Enigma's 2012 Nano Contest Entry

[Enigma]

Yes, my rock is in there already. I'm prepared to take a points hit for that, as it was the best course of action for me.

[JDigital]

Is that salt on the sandbed?

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by JDigital

Is that salt on the sandbed?

Yup. It is dry rock. No worries. I don't use live rock.

I've added the salt directly to the tank before when first filling.

[JDigital]

Was just curious.

[Enigma]

I'm impressed that you caught that. Good eye! When I add the salt directly to the tank I give it longer to mix before I add anything else to the tank. I'll start dosing "Stability" in a week or so, with fish food to kick start the cycle.

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Yes, my rock is in there already. I'm prepared to take a points hit for that, as it was the best course of action for me.

Just take the rock out for minute to snap another picture and label it "prior to adding rock" photo. I may or may not be doing that.

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

Just take the rock out for minute to snap another picture and label it "prior to adding rock" photo. I may or may not be doing that.

I can't do that. The rock structure doesn't fit out the top of the tank. It is all glued together, and I'll need to try to get it apart when/if I remove it from the tank. Funny story (or not). I'll tell it later.

[Enigma]

Well, she is now officially cycling.

I'm adding Stability. I've got another bottle of Microbacter7 on order, and when that arrives I'll use that as well. I think there is value in using a variety of bacterial sources. I'm adding a big pinch of fish food pellets a day: more than the fish in this system will get to eat. I'm not going to test for ammonia or anything until mid-November. The last tank I cycled this way took 19 days, but I didn't add bacteria daily past the first week: I just kept ghost feeding the tank. I suspect this one will cycle more quickly, as I'll be adding bacteria daily. This tank will be a nitrifying beast by the livestock addition date.

Worth noting is that this tank is cycling hot at 83F. I believe this is a better temperature to cycle at, as it is said that the bacteria multiplies more quickly in warmer temperatures. I wouldn't cycle that warm with live rock, but as this rock is dry rock there is nothing worth trying to preserve on it.

Also, we should talk about phosphates. Dry rock is a phosphate bomb. People may advertise otherwise . . . but don't believe it. I am heading for a MAJOR GHA issue. I'm not worried about it, as I've been through it before. But, in an attempt to mitigate the phosphate damage, this rock was soaked in RO/DI for several weeks. In addition to that, I've added Phosbuster Pro to the water, and I'm using Pura Phoslock. Despite that, I expect this tank to go really green and hairy within eight weeks.

[Enigma]

I've only got the blue LEDs turned on in that photo. The Royal Blues aren't working again. I need to trouble shoot those. And, the whites really aren't required while cycling.

I'm incredibly pleased with the way my scape turned out. It really loses something in the photo. I'm sure that as it is filled out with coral the depth and dimension of the scape will become more obvious.

Here's a top down shot from before I added the water:



There are nice shaded spots, as well as spot that will be lower flow. There are an abundance of places to put coral. I think this will work out well.

[Enigma]

I had originally built the scape outside of the tank. I carefully made all of my measurements, and I methodically glued it all together.



I brought it upstairs to put it in the tank after the glue had cured . . . and it didn't fit! It must have shifted ever so slightly after I had glued it.

I had to take it partially apart, and rebuild it in the tank.



It isn't 100% what I had originally, but it is pretty close.