Goodday ,
My name is chuck, and i live is Texas Houston and been in the hobby for some time took a 4 year break ,bad experience long story, ill just say that there are some amazing people in this hobby but just as there are good people there are also those that are less than good.
In the end its hard to browse reef2reef and see what people are building and stay away to long. What can i say there are those who like fast cars and then there are those that like to keep water and adding some “stuff” in it.
Well life moves on that’s what happend i got over my bad experience. Researched for couple months went to my local reef shop and took the plunge ….
Plans. : Wanted to work my way back into the hobby , so I purchased the red sea reefer 300xl USED . 6 months old, and jumped in with both feet. Wanted to start slowly and build my way up into a 400-500 Gallon tank again. Covertly unbeknown to the wife my plan was simple when buying a new home I brought a house with a downstairs separated study with bathroom. Perfect for a fish room/ Office . As most can attest the reefing hobby, just like you need to acclimatize the fish you need to do the same with the family.Its a long game.
So i would like to share my journey to ordering installing the 500 and running at 300XL to upgrade within 12 month to a custom 500 Gallon.
Thanks to LFS ( good people) i got a slightly used 300XL with Redsea lights , ai power heads simplicity return , and simplicity 120 skimmer.
1st trip.
cant exactly remember the costs but here is Basic break down), ALL Plus minus.
reed sea reefer. 300XL. - 2000
Return Pump -200 simplicity .
skimmer -140 simplicity.
AI - power heads - 400.00
heater :100
auto top off plus reservoir : 200
RODI 75 - 200.00
Rock - about 200.
sand - 100 40 LB.
1/7/2022 - Packed up the truck and headed home set it up added water from another closer LFS and Adjusted salinity and temp dosed Fritz’s turbo start.
1/8/2022- added one live rock ,…. From old clean tank. And a pair of Gold nugget CLowns.
1/9/2022 - waited for cycle. - done in 3 days .WOW - turbo start …..
1/13/22 - added carbon small amount in bag.
1/13/22- added marine pure balls one bag new and one bag seeded clean and ready.
1/13 /22 - did not like the simplicity skimmer /. Nothing bad to say , just takes time to run in and the micro bubbles. Figured you need some redundancy anyway. We all gravitate towards what we know again LFS Helped and put in a slightly used deletec skimmer at another 350USD into the tank ( now these i know ) . Was skimming within 12 hours.
1/15/22 added some Zoa - like 8 heads and 5 mushrooms . spent like 500USD.
1/16/22- cycled and ready i headed out to add the one and only shinning start to the tank . As its small 80 gallons i wanted something that would grow with me . i had a purple tang for about 7 years that ended in disaster I still miss him. Such an amazing fish. Wanted to get something small and grow with him/her. I heard good things about galactic corals and wanted to go see their shop and meet the owner. My short review : amazing people friendly helpful and most importantly unselfish , was looking for some Zeovit additives , they took the time to phone around and leverage contacts to see if any was available in Houston. they did not rush me took the time to explain, the owner took the time to walk around with me for what seemed an hour , explaining discussing were im at what he suggests what he does not etc etc … fish look super healthy , carols look strong and growing …. All in all great place and good people.
1/16/22 Picked up my first Frag of SPS cut of Texas green slimmer, very hardy. SO many conflicting and success and failure with turbo start on the internet should have perhaps waited a bit but each to their own. I have cycled and have prepared with 100% water change ready just in case. Hospital tank ready ….
1/16/22 also added 3 small frags of encrusting type corals. And a expensive touch blue tipis and some amazing colors.
1/16/22 also added the fish - i wanted a small gem tang i got one - again galactic corals was amazing with the selection and the gem tang was super healthy looking , Made the trip home perfectly, acclimatized him and added him late 1/16/22. Expensive trip 600 For the tang and couple hundred for the frags.
1/16/22 ordered the Zeovit starter from BRS - 77 usd and got a used , zeoreactor for 120USD with small pump. Why Zeovit ? well guess i will stick to what i know ,… not an expert but did run in the past with good results and some cyno…. But feel i will have best success with this method As i know it and have some experience.
1/16/22 ordered the screens for the redsea … 100USD .
Plans next two weeks - ALk , CA,MA. - tropic all in one powder … Auto dosing ,… Zeovit …. Maybe controller , Not sure about this , feel i would like to be more hands on with the tank at least for 6 months.
The BAD My Mistake : unplanned impulse buy ,….( we all make them the good with the bad right) Purchced a very small blue tang felt sorry for him , ugh i know big mistake- will get him strong and rehome for now he is ok in the 80 gallon Or he can grow and move to the 500 Gallon when ready…. Also bit soon for the 500USD torch i think….
Fish done now the wait for at least another two weeks before adding more coral.
Some pics for your comments or any advise or help you can offer : no issue being critical i know i made a mistake and going to get blasted by tang police and guess i deserve it. Also thanks to BRS for their awsome YouTube been following the BRS 160 and the live chats awsome guys keep it up,…. Will for sure keep supporting your efforts by shopping with you. Big thank you to Galactic Corals , you guys are also awsome And the LFS for the support. Thank you all for making this possible….. AGAIN…..
