So I started this tank back on March 16th. I picked up the tank from my local fish store Neptune Aquatics. I set it up with ~15 lbs of Real Reef rock , 1 bag of Natures Ocean live sand and ~10 Gallons of their purified ocean water. I also picked up some pre-seeded MarinePure bio balls from their system. I set it all up on our old sturdy butcher block. The drip channel around the perimeter is nice for capturing any water that drips out when I am working on it.
With this I started phantom feeding my tank for about a week and started on the Red Sea reef mature kit. After that week I added a Turbo ( a serious poop factory at first) 3 blue leg hermits and a GSP frag.
I added a Hydor 240gph powerhead to improve flow in the tank. The 134gph return pump did not seem adequate.
I had some PH issues where it was consistently too low at around 7.6 and it got better with an open window and the ceiling fan running. So I could be pretty sure it was CO2 in the air getting mixed in through the skimmers air intake.
I followed a build posted on another forum and made an inline CO2 scrubber for my skimmer and the PH has been back up to 8.0-8.2 depending on the time of day tested. I change out the soda lime every 4-7 days.
I also swapped out the heater for the cobalt 50w NeoTherm. It fits with the pump better with the return pump and the old fluval 50W is now used to heat water change water.
Once everything was testing as ready I added some new frags and 2 small Ocellaris clowns.
I also had a frag with 2 glove polyps but they closed after 2-3 days and shriveled up. =(
We also added a Conch to help work on the sand bed. The kids named "him" Gary after the snail in spongebob. This little guys is doing an amazing job on the sand bed.
A few weeks later I moved the rocks around a little and we added 2 trochus snails to help clean the rock work that the turbo does such a sloppy job on. And because I have a problem I added 2 more corals.=P
When dipping the coral I also try to move them to either clean rubble pieces of Real Reef rubble I made from a small piece I did not use. I like the look more than plugs.
I replaced a few of our hermits that did not make it through molting. Checked the iodine levels to make sure everything was good and that was not the cause of their not making it through shell change/molting.
I ordered up a pice of ORA neon Green birdsnest from Legendary Corals who have local pickup less then a mile from my house. The packaging was fantastic. The way they package the coral I could not imagine them ever getting damaged in transit. The level of care they clearly give to orders, health of the corals and outstanding/friendly customer service means they will be seeing more of my business in the future. I trimmed of some of the plug but did not want to damage it just to get it off the plug. I may clean it up with some coraline colored putty.
That same week I also added neon trumpet coral and a rainbow montipora. I was able to drill a piece of reel reef rubble slightly larger then the stalk of the trumpet and it glued in perfectly.
And last weekend I picked up a red scooter dragonet that the wife and kids named "Hank the wonder fish". I cannot explain why, but it makes them happy so it will do. He spends most of his time hiding in plain sight. Even in full lighting his coloration blends in well with the rockscape.
I have a Chill Solutions CSXC-1 V5 I added to manage equipment/environmental heating but it was not working properly due to mishandeling in shipping. They have been great about taking care of the issue and I will have the unit replaced soon. Just in time for our weather to start getting hot.
I have been feeding the corals powdered & pellet Coral Frenzy as well as thawed mysis shrimp.
I am looking at making an acrylic piece with the middle cut out to allow me to add the Nanobox duo into the hood where the stock light fits. the stock light is just under 2" wider than the Nanobox duo so the acrylic frame added to the hood would be needed to bridge the gap between the light fixture and the stock Ledge built into the hood.
I want to keep the stock hood for its appearance and evap control. Not to mention I keep seeing cat hair on the hood and we are pretty sure my wife's elderly cat I going up there for the warmth (grumble grumble).
And thats the tank up to today. ~50 days old
With this I started phantom feeding my tank for about a week and started on the Red Sea reef mature kit. After that week I added a Turbo ( a serious poop factory at first) 3 blue leg hermits and a GSP frag.
I added a Hydor 240gph powerhead to improve flow in the tank. The 134gph return pump did not seem adequate.
I had some PH issues where it was consistently too low at around 7.6 and it got better with an open window and the ceiling fan running. So I could be pretty sure it was CO2 in the air getting mixed in through the skimmers air intake.
I followed a build posted on another forum and made an inline CO2 scrubber for my skimmer and the PH has been back up to 8.0-8.2 depending on the time of day tested. I change out the soda lime every 4-7 days.
I also swapped out the heater for the cobalt 50w NeoTherm. It fits with the pump better with the return pump and the old fluval 50W is now used to heat water change water.
Once everything was testing as ready I added some new frags and 2 small Ocellaris clowns.
I also had a frag with 2 glove polyps but they closed after 2-3 days and shriveled up. =(
We also added a Conch to help work on the sand bed. The kids named "him" Gary after the snail in spongebob. This little guys is doing an amazing job on the sand bed.
A few weeks later I moved the rocks around a little and we added 2 trochus snails to help clean the rock work that the turbo does such a sloppy job on. And because I have a problem I added 2 more corals.=P
When dipping the coral I also try to move them to either clean rubble pieces of Real Reef rubble I made from a small piece I did not use. I like the look more than plugs.
I replaced a few of our hermits that did not make it through molting. Checked the iodine levels to make sure everything was good and that was not the cause of their not making it through shell change/molting.
I ordered up a pice of ORA neon Green birdsnest from Legendary Corals who have local pickup less then a mile from my house. The packaging was fantastic. The way they package the coral I could not imagine them ever getting damaged in transit. The level of care they clearly give to orders, health of the corals and outstanding/friendly customer service means they will be seeing more of my business in the future. I trimmed of some of the plug but did not want to damage it just to get it off the plug. I may clean it up with some coraline colored putty.
That same week I also added neon trumpet coral and a rainbow montipora. I was able to drill a piece of reel reef rubble slightly larger then the stalk of the trumpet and it glued in perfectly.
And last weekend I picked up a red scooter dragonet that the wife and kids named "Hank the wonder fish". I cannot explain why, but it makes them happy so it will do. He spends most of his time hiding in plain sight. Even in full lighting his coloration blends in well with the rockscape.
I have a Chill Solutions CSXC-1 V5 I added to manage equipment/environmental heating but it was not working properly due to mishandeling in shipping. They have been great about taking care of the issue and I will have the unit replaced soon. Just in time for our weather to start getting hot.
I have been feeding the corals powdered & pellet Coral Frenzy as well as thawed mysis shrimp.
I am looking at making an acrylic piece with the middle cut out to allow me to add the Nanobox duo into the hood where the stock light fits. the stock light is just under 2" wider than the Nanobox duo so the acrylic frame added to the hood would be needed to bridge the gap between the light fixture and the stock Ledge built into the hood.
I want to keep the stock hood for its appearance and evap control. Not to mention I keep seeing cat hair on the hood and we are pretty sure my wife's elderly cat I going up there for the warmth (grumble grumble).
And thats the tank up to today. ~50 days old
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