Mostly Automated Journey for Waterbox 20

the_goodz

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Have always wanted a reef tank, but the thought it would be impossible to travel with owning one.
I started browsing fb marketplace and a deal too good to pass came up, so I jumped in almost blind.
Being that I got such a good deal, I thought I could make this a budget build. Boy was I wrong :upside-down-face:

Here is the aquascape I decided on. Started the cycle on 10/31/23 with Dr. Tims
IMG_1490.jpg


Equipment:
AI Prime with diffuser
Eheim return pump (came with the tank, but plan on upgrading)
Eheim 100w heater
Inkbird controller
Jabao MLW-5
AutoAqua AWC Lite
DIY mesh lid
3d printed filter basket with filter floss

Caribsea Nano Tree with extra arch
Caribsea Fiji Pink
1 Gallon of MarinePure Ceramic Balls in Back middle chamber
Reef Crystals
RODI filter from amazon


IMG_1614.jpg


IMG_1613.jpg

IMG_1615.jpg

The AWC is hooked up to two 6 gallon camping jerry cans. One for fresh saltwater, the other for waste. I only had 4''~ clearance left, and a 1.5 gallon water jug was the only thing I could find for the ATO. If anyone knows of a higher capacity jug with a 4''~ width, please let me know.

It is currently changing 2 liters every 12 hours. The idea is to get on a system for the 6 gallons to last 2 weeks, so will slowly adjust till I hit that ratio.

Purchase but not delivered:
- Hygger Visual Fish Feeder

Planned upgrades:
- Second MLW-5, to run as child mode and have alternating currents. Will add once I confirm I need more flow.
- Battery backup system, with smart outlets. Have looked at Kasa, but I prefer homekit accessories so might run everything needing automation on Meross plugs. Considering DIY'ing a UPS with a Lithium 100 amp battery, but havent found a good solution yet. Prefer to have everything mounted within the cabinet.

Future Stocking:
- Orange Storm and Black Storm Clownfish pair
- Diamond Goby
- Mandarin Goby
- Maybe a maxima

Planned Coral:
- Red Goni (already purchased from TSA sale)
- Zoas (planning to encrust the bridge on the right of the tank)
- BTA (might get this earlier rather than later so it can pick its spot)
- Gold Torch
- GSP on back wall

CUC:
- Seeded with Tisbe, Apocyclops, & Tigriopus copepods + rotifers (planning to add more every month or so)
- 15 amphipods were added at the same time
- LFS sells stomatella snails, but trying to figure if they are worth it at $9 a pop
- Trochus once I see algae
- Nassarius once I have fish for food scraps they miss
- Dwarf Ceriths, again once there is algae to sustain them

Future Plans:
So with water changes mostly automated, my next project will be automating the mixing station. I have a bunch of brew buckets back from when I brew beer. They seem to work perfect for a nano mixing station, so will have to plan the best setup for it.

Will most likely add a dosing pump for AFR. Will see how my levels do once I add livestock.

Open to any suggestions or criticisms. I know this hobby hates the idea of automated tanks due to poor results, but looking forward to how it turns out!
 

cdemoss01

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Have always wanted a reef tank, but the thought it would be impossible to travel with owning one.
I started browsing fb marketplace and a deal too good to pass came up, so I jumped in almost blind.
Being that I got such a good deal, I thought I could make this a budget build. Boy was I wrong :upside-down-face:

Here is the aquascape I decided on. Started the cycle on 10/31/23 with Dr. Tims
IMG_1490.jpg


Equipment:
AI Prime with diffuser
Eheim return pump (came with the tank, but plan on upgrading)
Eheim 100w heater
Inkbird controller
Jabao MLW-5
AutoAqua AWC Lite
DIY mesh lid
3d printed filter basket with filter floss

Caribsea Nano Tree with extra arch
Caribsea Fiji Pink
1 Gallon of MarinePure Ceramic Balls in Back middle chamber
Reef Crystals
RODI filter from amazon


IMG_1614.jpg


IMG_1613.jpg

IMG_1615.jpg

The AWC is hooked up to two 6 gallon camping jerry cans. One for fresh saltwater, the other for waste. I only had 4''~ clearance left, and a 1.5 gallon water jug was the only thing I could find for the ATO. If anyone knows of a higher capacity jug with a 4''~ width, please let me know.

