Born on the 4th of July

dragon99

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I suppose I should have a build thread. It's the latest craze on R2R.

I was lucky enough to find this setup on craiglist. So after a 9 year hiatus from reefing, I'm back.

Red Sea Reefer 350, white
Eco tech marine vectra m1 return pump
Vertex rx-u1.5 media reactor
Vertex omega 150 skimmer
3x AI Prime led white w/ stainless steel mounting arms
Eco tech mp40 and mp10 wave makers
Tunze care magnet (long)
Walt smith reef rock manmade purple
Tropic Eden reef flakes 90lbs

July 4, 2016
Day 1 - it's wet
IMG_20160704_213620154.jpg
 
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saltyfilmfolks

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Oh thats SWEEET!
Is today its birthday?
 
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dragon99

dragon99

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Oh thats SWEEET!
Is today its birthday?
I started it up in July, just now getting around to documenting it.

I'll fast forward some... (mainly because I can't remember it all)

First fish in QT, pair of Clarki clowns.
SAM_2172.JPG


July 13th - First CUC addition, lots of nice diatoms to feast on. The nerites laid eggs their first night in the tank.
IMG_20160713_162352639.jpg


July 14th - First frags, and a BTA. Definitely was rushing things a bit... I swear I've learned my lesson. Diatoms are in full bloom.
SAM_2224.JPG
 
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dragon99

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Moving forward to Aug, things started looking better:
SAM_2431.SRW.jpg


Unfortunately the clownfish picked up a case of what appeared to be Brook, and had to be relocated back into QT. (spoiler, they are happy, healthy and back in DT)
IMG_20160816_120315463_HDR.jpg


And into Sept, the firefish was quite happy to have the tank to himself.
SAM_3252.JPG
 

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Looking good and like your build name!
 
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dragon99

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Still catching up, Oct got the clowns and yellow into the DT. Everyone is finally happy and healthy.
DSC_0043.JPG


And a new addition starting in QT, Lubbock's fairy wrasse. Unfortunately I also ordered a rhomboid wrasse and chalk bass that were DOA :(
DSC_0036.JPG
 
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dragon99

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November saw an upgrade to my flow.

Thanks to Reefbuilders and Ecotech's Vortoberfest giveaways, I won a QD driver upgrade and some other goodies.
IMG_20161111_172658387.jpg


So my 40ES got a driver upgrade, and I decided to replace the MP10 with an MP40QD. I also purchased the WXM module so that I can change it up a bit throughout the day. Immediately after adding the MP40QD I noticed a LOT of detritus getting stirred up. Safe to say parts of the reef weren't getting good flow before.
 
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dragon99

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Meet the fish.

Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
DSC_0033.JPG


Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus), currently changing into a male
DSC_0068.JPG


Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
DSC_0142.JPG


Clarkii Clownfish pair, supposedly a mated pair. (Amphiprion clarkii)
DSC_0262.JPG


And the next addition, pending QT
Golden Rhomboid Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
DSC_0119.JPG


After that, maybe a flame fin tang and possibly a blenny (tail spot or bicolor). I'd love a borbonius anthias, but I'm not sure it's a good fit.
 
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dragon99

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I don't claim to have stellar growth, but it's noticeable. And I'm not killing everything (just a few things), so that's a plus

Fraghousecorals Megaman, acquired 8/13
SAM_2567.JPG


And today
DSC_0435_FHC Megaman.JPG


Blue staghorn, 8/13
SAM_2613.JPG


And today
DSC_0052_Blue Staghorn.JPG
 
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dragon99

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Couple more shots of the blue staghorn. This shows the slight green hint that's coming in on the base.
DSC_0452_Blue Staghorn.JPG
DSC_0471_Blue Staghorn.JPG
 
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dragon99

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A new fish! And the fish store delivered him to my house! I think I've found my new favorite LFS.

African flameback Angel (and cleaner shrimp). He's tiny, about the size of a quarter.
DSC_0676_Flameback.JPG
 
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dragon99

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Switched to the light side, T5's. I really had a lot of shadows with the Primes. T5's are very soothing, smooth buttery light. 3 B+ 1 C+ for now, the other bank of 4 will be 2 actinic, 1 C+, 1 B+ (going to wait a few weeks to turn those on, the PAR should be much higher now with T5's vs the primes. Getting 26000 lux from T5's above surface.

DSC_1297.jpg
 
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dragon99

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T5's definitely put out more heat.

Texas winter is over and we are back to 70-80's. Even with the AC back on (in the middle of WINTER!!), my temps have been creeping up.

upload_2017-1-14_19-7-27.png
 
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