on to the water, and kept the tank running. 2 days later (28 OCT), I got them back. My 3 clowns were those that like to eat. So just drop some food, they all rush to the front, and quite easily got them all 'packetted'.

I monitored the water very closely since then. Surprised me till today, that I hardly measured any Ammonia throughout with test kit, in fact the Ammonia Alert from Seachem also never seems to change colour too.

The week after, 1st week of Nov.

I bought 2 pieces of LR. Took out some water from the tank to rinse them and position them. Ammonia remain 0, but observe Nitrite rise gradually, hitting 0.3mg/l at the end of the week. Nitrate remain 0. Done 10% water change.

2nd week of Nov.

Bought n put in 3 pieces of LR from another place. Ammonia = 0, Nitrite continue to rise to 0.5mg/l max, then sudden fall to between 0.3mg/l & 0.5mg/l at the end of the week, then drop to 0 on the next day. Nitrate = 0. Done 5-10% water change.

3rd week of Nov.

Another batch of 3 pieces LR. Ammonia remain 0, Nitrite remain 0, but Nitrate gradually increase to 5mg/l for the past 3 days. Today drop in a baby cleaner, while the 3 clowns remains as active as before, still love to eat. They will never fail to beg for food, whenever someone move close to the tank. Now the cleaner join in too. Have crashed the food pallets, so each time just drop enough for them to grap. Maybe that's why they r always hungry, but no choice leh.

kH 5dKH

PH 8.0 - 8.8

CA 600mg/l

Dosing it with Seachem Reef builder a bit by a bit per day to slowly up the KH.

Water temp 27.5

Equipment

Ehiem Wet/Dry 2 tier

Sump tank with refrigum n bio-balls filter.

Turbo-twist 3X UV

Resun CL650

Prizm protein skimmer

Seio 650

temporary light with:

1 3' cheapo white light - on only for viewing

1 3' cheapo Antinistic light - on for 12 hours daily

Looks like will continue to drop in 2-3 pcs of LR per week till landscape complete, will not add any live stock. At the same time DIY a nice light hood. Will c how the Nitrate level go, may throw in some Macro Algae into the refrigum equipped with a 18W PL light.

Any recommendation for the Macro Algae? Which type n where buy? Or, anything I have missed?

Please please hit me with your comments.

Thank you!

[lightningstrike]

hi cheese, good to see u back. i believe we r both using the same tank. u r always welcomed to pm me for help. but i wun be responsible for ill advice.

[lvcap]

the Lr seems covered fully with CR..

good looking LR

[tineng]

looks cool...!!!! the piping makes it look special!!!! looks like a playground for your fishes...

man you fish really pamper....got chiller some more!!

[limbssg]

May I know what is the blue pipe for?

Is it a DIY overflow pipe?

And u have lots of piping behind the tank... all for the return pipe?

[Dispar_Anthias]

May I know what is the blue pipe for?

Is it a DIY overflow pipe?

And u have lots of piping behind the tank... all for the return pipe?

I believe they are used in the scaping of the rocks... correct me if i am wrong

[limbssg]

I mean the vertical PVC pipe only.

And I can see the PVC rack for rockscaping purpose, which I am using one also.

[cheese]

May I know what is the blue pipe for?

Is it a DIY overflow pipe?

And u have lots of piping behind the tank... all for the return pipe?

Hi,

Those 2 r for the chiller to/return. I only have 1 return from the sump, but it was splitted n controlled by 2 valves into the UV, and the other path back to the tank. The other pipes hidding behind the overflow box (circled in green), r for the S overflow construction into the sump.

U can see the only red arrow pointing up is the intake to the chiller which also control by a valve. The return, also control by a valve, are in fact pump into the LR rack and travel along those red arrow and out in various location underneath/behind the LR. The rack is just covered by the sand, then followed by about another 2-3" of sand with the plenum right at the most bottom layer.

There r 1 or 2 small holes at the few highest spot of the LR rack pointing up for the air to be chased out when water is pumped in.

Not too sure will this really work, just happened to day-dream one day and thought of it. But I do see bubbles coming out from all the designated holes throughout the full lenght of the rack when water are pumped in from the chiller initially. So, should be working as expected.

Anyway, when all the LR r in, those piping should be well covered. Especially to cover that ugly intake pipe which I saw myself.

Please comment lah.

[cheese]

The most regret thing was forgotten to take a picture of the completed piping. I only got the one 70% done. Can see the Plenum also.

[mUAr_cHEe]

nicely setup your tank...

wished i did mine in the beginning like that too...

than not so headache now....

keep it up bro...

welcome back..

