First 120g build First Corals in!

[WvAquatics]

edit: the removing of the rim would scares me. Editing the quote didn't work.

This would keep me awake at night! That's alot of water/weight.

Oh I agree. I am not thrilled about it. I got the tank used and the person before me had replaced the trim with no center brace. And the trim was in 4 pieces glued on. So I had to do something. So I removed and cleaned it and will brace it with glass or acrylic on the top. I'm thinking 3" braces on both corners and in center will hold. "I hope".

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:
So I have went on a spree to finish my setup. Resent purchases are

Bubble Magus Curve 7 Elite- Went a little bit bigger than system volume I know I will overfeed and will stock the tank pretty tight with fish.
Reefbreeders Photon V2 48"- I mean it's a excellent light with great coverage and one plug!
Coralbox Qp-16- They are strong pumps at a good price. Plus I was ordering from reefbreeders anyways.
Exotic Marine Overflow Box- lets be honest if you have one they are beautiful and great internal box size.
Reef Crystals Salt- let's be honest it's cheap and gets the job done.

I am zeroing in on a 6 stage rodi system.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/130935320779
And thinking about caribsea special grade sand. Then some live rock and done..

 

[WvAquatics]

I have never been so nervous to do anything in my aquatic life until today! I finally drilled the tank to fit the overflow. So nervous but we did it minimal breakage.

Might have my return lines a little lower than I should have. Will have to rely on the hole in top of the lockline to stop syphon. Also finished the stand. A few building errors but it's done. Better next time. Tomorrow will be trimming stand and dry fitting plumbing.

 

[WvAquatics]

I have been playing with rocks for a week. I have finally settled on this setup. I tried aquaforest stone fix but it didn't hold great. So we will see what happens when flow and water gets into the tank.

Leaving room for live rock. Plumbing almost done. Return lines and attaching to bulkhead in overflow box. Should be wet this week! One more trip to lowes.

 

[ethridge78]

Nice build

 

[WvAquatics]

Nice build

Thank you! We're planning to get wet this weekend!

 

[WvAquatics]

Everything is plumbed. I need to cement the returns into the bulkheads still but it has half a day until we are even draining into the tank. I thought about leaving them and not cementing them but worry the pressure will blow them off.

Also have my sump area all setup. Need to hang fuge light but it's served as my light underneath for now. Also lost hangers haha.

Reefbreeders photon arrived they look like they are going to be perfect for me!

 

[WvAquatics]

So after 3 days on and off of filling tank and sump are full.

I am slowly mixing salt in. This morning we were at 20 specific gravity. I didn't think about displacement from sand once I get salinity right. So I may have to store some of the saltwater for a week or 2. Major cord management tonight

 

[WvAquatics]

Salinity is around 36-37 let's say 1.027ish. so I added sand and ammonia to start cycling. Figure I will slowly get the salinity in line during cycling process. Also turned on the skimmer. It's foaming all over itself. I need to raise it a little to get to better operating level for now we will let it break in. 24 hrs and I can see it haha

 

[WvAquatics]

Sand has settled. Learned my ammonia lost alot of potency. Took me 209 ml to reach 1.5 and used 6 test kits up. Once I get ammonia to drop to 0 I will order my 10lbs of live rock. I will also add a few mollies to test water and to get ready for the uglies. Here's a full tank shot.

I have decided to run full light schedule for cycling also so I can tweak and decide on if I like settings.

I hung the refugium light today also. So it's set. I put 2 foam pads under skimmer to raise it some. Got an overly sweet perfume type smell. Read it can be normal. Was worried that it was something on the foam. Please ignore my cords I have plans to hide them in plastic wire covers.

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:

I caved and found Dr tims one and only for 3$ for a 2oz bottle. Bought 6. I know patience and I would cycle. But I am impatient. 24 hrs after adding 3 bottles of dr Tim's ammonia was close to 0. So I added 100 drops of Dr Tim's ammonia chloride in am an 100 drops at night. Roughly 28 hrs later we are at 0 ish. So I text nitrates. They are through the roof roughly 100 ppm so I start freaking out about adding live rock. I am calmed and told to add some of I want. Well looking at my tank I don't have much room for live rock. So I got 4 lbs from lfs. Not the same as o ran live rock but it's extra help.

I decided on which macro I wanna try first. I ordered red ogo, pom pom, and sea lettuce. I plan to add ogo into the display tank and rest in fuge. Let's hope it grows and lowers nitrates. I know ulva can take over a tank. But I'm thinking about a one spot fox face and a small tang that will enjoy any if it spreads I hope.

Next is pods. I'm thinking about reef nutrition apex and tigger pods plus live phyto. Will order tomorrow so macro has time to settle since pods should arrive day or 2 after the macro. Fingers crossed.

Last is cuc I'm thinking about getting 5 hermits and a couple of snails since diatoms are starting. I wanna give the pods first shot at the oncoming algea but that's the plan.

 

[WvAquatics]

Ordered my reef nutrition package. Here's to my first live things algea and pods.

 

[WvAquatics]

Algea from algea barn arrived today. Super excited hopefully it grows well. I have no idea if it's in here right or if I messed up not getting cheato.

 

[WvAquatics]

Also nitrates slowly declining. Here nitrates as algea was added. Super excited!!

 

[WvAquatics]

Here comes diatoms! Should have pods tomorrow. Saturday will be getting my first clean up crew and some mollies. Planning maybe 5 hermits and idk what ever snails Petco has since my lfs is horrible.

Red ogo is turning clear in display probably too much light and low nutrients so going to add some mollies so I can get some nutrients from them.

 

[WvAquatics]

Added 2 bottles of reef nutrition pods to the fuge and display tonight? They are all over the place. I messed up and didn't pour close enough to sand but plenty are making in down there. Everything is off for a bit so they can settle down. Will be ordering more in a week or 2

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:

So I had a solid plan and was ready to have it all work out. But then I went to the lfs ...... Plans down the drain..

I picked up 2 black clownfish and a diamond goby. Was originally going for some cuc. I did get 2 small and 2 larger cerith snails. So the journey begins. I realized I have no qt setup and ready for fish so what do I do plop them in the tank. I know I know no qt will probably regret it.

There they are. So first fish. They seem to love the tank. So now I'm on need of more cuc. And maybe a cardinal or a smaller fish or 2. This is a week later. What happens. Well I got 2 more cerith snails 4 hermits. And a royal Gramma. Insert face palm. All fish happy and cuc is going to town. Here's some shots of the tank.

 

[hoju74]

Nice build. How are you liking the light ?
I'm waiting on my 120g tank...hope to start soon.

 

[WvAquatics]

Nice build. How are you liking the light ?
I'm waiting on my 120g tank...hope to start soon.

Lights great. I love the ability to customize the colors individually. It takes some time to do but I can set it how I want to my liking. I don't have a par meter so I will need to get some readings before adding corals.

 

[WvAquatics]

So I broke my coral cherry this weekend in the @TopShelfAquatics live sale. Got more than I planned too but now I'm neck deep. I have plans for the placement of all the corals. Here's the haul. The yumma is a little more worrisome I here they are tougher than other mushrooms. Going to tank some placement pics plans in the tank little later.