[EDIT:]
I figured I'd update the first post with current equipment and livestock info.
Current Equipment (updated 3/17/2024):
Current Fish & Inverts (updated 3/17/2024):
Background: I've been wanting to setup a reef tank for a long time but only saw it as a realistic possibility in the past year or so. I always thought it was too difficult, too expensive and too time consuming. I'm still not sure if I was right or wrong yet. I first began researching the hobby extensively in the past year or so; reading articles and forums, watching YouTube videos, and even visiting my locals LFS's and talking to the owners. However, I still wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger as I had a newborn and wasn't sure I'd have the time/money to devote to it. Lucky for me, my girlfriend (now fiance) must have been annoyed with how much I talked about it and made the plunge for me. She got me an Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 40 tank, custom-made stand and Kessil A360WE light for for Christmas. Little did she know that would the beginning of both of our obsessions with this hobby.
Setup: Having the tank, stand and light I went to LFS to talk about getting the tank up and running. Despite the risk of hitchhikers, I decided to go the Live Rock / seed bacteria route since I'm impatient. (I know...nothing good happens fast in this hobby.) I bought ~30 pounds of live rock, 20 pounds of CaribSea Aragalive live sand, and the aquavitro seed bacteria to get the tank jump started. I also bought ~45 gallons of saltwater from the LFS which I transferred to a Brute trash can in the back of my subaru . I then proceeded to spill ~3 gallons in the cargo area on the way home. ;Facepalm After a few hours messing around with the aquascaping, I got water/sand in the tank and started cycling with the aquavitro.
Cycle: Using the live rock and dosing the aquavitro seed bacteria every day for 7 days straight got the cycle jump-started. I bought test kits to keep track of the cycle since I'm a nerd for chemistry and it appeared everything had cycled in a week. Having done my research, I knew it was best to cycle at least a month or more before adding fish but I only managed to make it two weeks. My tests kept telling me my ammonia, nitrites and and nitrates were where they needed to be so I went to the LFS to get some fish...
To Be Continued...
I figured I'd update the first post with current equipment and livestock info.
Current Equipment (updated 3/17/2024):
- IM Nuvo Fusion 40 Tank
- Kessil A360WE w/ spectral controller + Reefbrite XHO-X360
- Eheim Jager 150W heater
- Inkbird temperature controller w/ fan
- IM Ghost Skimmer
- inTank media basket w/ filter floss, chemi-pure blue
- inTank filter floss caddy
- (2) Jebao OW-10 wavemakers
- Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO w/ 5-gallon bucket
- ~32lbs live rock
- 40lbs Carib-Sea Araga-Live live sand
Current Fish & Inverts (updated 3/17/2024):
- (2) Ocellaris clownfish
- Neon Polyp Toadstool
- Purple brush gorgonian
- Green Hairy Rhodactis Mushroom (100?)
- Orange / purple Ricordea Yuma Mushroom (25?)
- Blastomussa
Background: I've been wanting to setup a reef tank for a long time but only saw it as a realistic possibility in the past year or so. I always thought it was too difficult, too expensive and too time consuming. I'm still not sure if I was right or wrong yet. I first began researching the hobby extensively in the past year or so; reading articles and forums, watching YouTube videos, and even visiting my locals LFS's and talking to the owners. However, I still wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger as I had a newborn and wasn't sure I'd have the time/money to devote to it. Lucky for me, my girlfriend (now fiance) must have been annoyed with how much I talked about it and made the plunge for me. She got me an Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 40 tank, custom-made stand and Kessil A360WE light for for Christmas. Little did she know that would the beginning of both of our obsessions with this hobby.
Setup: Having the tank, stand and light I went to LFS to talk about getting the tank up and running. Despite the risk of hitchhikers, I decided to go the Live Rock / seed bacteria route since I'm impatient. (I know...nothing good happens fast in this hobby.) I bought ~30 pounds of live rock, 20 pounds of CaribSea Aragalive live sand, and the aquavitro seed bacteria to get the tank jump started. I also bought ~45 gallons of saltwater from the LFS which I transferred to a Brute trash can in the back of my subaru . I then proceeded to spill ~3 gallons in the cargo area on the way home. ;Facepalm After a few hours messing around with the aquascaping, I got water/sand in the tank and started cycling with the aquavitro.
Cycle: Using the live rock and dosing the aquavitro seed bacteria every day for 7 days straight got the cycle jump-started. I bought test kits to keep track of the cycle since I'm a nerd for chemistry and it appeared everything had cycled in a week. Having done my research, I knew it was best to cycle at least a month or more before adding fish but I only managed to make it two weeks. My tests kept telling me my ammonia, nitrites and and nitrates were where they needed to be so I went to the LFS to get some fish...
To Be Continued...
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