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Hi all, and welcome to my build thread!
Stock/Pics Updated 8/31
First, a bit about me: I've always been fascinated with marine biology and fish tanks in general. They're not only incredibly fun and relaxing to look at, but I love the idea of applied science and having a real slice of an ecosystem to look at and observe. Not to mention being able to see something grow and develop in a fascinating way. My family had a freshwater tank when I was growing up, and I always loved looking at it and watching the fish eat and just swim around. Around mid 2017 I started seriously reading about reef tanks, what they require, how they're maintained, etc. and learning as much as I could. That year's winter holiday season brought my first (and current) tank to me.
That said, this is going to be organized a bit oddly compared to most threads of the sort. I've been running it for about 18 months at this point, through numerous trials and tribulations, problems, a not-so-great LFS, a move after setup, etc., but I've been taking pictures all throughout the time I've had it, and have taken meticulous notes, as well, so I can still show a lot of the process that's happened, and more importantly the lessons learned. I've been lurking R2R essentially since I started researching, and I'm excited to finally share all my stuff! To start us off, here's the links to key points during my build throughout the thread:
Failing at initial cycling and stocking (Nov - Dec 2017)
Ich strikes and wipes (Dec 2017 - Jan 2018)
Busted pipes and regaining life (Jan - Apr 2018)
Moving day process and QT failure (Jun - July 2018)
New corals die, ammonia bomb, algae, QT still sucks (Aug - Sept 2018)
Damsels are jerks, wet floors suck (part 1) (Sept 2018)
The floor is still wet (part 2), Apex cabinet setup, and more deaths (Oct - Nov 2018)
Learn to test, noob (Dec 2018 - Jan 2019)
Damsels are STILL jerks, fuge setup (Feb - Mar 2019)
Bulkheads, hyposalinity, and slowing the roll (Mar - July 2019) (caught up to posting of build thread)
Latest update post is here (new on 11/25/19)
Current Pics (11/11/19)!
Current Stock
As you'll see below in the build process comments, I've gone through far more fish than anyone would want, with numerous crashes, aggression, etc. happening. As such, I've aimed to keep the stock lighter and more gradual for the time being, not to mention being caused by a distinct lack of monies available.
I really do love the look of corals in a tank and have wanted some ever since I started. As with stock, I currently don't have much, mostly due to previous die off and missteps, and now waiting for some better financial stuff to come round to help me expand.
One thing that really drew me to the hobby was the sheer possibilities of what could be done - the chemical maintenance, DIY possibilities, control-ability, potential automation, etc. It was a slow rise, but I'm happy to have some pretty cool stuff. Virtually nothing currently in use is original from when I set up the tank, but that's for later in the thread.
While not too vital for a post like this, I'm proud to have gotten my parameters under control after a LOT of heartache and pain, and it was a main goal ahead of me really expanding stock and the like. I use API kits coupled with my Apex and a refractometer, so not the best, but better than nothing:
Pic from Late August 2019 showing the overall system setup
Current goals and ideas
As with anything in this hobby, we're never really done, and I'm excited to have some upgrades and improvements planned out, to varying degrees of completeness and viability. If you all have tips, I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks very much for stopping by!
Stock/Pics Updated 8/31
First, a bit about me: I've always been fascinated with marine biology and fish tanks in general. They're not only incredibly fun and relaxing to look at, but I love the idea of applied science and having a real slice of an ecosystem to look at and observe. Not to mention being able to see something grow and develop in a fascinating way. My family had a freshwater tank when I was growing up, and I always loved looking at it and watching the fish eat and just swim around. Around mid 2017 I started seriously reading about reef tanks, what they require, how they're maintained, etc. and learning as much as I could. That year's winter holiday season brought my first (and current) tank to me.
That said, this is going to be organized a bit oddly compared to most threads of the sort. I've been running it for about 18 months at this point, through numerous trials and tribulations, problems, a not-so-great LFS, a move after setup, etc., but I've been taking pictures all throughout the time I've had it, and have taken meticulous notes, as well, so I can still show a lot of the process that's happened, and more importantly the lessons learned. I've been lurking R2R essentially since I started researching, and I'm excited to finally share all my stuff! To start us off, here's the links to key points during my build throughout the thread:
Failing at initial cycling and stocking (Nov - Dec 2017)
Ich strikes and wipes (Dec 2017 - Jan 2018)
Busted pipes and regaining life (Jan - Apr 2018)
Moving day process and QT failure (Jun - July 2018)
New corals die, ammonia bomb, algae, QT still sucks (Aug - Sept 2018)
Damsels are jerks, wet floors suck (part 1) (Sept 2018)
The floor is still wet (part 2), Apex cabinet setup, and more deaths (Oct - Nov 2018)
Learn to test, noob (Dec 2018 - Jan 2019)
Damsels are STILL jerks, fuge setup (Feb - Mar 2019)
Bulkheads, hyposalinity, and slowing the roll (Mar - July 2019) (caught up to posting of build thread)
Latest update post is here (new on 11/25/19)
Current Pics (11/11/19)!
