Denis' 150 gallon Build

[Denisk]

First off, I would like to start with a thank you to everyone on this forum. It's this forum that really made me decide that I wanted to start a build thread. Everyone here tries to engage/be there for one another. So I thought why not be there to share all my ups and downs on a brand new build.

Current Setup

Tank - 150 gallon Sc Aquarium

Stand - 2x6's

Sump - Skimz UP34

Skimmer - Reef Octopus Extreme 200XS diablo (the old one but it works)

Lighting - ATI 48" 8 bulb dimmable fixture

Controller - 2016 Apex

Flow - 2 jebao pp15

Return - jebao dcs 5000

Salt - instant ocean reef crystals

Heaters - 2 eheim jager 150 watt

Ato - Tunze Osmolater 3155 with a 5 gallon container

 

[Denisk]

December 25th, 2016 was the day it was filled with water and started its cycle.

Aquscape with just two of the T5's on.

Whole office set up

 

[Denisk]

I wanted to go ahead and do a fishless cycle so on December 25th I went ahead and got some Pure Ammonia from Ace Hardware. I added enough for it to go somewhere between 2ppm and 5ppm.

Instead of doing it the really long way which is waiting for the nitrogen cycle to happen on its own, I went ahead and bought ATM colony. I know some have said it's bad/doesn't work but it's the only one that has worked for me everytime. The only thing I don't believe in is that it's an instant cycle. I had finished the whole cycle within 10 days and was able to add additional pure ammonia without any spike in ammonia.

 

[Denisk]

January 5th, 2017 the cycle was complete.

 

[Jimbo662]

Looks like a great start...can't wait to see it progress. Also want to follow to see how you like the tank over the long run. When I eventually move back into a house I'll be going bigger again. I've had the SCA 50g cube and currently have the 66g tank and love both of them.

 

[Denisk]

Looks like a great start...can't wait to see it progress. Also want to follow to see how you like the tank over the long run. When I eventually move back into a house I'll be going bigger again. I've had the SCA 50g cube and currently have the 66g tank and love both of them.

Well I appreciate it. The 50 gallon cube was actually my last tank. My mom fell in love with it so I thought why not gift her the whol set up. It gave me an excuse to upgrade.

Current state of the 50 gallon cube

 

[Jimbo662]

Well I appreciate it. The 50 gallon cube was actually my last tank. My mom fell in love with it so I thought why not gift her the whol set up. It gave me an excuse to upgrade.

Current state of the 50 gallon cube

that's great!

 

[Denisk]

So on January 5th 2017 I had already planned to pick up to fully quarantined clowns from Exotic Reef Creations on Facebook. Ended up with a Misbar Darwin and a Wyoming white.

I had to make sure the fish were safe on the trip home.

 

[Denisk]

 

[Denisk]

Unfortunately on January 7th I woke up to check on the tank prior to work and had noticed the Wyoming white clown torn up pretty bad Unfortunately he didn't make it a couple hours later. On a positive note, Exotic Reef Creations was there throughout the whole process. He and I were both speechless as to what could have happened. We did come to a conclusion that we thought either the clown didn't get along with the darwin or that it got caught in the wave maker.

It was really nice to see such great customer service as well as for someone to take the time to talk to me throughout the process and to just try to figure out what could have happened. Even though we didn't come to a conclusion to the cause, he said he was going to replace it free of charge.

 

[Denisk]

While waiting for a new clown which was going to take a couple weeks, I went ahead and picked up some Zoas.

2 God of war
3 cherry sour
2 spongebob
2 captain American
2 sunny D's
3 space monster
5 Purple Hearts
4 gold dust
1 Chong bong
3 magicians
6 radioactive green
4 Green Bay packers
5 polyps of Rastas

 

[Denisk]

Some iPhone photos of the Zoas.

 

[Denisk]

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Looking good! Following along.

 

[revhtree]

Nice job and looking good!

 

[Denisk]

On Janurary 17th, 2017 I went to my parents house and took a couple sps frags. I really didn't care much for them however I wanted to see how they would do in a newly established tank one with high PO4 around 1.0

WWC Green Birdsnest
Red monti cap

 

[Denisk]

On January 19th I was able to go and pick up the new clownfish from exotic reef creations. I was super happy with turn out since this time the Wyoming white was about 2.5 inches. Acclimation went great and got along really well with the misbar Darwin.

 

[Denisk]

Who loves when reefing related stuff come in the mail? On the 23rd I received my box of marine pure bio media. I have heard a lot of good things and thought why not add some to the sump. I can also use some to set up a quarantine when needed.

Ps anyone who decides to try them out, make sure to rinse them well with some rodi water.

 

[Denisk]

I noticed I started having a diatom bloom and lots of algae growing all over. I decided to go and get a CUC. I went ahead and ordered from @reefcleaners

 

[Denisk]

CUC arrived on the 27th and was pretty happy with everything I got. Didn't have anything die and I ordered a good amount so I didn't count the 's but I figured they were all there.