First attempt at reefing 75G build

[Bayareareefer18]

Hi guys just wanted to introduce myself and try and document this journey as well as possible. For the past couple of years I was keeping discus, finally got tired of the water changes and decided to make the jump to reef keeping. I sold all of my discus and began my build.

I built a custom stand, sump and drilled my 75G tank.

Overflow is an Eshopps eclipse plumbed began animal style. Sump is a 40B that I got at the $1/G sale and I used a Fiji cube baffle kit from eBay.

Got all of my rock from a friend and cured it in bleach for about a month before going into the tank.

Equipment is as follows

48" current USA IC Pro Leds (x2)
Current USA eflux wave pump 1050gph(x2)
Jebao DCT6000 return pump
Skimz monster E series skimmer SM161
Neotherm 150w heater (2)
Inkbird temp controller

I am currently about 2 weeks into my cycle. After dosing MB7 daily I have a solid nitrite reading after 9 days.

 

[ihavecrabs]

First off, welcome home! #WelcometoR2R

What are you looking to stock? Looks like a great build so far.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!!

Great looking setup so far Following along for the build

 

[Dsnakes]

Welcome to R2R

That's a great looking aquascape!

 

[atx100r]

Looks really nice....Did my first DIY 75 and stand....about 7 months ago it's been fun...

 

[Javamahn]

Nice work so far. What's on your list of "must have" livestock?

 

[Reefer Deez]

Welcome! Everything looks really good! You did an amazing job with your tank and sump! Don't hesitate to ask any questions there are alot of people here willing to help!

 

[Will Milberger]

Good work so far!

 

[mahindra.dev]

Welcome to R2R!! Good build so far. Looks like you are using lights that sit on the tank.

One more thing, please use some sort of screen as you start to stock etc. The reason I say that is you have a shelf above and the odds of something dropping in the tank are never zero.

Edit: looks like you have egg crates. My Bad

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Good work so far!

Welcome to R2R!! Good build so far. Looks like you are using lights that sit on the tank.

One more thing, please use some sort of screen as you start to stock etc. The reason I say that is you have a shelf above and the odds of something dropping in the tank are never zero.

Edit: looks like you have egg crates. My Bad

Welcome! Everything looks really good! You did an amazing job with your tank and sump! Don't hesitate to ask any questions there are alot of people here willing to help!

Nice work so far. What's on your list of "must have" livestock?

Looks really nice....Did my first DIY 75 and stand....about 7 months ago it's been fun...

Welcome to R2R

That's a great looking aquascape!

Welcome to R2R!!

Great looking setup so far Following along for the build

First off, welcome home! #WelcometoR2R

What are you looking to stock? Looks like a great build so far.

Welcome to r2r!!

Thanks so much for the warm welcome everyone!! Much better than "the other guys" Lol. I have definitely found the right forum.

I have very much enjoyed my build so far and really excited to progress with this journey

As far as stocking goes my list is as follows so far....

Pair of clowns considering maroon/yellow)
Coral beauty
Fox face
Yellow tang
Yellow eye kole tang
Diamond gobie (when tank is mature enough)
Firefish
Blenny of some sort
Wrasse (maybe 6 line)

Open to suggestions and of course cautions. I research everyday about livestock and just reefing in general
I would like fish with a purpose as well as a balance of colors
I would like to get my fish small and grow them out as well as aestechially I feel that more #s with smaller fish would look better than less of larger. I realize some of the list will outgrow the tank so I will either upgrade or move them if it gets to that point.

As far as the lights I didn't want to break the bank to start with but I do know I will have the need to upgrade in the future. I feel these lights looks great for the price and should be sufficient as far as par goes

As far as coral it's up in the air but I definitely love the euphyllias. Going to plan a mix of softies and lps then a few of th r easier, hardy sps down the road

I will continue to upgrade as I go such as automation, etc

Thanks again everyone look forward to your help as I go

 

[Reefer Deez]

And we look forward to helping you! Youight even help us as you grow from you own experiences!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

And we look forward to helping you! Youight even help us as you grow from you own experiences!

That's one of the best parts imo. I'm hoping to document this journey, both good and bar in hopes my experience can help others as well.

I guess one of my first questions is at what point in the cycle process do you get the fuge Going?

My plan was to stock it with chaeto and pods from algae barn and probably light it with a chaetomax led.

My thought was that I wouldn't want the macro sucking up any of the ammonia and slow down the BB growth

My nitrite levels are rising quickly but ammonia is still pretty constant

I am noticing tiny little dots of diatom here and there so I'm assuming I'm running in the right direction

With my freshwater experience I was working with a heavily planted tank and cycle was very, very fast

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Finally seeing good progress with the cycle.

Dosing to 2 ppm ammonia in am and then down to about .25 in 24 hours.

Nitrites are still quite high.

Diatoms are increasing and small amount of green algae.

I assume I need to wait for nitrites to fall then do large wc and add cuc?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Quick question guys.

When is the proper time to stock fuge with pods.

Currently I am awaiting nitrites to drop before adding cuc

Tank processes 2 ppm ammonia in less than 24 hrs.

I am going to get the fuge running tomorrow with the chaeto that is arriving

 

[Will Milberger]

When nitrites fall, you can add. Make sure there is stuff for your cuc to eat. Cheato can get rid of a lot of algae.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

When nitrites fall, you can add. Make sure there is stuff for your cuc to eat. Cheato can get rid of a lot of algae.

Great thanks for the reply. Looking at my tank now should be a buffet lol

Fortunately watched the BRS videos and won't be making the mistake of adding one of those 300 piece cuc starter packs

 

[Darryl]

Nice!

 

[Ammocan]

Looking good so far. I found that taking my time with everything really helped. do not get in a hurry to buy and stock fish and make sure you do a good quarantine on every fish. you came to the right place to learn and get help. I learned the hard way on that one.
Happy reefing

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Nice!

Looking good so far. I found that taking my time with everything really helped. do not get in a hurry to buy and stock fish and make sure you do a good quarantine on every fish. you came to the right place to learn and get help. I learned the hard way on that one.
Happy reefing

Thank you guys.

Patience isn't my greatest virtue so trying hard here lol.

This forum has been fantastic so far