Back in the hobby

ER95 · 01/14/2018, 06:33 PM

Hello everyone,

My name is Eric and I've jumped back into the hobby as of today. Had 2 saltwater tanks in the past few years which were very successful. One was a 72 Gallon Bow front, while the other was a 14 Gallon Bio cube.

Now over the few years I've gotten to miss this hobby a lot and got the itch... lol

Gave into the itch and set up a Fluval 5 Gallon Spec V. I've added a Current USA LED light, inTank filter basket, and Aqueon 600 Pump. Got about 10lbs of live rock in there with Carib Sea Fiji Pink sand.

Looking forward to being a part of this hobby and community again.

Eric

ER95 · 01/15/2018, 11:42 AM

Just did the first water test.

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DesertReefT4r · 01/15/2018, 02:10 PM

Get better test kits, trust me on this.

Heavysledz · 01/17/2018, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertReefT4r

Get better test kits, trust me on this.

what do you recommend that isn't price prohibitive?

ER95 · 01/17/2018, 08:02 PM

Day 3

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ER95 · 01/19/2018, 06:58 PM

I’ve been researching on whether to do water changes during the cycle.

Tank was started Sunday (1-14-18)

I think I will do a water change on Saturday (1-20-18)

Thoughts?

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Diana A · 01/19/2018, 07:03 PM

patients...

kingfish22 · 01/19/2018, 07:20 PM

just wondering you have kits to test: Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alk, Ca, Phosphate, salinity, Magnesium, and Iodine. what kind of coral are you going to keep?

ER95 · 01/19/2018, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfish22

just wondering you have kits to test: Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alk, Ca, Phosphate, salinity, Magnesium, and Iodine. what kind of coral are you going to keep?

I plan to keep Zoo’s, Frogspawn or Hammer.

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ER95 · 01/21/2018, 08:45 PM

Had a brown algae bloom for a few days, it is now going away.

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emilese · 01/23/2018, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ER95

I’ve been researching on whether to do water changes during the cycle.

Tank was started Sunday (1-14-18)

I think I will do a water change on Saturday (1-20-18)

Thoughts?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You don't need to have your lights on during this part of your cycling. I wouldn't do a water change yet as this could delay the cycle. As a previous poster said, be patient. Let things be and once the initial cycle is complete (Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, some Nitrate), then you can think about doing a water change.

goodman770 · 01/23/2018, 09:42 AM

Congrats on coming back. I did the same thing after being out for about 10 years in June. Setup my tank...and then had to move in November. 8/
Still not setup back up as we're doing some remodeling....hopefully by end of Jan...

ER95 · 01/23/2018, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the input guys, I think I’m almost towards the end of the cycle.

Last time I checked, everything was at 0 and Ph was like 7.8 or 8.0

Currently hunting out the few bristle worms I’ve got.

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ER95 · 01/25/2018, 06:52 PM

Happy to see that my ammonia is now 0 ppm!

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ER95 · 02/04/2018, 10:43 AM

Update: Tank is now 4 weeks old!

I’ve added:
- Black Ice Clownfish (Steve)
- 2 Scarlet Hermits (1 vanished)
- 2 Astrea Snails
- GreenBay Packers Zoo colony
- Single Head Frogspawn

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ER95 · 02/04/2018, 04:54 PM

I've uploaded a video via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlDOH3faXZQ

DesertReefT4r · 02/05/2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavysledz

what do you recommend that isn't price prohibitive?

The Red Sea kits are good low cost kits. Salifert and Hanna are the best imo. I have used API Saltmater and Reef kits in the past and they are ok, good enough for cycling. Slowly buy better tests.

elecbzerk · 02/06/2018, 05:38 AM

looks good, like the rockscape. welcome back to the hobby

ER95 · 02/06/2018, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elecbzerk

looks good, like the rockscape. welcome back to the hobby

Thank you

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ER95 · 02/18/2018, 01:18 PM

Just noticed this little critter on the glass, any ideas what it is?

I have had baby copepods on my glass before but i haven’t seen this before.

Anyone chime in?

Guessing it’s a different age stage of a copepod?

