How not to start a reef tank, my first reef tank build

[living_tribunal]

What’s a word you would use to describe my build thread so far?

My answer, flippant.

After stacking two ai primes vs reebreader photon v2 side by side, I think I’ve had a change of heart.

If the specs are correct, the photon v2 simply seems like the superior option.

You have a lot more customization, cover more ground with a single light, and most importantly the par seems to be on average 100+ the ai prime at various depth levels.

With the photon v2, you can maintain 300 par a foot wide at 24” deep. Prime can only maintain 300 par in the top 6” and drops dramatically after that. The photon v2 seems significantly more powerful and can maintain 800 par in the top 6” (not that it’s even necessary).

If both options are going to cost me $400, I think the 24” photon v2 is a clear winner and the perfect option for future proofing my current tank and future tanks to come.

 

[living_tribunal]

Thanks for the tips

I should add the disclaimer “Do not trust any of my advice or findings.” to my build thread.

 

[living_tribunal]

Hey guys,


My name is LT and I am an addict.

It started out with one 36G bowfront. I immediately lost control and now have two quarantine tanks, making 15G of ro/di water a day and own more medication for fish than medicine for myself.


I blame everyone on this forum.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Found u ;Troll

Well I'll be honest... I love the humor.
U will fit right in with anyone u see on my build thread where u found me. We are Hooligans, but filtered. Just be easy with some language or use synonyms to send the message. U can get ur hand slapped from time to time, I know from experience.

Your rock scape work is top notch. Tons of flow options with that much space between everything. Beautiful. And dont get down on yourself, my 125 is called the learning curve for a reason. I started my first reef about 2 years ago, 55g. All hob. I thought I had a grip on reefing, generally speaking.. and without a clue, I learned. Hard.

You have obviously done way more research than myself when I dove in cajones to the wall... full throttle bang o rang coral conniseur. You may gain some perspective from my first wing at things. It's almost a prelude to my current build.

Build Thread - The richreef saga, 55g to 125g

CURRENT FTS: 2/17/18 Started with this (used and neglected) After a overnight vinegar mix soak and 4 hours of scraping and scrubbing: Random Stuff he threw in as well, Filter, pumps, biobags, heater, old school HOTB protein skimmer, etc.. Soaked, literally, every single...

www.reef2reef.com

And I fully support the decision for primes. HERE is a great link to consider for schedule and spectrum programming. They managed to get the Primes to dang near match the Radions' AB+ results on the spectrum results... incredible little lights u chose. Compact and out of the way. I may have missed it, but I also recommend the gooseneck mount option. U will thank me later.

If you can trust one thing, trust in @NY_Caveman 's incredible patience and insight. He, and many others here saved my reef, and did so much more off the record for my life. No reach arounds.

Welcome to the best reefing community in the world.
#r2r4life

 

[living_tribunal]

Found u ;Troll

Well I'll be honest... I love the humor.
U will fit right in with anyone u see on my build thread where u found me. We are Hooligans, but filtered. Just be easy with some language or use synonyms to send the message. U can get ur hand slapped from time to time, I know from experience.

Your rock scape work is top notch. Tons of flow options with that much space between everything. Beautiful. And dont get down on yourself, my 125 is called the learning curve for a reason. I started my first reef about 2 years ago, 55g. All hob. I thought I had a grip on reefing, generally speaking.. and without a clue, I learned. Hard.

You have obviously done way more research than myself when I dove in cajones to the wall... full throttle bang o rang coral conniseur. You may gain some perspective from my first wing at things. It's almost a prelude to my current build.

Build Thread - The richreef saga, 55g to 125g

CURRENT FTS: 2/17/18 Started with this (used and neglected) After a overnight vinegar mix soak and 4 hours of scraping and scrubbing: Random Stuff he threw in as well, Filter, pumps, biobags, heater, old school HOTB protein skimmer, etc.. Soaked, literally, every single...

www.reef2reef.com

And I fully support the decision for primes. HERE is a great link to consider for schedule and spectrum programming. They managed to get the Primes to dang near match the Radions' AB+ results on the spectrum results... incredible little lights u chose. Compact and out of the way. I may have missed it, but I also recommend the gooseneck mount option. U will thank me later.