[cheese]

looks cool...!!!! the piping makes it look special!!!! looks like a playground for your fishes...

man you fish really pamper....got chiller some more!!

Ha, ha, they r sure better life than me. (Ha, ha, they r actually 'shined' by the brothers here, my daughter n wife too, u know? So, dun play play.)

I was worried as I c the water temp hitting 33 degree in the afternoon, and night not dropping below 32. Really scare they heatstroke, so got the chiller. Actually wanted to DIY using the bar fridge (already decided using the ELBA black one), but my wife said I siao. And she agreed paying more for a specific thing for the specific work. So, I buy lor. Anyway, there will be coral coming in later, when all r really stable, and completed the light DIY. But that will be maybe end of next year liao.

Just measured the water again.

CA 600 - still high (could it be those sea shell my daughter dump into the sump 2 weeks ago?)

KH 8dkh - meet specs after the Reef builder dose

NO2 0 - maintained

NO3 5 - maintained

Salinity 1.023

PH 8 - do I need to bring this higher?

Ammonia 0 - maintained

Temp 28

Any other thing to check?

[cheese]

nicely setup your tank...

wished i did mine in the beginning like that too...

than not so headache now....

keep it up bro...

welcome back..

Thanks. Just tried my best. In fact, I have learned alot from all the experience shared by the Masters in this forum. Without them, nothing possible.

[typrobin]

hey cheese, still owe u an apology..

anyway, good idea to run the water with pipings, it will generate more flow throughout your tank and less deadspace...

hope to see it will live soon(but not as soon as the previous round)...ehehehehe...

[ZeRoC00l]

Ha, ha, they r sure better life than me. (Ha, ha, they r actually 'shined' by the brothers here, my daughter n wife too, u know? So, dun play play.)

I was worried as I c the water temp hitting 33 degree in the afternoon, and night not dropping below 32. Really scare they heatstroke, so got the chiller. Actually wanted to DIY using the bar fridge (already decided using the ELBA black one), but my wife said I siao. And she agreed paying more for a specific thing for the specific work. So, I buy lor. Anyway, there will be coral coming in later, when all r really stable, and completed the light DIY. But that will be maybe end of next year liao.

Just measured the water again.

CA 600 - still high (could it be those sea shell my daughter dump into the sump 2 weeks ago?)

KH 8dkh - meet specs after the Reef builder dose

NO2 0 - maintained

NO3 5 - maintained

Salinity 1.023

PH 8 - do I need to bring this higher?

Ammonia 0 - maintained

Temp 28

Any other thing to check?

Your Ca = 600 maybe due to test kit.. some diff test kits get diff readings

KH 8dkh is ok as usually 7 - 11 but some also use 14dKh !!!

NO3 5 - probably wait till lower ~ 0.05 ?

Salinity 1.023 ----- try to push higher ard 1.024-1.025

PH 8 - is abt there, usually 8.3 but once you run a CR then there'll be a swing from 7.9 - 8.2

Temp 28 -------- try a little lower ard 27 - 27.5 just in case of those sudden spikes / heat waves

Any other thing to check?

=====> Little killers in yr LR... can lose some nice fish becos of them

Interesting piping... so many elbows?? What pump will you be running??

[limbssg]

Hi Cheese, thanks so much for ur detail explanation!

[FuEl]

Hmmm...jewel tanks always look amazing no matter what people keep in them. I'm actually helping to promote these tanks now..wish I can have one next time...esp the RIO 400..can use it to keep shrimps...coupled with the float glass..wow...awesome shrimps!

[cheese]

Your Ca = 600 maybe due to test kit.. some diff test kits get diff readings

KH 8dkh is ok as usually 7 - 11 but some also use 14dKh !!!

NO3 5 - probably wait till lower ~ 0.05 ?

Salinity 1.023 ----- try to push higher ard 1.024-1.025

PH 8 - is abt there, usually 8.3 but once you run a CR then there'll be a swing from 7.9 - 8.2

Temp 28 -------- try a little lower ard 27 - 27.5 just in case of those sudden spikes / heat waves

Any other thing to check?

=====> Little killers in yr LR... can lose some nice fish becos of them

Interesting piping... so many elbows?? What pump will you be running??

I'm using the Ehiem 1250. Now Yihu control all liao, 100 bucks, damn heartache. But no choice, seems to be one of the most proven able to work out of water brand. Other brand with that reputation is even more ex. My sump cannot house any more pump. So that's the only way to go. Use it solely for the chiller, so no problem.

Total about 30 elbows and 20 T joints, if didn't remember wrongly. Anyway, 15-20cents ea. so not too bad.

