That is what I am hoping to achieve. I have this whole tank and my FW tank running on the same circuit breaker. I have yet to trip it (knock on wood), but having some high wattage heaters would really tip the scale. Given, I could always put them on timers so that they would never come on when the lights came on, but if I can leave things out of the system, all the better.
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
Just over three weeks into it, and I can see small spots of coralline algae starting to grow on the starboard bottom. Not too shabby considering that 90% of the rock was in the dark for over two months. I have a slight green haze algae that is on all of the new stuff. I am fully aware that having the halide lighting on for 8 hours a day is the biggest reason this stuff is visible, so my concern is minimal.
I feed the fishes as I normally would; they seem quite happy in their new environment. I am going to let the tank age for the next few weeks and do nothing. For you beginners out there, this is VERY IMPORTANT!! Do not rush your tank. Watch and learn.... I am not in a panic over some algae in a new tank, I am not adding anything in a bottle. Let it run it's course.
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
For all those folks setting up their tanks for the first time and are anxious to have everything covered in coraline algae, here is the bottom of my tank after just over a month of being set up. I did not add any Purple Up or baking soda or ice melting compounds. Notice there is very little unwanted algae growing even though I feed pretty heavy and haven't made a water change in over a month. RO/DI water and a high quality salt makes all the difference in the world. My clean up crew is pretty much a skeleton crew. 4 or 5 turbo snails, 6 astreas, and a few trocus snails. In two weeks, I will begin a water change schedule. I will start with 15 gallons per week and see where that leads me. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are undetectable.
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
Trust me when I say it's taking a whole lot of effort to not add any corals; especially when I am burning up the MH bulbs each day. They don't last forever. The guy that supplies my corals has some beautiful pieces for sale. I keep reading GoldenMean's thread each time I think about rushing things. Who's gonna blink first???
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
The inspiration for the scaping comes from cypress trees. Anyone that has driven through alligator alley in Florida will probably see the similarities.
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
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