My name is chuck, and i live is Texas Houston and been in the hobby for some time took a 4 year break ,bad experience long story, ill just say that there are some amazing people in this hobby but just as there are good people there are also those that are less than good.
In the end its hard to browse reef2reef and see what people are building and stay away to long. What can i say there are those who like fast cars and then there are those that like to keep water and adding some “stuff” in it.
Well life moves on that’s what happend i got over my bad experience. Researched for couple months went to my local reef shop and took the plunge ….
Plans. : Wanted to work my way back into the hobby , so I purchased the red sea reefer 300xl USED . 6 months old, and jumped in with both feet. Wanted to start slowly and build my way up into a 400-500 Gallon tank again. Covertly unbeknown to the wife my plan was simple when buying a new home I brought a house with a downstairs separated study with bathroom. Perfect for a fish room/ Office . As most can attest the reefing hobby, just like you need to acclimatize the fish you need to do the same with the family.Its a long game.
So i would like to share my journey to ordering installing the 500 and running at 300XL to upgrade within 12 month to a custom 500 Gallon.
Thanks to LFS ( good people) i got a slightly used 300XL with Redsea lights , ai power heads simplicity return , and simplicity 120 skimmer.
1st trip.
cant exactly remember the costs but here is Basic break down), ALL Plus minus.reed sea reefer. 300XL. - 2000
Return Pump -200 simplicity .
skimmer -140 simplicity.
AI - power heads - 400.00
heater :100
auto top off plus reservoir : 200
RODI 75 - 200.00
Rock - about 200.
sand - 100 40 LB.
1/7/2022 - Packed up the truck and headed home set it up added water from another closer LFS and Adjusted salinity and temp dosed Fritz’s turbo start.
1/8/2022- added one live rock ,…. From old clean tank. And a pair of Gold nugget CLowns.
1/9/2022 - waited for cycle. - done in 3 days .WOW - turbo start …..
1/13/22 - added carbon small amount in bag.
1/13/22- added marine pure balls one bag new and one bag seeded clean and ready.
1/13 /22 - did not like the simplicity skimmer /. Nothing bad to say , just takes time to run in and the micro bubbles. Figured you need some redundancy anyway. We all gravitate towards what we know again LFS Helped and put in a slightly used deletec skimmer at another 350USD into the tank ( now these i know ) . Was skimming within 12 hours.
1/15/22 added some Zoa - like 8 heads and 5 mushrooms . spent like 500USD.
1/16/22- cycled and ready i headed out to add the one and only shinning start to the tank . As its small 80 gallons i wanted something that would grow with me . i had a purple tang for about 7 years that ended in disaster I still miss him. Such an amazing fish. Wanted to get something small and grow with him/her. I heard good things about galactic corals and wanted to go see their shop and meet the owner. My short review : amazing people friendly helpful and most importantly unselfish , was looking for some Zeovit additives , they took the time to phone around and leverage contacts to see if any was available in Houston. they did not rush me took the time to explain, the owner took the time to walk around with me for what seemed an hour , explaining discussing were im at what he suggests what he does not etc etc … fish look super healthy , carols look strong and growing …. All in all great place and good people.
1/16/22 Picked up my first Frag of SPS cut of Texas green slimmer, very hardy. SO many conflicting and success and failure with turbo start on the internet should have perhaps waited a bit but each to their own. I have cycled and have prepared with 100% water change ready just in case. Hospital tank ready ….
1/16/22 also added 3 small frags of encrusting type corals. And a expensive touch blue tipis and some amazing colors.
1/16/22 also added the fish - i wanted a small gem tang i got one - again galactic corals was amazing with the selection and the gem tang was super healthy looking , Made the trip home perfectly, acclimatized him and added him late 1/16/22. Expensive trip 600 For the tang and couple hundred for the frags.
1/16/22 ordered the Zeovit starter from BRS - 77 usd and got a used , zeoreactor for 120USD with small pump. Why Zeovit ? well guess i will stick to what i know ,… not an expert but did run in the past with good results and some cyno…. But feel i will have best success with this method As i know it and have some experience.
1/16/22 ordered the screens for the redsea … 100USD .
Plans next two weeks - ALk , CA,MA. - tropic all in one powder … Auto dosing ,… Zeovit …. Maybe controller , Not sure about this , feel i would like to be more hands on with the tank at least for 6 months.
The BAD My Mistake : unplanned impulse buy ,….( we all make them the good with the bad right) Purchced a very small blue tang felt sorry for him , ugh i know big mistake- will get him strong and rehome for now he is ok in the 80 gallon Or he can grow and move to the 500 Gallon when ready…. Also bit soon for the 500USD torch i think….
Fish done now the wait for at least another two weeks before adding more coral.
Some pics for your comments or any advise or help you can offer : no issue being critical i know i made a mistake and going to get blasted by tang police and guess i deserve it. Also thanks to BRS for their awsome YouTube been following the BRS 160 and the live chats awsome guys keep it up,…. Will for sure keep supporting your efforts by shopping with you. Big thank you to Galactic Corals , you guys are also awsome And the LFS for the support. Thank you all for making this possible….. AGAIN…..
