ChattReefer
Community Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2018
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 51
So hello! I'm a reefer down in Chattanooga, TN. Been in aquariums since I was young, getting into saltwater in 2015. Started with the small Biocube and ocean live rock. Didn't understand anything, and learned a lot.
Then we sold our home and moved around for a bit. Once we found another home, started with a old small Red Sea AIO MAX I got at a LFS used. Grew out a ton of softies, then Upgraded to the bigger Red Sea MAX and grew out a ton of softies and easy easy SPS. Then life got busy.
Sold everything and got a small Waterbox 40.1. FIRST TANK WITH A SUMP! And I think you all know why that's important. To say I learned a few things is a understatement. The whole tank ultimately failed miserably from poor test kits and poor understanding of water chemistry (aka my fault).
Thought about quitting, thought about the busyness of life and all it's complexities, but just wanted to learn from my mistakes and know more!
I purchased a small AIO 20g Acrylic Frag Tank and did an instant start tank. Tons of coral frags, no live rock, and a skimmer placed directly inside the tank. It looked horrible! But was one of the most successful tanks I ever made. A year later, I upgraded to a Low Boy and added a big sump and moved everything over to that. After building a frag tank setup and having it running for a bit, I really missed the appeal of the "Display Tank". Which brings us to these past few months.
After months of not being around my LFS I decided to stop in and see what's going on l. To my immediate surprise, I see a custom SCA 90g cube, Custom stand, Trigger Sump, Apex EL with every add on you can think of, Aquatic Life Hybrid with Kessil A360, and so so so much more. Tank and equipment was in operation for less than a year (this was provided by invoices and paperwork). And let's just say, This setup was going for a ridiculously low price!
And my wife surprised me, and bought it!
Step 1: Getting it Transported
This thing was heavy! And just wider than our doorways. We had to take down two doorframes to get the tank inside the house.
but ultimately,we got everything in the room!
After hiring a electrician to add a new outlet and breaker for the tank, and adding a Shop Sink into the room. We were ready to add water! Oh! But we needed an Aquascape
Step Two: Aquascape.
This took WAYYYYYY too long, and even now I would have done so much different (welcome to the hobby right?). But I'm satisfied in the end! This is my first NSA / HSA Scape and think it's good enough. Already looking forward to the next scape because of all I learned!
Step Three: Get some Water!
Except I had no clue how to run an Apex, or anything that came with it, water was the next step! And filled it up we did!
Step Four: Let the cycle Begin!
Got some Marine Pure Bio Balls that have been cooking in my frag tank for a few months, and two Frostbite Clowns that had hosted a Purple Wall Hammer in my frag tank and added them into the tank. No Ammonia, no Nitrite, let the algae bloom!
Step Five: Add more Frags!
Now that the cycle of marine life has started, it's in the period of acclimation and growth! So far there are 4x Chromis, 2x Frostbite Clownfish, 1x Blue Hippo Tang, 1x Scopus Tang. These were all transplants from my Frag Tank (other than the Chromis). And they grew out of the frag tank perfectly into the Display.
So that's the journey so far! Corals added have been: Wall Hammer, Duncan, Zoa's Rock, Bali Green Slimmer, Tri Color Valida, Myogi Tort, Garf Bonsai, Shock Tart Acro, PC Rainbow, Red Monti, ORA Birds of Paradise, and Green Bird's-nest.
This is the Reef Room, and some of the corals I keep.
And couldn't end it without my first 20g AIO acrylic frag tank that ultimately got upgraded.
And the first setup of the coral roo
Hope you all have enjoyed this long long post and would love to answer any questions! Can't wait to send you all updates and struggles. This is only the first MONTH! And we all know the first year is always tough! Hope you all might find this hopeful, and inspire you to keep reefing!!
Then we sold our home and moved around for a bit. Once we found another home, started with a old small Red Sea AIO MAX I got at a LFS used. Grew out a ton of softies, then Upgraded to the bigger Red Sea MAX and grew out a ton of softies and easy easy SPS. Then life got busy.
Sold everything and got a small Waterbox 40.1. FIRST TANK WITH A SUMP! And I think you all know why that's important. To say I learned a few things is a understatement. The whole tank ultimately failed miserably from poor test kits and poor understanding of water chemistry (aka my fault).
Thought about quitting, thought about the busyness of life and all it's complexities, but just wanted to learn from my mistakes and know more!
I purchased a small AIO 20g Acrylic Frag Tank and did an instant start tank. Tons of coral frags, no live rock, and a skimmer placed directly inside the tank. It looked horrible! But was one of the most successful tanks I ever made. A year later, I upgraded to a Low Boy and added a big sump and moved everything over to that. After building a frag tank setup and having it running for a bit, I really missed the appeal of the "Display Tank". Which brings us to these past few months.
After months of not being around my LFS I decided to stop in and see what's going on l. To my immediate surprise, I see a custom SCA 90g cube, Custom stand, Trigger Sump, Apex EL with every add on you can think of, Aquatic Life Hybrid with Kessil A360, and so so so much more. Tank and equipment was in operation for less than a year (this was provided by invoices and paperwork). And let's just say, This setup was going for a ridiculously low price!
And my wife surprised me, and bought it!
Step 1: Getting it Transported
This thing was heavy! And just wider than our doorways. We had to take down two doorframes to get the tank inside the house.
After hiring a electrician to add a new outlet and breaker for the tank, and adding a Shop Sink into the room. We were ready to add water! Oh! But we needed an Aquascape
Step Two: Aquascape.
This took WAYYYYYY too long, and even now I would have done so much different (welcome to the hobby right?). But I'm satisfied in the end! This is my first NSA / HSA Scape and think it's good enough. Already looking forward to the next scape because of all I learned!
Step Three: Get some Water!
Except I had no clue how to run an Apex, or anything that came with it, water was the next step! And filled it up we did!
Step Four: Let the cycle Begin!
Got some Marine Pure Bio Balls that have been cooking in my frag tank for a few months, and two Frostbite Clowns that had hosted a Purple Wall Hammer in my frag tank and added them into the tank. No Ammonia, no Nitrite, let the algae bloom!
Step Five: Add more Frags!
Now that the cycle of marine life has started, it's in the period of acclimation and growth! So far there are 4x Chromis, 2x Frostbite Clownfish, 1x Blue Hippo Tang, 1x Scopus Tang. These were all transplants from my Frag Tank (other than the Chromis). And they grew out of the frag tank perfectly into the Display.
So that's the journey so far! Corals added have been: Wall Hammer, Duncan, Zoa's Rock, Bali Green Slimmer, Tri Color Valida, Myogi Tort, Garf Bonsai, Shock Tart Acro, PC Rainbow, Red Monti, ORA Birds of Paradise, and Green Bird's-nest.
This is the Reef Room, and some of the corals I keep.
And couldn't end it without my first 20g AIO acrylic frag tank that ultimately got upgraded.
And the first setup of the coral roo
Hope you all have enjoyed this long long post and would love to answer any questions! Can't wait to send you all updates and struggles. This is only the first MONTH! And we all know the first year is always tough! Hope you all might find this hopeful, and inspire you to keep reefing!!
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