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- Nov 6, 2017
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Hey everyone! Well, I still have not got my build thread done, but I will get there. I have been taking pictures during the two year process. Before I list my stocking plan, I should give some details regarding the system:
Tank - 5ftx2ftx2ft 150g SCA
Sump - trigger 34 emerald
temp control - DA lite with two 300w titanium heaters
skimmer - RO 150INT - up and running for 6 weeks - working great
refugium - A80 with chaeto and rubble of GMP imported LR
filter socks - currently only changing out every two weeks or so
chemical filtration- Chem-pure elite just before return chamber( I want to use ROX-8, but we all now how that is right now)
circulation - Gyre 250 x 2 set on Oceanic gyre preset
LR - 88# of pre-cured Pukani from Premium Aquatics and 30# of GMP import (has been in for 7 weeks now)
Salt - HW reefer
Parameters:
Salinity = 1.025 (refractometer calibrated with cal fluid)
temp = 78.1
pH = 8.18 (hanna pH pocket tester calibrated with 7.0 fluid)
ALK = 8.2(hanna checker)
Ca = 440 (Red sea titration method)
Mg = 1600(Red sea)
Nitrate = 8 (Red sea)
phosphate = .28(hanna checker)
Nitrite and ammonia = 0
Current livestock:
From the LR - mini brittle stars, bristle worms, small snails (~ 1/4 in), pineapple sponges, other little critters
Algae barn 5280 added 5 weeks ago to DT and refugium - dosing the phyto only 2x/wk
12 scarlet reef hermits added two weeks ago - doing well
1 green toadstool leather - added two weeks ago - doing well
1 discosoma mushroom - added two weeks ago - doing well
1 neon green trumpet 7 heads - added two weeks ago - doing well
Parameters have been stable in regards to temp, salinity, Alk, Mg, and Ca. The Mg is high, but this apparently happens sometimes with batches of HW reefer. I have not dosed anything(no need yet with two softies and one LPS) My nitrates started at 12, went to as high as 26 about three weeks in, and now are down to under 10. Phosphate started at .34, went as high as .78, and now are down to ,28. pH has been b/t 8.1 and 8.2. I think the spike in nitrate and phosphate were from sprinkling crushed Algae extreme and adding the phyto at two weeks. I backed off until they went back down.
So, now I am ready (I think) to add my first two fish!
Here is my stocking plan:
1 midas blenny small/medium add soon
1 rosy-scales fairy wrasse small/medium add soon
If and when these two are doing well, parameters are good, and at a minimum of 6 weeks
1 bonded pair of captive bread perculas (I like the more traditional looking clowns, but want vivid coloration with well-defined black lines)
Then again once everyone is doing well and parameters are stable, and 6 week minimum
1 yellow tang small/medium
This is really it for at least the first year. I might add one or two other fish after that, but this is really all I want. Should I consider a different time frame or stocking order? I do plan on adding troch. snails and other LPS in b/t fish stocking. SPS will not be added until minimum of 6 months and will be only a couple. No nems planned. I do not have a quarantine. I know, I know. I have tried to keep bioload low, stock right, and will feed well with vitamins supplement. I also will be using Fishy business aquatics at least for my first two fish, if not all of them. I will try and have a quarantine up and going before adding the tang.Thinking a 30g. OK, please let me know your thoughts!
Tank - 5ftx2ftx2ft 150g SCA
Sump - trigger 34 emerald
temp control - DA lite with two 300w titanium heaters
skimmer - RO 150INT - up and running for 6 weeks - working great
refugium - A80 with chaeto and rubble of GMP imported LR
filter socks - currently only changing out every two weeks or so
chemical filtration- Chem-pure elite just before return chamber( I want to use ROX-8, but we all now how that is right now)
circulation - Gyre 250 x 2 set on Oceanic gyre preset
LR - 88# of pre-cured Pukani from Premium Aquatics and 30# of GMP import (has been in for 7 weeks now)
Salt - HW reefer
Parameters:
Salinity = 1.025 (refractometer calibrated with cal fluid)
temp = 78.1
pH = 8.18 (hanna pH pocket tester calibrated with 7.0 fluid)
ALK = 8.2(hanna checker)
Ca = 440 (Red sea titration method)
Mg = 1600(Red sea)
Nitrate = 8 (Red sea)
phosphate = .28(hanna checker)
Nitrite and ammonia = 0
Current livestock:
From the LR - mini brittle stars, bristle worms, small snails (~ 1/4 in), pineapple sponges, other little critters
Algae barn 5280 added 5 weeks ago to DT and refugium - dosing the phyto only 2x/wk
12 scarlet reef hermits added two weeks ago - doing well
1 green toadstool leather - added two weeks ago - doing well
1 discosoma mushroom - added two weeks ago - doing well
1 neon green trumpet 7 heads - added two weeks ago - doing well
Parameters have been stable in regards to temp, salinity, Alk, Mg, and Ca. The Mg is high, but this apparently happens sometimes with batches of HW reefer. I have not dosed anything(no need yet with two softies and one LPS) My nitrates started at 12, went to as high as 26 about three weeks in, and now are down to under 10. Phosphate started at .34, went as high as .78, and now are down to ,28. pH has been b/t 8.1 and 8.2. I think the spike in nitrate and phosphate were from sprinkling crushed Algae extreme and adding the phyto at two weeks. I backed off until they went back down.
So, now I am ready (I think) to add my first two fish!
Here is my stocking plan:
1 midas blenny small/medium add soon
1 rosy-scales fairy wrasse small/medium add soon
If and when these two are doing well, parameters are good, and at a minimum of 6 weeks
1 bonded pair of captive bread perculas (I like the more traditional looking clowns, but want vivid coloration with well-defined black lines)
Then again once everyone is doing well and parameters are stable, and 6 week minimum
1 yellow tang small/medium
This is really it for at least the first year. I might add one or two other fish after that, but this is really all I want. Should I consider a different time frame or stocking order? I do plan on adding troch. snails and other LPS in b/t fish stocking. SPS will not be added until minimum of 6 months and will be only a couple. No nems planned. I do not have a quarantine. I know, I know. I have tried to keep bioload low, stock right, and will feed well with vitamins supplement. I also will be using Fishy business aquatics at least for my first two fish, if not all of them. I will try and have a quarantine up and going before adding the tang.Thinking a 30g. OK, please let me know your thoughts!