2nd AIO Tank, 1st build thread

[phillyb614]

Quick update. Got my fire shrimp a buddy. Not hiding nearly as much now.

Also, found my jawfish on the floor the other day. Still baffled as to how he got out. Mesh lid has stayed on except for water changes. Bummer. RIP little buddy.

Lastly, I have a THIRD tank arriving tomorrow!! My wife found a great deal on and 85 gallon Cade 900! Comes with cabinet, sump (going to be my first sump!), pump, heater, sand, and rock. Only $700!! Has been running for 5 months already as well! Super excited! Will be doing a separate build thread for this one. Journey begins tomorrow at 10. Making lots of water at the moment lol! Have a great Saturday everyone!

 

[ramona]

Quick update. Got my fire shrimp a buddy. Not hiding nearly as much now.

Also, found my jawfish on the floor the other day. Still baffled as to how he got out. Mesh lid has stayed on except for water changes. Bummer. RIP little buddy.

Lastly, I have a THIRD tank arriving tomorrow!! My wife found a great deal on and 85 gallon Cade 900! Comes with cabinet, sump (going to be my first sump!), pump, heater, sand, and rock. Only $700!! Has been running for 5 months already as well! Super excited! Will be doing a separate build thread for this one. Journey begins tomorrow at 10. Making lots of water at the moment lol! Have a great Saturday everyone!

Great thread!

I also have a fire shrimp in my AIO WB 35.2, but he's very shy, hunging udside down under an arch almost all the time, having it for more than a year. If I get a budy for him, do you think will come out more?

 

[phillyb614]

Yes, I do think if you get him a buddy, he will be more adventurous. My wife had suggested we do so, but I was skeptical and only got the one. Then, I saw an “All About” video on YouTube about the fire shrimp. I do enjoy and take to heart what is said in Brock’s videos. As soon as I put the 2nd fire shrimp in the tank, the one absolutely started walking around the tank more.

 

[phillyb614]

It has been quite a long time since my last update. Been pretty busy with life, plus managing 3 tanks has been amazing and amazingly time consuming lol. Going to make this a pretty quick one.

All fish and inverts are fat and healthy. Biggest news is the addition of the 40 gallon lagoon’s first corals!! All frags from my 20 gallon. Would have added them sooner, but I’ve been fighting GHA in my 20 and didn’t want to bring that over. Man, GHA is freaking maddening!! But, I finally won the battle. Sheesh!

I have added 3 zoa frags to one rock to start a small zoa garden. I have also added a cabbage and a hairy mushroom. All have been in there for a few days now and all appear to be pretty happy in their new home!

I also upgraded my light to a Prime 16 HD. I will be getting another one so I can cover the entire tank, but pretty happy with the upgrade.

Ice cap nano skimmer I had did not work out. Pretty disappointed in that thing. I understand that I bought it used, but man, that thing was a pile! In the market for a new HOB 40 gallon nano skimmer. Leaning toward an Aqua Maxx Bullet 3. Will update again soon….hopefully. Night all!

 

[phillyb614]

So, I picked up a HOB skimmer. Sacrificed the “clean” overall look of the aquarium for better filtration. I went with an Aquamaxx 1.5. It is an absolute beast of a skimmer. Its plumbing does reach and fit inside the chamber adjacent to the return chamber. Changing the cup is super simple too.

I also moved over a couple more frags from my 20 gallon. The first was another cabbage coral (my wife loves the cabbage corals). This frag got a bit tore up from the GHA battle that took place in my 20 gallon. Since corals have all been perking up from going from my 20 to the 40 lagoon, we decided to see if this one could be revived a bit. Which seams to be the case so far. Never really saw this coral extend its tiny cone shaped tentacles until it was in the lagoon for a couple days.

I also moved over my frogspawn. It was doing well in my 20, but even it appears to be happier in the 40 as well.

Zoas have perked up since last post



Here is where we are to date. Have a great evening everyone!

 

[phillyb614]

About a week ago, I purchased a Gold Headed Sleeper Goby. He hid for a few day, but is now roaming the vast majority of the tank, looking pretty and cleaning my sand bed. Such a fun fish to watch! I almost went with a Diamond, but I think these dudes are prettier.

 

[phillyb614]

I purchased and installed a second powerhead in the lagoon. Sticking with the AI theme I have going, I went with a Nero 3. It is setup in the back left corner. There were clearly some dead spots along the back of the tank. Happy Friday everyone!

 

[phillyb614]

I added a torch today! Nothing crazy expensive. It appears to be happy.

