Paula

LOL. I'm really getting an education. I come on here, read a little, spend half an hour looking things up, come back, read a little more which only leads to more questions and more research. I feel I still have so much to learn. I appreciate even more how patient you guys are dealing with noobie questions. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Ok. Guess I'm up. I started out to be a marine biologist back in the 80s but was advised at the time that all I'd end up doing was "documenting the decline"; switched to molecular biology but hated working in the lab. About that same time I contracted a really nasty case of mononucleosis and dropped out of school for a while. My recovery was slow and as I was slowly getting back into working I started volunteering doing some work with abuse survivors. When I went back to school, I ended up getting an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in clinical social work. I've been working for a number of years as a private practice psychotherapist. I'm at a place where I'm slowly inching closer to the big 60 in age and am getting back into my early love of marine biology. I'm hoping to get my scuba certification in December (I asked my wife for lessons for Christmas this year) and am hoping to get to spend more time becoming a "citizen scientist". Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

That's about what I was figuring on both counts. I have read that you can feed the urchin nori if there's not enough food endemic to the tank but I'd prefer to work toward a nicely balanced aquarium where that was not necessary. I'm glad to hear about Aquatek. They had seemed friendly and I was wondering if there was some dark evil lurking under the surface of which I was not aware. What you're saying makes perfect sense. Leaving for Denver in a couple hours. Ready to get out of Texas pollen. Current pollen count in Estes Park is pretty much pollen free!!!

Thanks! I noticed no one has mentioned Aquatek and that they aren't a sponsor. I've been buying my RO there just because I haven't set up an RO/DI yet.

That was probably the scariest and yet most rewarding moment so far; turning on the return pump not knowing whether I'd flood my waiting room or not. Having the system come to life with no leaks was amazing! I can't wait to hear how it goes. Again, it looks great!

Good to know there are options. I was beginning to feel wrasses might be off the list.

So is an urchin something to look at now or wait until I have a little more background algae? Again, thanks for all the help and support. Cheers, Paula PS, I'm going to try to get by Elite in Denver. It really depends on what else is happening. This is really just a long weekend trip as a present for Phaedra's birthday. Some of this will really depends on what she wants to do. Definitely going to the Denver Aquarium though before we head up to Estes Park for the weekend. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Thanks Rob! Yeah, I defs need to get the lid ironed down before the wrasses start! It'll be a while as I only have one quarantine tank. It'll be at least 4 weeks between fish additions. I've already started reading Evolved's articles on other forums. I'm a little uncertain whether I'll be in a position to do feedings 3 times a day as he recommends. My tank is in my office and I don't really see myself coming to the office that often on weekends. I have some more education and time before I need to make that decision. Cheers, Paula Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Well rats! I just had a nice long post that got interrupted by an incoming call and when I returned, it had disappeared. I'll be more succinct this time and hopefully get it all in. I had been concerned the ocellaris was a bit aggressive for initial fish. If not, I'd just as soon get them going in quarantine. The lawnmower blenny was on my more marginal list. I'd be open to suggestions for something that might fill a similar niche. Also thinking about adding a tuxedo urchin to my CUC. All in proper time of course. Defs don't want any crispy fish! I purchased some appropriate netting but am still mulling over designs. Needs to be able to accommodate and hopefully help conceal the PVC return pipes. I also want it to come down close to my Coast to Coast overflow to reduce critters taking the plunge into the sump. I think I just about have it planned. I'll work on that while the first fish are in quarantine. Any thoughts about LFSs? I don't want to open a can of worms or engage in any disparaging discussion. I just want to know who gets glowing endorsements. I bought my liverock from River City Aquatics (also my chaeto). I've been happy with both. I'd love to support shops that emphasize sustainable practices etc. I also was reading on another forum about people preferring buying coral from shops that don't keep fish in the same tanks as the coral thus supposedly reducing the possibility of some problems such as ich. I don't want to rely on that and feel it's my responsibility what ends up going into my tank. But, just a thought. Austin Aqua Farms seems to be pretty highly thought of by BRS. Anything else? Cheers, Paula Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So now I am considering fish. I have several that I'd ultimately like. A one spot foxface would work in this size tank, also a lawnmower blenny, a pair of ocellaris, not sure what else, probably a more peaceful wrasse. My understanding is I should start with least aggressive/territorial and move up. I also want to wait on anything that may need more live rock available. So my thinking right now is to start with one or two colorful, hardy, peaceful fish. I'm thinking of getting two royal gramma to start. Once they're through quarantine, I can think about next inhabitants. Does this seem a reasonable plan? Plus I'll be adding a couple of zoanthid frags next week. Cheers, Paula Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Are you planning on hitting up any local fish stores while there? Do you have any recommendations? I hadn't really planned to as I didn't think I'd be able to buy anything. I'd love to go look though as long as I can talk the spousal unit into tagging along.

