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 :anxious-face-with-sweat:

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:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/water-line-is-unlevel-due-to-the-floor.1053554/

 

[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

 

[Mizu]

Day 10 of cycle:

Salinity: 1.022 sg

Temperature: 79.3 (I think it fluctuates between 77 to 80)

pH: 8

Ammonia: 0 ppm

Nitrite: 5 ppm

Nitrate: 40ppm