 

[phillyb614]

I added an amazing looking mushroom today. I also downloaded a new Reef Cam to my iPhone. What an improvement for picture taking! Not bad for a cell camera IMO.

I took a better picture of my new torch with the new app.

 

[phillyb614]

Zoas I picked up today as well. Will be adding this to my Zoa garden tomorrow.

I’m really enjoying this new picture app.

 

[phillyb614]

Added the new Zoas to the garden today.

Also did a small water change, changed out the filter sock, cleaned the glass, and dusted off the top of the tank and light.

 

[Tahoe61]

Added the new Zoas to the garden today.

Also did a small water change, changed out the filter sock, cleaned the glass, and dusted off the top of the tank and light.

The tank has really come along beautifully in such a short amount of time. I bet you can't wait to get that second fixture.

 

[phillyb614]

The tank has really come along beautifully in such a short amount of time. I bet you can't wait to get that second fixture.

Thanks so much! Yeah, I’m pretty happy with how well it has gone.

Yes, I am dying to get another fixture. Will likely be a Xmas present to myself lol!

 

[phillyb614]

Little under a month since my last update. Several things have happened with the lagoon in that month.

My wife has been wanting a Mandarin Dragonet for a long time. Since my local LFS carries pods and since I feel like there was already a good amount of pods in the tank, we decided to get one. I have been keeping a close eye on it. I do see it constantly picking at the rocks, sand, and back wall. Appears to be eating well and doing great!

I noticed some dreaded glass anemones pop up. I hit the handful of them that I could see with some Aiptasia X. I also put a couple of Peppermint Shrimp in. I have not seen any since. Fingers crossed!

I added a few more corals as well. The small blue mushroom was part of a door buster deal at my LFS for Black Friday. First 50 people in the door got to choose between a free frag or a free cleaner shrimp. I went with the frag (we didn’t get to pick the frag). All good though.

I picked up a very nice looking Green Frogspawn on Black Friday as well.

Took some Ricordia out of my 20 gallon.

Most recent livestock addition, which will likely be the last fish for this tank, is a Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse. Got right in with everyone else’s. Super peaceful tank. No aggression between any of the fish. Super happy with this beautiful addition!

I am starting to see Coralline Algae popping up everywhere as well.

Last and most certainly not least, I finally got a second AI Prime for the tank. Here is a FTS to finish the update.

 

[phillyb614]

Forgot one thing. The cabbage coral that had been ravaged by the GHA in my 20 gallon, has made a full recovery and is looking great now.

 

[Handle1130]

Following! Awesome set up, clean and crisp! Nice work!

 

[phillyb614]

Following! Awesome set up, clean and crisp! Nice work!

Thank you very much! Appreciate the kind words!

 

[phillyb614]

I added more things to the lagoon. I won a couple of items during an auction on @SBB Corals . A cool looking mushroom and beautiful RFA. This is the first time I ever acquired anything from them. These guys are awesome! In addition to the 2 items that I won, they also included some beautiful orange acans and a gorgeous additional RFA. On top of the freebies, I had a few questions during/after the auction process. Minutes after asking my questions via email, Shane (the owner) got back to me. Pretty amazing customer service! One of the RFAs is in my 20 gallon and not pictured here.

I am also starting to see some freaking GHA popping up. Ugh!!! Did a large water change to get my nitrates and phosphates lower, changed my filter sock and will be doing so every couple days, and same with the filter floss. I also added more turbo snails, blue leg hermits, and a holloween hermit (will try to get a better picture of this guy tomorrow). I also did some rock scrubbing before the water change. Hopefully I am able to get out in front of this before it takes over.

 

[SBB Corals]

I added more things to the lagoon. I won a couple of items during an auction on @SBB Corals . A cool looking mushroom and beautiful RFA. This is the first time I ever acquired anything from them. These guys are awesome! In addition to the 2 items that I won, they also included some beautiful orange acans and a gorgeous additional RFA. On top of the freebies, I had a few questions during/after the auction process. Minutes after asking my questions via email, Shane (the owner) got back to me. Pretty amazing customer service! One of the RFAs is in my 20 gallon and not pictured here.

I am also starting to see some freaking GHA popping up. Ugh!!! Did a large water change to get my nitrates and phosphates lower, changed my filter sock and will be doing so every couple days, and same with the filter floss. I also added more turbo snails, blue leg hermits, and a holloween hermit (will try to get a better picture of this guy tomorrow). I also did some rock scrubbing before the water change. Hopefully I am able to get out in front of this before it takes over.

Thank you

 

[lauipala]

Awesome looking IM setup.