Log.

3/21/08

Water is filled.

Added 50lbs of Fiji Live Rock on 3/19

Total = $250

Total spent so far:  $2260.33

Salinity is 1.024

Ammonia is .25 = .035 toxic ammonia based on a PH of 8.4

3/23/08

Salinity is 1.023

PH = 8.2

Nitrite = .5

Ammonia = .25 = .022 toxic ammonia based on a PH of 8.2

.25 = .035 toxic ammonia based on a PH of 8.4

Now it's time to by more Live Rock.

Item #	Description	QTY		Price		Extended
CP-90021	SW - Tonga Branch Live Rock - 24 lb. Box	1	x	$99.99		$99.99
CP-90023	SW - DFS Select Lalo Live Rock - 30 lb. Box	1	x	$119.99		$119.99
Subtotal:						$219.98
Shipping:						$85.86
Total:						$305.84

Total spent so far:  $2566.17

3/25/08

Salinity is 1.023

PH = 8.2

Nitrite = .5

Ammonia = .25 = .022 toxic ammonia based on a PH of 8.2

.25 = .035 toxic ammonia based on a PH of 8.4

Added Purple up and Kent Essential Minerals. One dose of each. Also added 5 drops of the buffer included with the Red Sea Marine Master test kit.

I still need more stuff.

Item #	Description	Price	Qty	Extended
CD-912013	Jager TS Automatic Heaters 75 watt	$15.99	x	1	=	$15.99
CD-158762	Ulti-Nets 5" x 4" w/ 24" Handle	$4.79	x	1	=	$4.79
CD-158801	Ulti-Nets 8" x 6" w/ 24" Handle	$5.09	x	1	=	$5.09
CD-912052	Jager TS Automatic Heaters 150 watt	$18.99	x	1	=	$18.99
CD-400609	AquaStik Coralline Pink 2 oz	$10.99	x	2	=	$21.98
CD-926251	Coralife Aqua Tongs Medium 28"	$27.99	x	1	=	$27.99
CD-134886	CopperSafe 16 oz	$7.19	x	1	=	$7.19
CD-234182	Tech-CB Part A 16 oz	$6.49	x	1	=	$6.49
CD-234208	Tech-CB Part B 16 oz	$6.69	x	1	=	$6.69
CD-234052	Iron w/manganese 16 oz	$7.89	x	1	=	$7.89
CD-234078	Strontium and Molybdenum 16 oz	$10.49	x	1	=	$10.49
CD-514526	MarineSnow 16 oz	$8.89	x	2	=	$17.78
CD-234156	Micro-Vert 16 oz	$11.99	x	1	=	$11.99
CD-10934	ChromaPlex Phytoplankton 16 oz	$12.49	x	1	=	$12.49
CD-19797	Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filters 100	$16.99	x	1	=	$16.99
CD-22983	SeaSquirt Feeder	$20.99	x	1	=	$20.99
CD-25772	Magnesium Test Lab 30 tests	$12.99	x	1	=	$12.99
CD-27330	Red Sea Test Labs Master Reef Lab	$31.99	x	1	=	$31.99
CD-32908	Koralia Water Circulation Pumps Nano	$26.19	x	2	=	$52.38
CD-33044	Whisper Softnets 3" x 2-1/2" Brine Shrimp	$1.29	x	2	=	$2.58
Subtotal	=					$313.76
Standard	Shipping (Within 7 business days)				=	$17.99
TOTAL	=					$331.75

Total spent so far:  $2897.92

3/26/08

Added:

30lbs Lalo Live Rock

22lbs Tonga Branch Live Rock

The rock is shipped like this.

30lbs of Lalo live rock

22lbs of Tonga branch.

Water turned green almost immediately. It's hard to tell but the Tonga stuff was covered in what looked like Green corline algea. The next weekend we were in Denver again and stopped by a local Petco. They had a UV sterilizer for $50 so I bought it. I put the UV sterilizer in that night. The next day I noticed that it wasn't the water that was so green anymore it was the sides and back of the tank. The water when looking down through the top was mostly clear. I decided to let the back of the tank grow and cleaned both sides.

3/27/08

Salinity has risen to 1.026 due to evaporation

Ammonia = .25

3/28/08

Salinity is now at 1.027

Ammonia = 1.0

Water is now clear again - I rearranged the rocks to something more like what I want the tank to look like. Once I get the epoxy I will glue the large pieces of live rock. I'm not so happy with the Tonga branch. Most of it is small tips. The rest are mainly long "twigs". I think I'll glue some of the tips back on the branches. The rest I'll put in the sump.

I also added 2 gals of fresh IO water. I will test again tomorrow.

My nitrites dropped to zero but my ammonia readings never seemed to change so I decided to do a little test. I tested my mix water, then the RO water and then my tap water. All of them showed ammonia is almost exactly the same concentration. This can't be. So, while in Denver for a Dr's appointment I stopped by our favorite fish store Neptunes. They tested my water and bingo, no ammonia. No nitrites and only 10ppm Nitrates (probably somewhat lowdue to water changes).

We decided to bring home some new friends.

Total = $120.00

Total spent so far:  $3017.92

12 Astrea Snails - Notice the purple spot in the background, the coralline algae is starting to take hold. That's not bad for one month after water was added. I must have done well with my live rock and water parameters.

12 Yellow legged Hermits ( I think I will regret this)

4 Nassisus Snails

The tank is looking good now and I'm just waiting for some clean up by the snails and a little more maturity to the tank before I add fish. We will be in Denver again in three weeks. That seems like a good idea to have a look. If we see something that fit's into our game plan we just may end up with a new friend or two.