Phischy's Project-3days to start

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Phischy

Phischy

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I've been toying with the idea of turning my 15gal sump into a big ass 'fuge down the road. I've got enough extra rock in my tank that's sort of cluttering up the look of it right now. Space is my biggest problem so I'm not sure where I'd actually put it. I may get a powerfilter then, more toys to buy!!! :lol:
 
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incysor

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www.bigalsonline.com has aquaclear 500 HOB filters for $32.99. I just bought one with the optional overflow/skimmer attachment for $49 with shipping for my wife's 10gal. We're gonna convert it to a refuge, and replace the HOB fuge she has now, which we're having problems with.

These evidently have quite a bit of flow if you don't use overflow attachment. There's a bunch of info on them over on nano-reef.
 
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Narkon'n'more

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You can do that with all but the 500 model, which has a different sized magnet impellor. Or something like that, I just remember that the 500 was different.

Nathan
 
Phischy

Phischy

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Bugs & Stuff

So I get home today and I turn on the lights just to see what's happening in the old tank. And to my surprise, a see a bunch of very very lightly colored bugs go scurryin' for cover. So my tank actually has something alive in it! Bwa ha ha ha, it lives, IT LIVES!!!!!

The bugs look like little pale rolly-pollys or pillbugs (depending on what you called 'em when you were a kid). I assume these are the 'pods' I hear so much about.

I also found one filter feeder doin' it's thing. Unfortunately my camera doesn't focus too well for macro photography even with that setting enabled. It's a cannon digi S400. If anyone has any knowledge of how to use it lemme know.

Temps here also dropped and I realized I had my heater set way too low so that error has been fixed as well.

 
djconn

djconn

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Unfortunately, those bugs (if they look like rolly pollys) might be isopods. Not good for your tank b/c they attach to fish and are parasitic blood suckers.
 
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Narkon'n'more

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not all isopods are parasitic blood suckers. And the ones that are normally come on the fish, for they would starve to death while they have no fish to live on. They usually starve in about a week to 2 weeks, and they are rare to get.

But if you are unsure, and you have no fishes in there, then set your hand in, if they are the bad ones, and they are starving they will come and attack your hand.

nathan
 
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incysor

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The pill-bug looking ones are probably amphipods, you definitely want them. They're pretty good scavengers, and mandarins, and wrasses, and some others eat em. It's unlikely that they're isopods since they usually won't survive a tank cycle without food. If you already had fish in the tank it might be isopods, but unlikely since it's still cycling.

As for the camera it appears that it's not known for great macro work, but does a decent job if you can get it steady enough. So a tripod will help. Here's a couple threads with hints about that camera.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... light=S400

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... light=S400

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... genumber=1
 
Phischy

Phischy

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Ok, well I'm not putting anything in the tank for another few weeks anyway, so if they are blood suckers they'll have to be genetic freaks to go over a month without any live grub.

I tried to photo one but it just looks like a piece of sand. I've also found more little filter feeders, they've got white tubes and then their fans.

I also saw another type of 'pod, looks like a little crawfish and I've seen these at the store where I buy my supplies so I know they're good. They were in a display 'fuge. Anywho, if the little buggers can live for another 2 weeks without any food then more power to 'em, I guess they're the good kind. I haven't added any food of anytype to the tank so they snuck in on my live rock a few weeks back.

As for the photography, I just put my camera on it's highest setting and then let it focus, took the shot and then cropped out everything I didn't want to show. This seems to work.

Thanks everybody!!!
 
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incysor

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I actually ordered amphipods at one point, and set up a 10gal tank just for them. I used them to suppliment the main tanks amount of amphipods and copepods because I found a mated pair of psychedelic mandarins at a terrible LFS so I just had to 'rescue' them. :lol:

I'll see if I've got a pic of them, and post it for you to compare it with.
 
Phischy

Phischy

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One week later I tested my water again, this time just for nitrite, and it's down in the .1ml/l range. So woo hoo! Levels are balancing themselves out. Pretty sweet. I think this weekend I"m goign to get a better quality test and then start looking into my calcium levels. Ihaven't really added anything to this tank for damn near a month now so I'm sure my trace elements are probably running low.

I think doing a 5gal water change this weekend is probably a good idea, no? I need to get a drip line flowing of kalwasser and maybe next week looking into getting a cleanup crew. I still need to add that 15lbs of live sand too.
 
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FishinInTheDark

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Without any calcium consuming organisms in the tank, you shouldn't need to drip kalk. Your salt mix should be plenty until you get some corals going. Then, when it starts dipping below 400 between water changes, you should start with the kalk. If your calcium goes too high, it will precipitate from the water and leave you with a boomerang effect. Besides, that's just one less thing to worry about for now! :D

I agree that a water change would be good now. Congrats for getting those nitrites down!
 
Phischy

Phischy

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DJConn: Please lock this thread.

The exciting adventures of my tank shall continue in:

Phischy's Project Pt II !!
 
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