My 33 Gallon Build

[koda_dad]

Well since my questions keep coming and the more I know, the many more questions it raises I decided the best way was to start a thread on my build.

Equipment so far....
33 Gallon Tank
196w PC double hood.
2 Aquaclear 50 Powerheads
1 Remora Protein Skimmer with Aquaclear 50 powerhead (not hooked up yet)
E200 Digital Heater
Fluval 305 - currently running sponge, carbon and fine particle media
35lbs of Eco Rock - Manmade Live Rock
Live Sand - 3 bags 30 lbs I think

Here was just after the first fill.

This is today...

Here is where my tank is sitting as of now...
Sal: 1.025
Temp 80
Alkalinity: 2.80
Ammonia: 0.10
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
Calcium 400
Phos 0.5

Any opinions on the rock formation? I as thinking of getting a few more pieces to fill in the center as well as some rubble for the foreground.

 

[koda_dad]

I am coming up to a week now...I am thinking I am going to add in at least some of the cleaning crew at the end of next week.

I was thinking of the final cleanup crew being:
Nassarius snails 10
Cerith 10
Astraea snails 5

5 Blue Hermits, 3 Red Hermits, and 2 Scarlet Hermits
1 or 2 cleaner shrimp?

How much would be safe to add next week?

 

[SeaBee]

Lower your temp and salinity a bit. 78 is good on temp, 80 is pushing it. Get warm water snails, Mexican Turbo. Salinity is right at the top, go dawn one point and try to hold it. Are you going to get a sump? What type of Remora do you have? I have the "C", hang on type that I now have hanging on my sump.

 

[SeaBee]

Have you cleaned your canister filter yet?

 

[andysgirl8800]

Hope I don't hurt the pride any here, but, although I love your aquascaping, check that all of your rock is VERY secure in the tank. It only takes one burrowing critter as small as a snail to send any unstable rocks to the ground, and in some cases, THROUGH your tank. Overall, your tank looks AWESOME and you're off to a great start!

 

[koda_dad]

Hope I don't hurt the pride any here, but, although I love your aquascaping, check that all of your rock is VERY secure in the tank. It only takes one burrowing critter as small as a snail to send any unstable rocks to the ground, and in some cases, THROUGH your tank. Overall, your tank looks AWESOME and you're off to a great start!

Thanks. Actually, I was thinking the same thing...I am pretty sure it is not the final placement... I need some smaller pieces... The piece that is not super solid is the one on the right of the pic. It will be... just have to mess around a bit

 

[koda_dad]

Have you cleaned your canister filter yet?

Once.. it wasnt too bad

Still not sure of its future....

 

[koda_dad]

Lower your temp and salinity a bit. 78 is good on temp, 80 is pushing it. Get warm water snails, Mexican Turbo. Salinity is right at the top, go dawn one point and try to hold it. Are you going to get a sump? What type of Remora do you have? I have the "C", hang on type that I now have hanging on my sump.

Yup the C...not the pro. No sump :( Just no room for one.

 

[dcantucson]

Hi koda_dad. You tank is looking really nice. I especially like the background. What is it? It looks very nice and 3 dimensional. As far as the salinity I think 1.025-1.026 is perfect.

 

[koda_dad]

I am coming up to a week now...I am thinking I am going to add in at least some of the cleaning crew at the end of next week.

I was thinking of the final cleanup crew being:
Nassarius snails 10
Cerith 10
Astraea snails 5

5 Blue Hermits, 3 Red Hermits, and 2 Scarlet Hermits
1 or 2 cleaner shrimp?

How much would be safe to add next week?

I've a bunch of people tell me to not add in ANY crabs as they can basically go after other life in the reef tank.

Opinions?

 

[Bifferwine]

I don't like hermit crabs because they will kill snails. But they are excellent cleaners, and that's the reason why lots of people do like them. If you don't mind replacing snails every so often, then you can keep hermits. But even with extra shells, they'll still kill snails.

 

[dcantucson]

I'm a crab lover myself and keep them in abundance in my tanks. I do think you must satisfy their hunger or else there can be trouble. I would add that you should only keep smaller crabs for safety sake.

 

[koda_dad]

Hi koda_dad. You tank is looking really nice. I especially like the background. What is it? It looks very nice and 3 dimensional. As far as the salinity I think 1.025-1.026 is perfect.

I was initially just planning on going for a solid background. I saw this and my lfs and I thought.....I love it.

It is a shot f the ocean shot form under water... so at the top that is the water surface, then dark blue in the middle, and then the lower part... looks almost like a reflection.

 

[andysgirl8800]

crabs are ok in my tank, though I am not a big fan. They are pretty good cleaners, but for algae, I prefer urchins myself.

 

[koda_dad]

I'm a crab lover myself and keep them in abundance in my tanks. I do think you must satisfy their hunger or else there can be trouble. I would add that you should only keep smaller crabs for safety sake.

I am not sure....... are the ones I listed "smaller"

thanks

 

[SeaBee]

Tucan, does your Zero sound like storm drains? The one we set up is loud and not all the edges are flowing, and yes it's level. I suggested some gravel in the drain area and a larger return pump for more over the edge-ness. What you think?

 

[SeaBee]

crabs are ok in my tank, though I am not a big fan. They are pretty good cleaners, but for algae, I prefer urchins myself.

I need to second that Urchin deal, I have one and he's really cleaning the rock well.

 

[koda_dad]

I need to second that Urchin deal, I have one and he's really cleaning the rock well.

but cant urchins be bad for corals too>?:frustrat::frustrat:

 

[andysgirl8800]

depends entirely on what kind of urchin you get. I don't really like the black long spine urchin as they can be very clumsy around loose rock and corals. I love my california purple spine and really like the pincushion urchins as they are smaller and tend to be more gentle. Some varieties of urchins will actually pick up small coral frags and rocks and carry them on their backs. not necessarily what you'd want in your tank.

 

[PRC]

Tank looks great! Coming along real nice. Background looks cool. As others have said, jus tmake su rethose rocks ar secure...There are some pics on the forum of rocks going right through the wall of a tank.