What's up Reef2Reef!?
I have been coming here for a few years now in search of answers watching from the shadows (I've posted almost nothing but a few replies) and decided it's about time I started a build thread!
A little of my backstory...I got into the hobby a little over 3 years ago with a 20 gallon Top Fin LED Bubble Wall starter kit :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing: needless to say I've been learning ever since. Starting with realizing I'd bought a freshwater starter kit & that I couldn't just go to the store that day and buy a pair of clownfish & an anemone. I was pretty determined to figure out a way to make it work, and dove headfirst into learning about ammonia cycling & anything else I could, mainly through the BRSTV YouTube. I was enthralled by all things reefing and quickly got some inverts in the tank, but was terrified I would kill a fish if I added it too soon. A few months later, I moved and took my tank with me. After a while I finally got a clownfish and thought I had it all figured out. I even got a little 6 gallon corner tank (also TopFin, lol) for my bedroom since my 20 gallon was in the living room at my apartment. Then I got a big promotion in my golf business job and went from 45-50 hour weeks to 60, usually 60-70 hours/week, and a new relationship on top of that. I decided to get a Lawnmower Blenny to help fight back a merciless attack of GHA, but I was so busy & clueless about keeping a saltwater tank that I eventually threw in the towel when all my fish & inverts died. Fast forward to a year ago, I moved from PA to MN to make a career change and work for family and decided to try my hand at things again - this time with a more aggressive approach of getting a bunch of coral (that I had almost no knowledge of how to keep), and quickly was back in over my head & felt disenchanted by the hobby once more. There were a few great LFS's out there which blew me away compared to the Petco/Petsmart scene I had grown accustomed to in my hometown, and I went full send on fish, corals & trying to buy gear and supplements to solve any problems I ran into. In October I moved back to PA with nothing but a few hermit crabs & zoas in a container of saltwater, got a 10 gallon aqueon tank & threw them in. I decided a bit of a drive was worth it to see what LFS's I could check out around here & got some snails, hermit crabs, more zoa frags, along with a BTA & some GSP. BTA didn't make it, but I still have the GSP & zoas. I had to leave the tank for my Mom to take care of for 4 months while I wasn't able to do it myself & was shocked to see that my corals & inverts survived with nothing but occasional pellets and weekly water changes. This made me reevaluate everything I thought I knew about reefing...I went back and rewatched the 52 Weeks, and started getting into the Reef Builders podcast, as well as Tidal Gardens and WWC YouTube. I'm proud to say I now have over a dozen happy corals growing out in that 10 gallon tank, (including some SPS, which I had thought was impossible), along with a handful of hermits, a BTA & a pair of Snowflake Clowns from ORA. Finally getting a taste of success and remaining diligent in continuing to learn & keeping things simple has given me the confidence to try my hand at a true reef tank.
ANYWAYS...I'm really excited to get this tank wet. I knew I wanted to go a good deal bigger (but not big enough that my parents will throw me out). As much as I would love to have a fully plumbed setup & go 100+ gallons, it's just not realistic, and I'm not necessarily confident in my ability to figure out a really complex system with a sump, refugium, etc. For now, I'm going to opt for an AIO system and work my way up to a more legit setup when I get my own place again in a few years.
After some shopping around, I've decided to go with a Red Sea Max E 260. I was also looking at Waterbox 50 & 65 AIO Plus packages and the IM 50 & SR 60, but I like the dimensions of the E260 a little better. I would've loved to have gone with a 4' as opposed to 3', but Waterboxes are backordered for over a month & I was able to save about $500 on the system when I ordered it during the sale Red Sea is having for MDW. Plus I like a lot of the features that the RS has, and the fact that I can upgrade the E260 to run a true sump down the road if I choose.
So I've got everything ordered to get myself started & can't wait to get started. Here's what I got:
Red Sea Max E 260 system - comes with 2 lights, 2 return pumps, media rack, carbon & bio media, skimmer & a few other extras I'm probably forgetting.
-Nero 5 (may end up getting a second one down the road, we'll see)
-Eheim 150w heater
-RedSea ATO+ & reef can - really like the Smart features built into this & temp monitoring capability via ReefBeat app
-20 lbs of Carib Sea Fiji Pink
-20 lbs of Carib Sea Special Grade
-15 lbs of Marco Shelf Rock
-25 lbs of Marco Reef Saver
-2 Medium Marco Foundation Rocks
-Epoxy, Glue, Insta Set (Plan is to go for a HNSA style aquascape - if there's one thing I'm confident about, it's my ability to aquascape, lol. Hoping to create something really cool & special for this tank)
-AF Life Source
-MicroBacter Dry Rock Starter Kit (QuickCycl, MicroBacter Clean & MicroBacter Start XLM)
-AlgaeBarn Galaxy Pods & Phyto
-Tropic Marin salt
*May put in a ReefMat roller down the road - would love to hear people's thoughts/experiences with them, I've heard a lot of good things
I already have Hanna Checkers for Nitrate, Phosphate & Alkalinity, and AquaForest Calcium & Magnesium test kits. Will likely move my Seneye monitor from my 10 gallon to track Ammonia while I cycle the new system. I've learned my lesson in the past, and will be going lights-off this time around, for at least the first few weeks/month.
