First Tank - 50gal Reef [PICS]

[its_CONTEh]

Well, its been a rough start.

all equipment, rock, sand , lights, and a yellow damsel was donated to me by someone moving into an apartment. bought like 15ish hermits, clown, lawnmower blenny, 4 red collar turbo snails, and 3 sand-sifting snails.

due to untestable water issues, everything died other than:
-yellow damsel
-bunches of hermits
-3 sand-sifters

i swapped out 10 gallons of my water for LFS water, and plan to do this once every 1-2 weeks a total of 6 times or so, before i pursue purchasing anymore fish or anything. I also plan on stocking with about 10-15lbs. more of liverock in the waiting process.

I test my water for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and ph every couple days for the first two weeks or so, and once a week after that. As i want the biological filter to become active, i will not aid my tank in fixing these levels unless it is an emergency.

I am in the upper level of my house, where it can get up to 80+ degrees. I am trying to keep the temperature regulated, but it is either real hot or real cold.

Installed in the tank is a protien skimmer (see pic for details), heater rated for 70 gallons, and an emperor dual wheel filter(it is actually made by the companion company,"penguin"). i also have a generic power head. The lighting system is a T5 GLO light on a timer from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. on a side note... funny story, my brother told my the light would mely the plexi glass on the lid, so i started smashing it out, to find that it was in fact glass. only good job is a finished one, so i broke it all out to avoid and cuts

The Stand is 4x4 legs and frame, and 1/2 inch plywood. Real strong.

A few questions:
-What am i limited to by not having metal halide lights? I didn't get these because i dont have $$$ for a chiller, although i'm attempting to do one diy style...

-How many power heads is to many?

-How can i get that Skimmer foaming? What kind of skimmer is it?

-How long will it take for my hermits to grow out of those shells?

-Yall like that homemade stand?

-Any stocking ideas!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[tidioute06]

Do you use RO/DI water? I only asked because it looks as though you might a little bit of an algae issue..

 

[Rbishop]

Different...but a learning curve for sure.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

Looks like a Seaclone skimmer. I've heard bad things about them. Never used one myself so I can't say. Something about them putting out to many microbubbles into the tank.

 

[Conski]

i dont wanna comment yet!

theres alot of work to be done on that bad boy but it has some good postetional.. alot of those rocks look unique!

not diggin the skull though !

hope it all works out

 

[its_CONTEh]

haha, i like the skull

yeah, i basically destroyed that crappy skimmer/made it into a device that id rather not mention here (bubble bubble bubble)

im looking on craigslist for a better one.

once i get a job this tank should be alot better!

 

[Conski]

hahaha it gives it an unatural look, which i PERSONALLY believe is what saltwater should look like.. natural.. but its your tank do as you please !

sounds good with the skimmer though, make sure to ask everyone about the proper one though!

 

[its_CONTEh]

im having trouble finding a decently priced skimmer near chicago, do you think that building a pvc skimmer is an option for an amateur like myself?

 

[hmotorsol]

you can get a vertex in-80 or in-100 for around $175(in-80) to $200(in-100). they are in sump models which im not sure if you have a sump. But those are 2 skimmers that out perform their cost.