From An Empty Bare Tank to THIS.... in 7 days!

[Duffer2]

After a year away from Calgary and my tank, I started it back up last week. A great opportunity presented itself and I had to jump. "24x7spyz" was shutting his tank down, I went to buy his rock, and came out with buying everything. So I got the whole kit & caboodle and here's where we are a week later.

All the credit to the good looking corals must go to their previous owner!!!!

It's not the greatest way to start a tank up, but everything is looking great so far. Rock went in first, followed by Coral, then fish 7 days later.

The display is a 120g, with a 120g sump in the basement.
~200# live rock
Fish: Fox Face, Naso Tang, 4 x Cardinals, Sand Sifter Goby, 2 x Clowns

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6866.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6861.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6852.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6835.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6850.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6864.jpg

[kodadad]

Nice...wish I could have found a nice tank with great livestock for sale locally :)

Great way to cure the impatience...

[no_bs]

Very nice looking tank in a week. You have your "INSTANT OCEAN":lol:. Nice selection of corals. Looks like everything took the move well. Nice score.

[Duffer2]

Thanks. Only 1 casulty. A cleaner shrimp died in Transport. I think a rock shifted in his bucket and crushed him. Everything else seems to be doing well. Just tested all the levels again and everything is in range. Interesting my Ca levels are through the roof which doesn't make any sense. Tested 3 times, similar results. Must be the test kit.

[Dez]

Thanks. Only 1 casulty. A cleaner shrimp died in Transport. I think a rock shifted in his bucket and crushed him. Everything else seems to be doing well. Just tested all the levels again and everything is in range. Interesting my Ca levels are through the roof which doesn't make any sense. Tested 3 times, similar results. Must be the test kit.

When I mixed up new water when I first started my tank my CA was at 500. It was ridiculous. It got to the point that I had enough corals using up the calcium that I turned my CA reactor off for 3 weeks, while still supplementing Alk until my levels were where I wanted them to be and then turned my reactor back on. I didn't know why my CA was so high either. Must be the salt.

[neoh]

fantastic! like the scape.

[danny zubot]

Very nice looking. Any spikes yet?

[untamed]

Naso has a big scrape....Do you know how that happened?

[noirsphynx]

Wow, that's beautiful!!

[Duffer2]

Thanks for the comments. The naso must have got scraped by rock in the move. Healed in a day. Then the next day, added 'coral snow', naso freaked out, smashed against the rock, and scraped again. Within 2 days totally healed. Did it again yesterday when I fed them. Went screaming into the live rock and came out scraped up. Today looks much better. Strange fish.

I've never had such a big fish and one that's so skittish.

As far as spikes, today I did all my tests and things are looking a little off with the nitrates.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 5 - 10
Ph = 8.0
Calcium =410
Mg = good

So my nitrates spiked in the last 24 hours. Some Xenia has died off, but nothing else. Calms and all other corals look good. Strange that the xenia would suffer. I've never had it before but i heard it's fairly durable.

Any advice would be helpful.

[Duffer2]

Here's the Naso tonight. No scrapes, fast healer.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/Duffer22/DSC_6871.jpg

[andestang]

What a great pick up ! As for the Xenia I find they are a little sensitive to PH swings. If they are not pulsing or don't seem coordinated when they pulse could be related to your PH. They do best at around 8.3 and also lacking trace elements like especially iodide.Also keep your current on them erratic and moderate. Your spike in Ca probably just came from the substrate getting disturbed during the move. Keep the pics coming :)