Any advice is gladly welcome! Especially if you have experience with the same/similar system.
Here's what I plan to stock:
CUC:
-Nassarius Snails
-Trochus Snails
-Blue & Red Leg Hermit Crabs (?)
-Emerald Crabs (?)
-Maybe an Urchin - looking for input on the compatibility as I've never kept one with corals in the tank & I feel like they'd poke the crap out of them
-Sand Sifting Star
-Carpet or Bubble Tip Anemone
Fish:
-Clown pair
-Mandarin
-Red Tailspot Blenny and/or Lawnmower Blenny
-Pajama Cardinals (#?)
-Royal Gramma
-Juvenile Blue Hippo, Purple, Yellow, Naso, Powder Blue Tang - undecided what species (
I know there are a lot of mixed opinions on tank size for these, but I'll be adding a 100+ gallon system in 2-3 years when I have my own place again and can move them when needed)
-Others (?) Pretty open to suggestions, I like fish with some personality & utilitarian species as well
Coral: I want to dip my feet into some LPS on this tank, but will probably have a pretty true mixed reef with plenty of SPS & softies
-Zoas - probably a few islands isolated in the sand to prevent them from taking over
-Hammer/Torch/Frogspawn
-Montis
-Acros
-Porites, Cyphastrea, Psammacora, other SPS
-Goniopora
-Duncans
-GSP - there's just something I love about GSP on the back wall
-Xenia - will likely put this on the back wall as well
-Others (?) Mushroom, leather (may have to trim back my Soloman Hairy Leather from my 10g in the near future, could be my first test coral)
Anyone have SPS encrusting their glass? Would love to see some pics/suggestions!
Looking for some input on how I can be intentional with my aquascape to create create habitat for some of these corals/advice on placement, especially with the Duncans & Hammers. I've had the most success with softies & sps thus far so I want to be strategic about how I do things.
I have been coming here for a few years now in search of answers watching from the shadows (I've posted almost nothing but a few replies) and decided it's about time I started a build thread!
A little of my backstory...I got into the hobby a little over 3 years ago with a 20 gallon Top Fin LED Bubble Wall starter kit :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing: needless to say I've been learning ever since. Starting with realizing I'd bought a freshwater starter kit & that I couldn't just go to the store that day and buy a pair of clownfish & an anemone. I was pretty determined to figure out a way to make it work, and dove headfirst into learning about ammonia cycling & anything else I could, mainly through the BRSTV YouTube. I was enthralled by all things reefing and quickly got some inverts in the tank, but was terrified I would kill a fish if I added it too soon. A few months later, I moved and took my tank with me. After a while I finally got a clownfish and thought I had it all figured out. I even got a little 6 gallon corner tank (also TopFin, lol) for my bedroom since my 20 gallon was in the living room at my apartment. Then I got a big promotion in my golf business job and went from 45-50 hour weeks to 60, usually 60-70 hours/week, and a new relationship on top of that. I decided to get a Lawnmower Blenny to help fight back a merciless attack of GHA, but I was so busy & clueless about keeping a saltwater tank that I eventually threw in the towel when all my fish & inverts died. Fast forward to a year ago, I moved from PA to MN to make a career change and work for family and decided to try my hand at things again - this time with a more aggressive approach of getting a bunch of coral (that I had almost no knowledge of how to keep), and quickly was back in over my head & felt disenchanted by the hobby once more. There were a few great LFS's out there which blew me away compared to the Petco/Petsmart scene I had grown accustomed to in my hometown, and I went full send on fish, corals & trying to buy gear and supplements to solve any problems I ran into. In October I moved back to PA with nothing but a few hermit crabs & zoas in a container of saltwater, got a 10 gallon aqueon tank & threw them in. I decided a bit of a drive was worth it to see what LFS's I could check out around here & got some snails, hermit crabs, more zoa frags, along with a BTA & some GSP. BTA didn't make it, but I still have the GSP & zoas. I had to leave the tank for my Mom to take care of for 4 months while I wasn't able to do it myself & was shocked to see that my corals & inverts survived with nothing but occasional pellets and weekly water changes. This made me reevaluate everything I thought I knew about reefing...I went back and rewatched the 52 Weeks, and started getting into the Reef Builders podcast, as well as Tidal Gardens and WWC YouTube. I'm proud to say I now have over a dozen happy corals growing out in that 10 gallon tank, (including some SPS, which I had thought was impossible), along with a handful of hermits, a BTA & a pair of Snowflake Clowns from ORA. Finally getting a taste of success and remaining diligent in continuing to learn & keeping things simple has given me the confidence to try my hand at a true reef tank.
