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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 6:18:56 PM
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| I have had my tank up and running for about two months this week. I have four marine plants, 30# LR, 20# LS, 20# argonite, five hermit crabs, and four snails. The tank is a Red Sea Max set-up with cabinet, 110w T5 Compact, blue LED moonlight, 300gph turbo protein skimmer, full mechanical/biological/chemical filtration, and 2 x 145 gph pumps. I will be adding two pepper mint shrimp and a lawnmower blenny this week. My levels are 1.023 SG, 0 nitrite, 20 ppm nitrate, and 0 ammonia. As you can see, the tank is a work in progress.
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: Today @ 12:17:01 PM
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Very nice. It is progressing nicely. Keep up the good work.
________________________________________________Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/5/2008 11:24:39 PM
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Hey there!
I decided to check out your tank after you posted on my thread (remember im debating whether to get the RSM or not). Well after looking at your pictures, i decided what the heck... why not? Did you have any fish in your week 6 picture? or were you still cycling at that point? Did you get it with the Red Sea Starter Kit? If so, were you pleased with it? How about the stand? I like your set up! Are those real plants? My set up is going to have a lot more live rock, stacking real high! Ideally for the corals and inverts i'll get at a later point (i heard they need the stronger light, so being up high would make a world of a difference). But i'm liking your set up! Good job... if you have any other pictures can you please e-mail them to me? maybe a picture of how its currently running? =) Thanks for the advice and all! Hope all is well!
newbie thinking of getting an RSM... =)
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/5/2008 11:24:39 PM
Posts: 26,
Visits: 49
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Hey there!
I decided to check out your tank after you posted on my thread (remember im debating whether to get the RSM or not). Well after looking at your pictures, i decided what the heck... why not? Did you have any fish in your week 6 picture? or were you still cycling at that point? Did you get it with the Red Sea Starter Kit? If so, were you pleased with it? How about the stand? I like your set up! Are those real plants? My set up is going to have a lot more live rock, stacking real high! Ideally for the corals and inverts i'll get at a later point (i heard they need the stronger light, so being up high would make a world of a difference). But i'm liking your set up! Good job... if you have any other pictures can you please e-mail them to me? maybe a picture of how its currently running? =) Thanks for the advice and all! Hope all is well!
newbie thinking of getting an RSM... =)
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 6:18:56 PM
Posts: 26,
Visits: 42
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| I purchased the starter kit with the pedestal from MD. Took about a week or so for the item to arrive. I was so excited I picked-up the package at the freight company. I opted for the gray color. As of week 6, I had not added any livestock. Up until that point, I had only introduced cocktail shrimp to aid with cycling, the LR, LS, the argonite that came with the starter kit, the bacteria supplement, and the marine plants. The marine plants are all real. The green stick like plant is known as the dead mans finger. I picked this plant for the color, shape, ability to be eaten by livestock, and the ability to assist with nitrate levels. The bright green plant that looks like hair is known as Maiden Hair. I picked this plant for the texture and motion in the tank. Livestock don't really care for this plant but it is a great breading ground. The green plant that looks like a bunch of coins is known as a Money plant. I picked this plant for the shape and ability to assist with water filtration. The last plant is a little hard to see. It is red in color and is known as red algae. I picked this plant for the color, ability to supplement livestock food, and water filtration assistance. All of the plants came attached to LR. The Money Plant has various scallops, anemones, and zoanthid mushrooms. The red algae had three good size scallops which the red algae appears to be growing on. The scallops were a bonus. (see new attached pics) Week 7 I added 5 hermit crabs and 4 snails. Week 8 I added two peppermint shrimp and a lawnmower blenny. Week 9 I added two clown fish. I allowed for a week between each addition and made sure my water levels were still ideal before each addition. So far everything is good. The plants have grown, the fish are happy, and I have only had to change water each week as recommended. I typically change 3-4 gallons each week along with vacuuming the sand bed and cleaning the interior glass. One peppermint shrimp died within a few days but the other one seems to be doing well. The shrimp has already molted once along with one of the crabs. I'll post a new pic of the tank in a few days.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/5/2008 11:24:39 PM
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Cool! I'm liking it.. As far as the other tanks, do you add any chemicals to the actual tank? That helps with anything? Because that what one of my co-workers were doing and he said his tank lasted a good two years and a half, but I guess he got lazy and gave up on the tank after.. But are chemicals needed? Cause I've been reading forums and they are never mentioned... It seems as tho the LR and the LS are about the only things I need, besides the bacteria of course!
