steelerfan's 30 Gallon Breeder Journal/Build

Benson said:
Yep, I do have the smell... I was keeping in the garage and here in AZ that can be over 120 in the garage. Moved the brute inside. When I do drain my brute there is a slime on the bottom. Not a lot... just a bit. I don't like that either...
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thanks benson,

think i am gonna have to find a plan b for the water storage then.

i use brightwell's neo marine salt on graham's recomendation, but since i really don't have life in my tank yet can't comment on it's quality :) i do trust greech's opinion though.
 
Ace25 said:
There are some variables to consider. One theory that comes to mind in regards to high phosphates is the water (fresh) is growing some bacteria but it dies off fairly quickly which leads to higher phosphates. I am not saying with any certainty that is the case but if I were to guess that would be my first guess as to why.

Since that AA article about plastic containers I have switched to mixing water in my old (well, 3 months old) 29G aquarium I picked up at the $1 gallon sale and tore down when I upgraded to the 55G. I still keep my RO/DI water in a brute though and I know I need to change that next but my other 29G I have is being used to cook rock right now.

I have been using Reef Crystals the last 400G of water I have made (2 months worth). Before that I was using B-Ionic. I love that stuff but it is really hard to justify the cost when I can get a 200G box of RC delivered to my door for $50 from Dr Fosters.
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thanks ace,

i may have to go the 20 gallon tall tank route for storage, but hate leaving glass tank on garage floor, not to mention needing to find a full cover for it. i guess the glass tops cover all of it?
 
Glass top is good for a garage but I would leave at least a little space for air, like propping the glass up and rest on the top of the frame instead of the lip. You can wrap the tank in a blanket, foam, bubble wrap, whatever you want if you feel you need to protect it so no one accidentally breaks the tank. I think finding an old acrylic tank/sump would probably be the most ideal storage container to use for mixing and storing water, it is durable and no issue if it is all scratched up. Since it is acrylic and not plastic you won't have the same issues as using a trashcan.
 
thanks ace,

what do you think about a large 80-100 qt coleman cooler?

i know it is plastic, but not sure if the same problem as the brute as the brute does not smell like platic to me, but like a rubber tire type of smell.

the acrylis tank is good idea.

my concern along with the breaking is some type of contaminent from the garage or outside hence me wanting a complete top seal.
 
I wouldn't trust a cooler. I dislike the smell of coolers more than the smell of trashcans for some reason. The coolers I own, I have had for 10+ years and they still have that plastic smell to them. I think you would still have similar issues using a cooler vs a trashcan, maybe not identical issues but similar. I would just use what your have now and keep an eye out for an old acrylic tank on a local reef club or craigslist. People have been using trashcans to mix water for decades and have had good success so while we may be learning it is now not the best method to store water with it is far from the worst method. Your not going to kill your tank just because you stored water and/or mixed in a plastic trashcan.

I think it is always good to try and aerate the water as much as possible, and sealing it is the worst thing to do unless your storing it in glass containers and air tight. If you want to cover it/put a lid on it I would recommend adding an airstone/pump to it as well to keep the water aerated. Actually, I would recommend finding a way to black out the tank as well (paint, etc) if there is sunlight that gets in the garage which would lead to some algae growing in the mixing tank.
 
Ace25 said:
I wouldn't trust a cooler. I dislike the smell of coolers more than the smell of trashcans for some reason. The coolers I own, I have had for 10+ years and they still have that plastic smell to them. I think you would still have similar issues using a cooler vs a trashcan, maybe not identical issues but similar. I would just use what your have now and keep an eye out for an old acrylic tank on a local reef club or craigslist. People have been using trashcans to mix water for decades and have had good success so while we may be learning it is now not the best method to store water with it is far from the worst method. Your not going to kill your tank just because you stored water and/or mixed in a plastic trashcan.

I think it is always good to try and aerate the water as much as possible, and sealing it is the worst thing to do unless your storing it in glass containers and air tight. If you want to cover it/put a lid on it I would recommend adding an airstone/pump to it as well to keep the water aerated. Actually, I would recommend finding a way to black out the tank as well (paint, etc) if there is sunlight that gets in the garage which would lead to some algae growing in the mixing tank.
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thanks again ace.
 
so, it's been 1 month since started cycling qt tank with dr. tim's and nitrite still at 5PPM.

wondering if i have enough filter media in there for when i add a fish.

i added 1/2 of the ceramic rings fromthe ac110 i got.

that's all i have in the filter, none of the foam or anything else.

the filter is full with those rings but should i try adding some of the filter sponge to the tank for more area for bacteria.

as you know i don't really rush things, so if the rings just have to grow the bacteria and it will be fine i am good, just wondering if it will be enough to maintain the fish in qt?

thanks as always for your help guys.
 
You're ready for fish. Seriously, if all you are looking at is 5ppm and that has remained fairly stable for a while, you're good to go Regardless of how long you let it go, you'll find that you need to water changes daily to every other day. Feed sparingly and use a turkey baster to siphon fish poo and excess food off the bottom in between water changes. Try to do this without having your hands in the tank all the time though so your fish aren't even more stressed in their new sterile environment. Still thinking the blenny as a first edition?
 
hi greech,

nitrIte not nitrate is at 5PPM (highest point on my test kit)

thought that was toxic for fish, no?

yes, still looking at the redspotted blenny as first fish unless of course one of those ember ones come along.
 
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