LastMile

Thanks for the reminder to renew. 

If you go that route, let me know how it goes. I’m considering going with them when I set up my tank. 

Well, it was a 30gallon frag tank, but I never could get it to balance out and jive. The nutrients would crash, and then skyrocket repeatedly. Which lead to dino outbreaks, followed by algae. My first tank, 15 years ago, seemed to find its groove, and steady out. As far as pests, I ended up with them anyways in the dry rock tank, so I’m not super concerned with that. The only seeding I did was a bottle of bacteria, and I don’t remember which one it was. 
 

Another question I forgot to add, does 50lbs of rock per structure sound like a decent starting place?

I’m starting up the 250gallon waterbox, eventually. The last tank I had was started with dry rock, and everything seemed to be a fight. This time around I’d like to do a mix. The tank foot print is roughly 7’x30”x24”, and I’m gonna build three rock formations. I’d like to do my take on the nsa on the outside formations, and the live rock pile in the middle. I’d like to build the structures, and start cycling them with some live rock while I finish up the other things I need to do pre-tank. 
 

I’m hoping someone here has bought some live rock recently, and I’d like to know how it turned up. I’ve heard a couple names recently, but I’d like some reassurance before I drop the cash on rock. 

A few questions I’ve been kicking around recently:

 
Will the 1/3 live to 2/3 dead be a decent ratio?

How warm I’m I going to need to keep that rock? It’ll mostly be in an unfinished basement. I could drag the cans upstairs if we’re going to get another cold snap, but the more it stays out of the house the happier the girlfriend will stay. 

A few questions for you. 
Are you adding the phyto to the tank main to support the pods, or are you using it more for an additional way to raise your nutrients?

How has it effected those nutrient levels?

What did you decide for the time window you added the phyto to the tank(lights on, off), and why’d you go with that time?

Just keep in mind that bubble trap will set your water level in the skimmer area. I’ve always had a trap on the drain side too. 

10 hours ago, obrien.david.j said:

Start a build thread when you start setting up your tank.  Tell us what you've picked, why you picked the equipment you chose, and how you're hoping to run the tank.  And then the blow-by-blow (purchase-by-purchase) of stocking it and bringing it up to glory.

Looking forward to seeing it.

I’ll be sure to start a thread. I’m assuming that’s a general discussion topic. Currently it’s just structural projects to fit a big tank in a little house. 

2 hours ago, Emerald525 said:

Welcome to the hobby! We are having our holiday party this Sunday with great raffle items and lots of fellow reefers !

I saw that, unfortunately I won’t be able to make this one, but I appreciate the welcome. 

I’m still some what new to the pnw, but I have been over here for the last couple years. I’ve been mostly out of the hobby for the last 5-6 years for the sole reason of working on the road. I’ve recently bought a house in Washington, and the day after I signed the last bit of paperwork I ordered a new tank. I’ve still got a bit of work to do on the house before I can actually set the tank up. 
 

I was glad to find site, and hopefully get in touch with some folks around me.