If you can trust one thing, trust in @NY_Caveman 's incredible patience and insight. He, and many others here saved my reef, and did so much more off the record for my life. No reach arounds.

Welcome to the best reefing community in the world.
#r2r4life

I appreciate the detailed response, I’m actually impressed you managed to read most of my build! I think we might be one in the same as my name is Rich as well.

I’ve lurked your build before given the title and actually learned a bit from it, I’m certain I’ll learn even more from your 55G. Thanks for the link.

I’m very thankful for everyone who has offered advice so far. Reefing seems like one of those things that’s easy after you’ve catapulted up the steep learning curve. There really isn’t much of a handbook for this stuff.

Thanks for the compliment towards my rockscape! My thought was once everything in my tank dies I’ll have some pleasant rocks to look at. I bought $30 more lbs today and have the sketch ready to 100% complete it.

Regarding the lights, I changed my mind today. I stacked up the two primes compared to the photon v2 and the photon v2 smoked it out of the water. The specs weren’t even comparable. The photon v2 is honestly a professional light, comparable to a high end kessil, that can grow any sps easily.

With two primes being the same cost as the photon v2, I decided to get the v2.

 

[living_tribunal]

A little sneak peak of what's to come this week.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice haul!

 

[NY_Caveman]

If you can trust one thing, trust in @NY_Caveman 's incredible patience and insight. He, and many others here saved my reef, and did so much more off the record for my life.

You are too kind.

 

[Katrina71]

We are going to need lots of pics. Up close. Strictly for the sake of science

 

[Jon Fishman]

It started out with one 36G bowfront. I immediately lost control

Don’t even get me started!

 

[living_tribunal]

Don’t even get me started!

It's a gateway, I'm telling you.

 

[living_tribunal]

Very excited to announce that I am now the owner of two gladiator clowns.

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “lt, why did you choose these two fish?”.

The answer is quite remarkable actually. As soon as I strolled up to the tank, they immediately dropped down and belted Eddie Money’s 1986 smash hit “Take me home tonight”.

How can I say no to that?

 

[living_tribunal]

Acclimating my new mates

 

[living_tribunal]

Alright, they are officially in qt. I’m not sure if 20 minutes of acclimation was enough, I may have turned the water in the bag over too quickly. I do know my water params are very close to my lfs. The only thing is salinity. They run their tanks a little hypo at 1.018, I have mine at 1.025.

 

[living_tribunal]

A few more shots, these two are hilarious. They seem pretty curious. It took me a while to start acclimating as I was paranoid about my copper levels. I went back to my lfs to get my water tested to ensure everything was right on the money.

I’m hoping everything works out.

 

[Katrina71]

Very excited to announce that I am now the owner of two gladiator clowns.

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “lt, why did you choose these two fish?”.

The answer is quite remarkable actually. As soon as I strolled up to the tank, they immediately dropped down and belted Eddie Money’s 1986 smash hit “Take me home tonight”.

How can I say no to that?

I'm glad you are approaching this from a well researched, scientific perspective.

 

[living_tribunal]

I'm glad you are approaching this from a well researched, scientific perspective.

It was fueled more or less by desperation.

I have no clue what I’m doing and am simply trying to replicate the conditions of the tanks with the most success.

Someone please tell the fish will be ok.

 

[Katrina71]

Calm down. Clowns are pretty resilient. You have done your best. Give them time.

 

[Katrina71]

Can you post a pic of them now?

 

[living_tribunal]

Here’s a video I just took, they’ve been in the tank for 30 minutes. They’re starting to leave that part of the tank and separate which I guess is good? I’m trying to get better close ups but they keep swimming.

Edit: I don’t think you can add .mov files. So I also attached some images.