55 Gallon Quarantine. . .eventually a FOWLR

Discussion in 'New Tank Builds' started by Fishbait, Mar 27, 2017.

  1. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    A few shots of the look and the set up

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  2. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

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    Salinity spot on. Needs a bit more circulation, but ready to receive 4 fish.
     
    LJC6780 and Botheboss like this.
  3. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

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    Bennie in his spot

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    Fishbait under the reef.

    My wife and her names. I guess she thinks I'm a banggai.
     
    huntindoc likes this.
  4. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Have you cycled this tank?
     
    DCHarrington likes this.
  5. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    Rock, yes.
     
  6. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    I'd keep a close eye on you ammonia and nitrite
     
    DCHarrington likes this.
  7. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    Testing Ammonia now. Bennie looked injured before he entered tank and I was worried about him. Good reason, he rode the porcelain express. Banggai seems happy. Got 175 home and realized the 55 is going to have to work for some time so I had 50+ gallons of the previous owners tank water and did a 50% water change. Pulled all the rock I had placed. Replaced it with the rocks from a tank that was fully functioning until 6 hours ago. Rock was kept in water with heater. All other rock both established and new are in a brute with heater and circulation. I will add light and probably feed it tomorrow. UGH. Not the worst nightmare, but not happy with a rookie mistake.
     
  8. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    Some ammonia in the tank. between 0 and .25 ppm. The Nitrites are rock solid at 0. Everyone is out and moving and eating. Rhodactis is opening back up.
     
  9. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Nitrites come next. I've some cycled rock in my tank took 2 weeks for ammonia to turn to nitrite. Now my Nitrites are very high and I have low nitrate starting to creep in. I also been using fritz zyme 9 live bacteria. I'm just saying that having cycled rock doesn't mean tank has cycled yet. Chances are whatever you put in there is gonna be exposed to toxic conditions.
     
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  10. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    Bo, thanks. I realized after you asked if I had cycled the tank that I might have some troubles. With the folks I bought the tank and livestock from moving, I didn't plan accordingly for a plan b. That one is on me. I honestly thought that the new tank would go up, we'd see a bump of a mini-cycle and life would move on. As it turns out, the move lasted much longer than anticipated, the tank and equipment need cleaned and my 55 was not cycled. Adding the water from the established tank and the established rock appear to have helped massively. Ammonia is almost 0 last check. Everyone is eating and out and about. The Sailfin's new name is Bluto because "That boy is a P I G, pig" The Filefish even comes out looking for food. I fear that the Banggai is feeling a little out of place and stressed because he's been out of hiding, into hiding, out, in. All of this is to say that I may have a bad situation, but doing my best with the help of God to get this tank established and moving towards a centerpiece of our living room. It will also be nice to have our bedroom teenager free. It seems that the whole family is now fascinated with saltwater aquaria. That's a good thing, I believe.
     
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  11. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. If I where you I would try to get some live bacteria additives and or mix salt water to have ready for water changes. That way you will be ready if problems arise.
     
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  12. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Agree with Bo, be ready to do a WC if needed. The live rock addition is the thing that made the difference. Feed lightly for a few days and monitor ammonia and I bet you will be fine fish wise. Corals may not be as forgiving if you have a nitrite spike. I'm betting you don't have much of one though.
     
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  13. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    I have been using Stability on the rock since I got it. I have the rock from the tank and about 140lbs of other established rock in a Brute with a heater and the Jebao wavemaker running on high I make sure it gets some light every day. Two things unrelated to the parameters, it's really curious how we each choose our aquascape ideas. While the previous owner's "two towers" method was cool. With this bow, I am really taking to the idea of a large pourous island between the overflows. I might need to purchase some more dry rock, cook it, cycle it, and add it to the tank once it's a bit more established. Lot of real estate for coral and might be able to get away with only two Kessil wides for the sps. Other issue is the amount of flow put out by the Jebao. HOLY COW! I have it firing straight down the side of the Brute. The top of the can is swirling like a tidal pool. I was having a hard time believing that it was producing "too much" flow for her tank. Still don't, but am stunned that it might be sufficient flow for some corals in a six foot tank.
     
    LJC6780 likes this.
  14. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    If the dry rock is truly dry rock(never been used in a tank) you can add it once you're stable. If it's been used before and pretty clean just add it slowly a piece at a time and you won't have to worry.
     
    Botheboss likes this.

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