SomeHappyFish
Active Member
Welcome to my build thread!
About me:
Reef Keeping and the Reef2Reef forums are new to me, and I am building a 45 gallon shallow reef in the next few months. Watch out for this thread as I slowly yet surely bring this Canadian Reef to life!
Months ago, I watched a couple of videos on Youtube, read some multiple build logs and I got addicted to this hobby when I visited a LFS and I decided to do multiple months of research while buying the things I needed for my journey.
After months of trying to find the perfect tank, I contacted a local artisan and asked for specific size tank, my only complaint from my new tank is that I should of asked for bigger haha.
Months ago, I watched a couple of videos on Youtube, read some multiple build logs and I got addicted to this hobby when I visited a LFS and I decided to do multiple months of research while buying the things I needed for my journey.
After months of trying to find the perfect tank, I contacted a local artisan and asked for specific size tank, my only complaint from my new tank is that I should of asked for bigger haha.
My Reef
- Tank: 36" Long x 18" Wide x 12" Deep, regular 1/4" glass
- Stand: AQUATLANTIS Elegance Expert Stand - Ash Grey - 36" x 18" x 33"
- Lid: RedSea DIY kit
- Sump: Eshopps RS-75 3rd gen 12G - 18"x10"x16
- Lighting: 1x Kessil A160 with Kessil Spectral X Controller + 2 Noo-Psyche K7 Pro III
- Return Pump: Sicce Syncra SDC 3.0 Wifi Controllable Pump, running at 100%
- Circulation: Maxspect XF130 Gyre Generator, Running at 30-40% Pulse, 0.5s
- Protein Skimmer: Bubble Magus C3.5 Protein Skimmer
- Reactor: BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual
- Heater: Dual Finnex Titanium Aquarium Heater, 100 Watt HMA Serie (T1 77.5F / T2 78F, which allows me to keep a steady temp)
- Heater Controller: Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Aquarium
- ATO: Kamoer New ATO One 2 SE Smart auto
- ATO RESERVOIR: Custom made 5 Gallon about 5" Wide x 12" Deep x 22" High (Last about 1 week and a couple of days)
- Controller: None (Looking for hydros wave engine and more)
- RODI: Twist-In 75 GPD 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis/Deionization System BY AquaticLife
- Salt Mixing Heater: Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater With Electronic Thermostat, 50-Watt (Good for 2-10G, buy bigger this thing is slow)
- Salt Mixing Pump: hygger Mini Wave Maker (530 GPH for 5~20 Gallon Tank)
- Saltwater transfer pump: SICCE MULTI QUIET 1300 [320 GPH] (Slow but doesn't disturb fish/sand/corals)
- Leveling Mat: 1/4 inch yoga mat from walmart
- GFCI: Single Outlet Portable GFCI Adapter - 1800 W - 15 A, protected by weather proof cover that I had to cut the lower part of to fit the GFCI)
- PowerStrip: Prox Power Conditioner 10 Plug Rack Mount Power Switcher Usb Charging Ports
- Rocks: Marco Rocks
- Sand: Fiji Pink (I wish I took a bit of a heavier sand but it works fine)
- Salt: Aquaforest Sea Salt
- Test Kits:
- Salifert Ammonia
- Salifert Nitrite
- Salifert pH
- Salifert Nitrate
- Salifert Phosphate
- Hanna Checker Phosphorus ULR
- Hanna Checker Nitrate ULR
- Hanna Checker Salinity
- Aquaforest Calcium
- Aquaforest Magnesium
- Inside The Reactor: Aquaforest Life Bio Fil 1200ml + Left Over Marco Rocks
- Filter Socks: 8 Fitler socks 200 Micron.
- Auto Feeder: Eheim Auto Feeder
- Feeding Ring: Two Little Fishes
RO/DI SETUP
This mobile setup is necessary for me because I live in an apartment and don't want to carry multiple 5G buckets across brand new floors.
TDS Before: 59-75
TDS After: 0
Pressure: 65psi
Reservoir: 19G (I allow about 15-17G to be filled)
Pump: AQQA 800GPH 30W Controllable Water with a 3/4" tube.
In the future, I aim to upgrade the RO/DI unit to save water and time. It currently takes me about 4h-5h to fill my bin, but the Twist-In Water Saver Upgrade Kit seems to be ALWAYS SOLD OUT or discontinued if you have any ideas let me know.
Using the AQQA pump, I transfer 5 gallons into a bucket and mix the salt with a cheap heater/powerhead.
Battery Backup
The gyre XF130 that is running in pulse mode with a speed of 40% will receive power from it. I haven't tested how long it actually lasts.
