After a 15 year or so hiatus, I decided to once again keep an aquarium (previously kept freshwater). Living in Colorado has limited opportunities for time in the ocean and after a recent trip to the Atlantic, I decided to dive back in, but this time, go all in (saltwater aquariums were too difficult and expensive for me during high school and college).
Ultimately, I would like a 120-180 gallon reef tank at my house, but for now, I am starting with a 32 gallon biocube in my office. Reef keeping appears to be something I will enjoy as it is a great mix of biology, chemistry, physics/engineering, and gear.
I started on 12/3/19:
![20191205_131943[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20191205_131943-1-jpg.1396805/ "20191205_131943[1].jpg")
I turned the heater on the next day, tested the water, began adding Prime and Seed.
On 12/5, I made my first bonehead mistake:
![20191207_092633[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20191207_092633-1-jpg.1396806/ "20191207_092633[1].jpg")
Over the next week I set the light schedule, continued to test, and enjoyed watching the inverts. Water parameters remained normal and stable. I added 3 more snails on 12/13/19 (1x each cerith, conehead, and nassarius). Diatom bloom began around this time and in full effect by 12/18/19.
I added chaeto on 12/28/19. Added a Firefish Goby on 12/30/19 (my kids named him Firefly). Decided I better quarantine future additions, so purchased a 13 gallon QT on 12/31/19.
![20191224_133933[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20191224_133933-1-jpg.1396809/ "20191224_133933[1].jpg")
Added the InTank Media Basket and Refugium Basket on 1/4/2020. Also using an Acke grow light mounted to the rear of the tank.
Interested in seeing other sea-life start showing up in the tank, such as various pods, spirobid worms, and tube worms. Water parameters remain stable, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate always at 0ppm. Added carbon to the DT on 1/11/2020 to help the water look more clear.
Added 5 dwarf blue hermit crabs to get into the small pockets of the live rock (1/12/2020).
1/13/2020 started measuring alkalinity (started very low- 5.7 dKH) and Phosphorous ULR (0ppm) with Hanna checker.
1/14/2020 began adding Aquavitro eight.four. Added 2 clownfish to QT (Wyoming White-female, Black Ocellaris-male) and 3 corals to DT (GSP, Pulsing Xenia, and Cespitularia).
![20200116_132020[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200116_132020-1-jpg.1396814/ "20200116_132020[1].jpg")
![20200118_170622[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200118_170622-1-jpg.1396832/ "20200118_170622[1].jpg")
Slowly increasing alkalinity in DT. Other water parameters have remain unchanged. Added a Jebao OW-10 powerhead and swapped stock return pump for Sicce Syncra 1.5.
Added a 0.8# piece of live rock for a xenia island.
![20200118_164353[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200118_164353-1-jpg.1396825/ "20200118_164353[1].jpg")
1/18/2020- began mixing my own SW with FritzPRO RPM from the LFS. Began measuring Calcium (420-430ppm) and Magnesium (1290ppm).
Livestock have been happy and feeding regularly. Decided to remove corals from frags on 1/21/2020. Glued the xenia to the front rock and GSP to the back of the tank. Had a difficult time attaching the Cespitularia to the rock and it got sucked into the powerhead. I was super bummed! I walled it into a spot on the rock and am waiting for it to self attach before I remove the extra, glue, etc.
Awful site:
![20200121_155659[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200121_155659-1-jpg.1396831/ "20200121_155659[1].jpg")
I transferred the clowns to the DT (1/24/2020) several days sooner than I planned due to rising levels of ammonia and nitrite and the fact that they looked healthy. Nutrient levels have remained low in the DT, so hoping the extra food and waste will help get levels up a little.
![20200127_144606[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200127_144606-1-jpg.1396844/ "20200127_144606[1].jpg")
![20200127_144621[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/20200127_144621-1-jpg.1396845/ "20200127_144621[1].jpg")
1/27/2020- day I am writing this- DT is doing well (alkalinity is only up to 7 dKH, everything else is stable, will keep adding eight.four and with water changes, hope to keep it around 8.5-9 dKH). The clowns and firefish goby are getting along and eating well. Xenia is pulsing, GSP is open, and cesp. is maybe looking like it is making a recovery (still way bummed). Enjoying this experiment so far.
Working on building an RODI set up at home (I have access to DI water now in my lab). Have lost 2 cats eye turbo and the nassarius snails; hoping the cespitularia makes a recovery. Debating whether to keep the QT going in my office or whether to take it home.
