Jumping In, Head First!

[Tim Richardson]

Hey everyone! Well here I go, a total novice [first purchase 1-30-21] (2 weeks in: well I did have a gold fish tank at age 9 yrs, little guy lasted 2 weeks, and I got out of the hobby!)

I am starting off with my QT. I want to get it set up first, make a ton of mistakes in equipment (I already returned a 10 gal and went with a 20 gal; the 10 gal had not even been delivered before I changed my mind, gotta love Amazon’s return policy!).

My goal is to get it up and running, let it cycle for a month, goof around some more, get used to temps, testing, water changes, and the like before I go to the LFS and buy some corals (LPS). Then take care of those little guys for a month (feeding and the like) and see if they can survive!

I will order Red Sea’s Reefer 170, get the gear, aquascape and the like, and set it up. Cycle empty for another month, then move the corals in there. I’m guessing this will be a 3 month process. After a couple months in the 170, it will be time to buy and QT some fish. No idea which ones as yet, that will be another research process while this is going on.

This pic was taken this am. I have the tester and Apec ROI and now have 55 gal clean water (this will be my saltwater supply), with another 44 gal being made (my clean water supply barrel).

Let me know if I missed something!



Quarantine Tank – Nothing in it yet (see pic)



QT Tank: 20 gal Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium Tank 20 Gallon Long

Filtration: Marineland Penguin 150 gph BIO-Wheel Power Filter

Amazon.com : MarineLand Penguin 200 Power Filter, 200GPH (PF0200B), Black : Aquarium Filters : Pet Supplies

Pump: Jebao RW Series Wavemaker with Controller

Amazon.com: Jebao RW-4 Series Wavemaker with Controller: Pet Supplies

Wave Maker: SunSun JVP-110 528-GPH Wavemaker Pumps, 2-Pack.

Amazon.com : SunSun JVP-110 528-GPH Wavemaker Pumps, 2-Pack : Pet Supplies

Heater: FREESEA 100 Watt Aquarium Heater with Aquarium Submersible Thermometer

Amazon.com: FREESEA 25 Watt Aquarium Betta Fish Tank Heater with Aquarium Submersible Thermometer: Pet Supplies

Lighting: NICREW Aquarium LED Reef Light, Dimmable Full Spectrum Marine LED for Saltwater Coral Fish Tanks

Amazon.com : NICREW 100 Watts Aquarium LED Reef Light, Dimmable Full Spectrum Marine LED for Saltwater Coral Fish Tanks : Pet Supplies

Light Dimmer: NICREW Dual Channel Aquarium Light Timer, LED Digital Dimmer for Classic LED G2 Fish Tank Light

Amazon.com: NICREW Dual Channel Aquarium Light Timer, LED Digital Dimmer for ClassicLED G2 Fish Tank Light: Home Improvement

Background Wrap: Aquarium Background Fish Tank Decorations Pictures 3D Effect PVC Adhesive Poster Underwater World Backdrop (see pic)

Amazon.com : Aquarium Background Fish Tank Decorations Pictures 3D Effect PVC Adhesive Poster Underwater World Backdrop Decoration Paper Cling Decals Sticker (91 x 41cm) : Pet Supplies

Accessories:

APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Portable Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System with Case

Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System, 50-Feet

PULACO 10W 160GPH Submersible Pump with 3.3 ft Tubing for Aquariums [this goes in the saltwater tank for water changes]

Tester: Water Quality Tester, Accurate and Reliable, HoneForest TDS Meter, EC Meter & Temperature Meter 3 in 1, 0-9990ppm [using this for now, but will buy the Milwaukee MA887 Digital Salinity Refractometer with Automatic Temperature Compensation, when I know what the heck I’m doing!

I’ll update when I put some saltwater in the tank. Wish me luck!!

 

[lapin]

Nice idea

 

[Tim Richardson]

Nice idea

Thanks! More pics to come. Still setting up with more parts arriving...

 

[Rubberfrog]

Looks like a good start

 

[Tim Richardson]

Well, I've got the light, filtration, heater and a couple small wave makers all set up. Waiting for the frag magnet, (changed my mind twice!). RO water in 2 Brutes, good to go. Salt ready. Heater for the 55 gal drum and propeller pump to mix on deck.

I think I'm still a week or so away from putting water in the QT, and preparing to cycle. Once that starts I will begin looking for corals. Now, that will be another research video, BRS TV marathon!

I'll keep you posted! After a month or so, I'll feel comfortable to get their home, the Red Sea Reefer 170.

Oh, I put a wrap of ocean water on the bottom, since I won't be putting any sand in the QT. The wife thinks it looks cool!

I hope I'm not boring you guys and gals! This new hobby is taking it's own good time.

 

[Tim Richardson]

Looks like a good start

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Tim Richardson]

Hey there! OK, some many changes on my QT (or as I call it PST "Presidential Suite Tank"). I want to quarantine 'everything' more as a means of letting the livestock get a rest from travelling AND, to see if there is any illness. So attached are new pics. New light (PAR was only 58 at highest, I would have killed my corals!!) now 100 W light can get up to 300 PAR at highest. The new frag rack can be tilted for better PAR per frag, so I think I'm good there.

Got a heater controller, InkBird, pretty cool, and it's keeping the temp much more consistent.

Changed my mind again, and decided on a RS XL 300 instead of a 170. Someone said "think 3 yrs in advance" so I did! LOL! My next post will show what I brought to prepare for the XL 300 65 gal tank.

 

[Tim Richardson]

My RS XL 300 is arriving tomorrow! Yea!

I had already decided on using the full Apex system (well not everything, but most) to get really comfortable with it for when I build my second 200 gal tank in 2 1/2 yrs. I took advantage of the 10% off sale last week, and the stuff started arriving hot and heavy.

Now it's time to hunker down and learn how to use this stuff, including the Apogee PAR meter and accessories. That meter saved my bacon as I measured it under the 30W light I had (for the PST) and it was WAYYY under what I needed. Phew!

Wish me luck folks! Aquascape and putting this together will be an adventure for sure!

The second pic is where the 65 is going. I'm wondering if I should put the controller board on the left wall or under the cabinet. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Tim Richardson]

Just finished the build and she is in week 2 of cycling. It's been a wild 3 weeks but worth it!