Battery: MK Powered 12v-18ah SLA 85$
Inverter: I don't know the brand unfortunately 30$
Relay: PROwatt SW Inline Transfer Relay 100$
Charger: MotoMaster Simple Series Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer, Fully Automatic, 3-Amp, 12V 60$
The cost of powering my Reef Tank during a power outage is 275 Canadian dollars or roughly 200 US dollars.
Battery Backup
The gyre XF130 that is running in pulse mode with a speed of 40% will receive power from it. I haven't tested how long it actually lasts.
Battery: MK Powered 12v-18ah SLA 85$
Inverter: I don't know the brand unfortunately 30$
Relay: PROwatt SW Inline Transfer Relay 100$
Charger: MotoMaster Simple Series Smart Battery Charger/Maintainer, Fully Automatic, 3-Amp, 12V 60$
The cost of powering my Reef Tank during a power outage is 275 Canadian dollars or roughly 200 US dollars.
Cycling the tank
I used 4 oz of FritzZyme® TurboStart® 900 Saltwater and Fishless Fuel. The cycle took approximately 14 days due to my lack of experience and desire to be sure. The bottoming out of Nitrite took 20 days, however.
Stocking List
Fish
2 Antenna Gobies (Black Ray)
1 Red Firefish Goby
1 Midas Blenny
1 Sixline
1 Snow Storm Clownfish
2 Antenna Gobies (Black Ray)
1 Red Firefish Goby
1 Midas Blenny
1 Snow Storm Clownfish
Inverts/CUC
1 Blue Leg Hermit Crab
1 Conch
5 Cerith Snail
2 Trochus Snail
1 feather duster worm
3 Nassarius
Fish Wishlist
1 Pygmy Dwarf Angel Cherub or Flameback
1 Pink Streak Wrass
1 Lawnmoyer blenny
1 Dragonface pipefish
Invert Whishlist
2 Polkadot hermit
2 Zebra Hermit
+1 Blue Leg Hermit
1 Cleaner shrimp
1 Blue Clam
+3 Trochus Snail
3 Carribean Nerith Snail
1 Maroon Feather Duster Worm
1 Porcelain Crab
Corals
1 Kenya Tree
2 Gorgonian frag
2 Magician Zoanthid frag
1 Lord Acan
1 Pink Branching Hammer
1 Conch
5 Cerith Snail
2 Trochus Snail
1 feather duster worm
3 Nassarius
Fish Wishlist
1 Pygmy Dwarf Angel Cherub or Flameback
1 Pink Streak Wrass
1 Lawnmoyer blenny
1 Dragonface pipefish
Invert Whishlist
2 Polkadot hermit
2 Zebra Hermit
+1 Blue Leg Hermit
1 Cleaner shrimp
1 Blue Clam
+3 Trochus Snail
3 Carribean Nerith Snail
1 Maroon Feather Duster Worm
1 Porcelain Crab
Corals
1 Kenya Tree
2 Gorgonian frag
2 Magician Zoanthid frag
1 Lord Acan
Reef Keeping Method/Maintenance
Daily:
Feed Frozen Food & Some pellets
Observe sump and tank
Once a week:
Scrape Glass
Refill ATO Reservoir
Test Parameters hours before waterchange
Waterchange on Thursday or Friday (One hour before water change I blow the rocks with a pipette)
Twice a week (Monday/Thursday):
Change Filter Socks for a new one.
When I have one left out of 8 ,I let them soak in Tap water with liquid Chlorine for hours before washing them in the washing machine with an extra soak & rince cycle.
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday:
Feed my corals Reefroid
Feed Frozen Food & Some pellets
Observe sump and tank
Once a week:
Scrape Glass
Refill ATO Reservoir
Test Parameters hours before waterchange
Waterchange on Thursday or Friday (One hour before water change I blow the rocks with a pipette)
Twice a week (Monday/Thursday):
Change Filter Socks for a new one.
When I have one left out of 8 ,I let them soak in Tap water with liquid Chlorine for hours before washing them in the washing machine with an extra soak & rince cycle.
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday:
Feed my corals Reefroid
How I keep track my Parameters
With the app AquaticLog on the Google Store I log my parameters, which allows me to see past values and average.
Next Investment
Lights 500$
AutoAqua Smart Level Skimmer 80$
Silicate Buster ?
UV Sterilizer
CO2 AirScrubber
Dosing Pump + 5l Container
Sicce SDC 6.0 at lower intensity (keep sdc 3.0 backup)
Battery 11ah 12v (More juice)
RODI Water Saver Pump or DI Resin
Leak detector
Extra Wavemaker
Next Investment
AutoAqua Smart Level Skimmer 80$
Silicate Buster ?
UV Sterilizer
CO2 AirScrubber
Dosing Pump + 5l Container
Sicce SDC 6.0 at lower intensity (keep sdc 3.0 backup)
Battery 11ah 12v (More juice)
RODI Water Saver Pump or DI Resin
Leak detector
Extra Wavemaker
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