Current Stock
As you'll see below in the build process comments, I've gone through far more fish than anyone would want, with numerous crashes, aggression, etc. happening. As such, I've aimed to keep the stock lighter and more gradual for the time being, not to mention being caused by a distinct lack of monies available.
- Diamond Watchman Goby (Sandy)
- Pacific Cleaner Shrimp (Jacques La Crevette, Esq.)
- Blood Orange clown (Leonard Nemo - hosted on a Sebae nem)
- Orangeback Fairy Wrasse
- 1 Chromis (Connor FishLoed, because he's the Highlander who killed the other 2)
- Red Bali Star Fish who's seen some stuff
- Mexican and Trochus snails, blue hermits
- Theoretically there's still a pom pom crab in there somewhere, but haven't seen it in awhile
I really do love the look of corals in a tank and have wanted some ever since I started. As with stock, I currently don't have much, mostly due to previous die off and missteps, and now waiting for some better financial stuff to come round to help me expand.
- Hammer colony
- GSP colony
- 2 Zoa colonies (don't know names, they came as a frag pack)
- 1 Favia (frag pack, lightly hanging on)
- Utter Chaos zoa
- Green Napthea
- Pink Napthea
One thing that really drew me to the hobby was the sheer possibilities of what could be done - the chemical maintenance, DIY possibilities, control-ability, potential automation, etc. It was a slow rise, but I'm happy to have some pretty cool stuff. Virtually nothing currently in use is original from when I set up the tank, but that's for later in the thread.
- Tank - 55 gallon long (48") with basic Durso overflow and flex hose/vinyl plumbing; tank and stand came as a set
- Sump - Leviathan SlimLine Reef Sump (only multi-chambered sump I could find in short dimensions)
- Skimmer - Bubble Magus 5
- Fuge light - Kessil H80
- Fuge powerhead - one of the little Hydors
- Lights - Current USA Orbit Marine LED (internally programmed)
- Control System - Neptune Apex - all key equipment plugged into the main energy bar (skimmer & Tunze being main "external", non Neptune devices)
- Wav pump kit
- Leak detection Kit
- DOS - pumps through A and B solutions from dosing container
- COR 15 DC return pump
- Apex Display
- Programmed buttons and switches for numerous functions and timers, with breakout boxes to accommodate
- ATO - Tunze controlled by Apex system
- RODI system (not shown) - BRS 150 GPD (upgraded from 75)
- Salt - Instant ocean reef salt
While not too vital for a post like this, I'm proud to have gotten my parameters under control after a LOT of heartache and pain, and it was a main goal ahead of me really expanding stock and the like. I use API kits coupled with my Apex and a refractometer, so not the best, but better than nothing:
- Nitrates - ~20 PPM
- Ammonia - 0
- pH - 8.2-8.4
- Calcium - 460-480
- Alk - ~8
- Phosphate - ~0
- Salinity - 1.026
Pic from Late August 2019 showing the overall system setup
Current goals and ideas
As with anything in this hobby, we're never really done, and I'm excited to have some upgrades and improvements planned out, to varying degrees of completeness and viability. If you all have tips, I'd really appreciate it!
- Upgrade to hardened plumbing - a splitter from the main drain and ball valves to each of the sock areas so I don't have to shut off the system to swap the flex hose to the other sock. Plus less leak prone. Difficult due to very confined space, though.
- Phytoplankton and copepod growth, in and out of tank. Clean growth container for seeding/feeding phyto to bugs and bugs to fish, including getting Chaeto in the fuge
- Stock expansion - more fish, more coral, more all. Primarily want a Mandarin, thus above point. Massively struggling with this ATM, as most new fish have died within ~a week.
- Cleaning out some pests and undesirables - Aiptasia pops up once in awhile still
- Try to better maintain sump - stop/reduce algal growths in skimmer section, etc.
- Low priority - change out the cabinet lights to daylight LEDs instead of soft white. The brownish-yellow is meh.
- Get better about taking good pictures, particularly of the corals (see below)
Thanks very much for stopping by!
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