![20191205_131943[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325190-b1bb26bf2ecae8295c6a044469c2ff32.jpg "20191205_131943[1].jpg")
![20191207_092633[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325191-f2fc70f534ca15480be8f6b9dde137ec.jpg "20191207_092633[1].jpg")
![20191224_133933[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325194-4c875c55bcb171ba00e69074429235fa.jpg "20191224_133933[1].jpg")
![20200116_132020[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325199-354bf0b91a68dfa2bf7aba65e69644f2.jpg "20200116_132020[1].jpg")
![20200118_164353[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325210-fac43bcf9e6945a0ed510ef7f4e8591e.jpg "20200118_164353[1].jpg")
![20200121_155659[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325216-48f5d80d740ee8cc1b4e53d74df079eb.jpg "20200121_155659[1].jpg")
![20200118_170622[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325217-8921b33108e66940411d8190c2e54136.jpg "20200118_170622[1].jpg")
![20200127_144606[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325229-3aec85a0d81c19104a5cc4a805778cf0.jpg "20200127_144606[1].jpg")
![20200127_144621[1].jpg](https://www.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/1325/1325230-3b35f57977f42e4887933b312bf422d0.jpg "20200127_144621[1].jpg")
Ultimately, I would like a 120-180 gallon reef tank at my house, but for now, I am starting with a 32 gallon biocube in my office. Reef keeping appears to be something I will enjoy as it is a great mix of biology, chemistry, physics/engineering, and gear.
I started on 12/3/19:
- Set up 32 gallon biocube
- Caribsea Live sand, 20#
- Live Rock 21#
- Salt water from LFS
- Cloudy
- Turned on return pump
I turned the heater on the next day, tested the water, began adding Prime and Seed.
On 12/5, I made my first bonehead mistake:
- Didn’t realize heater had a sensor that needed to go in the water, ****! Tank is over 99F, added ice in ziploc bags and floated, also cooled bottles of water, and freezer packs (actual temp above 105F: 8am, returned to normal temp around 12:30pm)
- Ammonia 0-trace ppm (expect increase with die off from overheating?)
- Expect many bacteria to die but some thermotolerant spp. to survive
- Plan to add more live sand and live rock when temperature decreases
- Added 15ml Seed
- Nitrates: 0ppm
- Nitrites: 0ppm
- Added 3.175# Live Rock, branch
- Added 5 red leg hermit crabs
- Added 3 cats eye turbo snails
- Added salt water to replace water removed for acclimation
Over the next week I set the light schedule, continued to test, and enjoyed watching the inverts. Water parameters remained normal and stable. I added 3 more snails on 12/13/19 (1x each cerith, conehead, and nassarius). Diatom bloom began around this time and in full effect by 12/18/19.
I added chaeto on 12/28/19. Added a Firefish Goby on 12/30/19 (my kids named him Firefly). Decided I better quarantine future additions, so purchased a 13 gallon QT on 12/31/19.
Added the InTank Media Basket and Refugium Basket on 1/4/2020. Also using an Acke grow light mounted to the rear of the tank.
Interested in seeing other sea-life start showing up in the tank, such as various pods, spirobid worms, and tube worms. Water parameters remain stable, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate always at 0ppm. Added carbon to the DT on 1/11/2020 to help the water look more clear.
Added 5 dwarf blue hermit crabs to get into the small pockets of the live rock (1/12/2020).
1/13/2020 started measuring alkalinity (started very low- 5.7 dKH) and Phosphorous ULR (0ppm) with Hanna checker.
1/14/2020 began adding Aquavitro eight.four. Added 2 clownfish to QT (Wyoming White-female, Black Ocellaris-male) and 3 corals to DT (GSP, Pulsing Xenia, and Cespitularia).
Slowly increasing alkalinity in DT. Other water parameters have remain unchanged. Added a Jebao OW-10 powerhead and swapped stock return pump for Sicce Syncra 1.5.
Added a 0.8# piece of live rock for a xenia island.
1/18/2020- began mixing my own SW with FritzPRO RPM from the LFS. Began measuring Calcium (420-430ppm) and Magnesium (1290ppm).
Livestock have been happy and feeding regularly. Decided to remove corals from frags on 1/21/2020. Glued the xenia to the front rock and GSP to the back of the tank. Had a difficult time attaching the Cespitularia to the rock and it got sucked into the powerhead. I was super bummed! I walled it into a spot on the rock and am waiting for it to self attach before I remove the extra, glue, etc.
Awful site:
I transferred the clowns to the DT (1/24/2020) several days sooner than I planned due to rising levels of ammonia and nitrite and the fact that they looked healthy. Nutrient levels have remained low in the DT, so hoping the extra food and waste will help get levels up a little.
1/27/2020- day I am writing this- DT is doing well (alkalinity is only up to 7 dKH, everything else is stable, will keep adding eight.four and with water changes, hope to keep it around 8.5-9 dKH). The clowns and firefish goby are getting along and eating well. Xenia is pulsing, GSP is open, and cesp. is maybe looking like it is making a recovery (still way bummed). Enjoying this experiment so far.
Working on building an RODI set up at home (I have access to DI water now in my lab). Have lost 2 cats eye turbo and the nassarius snails; hoping the cespitularia makes a recovery. Debating whether to keep the QT going in my office or whether to take it home.
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