32.5 gallon FOWLR Build

[Mizu]

Hello Everyone! I'm finally starting my Fish Only Aquarium and I wanted to document everything I do so I can look back at my build at a later date:

Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, 32.5 US Gal / 123 L - Fish Only Tank uses two sponge filters each with Activated carbon inserts and BIOMAX inserts. I also added two additional Bio Blocks in the back chamber.

Other Equipment:
Heater

My (very hopeful) Fish Stocking List: (Total 7 fish)
Pearl Toby Pufferfish
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
Helfrichi Firefish
Lyretail Dartfish x 2
Clown Goby, Green - Marine Fish or Clown Goby, Citrinis
Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby or Sleeper Gold Head Goby

Clean-Up-Crew:
Harlequin Shrimp x 2 (I have a lot of questions about these, Will the puffer fish eat them? Will they pair with a shrimp goby? will they eat the fire shrimp?)
Blood Red Fire Shrimp
Gold Snail x 2
Nassarius Snail x 2

 

[Mizu]

Step 1: I made my RO/DI water with a TDS reading of 0 (PSI was only around 25)

Step 2: I started my aquascape using Seiryu Stones that I cured in a freshwater & white vinegar mix for about 10 hours. I glued the stones together with Reef safe glue. To round out the decorations I have two unpainted 3D Printed PETG statues and some small decorations from Imagitarium.

 

[Mizu]

Here are some really low quality photos:

 

[Mizu]

Step 3: I added in 20 pounds of Fiji Pink Arag-Alive! Sand, I used the algae scrapper to spread it around lol

Step 4: I added in 10 gallons of saltwater (1.023 sg), I used a water pump and hose to pour the water into a measuring cup that overflowed into the tank, the tank got a little cloudy but cleared up after a few hours.

 

[Mizu]

I MESSED UP BIGTIME:

I have a rimless tank and did not put the leveling pad under the tank

I now have to remove the 10 gallons water from the tank and try to slip the leveling pad under the tank...

Wish me luck

 

[Mizu]

I put the leveling pad under the tank pretty successfully, afterwards I filled the tank with 20 gallons of water and noticed the water line was unlevel on all 4 sides, I had to drain the tank a second time and shim the stand, here is a link to that thread:

Water line is unlevel (due to the floor)

Hello, I filled my tank with water and noticed the water line is not level (the front right corner is much higher than the higher three, and the back left corner is the lowest) I believe it is due to the floor/house. Can someone please recommend me a way to fix this?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Mizu]

I also added about 8 more pounds of Arag-alive! sand to the tank before refilling, some areas of the tank have a sand bed as deep as 2 1/4".

I believe there's around 22 to 25 gallons of water in the tank.

 

[Mizu]

Current tank Situation:

I just finished leveling the tank, it is now fully level.

Water is still kind of cloudy, Current water salinity is 1.021 SG and the water temperature is 73 degrees, I just turned on the heater and filter.

I know the picture of behind the tank is terrible quality, I tried using magic eraser to clean it up haha

The last picture shows my thermometer, I actually have it there to show my water line, its not really for tanking the tanks temperature

 

[Mizu]

My water has cleared up after running the filter, I just tested the water parameters using API saltwater masterkit and a hanna salinity tester

pH: 7.8 to 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Salinity: 1.020 sg
Temperature: 77.8 (according to hanna) 78.2 (according to inkbird, I unplugged the heater a while ago if it matters, the inkbird thermometer is still in the water)

 

[Mizu]

Its now time to start the cycle!

I added 100 Drops of Dr. Tim's Ammonium Chloride Solution, and removed the two filter sponges right after adding the drops in, the return pump is still on.

I let the return pump run for 5-10 minutes and tested my ammonia again:

Ammonia: 4ppm

 

[Mizu]

About 10-15 minutes after adding the Ammonia I added 1oz of Fritz Turbo Start 900.

 

[Mizu]

I tested my Ammonia one day later (its been a full 24~ hours since adding Ammonium chloride and Fritz turbo start.

Ammonia: 4ppm

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Mizu]

Its now 2 days later and I tested my Ammonia again:

Ammonia: 2ppm (the shade of green definitely looked lighter today)

Water Temperature: Fluctuating from 76.9 to 77.8

Salinity: 1.021 sg ( I have not added any water to the tank since the initial fill)

 

[Mizu]

I tested again 3 days later:

Ammonia: 2ppm

 

[Mizu]

Day 4 test (tested a few hours earlier than normal)

Temperature: Went as low as 76.7 and as high as 78.8, its currently 78.7 (Inkbird was not reading properly)

Salinity: 1.021 sg

pH: 7.9 - 8.0

Ammonia: 1ppm

Nitrite: 5ppm

Nitrate: 20 ppm (could be 10 to 40ppm I have no idea what color this is lol)

 

[Mizu]

 

[Mizu]

Morning of day 6:

Really hoping to add my first fish today!

Notes:
- I added back in my two filter sponges
- I turned on the lights
- I topped of the tank with around 8 cups of saltwater but no increase in salinity

Temperature: 79.3 (78.8 to 79.5)

Salinity: 1.021

pH: 7.8 to 8.0

Ammonia: .25 to .50

Nitrite: 5ppm

Nitrate: 10ppm

 

[Mizu]

Nitrate might have climbed up to 20ppm I noticed the longer you keep it in the tube the higher it gets. Yesterday I left it in for 8~ just to see and it turned red towards the end