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ER95 · 02/18/2018, 01:20 PM

Also here’s a newer updated pic of the tank. Running nicely

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E.intheC · 02/19/2018, 01:07 PM

That's a nice start. As for the animal on the glass, I don't have a reference point for size, but it may be a hydroid.

ER95 · 02/19/2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.intheC

That's a nice start. As for the animal on the glass, I don't have a reference point for size, but it may be a hydroid.

I believe it is a hydroid, comparing it to the pics on google.

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ER95 · 02/20/2018, 11:48 AM

Any tips on Aiptasia removal? Never dealt with one before until now.

I’ve stabbed them and tried sucking them out.

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E.intheC · 02/20/2018, 06:43 PM

If they're small enough and you get lucky, you can try peppermint shrimp, although I had a pepp chow down on a frogspawn a few years ago and vowed never to add them again!

There are also berghia nudibranchs and others have had success with kalk paste, but you would need to watch for alk spikes.

01/15/2018, 11:42 AM	#2
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Just did the first water test. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

01/15/2018, 02:10 PM	#3
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	Get better test kits, trust me on this. __________________ Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.

01/17/2018, 08:02 PM	#5
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Day 3 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

01/19/2018, 06:58 PM	#6
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	I’ve been researching on whether to do water changes during the cycle. Tank was started Sunday (1-14-18) I think I will do a water change on Saturday (1-20-18) Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

01/19/2018, 07:03 PM	#7
Diana A Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 682	patients... __________________ diana

01/19/2018, 07:20 PM	#8
kingfish22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 34	just wondering you have kits to test: Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alk, Ca, Phosphate, salinity, Magnesium, and Iodine. what kind of coral are you going to keep?

01/21/2018, 08:45 PM	#10
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Had a brown algae bloom for a few days, it is now going away. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

01/23/2018, 09:42 AM	#12
goodman770 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 324	Congrats on coming back. I did the same thing after being out for about 10 years in June. Setup my tank...and then had to move in November. 8/ Still not setup back up as we're doing some remodeling....hopefully by end of Jan... __________________ 60 Rimless, Hydra 26, eshopps sump, color box heads, Sicci return pump. Current Tank Info: 60 Rimless Reef

01/23/2018, 11:05 AM	#13
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Back in the hobby Thanks for the input guys, I think I’m almost towards the end of the cycle. Last time I checked, everything was at 0 and Ph was like 7.8 or 8.0 Currently hunting out the few bristle worms I’ve got. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

01/25/2018, 06:52 PM	#14
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Happy to see that my ammonia is now 0 ppm! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/04/2018, 10:43 AM	#15
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Update: Tank is now 4 weeks old! I’ve added: - Black Ice Clownfish (Steve) - 2 Scarlet Hermits (1 vanished) - 2 Astrea Snails - GreenBay Packers Zoo colony - Single Head Frogspawn Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/04/2018, 04:54 PM	#16
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	I've uploaded a video via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlDOH3faXZQ __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/06/2018, 05:38 AM	#18
elecbzerk Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kerrville, Tx Posts: 470	looks good, like the rockscape. welcome back to the hobby

02/18/2018, 01:18 PM	#20
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Just noticed this little critter on the glass, any ideas what it is? I have had baby copepods on my glass before but i haven’t seen this before. Anyone chime in? Guessing it’s a different age stage of a copepod? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/18/2018, 01:20 PM	#21
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Also here’s a newer updated pic of the tank. Running nicely Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/19/2018, 01:07 PM	#22
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	That's a nice start. As for the animal on the glass, I don't have a reference point for size, but it may be a hydroid. __________________ -Eric

02/20/2018, 11:48 AM	#24
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	Any tips on Aiptasia removal? Never dealt with one before until now. I’ve stabbed them and tried sucking them out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

02/20/2018, 06:43 PM	#25
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	If they're small enough and you get lucky, you can try peppermint shrimp, although I had a pepp chow down on a frogspawn a few years ago and vowed never to add them again! There are also berghia nudibranchs and others have had success with kalk paste, but you would need to watch for alk spikes. __________________ -Eric