Jake's seahorse reef - Page 4

Jakegr · #31 01-22-2013, 06:54 PM

Thanks

Jakegr · #32 01-23-2013, 10:22 PM

Started filling the tank yesterday evening, getting excited.

Jakegr · #33 01-24-2013, 02:38 AM

Things got delayed again. I just noticed the blue ABS background isn't really attached to the back glass anymore, so I'll need to fix that. It should be an easy fix, but silicone takes a couple of days to dry/cure (whatever you call it!).

Jakegr · #34 01-24-2013, 10:17 PM

Dave/Concepts is sending me a brand new background shortly. Gotta love when LFS's back up their products with great service. Thank you!

Jakegr · #35 02-20-2013, 11:53 PM

Finally got it filled... I went with a low lying aquascape so I can fill in the tank with macroalgae, gorgonians, some softies, and maybe a few LPS. There is some very unhappy xenia on the right if you look carefully.

I fragged a milli from my last tank before I sold the colony so I could use the dead skeleton for something the seahorses can wrap their tail around.

DSB is about 3" deep. The bottom layer is mixed Caribsea mineral mud and sugar sand (2.5"). The top layer is sugar sand (0.5"). The mineral mud felt more like peat moss used for gardening.

Still a lot to do. The electrical is a mess and the overflow needs to be adjusted. The gate valve on the siphon makes a loud sucking noise.

I won't be adding sea horses for some time... still need to let things stabilize and add macro/gorgonians to give them plenty of tail wrapping options.

Also, I chickened out of going skimmerless and bought a Vertex IN-80 from J&L. Maybe a bit undersized, but it was a good deal and I'll have a lot of algae in the tank. It has already pulled out a lot of sand. Unfortunately I lost the plug for the skimmer cup drain, anyone know where I could get another one!?

Jakegr · #36 02-23-2013, 10:36 PM

I cleaned up the electrical a bit, so here are some more pictures:

My Q-tank.

I bought a AquaRay Mini500 HD for my refugium. Love it so far! It is a very white light, I wouldn't use it over a reef tank, but it should be great for growing algae.

gregzz4 · #37 02-23-2013, 11:07 PM

Nicely done wiring

Where's the fish ?

Jakegr · #38 02-24-2013, 02:07 AM

Thanks!

I could probably add fish right now. I don't expect the tank to cycle, but I'm going to wait a week or two just in case.

I think I'll add some tigger pods tomorrow though. How's that for exciting

Jakegr · #39 02-25-2013, 11:11 PM

Took some PAR readings from the Kessil A350 (non-wide) this afternoon. The light is suspended 3" above water.

Pretty impressive in my opinion! They were far higher than I expected. I'd like to suspend the light further above the water, but the Kessil mounting arm is a bit too short for a 24" wide tank.

Jakegr · #40 03-13-2013, 04:36 AM

Added some livestock!

Clean up crew- 5 spiny astreas, 5 regular astreas, 5 ring cowries, 1 sand sifting seastar, and 5 nassarious snails.

Corals - contents of my Q-tank, and a frag of GSP and fox coral. JL has a couple of great fox corals right now, 5-6" for $50. A couple had quite a bit of green on them too.