IA Reef 75... The Return

[Michael John]

Starting a build tread for my new reef. Going to start with catchup posts to bring everyone up to date as Im starting this build tread a little after actually starting.

This will be a journey back into reefkeeping after a many many year absence. My intent is to over time to put together an SPS dominated 75g reef.

Im starting with a basic 75g tank. An imagitarium 75. I will be buildng some parts of this setup such as the stand and canopy stand already assembled at this time. Canopy yet to come. Eventually, I plan on putting togdther a Reef Pi.

To date, I have purchased the following equipment.
Giesemann Vervve pro, AI orbit 4, 40lb of AquaForrest AF rock. AquaForrest reef salt, Milwaukee digital refractometer, Red Sea test kits, 75GPD Geekpure RO, BRS three chamber DI, Seachem Stability, Dr Timd ammonia chloride 40lb of Carib Sea aragonite, 20lb special grade Arag Alive --I know the risks of sand, but love the look and hope to mitigate some of the issues with the larger grain size.

 

[Michael John]

The stand
Construction: Screwed and glued 2x6. Stained, then painted with clear urethane.
This will be in my dining room, so I built it to be 48x18x30 to put the tank at a f
Good height for viewing from tge dining room table.

 

[Michael John]

Initial aquascape;

 

[Michael John]

Today 9/5/25
Started adding water to the tank. Heater installed, light unstalled, flow pump installed.

Quick memo. When setting up Giesemann Lynk Pro, make sure to enable necessary permissions on your Android phone, otherwise it will not find the light. Default install does not enable these permissions. Apple works at it should with default install.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

looks great!

 

[Red_Beard]

Looking good!

 

[vlangel]

Starting a build tread for my new reef. Going to start with catchup posts to bring everyone up to date as Im starting this build tread a little after actually starting.

This will be a journey back into reefkeeping after a many many year absence. My intent is to over time to put together an SPS dominated 75g reef.

Im starting with a basic 75g tank. An imagitarium 75. I will be buildng some parts of this setup such as the stand and canopy stand already assembled at this time. Canopy yet to come. Eventually, I plan on putting togdther a Reef Pi.

To date, I have purchased the following equipment.
Giesemann Vervve pro, AI orbit 4, 40lb of AquaForrest AF rock. AquaForrest reef salt, Milwaukee digital refractometer, Red Sea test kits, 75GPD Geekpure RO, BRS three chamber DI, Seachem Stability, Dr Timd ammonia chloride 40lb of Carib Sea aragonite, 20lb special grade Arag Alive --I know the risks of sand, but love the look and hope to mitigate some of the issues with the larger grain size.

I also just started a thread for my standard 75. Mine will be a mixed reef since I am not real good with most SPS. Anyway, best of luck with your new tank!

 

[Michael John]

Finished adding water and salt today. Took a few days, jowever, the tank is now filled. Started dosing Seachem stability and Dr. Tim's ammonia chloride. Going to test in a few days to see how the cycle is progressing. I love the glitter lines thas light provides inside the tank.

.

 

[Michael John]

Tested the water today. Ammonia 1.3ppm, Nitrite 0.3ppm, Alkalinity 8dkh, ph 8.3. The nitrogen cycle has begun.

 

[Michael John]

Another set of basic water tests...

Ammonia 0.4 ppm
Nitrite 0.2ppm
Nitrate between 2 & 5 ppm
Alk 8 dkh
Ph 8.4

 

[Michael John]

Another round of testing...

Ammonia 0.2 ppm
Nitrite 0.5ppm
Nitrate between 2 and 5 ppm
Alk 9.4dkh
Ph 8.4

Added 14ml of Dr Tims Ammonia Chloride solution.
After adding, ammonia is 2ppm.

Going to wait 24 hrs and run another set of tests.

 

[Michael John]

More water texts.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite around 8
Nitrate 10ppm

Added 4ml Dt Tims

Cycle is coming along nicely

 

[Michael John]

More tests.

Ammonia ~0
Nitrite ~7.5
Nutrate closer to 20

Cycle is still chugging along. See how l9ng it takes to convert the No2 to No3.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Michael John]

Tested today.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20.

Added 12ml Dr Tims Ammonia Chloride

Going to test again in 24hrs.


If Ammonia and Nitrite are both 0 at that time, I am planning on ordering and adding pods and phyto.

 

[Michael John]

Did the 24hr test after dodlsing ammonia.

Conclusion, tank it not ready yet
Ammonia 0.2ppm
Nitrire 0.3ppm
Nittate15ppm

48hts
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0.2pm
Nitrate 20ppm

Going to wait a few days and try ahain.

 

[Michael John]

Tested ammonia, nitrite, and nitrite levels today.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite ~0.00
Nitrate ~20ppm

Going to perform the ammonia dosing test again, and see where I levels are in 24 and 48 hrs.

 

[Red_Beard]

If your tank is digesting nitrites you are very likely good to go. The bacterial colonies that convert nitrite to nitrate are typically much slower in developing than the ones that digest ammonia. Just dont go crazy and add too much at once!

 

[Michael John]

The first planned addition is copepods and phytoplankton. Im thinking of then letting them establish themselves for about a month before moving on to adding fish.

 

[Red_Beard]

The first planned addition is copepods and phytoplankton. Im thinking of then letting them establish themselves for about a month before moving on to adding fish.

Oh yeah, your tank can handle that load easy. Pods are super resilient too. Just go easy on the phyto, a little will do a lot at this stage and too much will foul the water.