Author Archives: Justin Fox

Nitrites are almost at 0, and nitrate’s not so bad at all! Cycle is pretty much done! I’m ready to start stocking!

I’ve just serviced my 4-stage RO/DI unit (reverse osmosis and de-ionisation unit) replacing all 4 filters. This will make sure I don’t introduce unwanted chemicals from Sydney tap water into my tank.

Years ago I bought a 4-stage RO/DI unit from PSI Water Filters who are associated with the Marine Aquarium Societies of Australia Forums. I gave them a call, they still had me in the system and in an overnight bag I was sent all 4 filters to replace and get my unit up and running again, with discount! Love it that they’re still around! Service was amazing.

inTank media basket on left, stock basket on the right.

It came with a clown fish sticker and a fishy lolly (I was confused initially thinking it was fish food?!), random!

Almost blew up the house with overflow water dripping down a power cable into the powerboard on the floor. Me bad! No drip loops! One of the first aquarium keeping lessons… I’ve now mounted the powerboard up high.

My inTank media basket came in the mail today. Lovely little thing. Very well made, nicely designed too. It holds a lot less media than the flimsy stock basket, but the flow through the media is bang on now!

FTS.

Big boy.

Added 2 tiny little hermit crabs which I found in a rock pool out at Little Bay today.

Top down shot. Hammer coral is hating life, but hanging in there!

I’m finally seeing some algae! I’ve been doing water tests and I’m still getting readings of ammonia and nitrite, but the ammonia is going down, and nitrite is spiking right now. The cycle is almost done! The tank is definitely going through the ugly phase right now but my clean up crew (CUC) are loving it, the turbo snails especially who are at least trying to do a pretty good job of keeping the back glass clean.