JamesL

Even though I don't run a QT, having substrate in it sounds like a bad idea. Part of the idea of the QT is to be able to medicate if necessary. And even if you don't medicate, I could see the substrate has place for nasties from new corals to take root and hide. Seems like a lot more work to me than what is really needed. n What it really sounds like is that you need a display tank in your office

I think the diatom phase is the worst, because it just makes a tank look "dirty". It frustrates me to clean it one day, and the next they are back I had a mini bought of it when I upped my mights on my large tank. Soooooooo glad that they are gone once again. I put white sand in, and darn it, I want to keep it white!

Wet and mostly cleared up (maybe next time I will actually clean the glass ):

I have various things on order to get it into fully functioning mode:

- LockLine parts to spread out the flow, and to prevent the sand sculpting going on... much more powerful pump in this tank than my previous nano cube.

- New MH bulb (Phoenix 14k).

- Carbon for the filter area.

Going skimmerless and heaterless for the time being. My main tank has had no problems over the past years without a heater... though I do realize temp variations will be more drastic in the little tank.

So I am torn on how to seed the tank. When filling it up, I used a bucket full of water from my large tank. I might try to find a small piece of live rock from my current tank, but my goal has been to prevent nasties from moving over (like the orange ball anemones and euclid worm). I don't know, it might be a losing battle though, as I am sure the orange ball anemones will eventually make their way over as I plan to migrate some coral from the big tank to the little. Not that they have been too much of a pest. In fact, these days I don't see the hoards like I used to. And they didn't really pose to much troubles since they open only at night. So maybe I won't worry about them, but if I can keep euclid worms out of the little tank, that will be a big bonus.

Thanks for the tank, stand, light... the kids have ben circling it all night asking when I am putting fish in it.

Thanks for all of the symbiotic suggestions!

The tank is wet, and uber cloudy right now due to the sand And we are off to the cycle races.

Wow, you tank is even more minimalistic than what I am doing.

And on the same day, there was light:

You could get a medusa worm with their little shrimp that rides them.

Good idea! And I like how the worms can be bright red. Though I wonder if that shrimp and a pistol would fight.

It is funny how things circle around. I sold a 24g tank to upgrade to a 75g years back. Now I just purchased another 24g (but still keeping the 75g).

This goal for this tank is to make it a (mostly) symbiosis themed tank. Yes, corals + algae are symbiotic, but I am thinking on a bit larger scale. The planned main attraction of the tank will be a Rose BTA with a pair of clownfish (not sure on type yet, but none of those crazy expensive designer ones). On a smaller scale, thinking also of a shrimp/goby pair and Pom Pom crabs. Might throw some clown gobies in there cause the wife likes them

For this tank, I am trying starting it differently. Going with base rock instead of my normal live rock route. And to be even more daring, I am only going with a single 28 pounder piece. Don't have to worry about rock slides in this tank.

So that is the basics. Here is part of it still in the car. More pics later once I get it wet.

Well, adding "fresh" live rock during the cycle will mostly likely cause more die off on the rock, then adding it later. But if you added live rock from an established system, probably won't get much die off.

The plus side of adding the live rock during the cycle is that more beneficial bacteria will be built of to deal with all of the die off.

Right here: https://www.facebook.com/rivercityaquatics

Without any significant amount of decaying matter in the tank, you might not get huge spikes.

I recently got a clean up crew from ReefCleaners... all of my other beneficial sand critters have come from live rock I moved over from an old tank and from new purchased live rock.

Now, for this new tank I am about to start up, I am thinking about going the base rock route. While in general I have been pleased with live rock, I have gotten a few nasties that I wish not to repeat (orange ball anemones and euclid worms).

I believe AquaDome sells kits to premium members, yes the "Micro fauna kit" (see sticky post in the Premium For Sale forum). I will probably do that for the new tank once I get the cycle going.

Kim brings up a good point. Having your lights on now will also encourage coraline algae growth in the tank, which you want.

And so begins the "ugly" phase of cycling.

Is that after the gallon or so flush you are supposed to do after replacing filters?

I haven't received the new filters yet. They come in on Friday. I did a flush on my filters over the weekend and it stayed at around 17ppm. The sediment filter is yellowed so I think that's one of the main issues.

I mis-read your original post.. sorry about that. I guess that is high, though truthfully I have use 25+ water before with no problems. But that was also when I was barely feeding my tank.

Is that after the gallon or so flush you are supposed to do after replacing filters?

Oh, and I should be starting a new tank build thread later this week

Here are a few quick pics using my phone from the other day.

I tell you this carpet keeps growing!

My little clam from C4.

Top-down of the mini carpet.

Top down of some orange brain.

Top down of my sympodium.

I kept reef tanks from 2003-2009 but got out when i had kids. I maintained my mother in laws 30 gal Fowlr tank while Ive been tankless. Recently she rehomed the too-large one of her two fish so wants to restock it with a couple small fish. So I set up a 10 gal tank 6-1-13 with an aquaclear hob filter with foam and ceramic biomedia and some bacterial additive, (no substrate) planning on waiting 6 wks.

All that thinking about saltwater made me aquire my own 30 gal tank. I dug out my old crushed coral and heater and 2 maxijet 1200's. Put water in and a handful of macroalgae and a cup of cc from MIL's tank. Also a few pieces of holey rock and base rock that used to be live from my tanks years ago. Plan on adding another aquaclear later to run foam and carbon as needed and when i can afford, a little skimmer.

Thats the cliffs notes version. I am rusty so keeping in mind my purpose of small simple peaceful community fish only, comments welcome.

Im torn between intensive qt medicating protocol and laid back approach where u throw em in the DT and take good care of them so they can settle in and be resistant to whatever ich or whatever that invariably comes with the territory. Feel free to chime in on that too. Im in round rock and would love to meet some of yall and talk tank in person too.

I think, as with all things in this hobby, you will find opinions varied all over the place on every aspect. And that includes the QT vs no QT topic.

Here is my 2 cents on it. I have been keeping saltwater fish on and off since 1991, and I have never had a QT tank (still don't today). I currently have a reef dominated tank, but have had fish only also along the way. I guess call it luck, but I have never had issue with parasites wiping out my fish. I totally understand the desire for a QT, especially when you get into a fish heavy tank, and really when you get into really expensive fish (I think the most I have paid for a fish is $50). So it can be done without a QT, but I think you really have to be careful on the load of the tank and the quality/quantity of the fish (to the extent you can).

Hurray for Nitrites! Not often one is excited about seeing Ammonia or Nitrites

I love the ultra-thin profile of the light.... and the tank is a looker too!

attentive knowledgeable staff that arent afraid to say what they think but can do so with tact. looks out for the hobbyist and the fish's best interests. would love if there was a place that qt'd and medicated their fish before they were sold but will have to just use Diver's Den for that I guess, they're the only ones that do it that I've heard of.

I've been away from the hobby for a few years...who is Garry and Hunter? Are they at aquadome?

Nearby (I live in Round Rock) I know of: Fishy Business, Aquadome, Partners, Gallery of Pets, Rivers and Reefs, Rivercity aquatics, Aquatek, Pet Connection. There used to be Austin Aquariums but they went out of business. Am I missing anyone?

Fish Gallery opens today in North Austin

Gah.. how did I miss this sweet tank for sale.

Very nice!

Happy belated Jake!

What he said