FenrirAysen
Active Member
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/infosec-nerd-reef-intro.1096333/page-2 My intro was here. But, I figured I should take the ongoing growth of the tank elsewhere.
Build:
Water Filtration: AquaFX Barracuda Glacial 4 Stage - 1 Sediment, 2 NHCL Blasters, 1 DI Resin Containers.
Tank: Aqueon 40G Lagoon Style Breeder
Stand: Tideline 36x18" Double Door
Wavemaker: Aquatop Maxflow Slim DC Wavemaker w/ Control Unit for extra addins.
Return Pump & Filtration: Tidal 75 Power Filter w/ included mechanical and bio media. Purchased the chemical carbon media to keep in stock for emergencies.
Light: Blade AI Coral Grow 30" on tank stand. Extension raised rest ordered.
Salt Mix: Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix Blue
Sand: CarbSea Aragonite Sand - 3x 15Lb bags.
Medicine Cabinet: API General Cure, API Fin & Body Cure, & KoralMD Coral & Frag Dip.
Reef Tank Parameters:
I ended up getting aragonite sand and though I dunk rinsed every pound of it in RODI water it still ended up being chock full of calcium deposits. Which honestly, probably ended up being a blessing in disguise, but more on that later. I set about filling the tank, and I was ultra paranoid the entire time. Every batch I mixed I paid incredibly close attention using the refractometer to make sure the salinity was uniform across each batch.
Once the tank had good salinity I measured the PH and other parameters to ensure necessary baselines. My PH off the bat was 8.25 and Ammonia and others were at 0. I used Fritz's turbo start and two clown fish. I wasn't going to do this at first, but a couple of the LFS owners in the area convinced me they were tanks and it would cycle quickly. Part of me didn't believe it, and I felt bad thinking I might hurt the poor guys, but I pulled the trigger anyways. I stocked the medicine cabinet with some basics for fish and coral just like I would coming home with any of my actual kids for the first time :grinning-face-with-sweat: . This forum was a great source of information.
I added a paired black snowflake clownfish couple. Young still, not much more than an inch if that. I was worried about the first 8 hours, but they played happily in the flow I had but it took them awhile to figure out how strong it was, the quarantine tanks they're used to don't have a ton of current apparently. I went through about seven local fish stores in DFW before I found one that did and could prove they did a decent quarantine, with the dates on the separated tanks glass. Most just told me it was too expensive to do, and they couldn't afford it. If this were any additional fish, i'd have still QT'd them. I will have to QT everything else coming in since it seems the majority can't manage enough volume and income to have an in depth quarantine program. I also added two Trochas Snails, and two very small hermit crabs. First day was nerve wracking, second and third were great. I only saw a small blip in daily testing on the Ammonia and then it went straight to Nitrate. Nitrate was only a couple API Test Levels above 0 so things are looking good.
With feeling like the tank was in pristine mode, I have been making sure salinity stays at 1.025 - 1.026. I also tested for Calcium, Mangesium, and Alkalinity. Calc was at 350, Mag was 1350, and Alk was 11. With that seeming stable I picked out my first two coral frags. A Sinularia Finger Leather and an orange Rhodachtus Mushroom. Its only been about a day with them. They were pretty upset with me when I dipped them and cut the frag plugs, but once they got in the tank and realized I wasn't trying to end them they were happier. The mushroom reacted quickly and spread back out after pouting very briefly. However, Carl - my finger leather, is very moody. First night he was very upset and shrank but kept his color. By morning he was mostly out with small polyps extended. But as i'm typing this he's retracted again. Fussy fellow but still colorful, so i'm hopeful eventually he gets used to me.
The clownfish want to turn themselves into blended sea food by the wavemaker, they seem to think its host worthy. The snails and hermit crabs were a little hungry at first, but one dose of algae wafer and a few pellets a couple days ago brightened their spirits. One of the Trochas snails has decided he's batman. Likes to hang upside down under the bridge at night. I also gave my first small dose of mysis shrimp to the tank this morning. Even at a third of a cube, it seems like it was way too much. I worry about spiking the Ammonia in the tank with it. I'm considering doing a water change for the first time this afternoon, but i'm nervous about disturbing the perfect storm I have at the moment with all the parameters being happy. I also don't want a spike to hit the tank. Ill test for ammonia in a few hours.