It is currently changing 2 liters every 12 hours. The idea is to get on a system for the 6 gallons to last 2 weeks, so will slowly adjust till I hit that ratio.

Purchase but not delivered:
- Hygger Visual Fish Feeder

Planned upgrades:
- Second MLW-5, to run as child mode and have alternating currents. Will add once I confirm I need more flow.
- Battery backup system, with smart outlets. Have looked at Kasa, but I prefer homekit accessories so might run everything needing automation on Meross plugs. Considering DIY'ing a UPS with a Lithium 100 amp battery, but havent found a good solution yet. Prefer to have everything mounted within the cabinet.

Future Stocking:
- Orange Storm and Black Storm Clownfish pair
- Diamond Goby
- Mandarin Goby
- Maybe a maxima

Planned Coral:
- Red Goni (already purchased from TSA sale)
- Zoas (planning to encrust the bridge on the right of the tank)
- BTA (might get this earlier rather than later so it can pick its spot)
- Gold Torch
- GSP on back wall

CUC:
- Seeded with Tisbe, Apocyclops, & Tigriopus copepods + rotifers (planning to add more every month or so)
- 15 amphipods were added at the same time
- LFS sells stomatella snails, but trying to figure if they are worth it at $9 a pop
- Trochus once I see algae
- Nassarius once I have fish for food scraps they miss
- Dwarf Ceriths, again once there is algae to sustain them

Future Plans:
So with water changes mostly automated, my next project will be automating the mixing station. I have a bunch of brew buckets back from when I brew beer. They seem to work perfect for a nano mixing station, so will have to plan the best setup for it.

Will most likely add a dosing pump for AFR. Will see how my levels do once I add livestock.

Open to any suggestions or criticisms. I know this hobby hates the idea of automated tanks due to poor results, but looking forward to how it turns out!
Amazing! I would recommend adding some more live rock, Future stocking sounds good but I will say mandarin gobies requires thousands of copepods it eats about two per second according to my LFS.
 
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the_goodz

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Amazing! I would recommend adding some more live rock, Future stocking sounds good but I will say mandarin gobies requires thousands of copepods it eats about two per second according to my LFS.
Thanks! I am planning to add some sort of island of rock in the front left. Won’t have much room other than that unfortunately. I have a gallon of the ceramic spheres in the back chamber. It is filled to the brim. Hoping that creates a little safe haven for the copepods to breed and spit out into the tank.

As for the mandarin, it will be one of the last stocking of fish. I do not plan to sustain one on copepods alone and plan to get either a pellet/mysis trained biota or just train one myself.

I know they are slow eaters, so I might have to come up with a solution with the auto feeder. I am guessing other fish will scoop up most before the mandarin gets a chance, so I have thought of adding a glass pipe to bowl at the bottom for the mandarin to feed on soley. Will take some trial and effort but we shall see!
IMG_1617.jpeg
 

cdemoss01

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Thanks! I am planning to add some sort of island of rock in the front left. Won’t have much room other than that unfortunately. I have a gallon of the ceramic spheres in the back chamber. It is filled to the brim. Hoping that creates a little safe haven for the copepods to breed and spit out into the tank.

As for the mandarin, it will be one of the last stocking of fish. I do not plan to sustain one on copepods alone and plan to get either a pellet/mysis trained biota or just train one myself.

I know they are slow eaters, so I might have to come up with a solution with the auto feeder. I am guessing other fish will scoop up most before the mandarin gets a chance, so I have thought of adding a glass pipe to bowl at the bottom for the mandarin to feed on soley. Will take some trial and effort but we shall see!
IMG_1617.jpeg
Good luck!
 
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the_goodz

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Better late than never for an update I suppose. Here is the current status of the tank.

IMG_2669.jpg


Have learned a ton the last 9 or so months. Some ups and downs as we all have experienced in the hobby.

Going with a softie/LPS dominated mixed reef. Really started to fall in love with unique leather corals so had to get some Koji Wada pink nepthea and a Fiji Yellow Leather. The yellow really pops in white light.
IMG_2794.jpg


Livestock list:
Midas Blenny
Orange Storm Clownfish
Diamond Goby
Blood Shrimp

I had purchased a black storm at the same time of the orange storm while making sure they were different sizes. Unfortunately that was not enough as the orange storm ended up killing it through aggression. Lesson learned there.

There have been some equipment updates as well. Think I will do a separate update there.
 

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