Slow moving saltwater mini-reef

[Admin Bear]

as some of you are aware i have the attention span of a gnat most of the time. Part of what i love about this hobby is learning to stay on task. However when i need lessons in patience (i need these lessons OFTEN) i turn to fish keeping. I am getting back into the saltwater hobby a little with my daughter again and we are working towards a 20 gallon long mixed reef.

These tanks require a lot of research and TONS of patience. however they teach us about ecosystems, life, and biological processes like few other things can.
its a wonderful mix of science, and fun that we tend to enjoy as things develop.

So from time to time I will post images and updates here for those of you who care to follow along with this extremely slow process and watch as we bring this box of glass to life...

first some plan details.

20 gallon long tank (30" x 12" x 12")
No filter
2 power heads
1 heater
currently 12 ish pounds of dry rock (not live rock yet)
30" high out put LED lights (10,000K and Atinic)
glass top


that is it..

we are awaiting delivery of pumps and light...

need to decide firmly on sand or not and get the cover, but we are well on the way.

another week or two and we should actually get wet!! then comes the 6-8 week cycle before i can put anything in there.. (i told you a lesson in patience)

here are a few pix to get you teased as much as we are.








Reef Crystals salt mix being delivered to the house today and lights and pumps are scheduled for tomorrow or Monday... here's hoping!!

[kacyds]

Cant wait to see how you are going to incorporate the trains with the tank....

[khj]

I see that Admin Bear very sneakily photobombed his last picture!

[Admin Bear]

i thought about a track running in front of it. but i think each will deserve its own space.. besides i cannot do more work on the layout.. we need to sell the house so i am getting ready possibly box it all up until we get sold and moved so i can set it up right this time.

[Admin Bear]

Jan 28, 2016 11:09:46 GMT -5 khj said:

I see that Admin Bear very sneakily photobombed his last picture!

who, meee? 2776988524

[khj]

Jan 28, 2016 11:10:07 GMT -5 Admin Bear said:

i thought about a track running in front of it. but i think each will deserve its own space.. besides i cannot do more work on the layout.. we need to sell the house so i am getting ready possibly box it all up until we get sold and moved so i can set it up right this time.

You're going to move AFTER you set up the reef tank?!? Fun Bear AND brave Bear!

[Admin Bear]

yeah man. moving a tank is nothing.. i have done it before.

[khj]

Jan 28, 2016 11:14:45 GMT -5 Admin Bear said:

yeah man. moving a tank is nothing.. i have done it before.

I should have added, "strong Bear"!

[Admin Bear]

1753364839

[kacyds]

[Admin Bear]

ok folks the lights are in and the power heads also!!! (salt is here but obviously not in the tank yet )


Blue


White


Power heads in the corners in the back

[kacyds]

Do you have water in Massachusetts or do you have to get that shipped in too.... smiley-face-whistle-2

[darkormex]

Only salt...no water. 

[khj]

Jan 29, 2016 21:44:54 GMT -5 darkormex said:

Only salt...no water. 

Admin Bear is still waiting for the water to be delivered.

[darkormex]

Jan 29, 2016 23:04:06 GMT -5 khj said:

Jan 29, 2016 21:44:54 GMT -5 darkormex said:

Only salt...no water. 

Admin Bear is still waiting for the water to be delivered.

Doesn't it come with the fish?

[Admin Bear]

Have to buy distilled water (or i could use RODI water) because of how sensitive the salt water creatures are you should not use tap water... it will be waiting for water until i hve the cover, then it gets wet...

[RossTO]

I used to have the large bottles of distilled water delivered from Culligan, and kept a spare tank the main. This smaller spare tank had distilled water and had a dosing pump attached. The dosing pump put a small amount of fresh water in the tank every 5 min or so (can't remember my settings). This kept the tank at set level and replaced any evaporated water into the salt tank.

[Admin Bear]

i was considering an ATO, but i think for a while i want to be more hands on until i get back into the swing of things. This way i can keep an eye on things and hopefully catch things early if there is a problem,.

[Admin Bear]

last night I got my sand, cover, and water!!



and here is the obligatory dirty tank shot.. (it will clear up and look really nice once i get done messing with it over the next 2-3 days)