newbie thinking of getting an RSM... =)
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 6:18:56 PM
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| Thus far, the only chemical I have added was PH buffer. In the future I may need to add Iodine or calcium depending on the water tests. The LR and LS seem to be doing the trick. Bad news although, my tank sprung a small leak in a very hard to reach/repair area. I repaired the leak a few days ago but there is still a very small amount of water leaking. I drained some water today and added some more repair caulk to the area. Cross your fingers for me in hopes of the leak being fully repaired this time. In the meantime, I contacted Red Sea in Houston Texas regarding warranty. I spoke with a very helpful customer service rep named Pinky on Friday. Pinky indicated that a new tank would be shipped out ASAP. I should receive it this week. I'll keep you posted on the progress. If the tank indeed shows-up without any more phone calls/emails - I will be very happy. So far the customer service has been great from Red Sea - but time will tell.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/5/2008 11:24:39 PM
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uh oh, im sorry to hear about the leak, where exactly did it leak? droplets? or a pretty good leak? how will you go by returning the old RSM? i bet that will be a pain in the butt!... i hope my RSM doesnt leak! what kind of substrate do you use? should i use the RSM substrate? i wanted those gobies that eat the bacteria on the sand, but i didnt know what type of sandbed would be best for them, i think i will buy live sand and do a 50/50 with LS and RSM substrate. I originally wanted about 3 or so inches on the bottom...
newbie thinking of getting an RSM... =)
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: Today @ 12:17:01 PM
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| Bummer to hear about the leak...unfortunately it does happen on occasion. The actual leak rate of most tanks is very low, but there are always a few out there and it stinks being the one who gets the leaker. But it is good to hear they are replacing the tank without any problems (yet ). I have dealt with Red Sea on a few occasions and have always had good things to say about their customer service (basically I think Pinky takes care of all their CS) so I don't think you have anything to worry about.
________________________________________________ Keith "Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy." Wayne Dyer
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/12/2008 6:18:56 PM
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| The Red Sea Max has various compartments separated by glass partitions. There are basically three areas - skimmer, heater, pumps. The leak was located on the bottom seam of the pump compartment. This particular area is very hard to repair do to the size of the compartment. Luckily I have very skinny arms and was able to reach all the way to the bottom. The leak was very minimal and most likely was there from the beginning (2 months). It was virtually undetectable to the eye. The only way I found it was by using a paper towel. The paper towel would wick up the water in the same area consistently. Small amount but still not good. Noticed how I said WAS located. Yeah!!!! I put the tank back together this morning and have been checking the area for any water leaks every so often throughout today. So far, bone dry. Hopefully, the repair will hold long enough until the new tank arrives. The bonus of fixing the leak is that my skimmer is working fantastic on a very low setting and I no longer have microbubbles in the tank. I'm not sure about returning the old RSM tank. Worse case, I repack the old tank in the box the new tank arrives in. I have a mix of substrate. Approximately 20#'s of LS and the argonite mix that came with the RSM starter kit. The combination of the two substrates has provided approximately 3 - 4 " of substrate. I'm not familiar with livestock enough to ensure that there will be enough bacteria/stuff on the sand bead to support a sand gobbie. You may want to post a questions regarding the needs of sand gobbie in the beginner forum. Right now, my crabs seem to be doing a pretty good job of keeping the sand clean. In addition, the hitch hikers that have appeared out of the LR are helpful. Just this week I spotted a starfish, various fan worms, and tons of other little creatures.
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