[cheese]

hey cheese, still owe u an apology..

anyway, good idea to run the water with pipings, it will generate more flow throughout your tank and less deadspace...

hope to see it will live soon(but not as soon as the previous round)...ehehehehe...

No problem bro. Will take it real slow. Cheers!

[ZeRoC00l]

I'm using the Ehiem 1250. Now Yihu control all liao, 100 bucks, damn heartache. But no choice, seems to be one of the most proven able to work out of water brand. Other brand with that reputation is even more ex. My sump cannot house any more pump. So that's the only way to go. Use it solely for the chiller, so no problem.

Total about 30 elbows and 20 T joints, if didn't remember wrongly. Anyway, 15-20cents ea. so not too bad.

U mean there is stil anything flowing out from the pipes after 30 elbows and 20 Ts!!!!

It's not the cost (not until i read got so many)... what abt yr circulation?? tunze?

Very unique design, let us know when the tank's complete... organise a house visit and i wana see the 30 elbows and 20 Ts

amazing.... more like a mande made structure than a reef

[cheese]

U mean there is stil anything flowing out from the pipes after 30 elbows and 20 Ts!!!!

It's not the cost (not until i read got so many)... what abt yr circulation?? tunze?

Very unique design, let us know when the tank's complete... organise a house visit and i wana see the 30 elbows and 20 Ts

amazing.... more like a mande made structure than a reef

I redraw the schematic, 14 elbow + 26 T, if didn't count wrongly. No choice need it to be strong to hold those rocks. I remember I bought 20/30 (the other way round), so with remaining for the piping behind, about just nice.

All outlet holes are 4mm dia. As you can see it wasn't alot of them, but concentrate at the front part and pointing inwards. In fact just trial an error, and was surprise to see it really works. Can see debris being push around around.

Cheers!

[cheese]

Yesterday drop in 2 sand sifting starfish at $3 each.

Today measurement:

CA 800 (This is the exact value from 2 test kit, not 600)

Ammonia 0

N02 0

N03 5-10ppm (is this high?)

KH 8dkh

Salinity 1.024 (done some water change)

Temp 27.5

Happened to drop by an aquarium shop in the West. Didn't know a yellow tang can cost $25!!! Small one somemore. Never buy, just c only.

Also managed to get some macro algea from sentosa (happened to be there, woo. yahoo... ) It was floating around, my friend grapped and said good stuff, but don't know wat's that. Palm size. Hope it works.

Here it is. Anyone know wat it called. Should be something very common.

[ZeRoC00l]

Yesterday drop in 2 sand sifting starfish at $3 each.

Today measurement:

CA 800 (This is the exact value from 2 test kit, not 600)

Ammonia 0

N02 0

N03 5-10ppm (is this high?)

KH 8dkh

Salinity 1.024 (done some water change)

Temp 27.5

Happened to drop by an aquarium shop in the West. Didn't know a yellow tang can cost $25!!! Small one somemore. Never buy, just c only.

Also managed to get some macro algea from sentosa (happened to be there, woo. yahoo... ) It was floating around, my friend grapped and said good stuff, but don't know wat's that. Palm size. Hope it works.

Here it is. Anyone know wat it called. Should be something very common.

Looks like bryopsis....

BAD algae.....

Can someone else identify?

If it is really bryopsis, get rid of any traces of it ASAP!!!

[cheese]

Looks like bryopsis....

BAD algae.....

Can someone else identify?

If it is really bryopsis, get rid of any traces of it ASAP!!!

HUH!!! What will it do? What will it do? Oh dear! Will go kill my friend tomorrow!!!

[cheese]

Looks like bryopsis....

BAD algae.....

Can someone else identify?

If it is really bryopsis, get rid of any traces of it ASAP!!!

BTW Bro. Have taken the name for a search and should be 99% confirmed. Contained toxic, so fish cannot eat, not welcome in aquarium. So immediately down into the bin. Luckily it's in the sump, and the poly filter still on. No trace left.

I was actually asking around what's the best algae, seems to be ulva, but no time to go down to P* yet. R*b*** n Par* R*** around my hse all didn't sell. So, happened to be in Sentosa wif my this friend. Must be those...both of us were 'bleeding' badly , so didn't think of picking the correct one.

Will be very careful next time.

Also, done some reading, that starfish r hard to survive in aquarium due to lack of food. So, quite worry of that 2 sand sifting stars. Any bro can advise? If their ending would be that bad, may bring them to the sea. Don't like them suffer.

Cheers!

[lightningstrike]

sand shifting stars feed on detritus, uneaten food, etc. surely there must be some of those in ur sandbed.