Thinking about Converting

[Mbuna Keeper]

Update time!

After 3 days of trying, lots of huffing and puffing and a few snaps at the mrs for destroying my concentration with questions like, "what shall I take on holiday" (seriously, I dont care!) I have finally finished the aquascape. The issue I was having was that I was trying to hide the ugly live rock I was given for free. As I pulled the live rock out of the container, I started realising why it was free. 5kg of real live rock and 15kg of heavy ocean rock :/ I am thinking that once the reef bones are seeded, that I will remove the ocean rock and re-scape. Tank looks quite full but there are lots of shelves for future corals and wildlife with a few arches for asthetic pleasure.

I setup the skimmer and the external. The external inflow is currently being sucked through a heater in the tank and the outflow is attached to the UV light. I have some rubble in the external at the moment and some polishing wool, just to clear the tank of any mess. I will be removing the wool in the next few days. Still trying to work out how to use the skimmer. Had it on and working but had the cup to low. Am I supposed to see bubbles in the cup? (Deltec MCE 600)

I added a bottle of safe start as I couldn't find any Dr Timms anywhere. Lights will be sorted when I get back from holiday since I don't need them for the cycle. I am going to go with 2 Actinics and 2 Marine white as the day lights, and I will be ordering some LED strip lights for Dusk and Dawn lighting.

I have done my first water test too;

Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.2
Amonia: 0.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15
PO4: between 0.25 and 0.50 (Too high!) Rowaphos?

I am a bit worried that the nitrate is at that level already, especially since I am using RO/DI water and I bleached all the rock. Making me think that the Nitrates came in with the live rock. Will add some rowaphos to the cannister once the cycle is complete. Speaking of cycle, should I have the skimmer and UV on during the process? I have about 60l more left to fill so I will use this to get the salt level down to 1.024.





and one with my old lights. Just wanted to see what it may look like

[funlad3]

That looks great! Are you going to fill up the tank all of the way though?

Have fun cycling the tank, it's SOO much fun.

[Mbuna Keeper]

hehe, yeah tank is full now. Was just waiting for more water to be made up!

I am actually away for 2 weeks to Cyprus from the 6th, so I won't even be about for half the cycle!