ANYWAYS...I'm really excited to get this tank wet. I knew I wanted to go a good deal bigger (but not big enough that my parents will throw me out). As much as I would love to have a fully plumbed setup & go 100+ gallons, it's just not realistic, and I'm not necessarily confident in my ability to figure out a really complex system with a sump, refugium, etc. For now, I'm going to opt for an AIO system and work my way up to a more legit setup when I get my own place again in a few years.
After some shopping around, I've decided to go with a Red Sea Max E 260. I was also looking at Waterbox 50 & 65 AIO Plus packages and the IM 50 & SR 60, but I like the dimensions of the E260 a little better. I would've loved to have gone with a 4' as opposed to 3', but Waterboxes are backordered for over a month & I was able to save about $500 on the system when I ordered it during the sale Red Sea is having for MDW. Plus I like a lot of the features that the RS has, and the fact that I can upgrade the E260 to run a true sump down the road if I choose.
So I've got everything ordered to get myself started & can't wait to get started. Here's what I got:
Red Sea Max E 260 system - comes with 2 lights, 2 return pumps, media rack, carbon & bio media, skimmer & a few other extras I'm probably forgetting.
-Nero 5 (may end up getting a second one down the road, we'll see)
-Eheim 150w heater
-RedSea ATO+ & reef can - really like the Smart features built into this & temp monitoring capability via ReefBeat app
-20 lbs of Carib Sea Fiji Pink
-20 lbs of Carib Sea Special Grade
-15 lbs of Marco Shelf Rock
-25 lbs of Marco Reef Saver
-2 Medium Marco Foundation Rocks
-Epoxy, Glue, Insta Set (Plan is to go for a HNSA style aquascape - if there's one thing I'm confident about, it's my ability to aquascape, lol. Hoping to create something really cool & special for this tank)
-AF Life Source
-MicroBacter Dry Rock Starter Kit (QuickCycl, MicroBacter Clean & MicroBacter Start XLM)
-AlgaeBarn Galaxy Pods & Phyto
-Tropic Marin salt
*May put in a ReefMat roller down the road - would love to hear people's thoughts/experiences with them, I've heard a lot of good things
I already have Hanna Checkers for Nitrate, Phosphate & Alkalinity, and AquaForest Calcium & Magnesium test kits. Will likely move my Seneye monitor from my 10 gallon to track Ammonia while I cycle the new system. I've learned my lesson in the past, and will be going lights-off this time around, for at least the first few weeks/month.
Any advice is gladly welcome! Especially if you have experience with the same/similar system.
Here's what I plan to stock:
CUC:
-Nassarius Snails
-Trochus Snails
-Blue & Red Leg Hermit Crabs (?)
-Emerald Crabs (?)
-Maybe an Urchin - looking for input on the compatibility as I've never kept one with corals in the tank & I feel like they'd poke the crap out of them
-Sand Sifting Star
-Carpet or Bubble Tip Anemone
Fish:
-Clown pair
-Mandarin
-Red Tailspot Blenny and/or Lawnmower Blenny
-Pajama Cardinals (#?)
-Royal Gramma
-Juvenile Blue Hippo, Purple, Yellow, Naso, Powder Blue Tang - undecided what species (
I know there are a lot of mixed opinions on tank size for these, but I'll be adding a 100+ gallon system in 2-3 years when I have my own place again and can move them when needed)-Others (?) Pretty open to suggestions, I like fish with some personality & utilitarian species as well
Coral: I want to dip my feet into some LPS on this tank, but will probably have a pretty true mixed reef with plenty of SPS & softies
-Zoas - probably a few islands isolated in the sand to prevent them from taking over
-Hammer/Torch/Frogspawn
-Montis
-Acros
-Porites, Cyphastrea, Psammacora, other SPS
-Goniopora
-Duncans
-GSP - there's just something I love about GSP on the back wall
-Xenia - will likely put this on the back wall as well
-Others (?) Mushroom, leather (may have to trim back my Soloman Hairy Leather from my 10g in the near future, could be my first test coral)
Anyone have SPS encrusting their glass? Would love to see some pics/suggestions!
Looking for some input on how I can be intentional with my aquascape to create create habitat for some of these corals/advice on placement, especially with the Duncans & Hammers. I've had the most success with softies & sps thus far so I want to be strategic about how I do things.
After close to a year, my biological filtration seems to just take care of all of it no problem, and this is the easiest way I've found to keep my nutrients from hitting zero-zero and keep at least a little algae growing for my herbivorous fish to have something to graze on. There are definitely a few spots I wish I could get rid of green algae, but it's not enough to bother the corals or become an eye sore with the exception of 1 spot about 2x2" front and center of my rockwork, so I'm not losing sleep over it. I just wish the corals would grow a little quicker!
but the silver lining is that it was a great excuse to order a few more coral to get free shipping 
. My corals actually went nuts and thrived at his house and my damsel live a full life pretty much 10+ years which is crazy (last few in retirement at the old man’s home 
).
