Hi

[flobajob]

Hi,

I just thought I'd say hello and let you know how my tank is progressing.

Anyway, here's a pic of the tank without any water in - its 48"x24"x18".
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/123082IMGP1319.JPG

Having filled the tank up with water I then had a bit of a panic when this appeared:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l55/flobajob/IMGP1533.jpg

but fortunately the chip does not affect the strength of the tank.

Meanwhile I made some DIY rocks using cement and salt - they are currently curing outside:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l55/flobajob/IMGP1385.jpg

Equipment-wise I have a Deltec ap600 skimmer, a 32"x12"x16" sump with an eheim 1260 return pump, and I have the ballasts, reflectors and endcaps for 6 54w t5s (just need to buy the bulbs). I have 2 150w newatt heaters running on a temperature controller. I also have done the maxi-stream mod to a mj900, and that is currently running fine in the tank.

Anyway, around a week ago I added some LR to get the tank cycling, but it seems as though I am not going to get a cycle at all.

[Gillybaby]

Hi and welcome to Reef Corals, am very interested in the homemade liverock. It looks the business anyway.

Sometimes cycles can happen very quickly especially will fully cured and mature liverock. Have you tried giving it a kickstart with something like a prawn in a net bag?

[flobajob]

I added a block of freeze dried food that I feed to my tropical tank, and that was a while back. Ammonia has been constantly 0 (I've been testing every day). The rock was cured when I bought it, so maybe that's why there's been so little of a cycle.

BTW, I'm now looking to add a clean up crew - can you give me some suggestions?

[Gillybaby]

James (aka Macca) would be the best person to advise you on cuc.

IMO though, you should tailor you cuc to the amount and type of food that's available in your tank, ie algae, diatoms, leftovers, and build it up slowly with time. No point in adding a whole load of snails and crabs only for them to die of starvation.

Most folk, including myself, start with a handful of astreas/trochus snails and some small hermits (with extra shells of course). And maybe some ceriths for turning over the sandbed, if you have one.

HTH

[flobajob]

Yep, I have a shallow sandbed. I was thinking of 10 hermits, 10 nassarius and/or ceriths, 10 trochus or astreas and a peppermint shrimp (because I've already found a few aiptasia).

[Tangman]

Hi and welcome to RC that rock looks pretty cool how much have you made and are you using it as a base for the real thing. Keep posting the pics as you go along, you never know you might get TOTM one day. :) Eric

[flobajob]

Thanks. I've made around 30kgs, and I do hope to use it as a base for the real thing. It's taking an age to cure though.

[Blue]

Welcome aboard. Keep us posted.:) :)

[moorish]

welcome to reef corals,keep us posted on your progress.derek

[Tangman]

Thanks. I've made around 30kgs, and I do hope to use it as a base for the real thing. It's taking an age to cure though.

Have you tried vinegar in the water thats what i have read somewhere, have you been on the Garf site as they have some good tips on making and curing it. HTH. Eric

[flobajob]

I've not really tried all that much, but what I have found is that within 10 minutes of replacing the water the rocks are curing in, the pH of the water has gone up by 3 or 4 pH. I think this means I need to replace the water more often, but it takes a while to do, it is freezing outside, it's raining and I am a bit lazy, so I don't end up replacing the water as often as is desirable.

[Cudders]

Welcome mate. Nice homemade rock too ! :D

Cudders

[callum_parsons]

hi and welcome to reef corals keep us posted on the tank and the rock looks cool

[oakwell]

welcome and would love more info on the rocks

[Pinkfish]

Welcome to the site, good luck with the home rock , looks great keep us posted

Mike