First reef - 40 gallon breeder mostly DIY

[west co reefer]

Nice scape! I miss my 40B. Love the dimensions of that tank

 

[sassmastawillis]

Howdy everyone! Since my last update, I've finished plumbing the tank and filled her up. Been letting her cycle for the last 3ish weeks, but I've been gone a lot of that time so I haven't been testing to 100% verify the process is complete. I added a bottle of Dr. TIm's one and only bacteria and ghost fed it some dry flakes I had lying around, but didn't really test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels for a week or so afterwards. I added a small chunk of live rock from my LFS, and all levels have been at 0 since I've been testing this past week.

Big update was that I picked up my first saltwater fish this weekend! Grabbed myself a pair of clownfish from my LFS. These guys are so fun to watch, and already have so much personality compared to other freshwater fish I have kept! I am still testing water parameters daily just in case there is a huge spike in anything, but hoping their bioload will be covered by what's already cycled in the tank. The food they recommend and swear by is frozen 'Rods Food Original Blend', and I've been feeding them that a tiny bit daily.

For the sump, I am just leaving it open for now. I finished printing a few parts for that DIY filter roller I've been working on, but can't really be sure if it will work. Not really sure how high the water level inside the housing will rise, and how much waste is actually required for it to 'work'. Hooked it up to my drainage pipe for now, and I can always just manually advance it or swap it out for filter socks. I also originally wanted to add a refugium chamber to my sump, but I waiting for the tank to become more mature before I do. I'm also planning on turning the skimmer back on and play with it's adjustments to see how it works, as I've never used one before. My ATO is hooked up to the reefpi, but I just have a basic float switch hooked up to the dc pump for now until I can figure out how to configure that in reefpi.

I also attached a picture of some algae that's been growing on one side of the aquairum, I assume becuase its been getting sunlight from a window. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like normal 'ugly phase' diatoms. I taped some cardboard on that side to try and block it out, and I still keep the lights off.

As always, feedback and comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Saltyreef24]

Very nice start to your tank! How is it coming now?

 

[sassmastawillis]

Very nice start to your tank! How is it coming now?

Well! I've had my share of some ups and downs with the tank maturing, but it's been a fun experience. Still more work I want to do on it, like setting up auto dosers, maybe a canopy or shades for the lights, maybe run my UV sterilizer inline with the return pump, but I'm just letting it mature a little more first.

I finished building my sump. Added the glass baffles for my filter chamber, refugium with chaeto and rock, and return. Just turned off my fuge light and skimmer. Had my water tested at LFS and was told my parameters are good, but zero phosphates and nitrates, which apparently you want a little. The 3D printed rollermat looks like it's working quite well now that Ive gone through a few iterations and prints.

I originally stocked it with some clown, royal gramma, fire fish and a diamond sifter goby. The fire fish foolishly chased a chunk of food straight into the back of a power head (died pretty instantly), and the goby jumped on top of my mesh top when I left the feeding hatch open. Since I've added (and still have) a long nose hawkfish, rusty angelfish, yellow clown goby, and hectors goby. Also, urchin who died (thread).

Corals are doing fine? Nothing looks sad or discolored, so I assume that's good. Starting to get into a more regular schedule of testing to see how much they consume, but I only have a few small frags ATM.

 

[Saltyreef24]

Well! I've had my share of some ups and downs with the tank maturing, but it's been a fun experience. Still more work I want to do on it, like setting up auto dosers, maybe a canopy or shades for the lights, maybe run my UV sterilizer inline with the return pump, but I'm just letting it mature a little more first.

I finished building my sump. Added the glass baffles for my filter chamber, refugium with chaeto and rock, and return. Just turned off my fuge light and skimmer. Had my water tested at LFS and was told my parameters are good, but zero phosphates and nitrates, which apparently you want a little. The 3D printed rollermat looks like it's working quite well now that Ive gone through a few iterations and prints.

I originally stocked it with some clown, royal gramma, fire fish and a diamond sifter goby. The fire fish foolishly chased a chunk of food straight into the back of a power head (died pretty instantly), and the goby jumped on top of my mesh top when I left the feeding hatch open. Since I've added (and still have) a long nose hawkfish, rusty angelfish, yellow clown goby, and hectors goby. Also, urchin who died (thread).

Corals are doing fine? Nothing looks sad or discolored, so I assume that's good. Starting to get into a more regular schedule of testing to see how much they consume, but I only have a few small frags ATM.

Very nice. Cool hawkfish. What kind of shrimp is that hiding?

 

[sassmastawillis]

Very nice. Cool hawkfish. What kind of shrimp is that hiding?

Fire shrimp

 

[sassmastawillis]

Was thinking, since I've made this post I haven't seen my rusty angelfish in a while. I actually can't remember if I've seen him at all this week, been kinda busy with work and other things so I haven't been watching my tank as much as I usually do. Fed and watched the tank, and no signs of him. Checked around the tank and in the sump to see if tried to make a break for it, and also no sign.

Would the cuc get to him before I could notice anything? I really liked the fish and would like another one, how long do I give him to show back up or get another?

 

[Txoutlaw]

Yeah I would say he's gone.if he was small then the cuc would definitely take care of him before you noticed.