First reef tank

[InterventionalReefiology]

I've had a couple FW tanks with my kids for a little over a year, but couldn't help but lust after the coral and fish in the saltwater section at my LFS. I finally talked my wife into letting me get one. While I'd love to have gotten a large tank, that's a large investment and I don't have a good space for one now so I went with a biocube32. I put it together a week ago and threw away some packages, so I don't remember all the details...

Live sand in a bag (brand unknown)

Bacteria in a bottle (not Dr. Tims, and it was labeled as live nitrifying)

Base white base rock + purple rock assembled with putty and a bit of glue. A friend of mine suggested not to use live rock for the risk of bringing in pests.

SCUBA contactless heater (don't recommend, I didn't see the smart part was just nfc so to change or read it you have to take it out of the tank... pointless.)

Removed the 2nd chamber tray and put in the inTank media basket and fuge basket. Media basket has the inTank filter floss on the top shelf, 15 ppi foam from aquarium co-op on the bottom shelf, and filled with K1. Fuge has nothing in it so far. Also bought a fuge light for when I get something for it.

The tank came with coravue salt which I started with. I followed the instructions but my scoops must have been heaping a bit as I was using too much salt and had to do a 3.3g water change with RODI (bought a RODI unit). That salt is now gone so I'm using fritz salt from my LFS.

I've been ghost feeding for a week. I figure with live sand and bottled bacteria it should be ok to put a couple small fish in now, so we're going to pick some up today. I think I'm also going to get a
Powerhead.

Hope this goes well! If it does I may get a bigger one down the road.

 

[InterventionalReefiology]

Also I have this brown growth which also makes me think the cycling is good.

 

[Osprey223]

Also I have this brown growth which also makes me think the cycling is good.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of marine life! The cycling is certainly happening. Good luck!

 

[bossman818]

Nice. Congratulations! The tank is going to look awesome. I have a 28 gallon JBj and it’s getting crowded but it’s so dang cool. My wife says I pay more attention to my fish than to her lol. Is this your first salt water tank?

 

[kevgib67]

I have the same tank that has been up and running for over 21/2 years, love it. Great scape, feel free to hit me up with any questions. Happy reefing.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the tank! Excited to see the progress of it!

 

[Gman83]

Best of luck!

 

[Üter]

Welcome. 32's are still a great tank.

 

[Üter]

I have the same tank that has been up and running for over 21/2 years, love it. Great scape, feel free to hit me up with any questions. Happy reefing.

do you offer in home servicing and set ups? I'd like to be first on that list!

 

[kevgib67]

do you offer in home servicing and set ups? I'd like to be first on that list!

Just advice, my back hurts after carrying 4 gallons up from the basement!

 

[kevgib67]

 

[Üter]

Just advice, my back hurts after carrying 4 gallons up from the basement!

my back hurts thinking about that. I've had 6 epidurals in a year for back pain. calling now for the next. :oops: I make the water upstairs on wheels and push it to the balcony. everything flows down and the pump goes in the tank with the hose out the front door for the waste.

 

[nuxx]

my back hurts thinking about that. I've had 6 epidurals in a year for back pain. calling now for the next. :oops: I make the water upstairs on wheels and push it to the balcony. everything flows down and the pump goes in the tank with the hose out the front door for the waste.

Ended up just automating mine lol

 

[kevgib67]

my back hurts thinking about that. I've had 6 epidurals in a year for back pain. calling now for the next. :oops: I make the water upstairs on wheels and push it to the balcony. everything flows down and the pump goes in the tank with the hose out the front door for the waste.

Sorry to hear, no fun! Automated water changes are looking more and more appealing!

 

[InterventionalReefiology]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement!

We added fish yesterday, I let my kids help pick them. We got 2 clownfish, a royal Gramma, 2 turbo snails, and apparently an ocellated dragonette. When they picked that one I thought it would be a sand sifting goby or something useful, not something that is know to be a possible pain for feeding. I'm also concerned about keeping the snails fed, but we'll see. I ordered a mandarin feeder kit from algae barn, so I'm hoping I can seed enough copepods to keep it fed.

 

[Üter]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement!

We added fish yesterday, I let my kids help pick them. We got 2 clownfish, a royal Gramma, 2 turbo snails, and apparently an ocellated dragonette. When they picked that one I thought it would be a sand sifting goby or something useful, not something that is know to be a possible pain for feeding. I'm also concerned about keeping the snails fed, but we'll see. I ordered a mandarin feeder kit from algae barn, so I'm hoping I can seed enough copepods to keep it fed.

wait longer. that tank is going to have algae soon enough. your dragonet may be a problem. the InTank divider is great to keep jumpers from getting into the sump too. even the water director is great.

inTank Fish Saver Guard for Coralife LED Biocube 32 | Coralife BioCube 29

nTank Fish Savers help keep livestock in the display area of your aquarium, where they belong

intankaquatics.com

 

[InterventionalReefiology]

wait longer. that tank is going to have algae soon enough. your dragonet may be a problem. the InTank divider is great to keep jumpers from getting into the sump too. even the water director is great.

inTank Fish Saver Guard for Coralife LED Biocube 32 | Coralife BioCube 29

nTank Fish Savers help keep livestock in the display area of your aquarium, where they belong

intankaquatics.com

I actually did get the tank divider, too. I figured at the price of these fish it doesn't take many to pay for itself.

Yeah, hopefully the copepods will seed in the k1 with all those crevices and provide enough food for the dragonette. I also got their oceanmagik to keep the copepods fed, but I'm sure I'll have to do some problem solving a long the way to keep that fish happy.

 

[Stinson Beach Aquatics]

Best of luck! It sounds great.

 

[Üter]

and no photo shop here. I keep looking for the pixel inconsistencies but don't see it. :p

 

[kevgib67]

and no photo shop here. I keep looking for the pixel inconsistencies but don't see it. :p

I would be so proud of myself if it was! I’m 57 yo and so low tech, still trying to figure out how to turn my phone off and on.