[stacef]

Hey everyone.
Well for an early Christmas present, my boyfriend got me everything to set up my empty 20g. When we move in July, we will be setting up the 220g then. Switching everything from the 20g over to the 220.

These pics are just of water/salt mix in it. Nothing special. I have the Koralia 4 in just to keep the water moving around. The skimmer is the Bak-Pak 2.

My boyfriend told me today that he has 35 pounds of live rock that should be here Friday (will take pics when it arrives) and also 30 pounds of Ls that will arrive 12/19.



The other side, from the kitchen view.


The Bak-Pak 2

[RyanG]

Looks good Stace! Looks like you have a nice bf! You did use RO/DI water correct?

[stacef]

Originally Posted by RyanG

Looks good Stace! Looks like you have a nice bf! You did use RO/DI water correct?

Thanks Ryan! Yeah I ended up buying R/O water from my lfs. Haven't got the hookup yet, but I am excited to get sand and rock! At least have something in it...haha

[plecosword]

cant wait!!! it looks just like my 20g lol!! looks good already without anything lol

[stacef]

I have another question--
I added salt about 8(ish) hours ago. Prior to those pics (realized that after the 15 minutes were up) But, seems that nothing is going into the tank for a little bit, I added the salt into the tank. I put a Koralia powerhead in there to keep everything moving around. BUT! The water is still "cloudy" is this normal? It's not air bubbles, seems to be salt, a lot of it seemed to have not disinigrated yet. Is this normal?? Thanks! <--haha

[thelastmucci]

Stace great setup....I don't have a tank yet but I think that's why most people use premixed salt they make themselves. If you just throw it in I think it would be cloudy until its aggitated.

[stacef]

Originally Posted by thelastmucci

Stace great setup....I don't have a tank yet but I think that's why most people use premixed salt they make themselves. If you just throw it in I think it would be cloudy until its aggitated.

Hey, I did mix it myself. (I might be confused on that part..I used instant ocean) But..you said until it is aggitated, but I have a powerhead in there moving it like crazy! Would you consider that aggitated? None of it is able to settle there is movement constantly....

[e_baer]

Hmmm, hard to say what it could be. Typically on the directions of the salt containers they say to allow 24 hours to completely dissolve. So I would say if it takes more than 24 hours there might be a problem.

[stacef]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Hmmm, hard to say what it could be. Typically on the directions of the salt containers they say to allow 24 hours to completely dissolve. So I would say if it takes more than 24 hours there might be a problem.

Thanks Elliot, I may have looked over that on the salt bucket.. I will see how it does this afternoon..

[plecosword]

did you wash the tank, skimmer, and pump? maybe they were dirty and caused claudiness.

Stace and I really liked the water clarifier in freshwater. it works like magic but in saltwater, can you do this? I just found this saltwater clarifier, would you need a power filter or will the skimmer work fine?
the only thing that may be a problem could be this
"Filter-feeding invertebrates such as clams, corals, feather worms, barnacles, etc., may close during treatment to prevent clogging of their filter apparatus. This is a temporary condition and will not harm the health of the animals."
Kordon Sea Clear™ Saltwater Clarifier - 4oz (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Additives > Water Treatments/Conditioners > Water Clarifiers )

[stacef]

Originally Posted by plecosword

did you wash the tank, skimmer, and pump? maybe they were dirty and caused claudiness.

Yeah I washed everything, well just rinsed, and used new sponge. Nothing was really that dirty anyways! I am hoping this afternoon it will be settled. That would be a real dissapointement, haha, I just have water and screwing that up! Jk.

As for the clarifier. It looks good, the product descrip sounds pretty good, But I think if you use that stuff, you should use it on an already established tank. I think...

Thanks for your help!

[thelastmucci]

Stace I meant no disrespect by my comments. I just figured that "typically" most people make their own (ie the same way you did) and then leave it in a 5 gallon bucket or trash can or whatever, and aggitate then let it settle then dump it into the tank...unless I've been misreading everyone's methods I think this would be what you would want to do in the future. Then again easier said then done..lords knows I don't have the room for a trash can full of salt water.

[e_baer]

So how is the tanks cloudyness tonight?

[stacef]

Originally Posted by e_baer

So how is the tanks cloudyness tonight?

Thanks for checking in! Sorry I didn't update. It is much better, I think what the issue was..
I had a Koralia 4 in there to keep it stirring up. (Do NOT plan on keeping this in there when livestock is in)

But I tihnk that was way to powerful for the small space, seems like it was breaking up the few bubble that were coming out of the return, then creating lots and lots of tiny! bubbles, looking like salt. I have since shut off the Koralia..and it's look ok!

[plecosword]

So the Koraline is the cloudy master mind i bet your jumping in exitement for all the other stuff to get there

[e_baer]

Glad you got it all fixed! What do you plan on putting in the tank when its ready?

[stacef]

I am sure it won't be a problem in my 220g. But definately TO much for just a tiny 20g.

I am wayy to excited for everything to get here! I have been crossing my fingers everyday the UPS guy will knock on my door! Hasn't happened yet. But will come.

I am not sure what I will be putting in it yet...Haven't quite decided...any ideas for just a 20g??

[stacef]

Originally Posted by plecosword

So the Koraline is the cloudy master mind i bet your jumping in exitement for all the other stuff to get there

Mario-- you probably just had a typo, but the Koralia is what was causing the problems, just to clear it up. No pun intended..

[plecosword]

A trigger fish! memeber you love them!! and make your bf happy for all the work hes done, get him a shark, and then make the shark and trigger happy and get htem some clowns.

[plecosword]

Originally Posted by stacef

Mario-- you probably just had a typo, but the Koralia is what was causing the problems, just to clear it up. No pun intended..

yep i did, what was i thinking coraline lol

[stacef]

Originally Posted by plecosword

A trigger fish! memeber you love them!! and make your bf happy for all the work hes done, get him a shark, and then make the shark and trigger happy and get htem some clowns.

Gosh, Allll that in a 20? haha. I would love to get a trigger, than add it to my 220 in July, sounds great to me!!

[plecosword]

well i guess you still have space for a mantis shrimp. and you can also make the shark happy with a girl shark! and then you can get a girl trigger But the tank may look to lonely with just them so get lion or something!

[thelastmucci]

I stay with small stuff you don't want a big bio load. Personally I plan on getting some (and don't quote me on this) ocelaris clowns, maybe some pajama cardinal fish. A clean up crew, maybe a mandarin once the tank is established and lots of soft corals, some mushrooms, and maybe a ricordia for my clowns to host in. I would really love an anemone but everything I've read they just cause too many problems in the tank unless it's a well established tank. Also I wouldn't mind either some frogspawn or hammerhead but thats about as greedy as I'm going to get.

[e_baer]

For a 20g look into smaller fsh like gobys and blennys. Perhaps a VERY small trigger, but it would only be able to be in there for a few months. And I cant emphisize SMALL enough!

[stacef]

Originally Posted by e_baer

For a 20g look into smaller fsh like gobys and blennys. Perhaps a VERY small trigger, but it would only be able to be in there for a few months. And I cant emphisize SMALL enough!

Yeah, I don't think that I will be getting a trigger, due to the fact we are not setting up the 220 until julyish...so that could easily mean august, plus cycling time. At that point the Trigger probably grew out of the 20 g. I probably will go with some Clowns. I really like feather dusters! is there any particular member of a clean up crew that can not go with them? Also--can I have peppermint shrimp if I just do clowns?

How about the Harlequin shrimp?? I looove color! haha.