First Marine Tank. 29 gallons

[rickmanz]

Ya! where did you find that.. It is hard finding fixtures for a 29gal... I have one too

[mastocker]

Yeah classic 29 gallon fixtures and canopies are tough to find I have found. I just did a google search for 30" MH aquarium lighting and this one popped up from Ebay. It showed he had 2 in stock, but looks like it is only one now

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CEEQrQQwAw

google shopping is great!

[mastocker]

I have a concern about the plastic on my canopy and the fixture. I did a search and didn't come up with anything, and it seems like others might wonder also, so I started a new thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1860173

Also over the weekend I picked up a six line wrasse. It is a smaller one, and the chalk basselt was not very fond of it when it was first introduced, nor was the maroon clown. It found some hiding spots in the rock work rather quickly but by the end of the day was grazing the rock and zipping in and out of it. All seems good in the hood.

[MilkWeed18]

you have to post pics of your lighting once you get it. im upgrading my 10g to a 29g and debating on which light fixture to get.

[mastocker]

roger dodger.

Apparently the glass tops aren't cool and I found myself a DIY screen that I am constructing. I just ordered the screening from the dude that wrote the DIY. He wanted 8.50 for it, I gave him 10. Check out his thread here, looks pretty ingenious.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=212941

[Zucker26]

Check out Catalina UltraReef. They have a fixture that fits a classic 29gal like a glove. I've had mine for a few years, and it's absolutely perfect for a classic 29.

[Tschupe]

what are your tank deminsions and what kind of hob filter are you using?

[mastocker]

Tank dims are 30 long x 12 wide x 18 deep. For filtration I have about 20 lbs of live sand and about 35 lbs of live rock.

I also have a HOB Aqua Clear rated for 50 gallon tanks. I pulled the bio balls out of it and run the sponge and then double up on the carbon to try to keep the smell down. It works for the most part, but I do need to change a filter every 2 weeks or so.

Now that I think about it, I should probably change one soon...

[mastocker]

I am currently having a massive algae bloom in the tank. I have a feeling this was sparked by changing the lights and having more light from the MH. I clean the front and the sides of the tank twice a day because it builds up on the glass so quickly. I did a 5 gallon change on Wednesday and I am going to do another on Saturday most likely. I changed the sponge and the carbon in the filter. Peoples 2cents is welcome here, I certainly don't want to be doing too much too fast. If you can keep me from making a mistake you have made in the past, by all means chime in.

Livin' and learnin'

[mastocker]

I think my tank is crashing. The algae is becoming uncontrollable, the corals are looking worse and the fish are all losing their color. The anemone isnt looking very good. Going to do a water change tomorrow and see what happens.

Not looking good though.

[mastocker]

Water change happend this morning, test shows the following numbers 4 hours later...

Ammonia zero
Nitrite zero
Nitrate 5
pH 8.2
Alkalinity is about 20 <--- sounds very low.
Temp 82
Specific Gravity 1.024

I have taken off the MH light fixture for the day since it is a very hot summer day here in New England. I have the AC running and am using my old light fixture for the day, and I can pop the new fixture on for night for the LEDs.

[lgreeeeeen]

Nice progress. That alk level can't be right though, can it?

[chris3_16]

I would buy a protein skimmer and buy another aquaclear hob filter and make it into a fuge. That should take care of your algea problems.

[mastocker]

Its been a while since I posted, but I have been reading snce my last post.

The tank is fine, for the most part. Over the last couple months not a lot has changed, other than I got my algae bloom under control and have added some corals and a fish or two.

Lately however, I have noticed the corals, particularly the SPS , have begun to bleach. I read SPS are not very good for beginners, but I needed to give it a go becasue I'm just like that.

Anyways, here are my levels and my tank setup.

29g
1 150w MH bulb
4 t5 atincs
Hydor 2 and nano for flow
40lbs of rock
30 lbs of sand

nitrates 5
nitrites 0
ammonia 0
ph 8.3
75KH <-- little low, working on raising it
Calcium at about 475 <---- little high, have stoped dosing until it drops below 400
I run carbon through my aquaclear which I clean weekly and clean bimontly with 50% vinegar and 50% water

I haven't checked the magnesium levels since I started up the tank but I have looked into it and read that it is depleted through water changes. If I read correctly, it is used by corals and inverts to build their skeles.

Any ideas where I should start my search to bring the color back into the tank?

P.S. Protein Skimmer is on the way, will be here on monday. Ordered it from Saltysupply.com and will NEVER order from them again. Terrible customer service, extremely slow shipping.

[mastocker]

Magnesium is at 1300.

Anyone have any ideas? Could it be my MH bulb is too white? Alk is way too low? I'm kinda puzzled.