So several updates and continued discussions from other threads... I replaced the single 5000K Cree LED Home Depot bulb in the refugium with 2 100w equivalent 6500K CFLs. The chaeto is starting to really take off and has doubled in size. The diatom bloom is not getting any worse and seems to be actually subsiding. I'm changing filter socks either every day or every other day depending upon how dirty they're getting. The last couple were really brown from the diatoms. I seem to be starting to get a good population of copepods. I'll try at some point to get a photo. I have a binocular dissecting microscope that I've had for a few years. It's tricky but I can sometimes manage to get a photo using my phone held to the eye piece. I'm going to Colorado with my wifey for a long weekend. Spending Friday in Denver and hoping to get to the Aquarium and then up to Estes Park for a couple of days. Once I get back I'll look for a couple of nice zoanthid frags to introduce. I've also set up my quarantine tank. I'll start thinking about what fish to be the first. More soon, Paula

I'm jealous of your plumbing! That blue PVC really pops. I look forward to hearing about your choices regarding Triton or CARx. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

So I decided it was time to move this thread here. I had started it back in August and then dropped it as I was busy actually getting moved into the new office.I realized how much things have changed since I started. I'm just copying this from the welcome forum for continuity My setup is a 75 gallon DT with a 29 gallon sump. I'm using an Apex Classic to control, a Bean Animal overflow and DIY ATO. Lighting is supplied by two black box Chinese LEDs. I have a 100 lbs of dry rock that I am seeding with about 5 lbs of live rock. The rock has been seeding since mid August. I finally filled the tank three weeks ago using the water that had been cycled with the rock. My parameters have all been steady after initial cycling with the exception of DkH. I have since started daily dosing off NaHCO3 to bring it up. On the 26th of September, I added the first inhabitants, two mithrax crabs and three hermits. I also added a fistful of Chaeto to the refugium. On Wednesday, I added 5 additional hermits. I'm hoping to be able to add my first zoanthid frags next week.

What a gorgeous tank! Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Hi All, I'm Paula. I've been keeping various FW tanks since I was a kid. Recently I had to move my office and decided it was time to take the long desired plunge and start a reef tank (if I put it in my office it becomes a business expense!) My plan is to go slow. I don't want to rush anything. I am currently working on plumbing options. The tank has three holes with 1 inch bulkheads in the back wall, one in the center and one at either end. My plan is to do a Bean Animal overflow with a Calfo overflow box using the three bulkheads. Does anyone here have recommendations for a local source for the glass for the Calfo? Also, any recommendations about dimensions? I'm thinking two pieces of glass, making an overflow perhaps 4 inches wide and about 5 inches deep. Any thought on what thickness glass to use? What about acrylic? I know it doesn't bond as well to glass but there's an awful lot of it being used out there including things like CPR Overflow boxes. Thoughts? I built a stand to accommodate a 20 gallon sump which will have a skimmer, a small fuge with some chaeto, and a return chamber. I will also have a 5 gallon ATO reservoir under the stand. I have two Chinese 165w LED banks for lighting. Each has a blue channel and a white channel. I have a used Reef Angel controller which I will be using until such time as I have the spare money to put on an Apex. I have 100 lbs of dry rock from Reef Cleaners and 80 lbs of Carib Sea aragonite. I'll seed with 5-10 lbs live rock. My plan is (once the tank is fully cycled with the live rock) to stock lightly with reef friendly fish with the idea that once the live rock is established, I'll start adding some soft corals and eventually some stony corals. So that's my introduction, I'll post pictures soon. Cheers, Paula