Build:
Water Filtration: AquaFX Barracuda Glacial 4 Stage - 1 Sediment, 2 NHCL Blasters, 1 DI Resin Containers.
Tank: Aqueon 40G Lagoon Style Breeder
Stand: Tideline 36x18" Double Door
Wavemaker: Aquatop Maxflow Slim DC Wavemaker w/ Control Unit for extra addins.
Return Pump & Filtration: Tidal 75 Power Filter w/ included mechanical and bio media. Purchased the chemical carbon media to keep in stock for emergencies.
Light: Blade AI Coral Grow 30" on tank stand. Extension raised rest ordered.
Salt Mix: Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix Blue
Sand: CarbSea Aragonite Sand - 3x 15Lb bags.
Medicine Cabinet: API General Cure, API Fin & Body Cure, & KoralMD Coral & Frag Dip.
Reef Tank Parameters:
I ended up getting aragonite sand and though I dunk rinsed every pound of it in RODI water it still ended up being chock full of calcium deposits. Which honestly, probably ended up being a blessing in disguise, but more on that later. I set about filling the tank, and I was ultra paranoid the entire time. Every batch I mixed I paid incredibly close attention using the refractometer to make sure the salinity was uniform across each batch.
Once the tank had good salinity I measured the PH and other parameters to ensure necessary baselines. My PH off the bat was 8.25 and Ammonia and others were at 0. I used Fritz's turbo start and two clown fish. I wasn't going to do this at first, but a couple of the LFS owners in the area convinced me they were tanks and it would cycle quickly. Part of me didn't believe it, and I felt bad thinking I might hurt the poor guys, but I pulled the trigger anyways. I stocked the medicine cabinet with some basics for fish and coral just like I would coming home with any of my actual kids for the first time :grinning-face-with-sweat: . This forum was a great source of information.
I added a paired black snowflake clownfish couple. Young still, not much more than an inch if that. I was worried about the first 8 hours, but they played happily in the flow I had but it took them awhile to figure out how strong it was, the quarantine tanks they're used to don't have a ton of current apparently. I went through about seven local fish stores in DFW before I found one that did and could prove they did a decent quarantine, with the dates on the separated tanks glass. Most just told me it was too expensive to do, and they couldn't afford it. If this were any additional fish, i'd have still QT'd them. I will have to QT everything else coming in since it seems the majority can't manage enough volume and income to have an in depth quarantine program. I also added two Trochas Snails, and two very small hermit crabs. First day was nerve wracking, second and third were great. I only saw a small blip in daily testing on the Ammonia and then it went straight to Nitrate. Nitrate was only a couple API Test Levels above 0 so things are looking good.
With feeling like the tank was in pristine mode, I have been making sure salinity stays at 1.025 - 1.026. I also tested for Calcium, Mangesium, and Alkalinity. Calc was at 350, Mag was 1350, and Alk was 11. With that seeming stable I picked out my first two coral frags. A Sinularia Finger Leather and an orange Rhodachtus Mushroom. Its only been about a day with them. They were pretty upset with me when I dipped them and cut the frag plugs, but once they got in the tank and realized I wasn't trying to end them they were happier. The mushroom reacted quickly and spread back out after pouting very briefly. However, Carl - my finger leather, is very moody. First night he was very upset and shrank but kept his color. By morning he was mostly out with small polyps extended. But as i'm typing this he's retracted again. Fussy fellow but still colorful, so i'm hopeful eventually he gets used to me.
The clownfish want to turn themselves into blended sea food by the wavemaker, they seem to think its host worthy. The snails and hermit crabs were a little hungry at first, but one dose of algae wafer and a few pellets a couple days ago brightened their spirits. One of the Trochas snails has decided he's batman. Likes to hang upside down under the bridge at night. I also gave my first small dose of mysis shrimp to the tank this morning. Even at a third of a cube, it seems like it was way too much. I worry about spiking the Ammonia in the tank with it. I'm considering doing a water change for the first time this afternoon, but i'm nervous about disturbing the perfect storm I have at the moment with all the parameters being happy. I also don't want a spike to hit the tank. Ill test for ammonia in a few hours.
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