120g Standard Mixed Reef

[ngoodermuth]

Wanted to start keeping track of our progress for the 120g reef tank/main display.

Little introduction, my husband and I have been in the hobby together since 2008- though he was already reef keeping previous to my joining in. We started with smaller tanks- 28g upgraded to a 56g before being sold off during a move. Both of those tanks came together and ran fairly smoothly. Took a little break then started a 65g w/30g rimless frag tank in our new house. Eventually upgraded that to a 75g, but between those two tanks we had so many issues...from multiple pests to chemistry issues. Ended up selling that off and taking another little break.

Recently, we acquired a 40b full set-up. A few months in, realized we weren't going to be happy until we had something bigger...and sprang for this 120g set-up.

Tank is a single corner overflow, standard 4x2x2. We used a 40b for a sump/refugium. Simple 3 chamber sump set-up. Super Reef Octopus 2000int skimmer, BRS GFO reactor, and eshopps ATO. No dosing equipment yet, but we are just starting to need to dose here and there.

Lighting is via two Radion Gen 2s/reef link. Running a tweaked coral-growth program. Flow consists of two MP40s and an MP10, running Tidal Swell/Reef Crest. Return pump is Quiet One 3000.

We used a mix of live rock and "reef rock" from our LFS. A coarser bagged aragonite sand bed, about 2-3" deep.
CUC of various snails and hermits, and a skunk cleaner shrimp.

Current livestock:
Pair of percula clowns (came with 40b)
Kole tang
Flame wrasse
Leopard wrasse (m. Meleagris)
Rhomboid wrasse
Mandarin goby

In QT:
Lineatus wrasse
Yellow wrasse (h. Crysus)
Regal Angel

Inverts:
CUC
Skunk Cleaner
Deressa Clam

Corals include various SPS and LPS. Acros, millies, acans, euphyllia, etc. Only softies are a small ricordia colony.

A few photos-

Rock-scaping

Some pictures while stocking:

 

[ngoodermuth]

I will take some updated photos soon, the tank is finally starting to settle-in. Algae is just about gone, even the hair algae is clearing up. Starting to see some growth all over, encrusting SPS, baby acans, etc.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Few more pictures, iPhone quality so don't mind.

Under the hood:

 

[dbl]

Looking really good. You'll love looking back over this thread as time passes. It's sometimes hard to see progress when we look at it everyday! Congrats on a great start.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Looking really good. You'll love looking back over this thread as time passes. It's sometimes hard to see progress when we look at it everyday! Congrats on a great start.

Thank you, I agree!

 

[ngoodermuth]

Today is Day 1 of my fallow period. I'm keeping a journal of my crypto-journey here: Crypto wins the gamble- QT Journal

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Crypto-wins-the-gamble--QT-Journal.301955/

for anyone who is interested in betting on survival rates [emoji23]

I checked Nitrates and Phosphates today. I will be keeping track of these in addition to the big three to make sure my corals don't starve without fish-poo fertilizer. Right now phosphates are zero (but I still have a little nuisance algae soaking that up) and nitrates are 5.

FTS:

 

[leahfiish]

Just curious, what kind of phyto did you dose and how much?

 

[ngoodermuth]

Just curious, what kind of phyto did you dose and how much?

This stuff, about a cap full.

My husband likes to add a little, maybe once or twice a week, for our clam. He puts the same amount in our 120 that I put in the 20 long [emoji37]

 

[ngoodermuth]

I have to take a better picture of this thing, but this new acro has to be one of the fuzziest I've ever seen.

 

[Mattres]

That's a crazy acro! Never seen one so fuzzy!
Tank looks great

 

[KJ]

Nice looking tank.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Thank you! It's getting there. The fuzzy acro came from Pacific Island Aquatics if anyone is interested. Both pieces I got from him were huge and in great condition.

Here's the other:

 

[ngoodermuth]

Wanted to post a little update on the display. The act of baiting all the fish for QT fueled a nice little algae outbreak. Mostly GHA and Bryopsis from what I could tell. So, after changing out the GFO and doing a couple of water changes, we decided to try a 3-day blackout to give us a head start, followed by gradually raising mag.

It worked, and I was able to pull most of the remaining algae, but a few of the SPS - mostly the milles- aren't so happy about it. My husband wasn't as patient as I would have liked with the magnesium either, so not sure which made them unhappy... but hopefully they will bounce back.

Otherwise, the tank is doing well fallow. Nitrate is still between 2.5-5 so nothing needs done there yet.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Took a few crappy iPhone pictures today. I really need to learn how to use our real camera lol but, I wanted to do a photo-check in

warning: the rest of this post is photo heavy

 

[ngoodermuth]

Thanks for looking!

 

[ngoodermuth]

Still doing well running fallow. Have been feeding a few drops of oyster feast/cyclops/ova for the corals and pellets/clam for the hermits and shrimp. Nitrates dropped to zero, so I added a dose of amino acids and a small amount of flourish to get it back to 2.5ish

The corals seem happy. I'm getting decent PE and all have encrusted. Some are starting to grow new nubs, bargain frag in particular has some new growth:

The acans are all hiding new babies under their skirts:

 

[Tahoe61]

Very nice. I believe the hairy acropora might be is a Florida, regardless it's awesome.

 

[A_game43]

Great looking coral! Real nice set up.

 

[Maritimer]

Even with the troubles you've had with the fish, the display looks terrific!

Your corals seem to be absolutely lovin' life.

~Bruce

 

[ngoodermuth]

Thanks guys! Bruce, besides the flame wrasse, I think everyone else is on the up and up. Can't wait to get some fish back in it! I have 4ish weeks left [emoji41]