My 1st tank, Innovative Marine 100g Ext

[kitpoon0315]

So I'm a little farther into the "build" than I anticipated for starting this thread. I was always looking into the hobby and finally got the go ahead. I thought "how hard can it be right, buy a tank, get a filter, get some fish and voila!". Well needless to say I've learned a TON in the last month and still have so much more to learn. I started by getting the tank and assembling the stand. It was honestly very simple, love the APS aluminum. Strong but light weight. Here is a list of my gear.

Innovative Marine 100g ext tank
Trigger Sapphire 39 Sump
Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 Protein Skimmer
Current USA IC Pro 48" x2 lights
Current USA eflux 1900gph DC Pump
Current USA eflux 2100gph wave pump
BRS 600w heater w Inkbird wifi controller
Tunze ATO with 15 gallon IM reservoir
Tunze Eccochic Refugium light
Then I got 2 Kasa Power Strips which have load sensing which I can integrate into my home automation that if a device stops drawing power I can have a notification sent to me.

Saw another thread that said to use some clamps to get the top to sit still so you can secure it. Worked great!

Tank looks great!

Next I had to teach myself how to plumb a tank. I thought it would be fairly easy but getting three pipes to all end right next to each other to go into the Trigger Sapphire 39 drains was not as easy as I thought. Took a few iterations but finally got it all plumbed in.

Now that the tank was plumbed it was time to leak test. Had 2 couplers, 2 bulk heads, and 1 junction near the return that was leaking. Was able to just tighten them all up and got it fixed. After that it was time to work on electrical and trying to get it as well run as possible.

I know it looks like a rats nest but it's actually not. All those are wires that are individually coiled and then held together. After electrical it was time to work on my aquascape.

I originally set it up in my garage then started to PaleoBond in chunks then move to the tank and PaleoBond more together. 24 hrs later I added water, prime, red seas coral pro salt, 60lbs live fiji pink and 60lbs carib-sea dry sand fiji pink. I added a LED light strip under the tank for aesthetics and to use as a work light when under the tank. I'll try to get a pic when the water clears up tomorrow. I plan to start the cycle with Tim's Ammonia and Bacteria Starter. I will put the ATO to the left of the tank and got a large wooden laundry hamper to hide it in as I originally was going to get a Sapphire 26 sump which would have left room under the tank for the ATO reservoir.

For a first tank you're doing amazing!!! Well done!

 

[neo1738]

Thanks! Appreciate all of the support here.

 

[neo1738]

Nitrites read just between 0.25 and 0 today. Will water change this weekend, get first fish next week!

 

[neo1738]

So prior to a big water change in preparation for fish I did one last round of Nitrite and Nitrate testing. Both reading 0??? Can my nitrates be 0 w no fish and fishless cycling if I let the tank sit for a while to be safe or is my test kit bad? I was getting nitrate readings w the same kit even after cycle stall water change. So I think my kit is ok but not sure nitrates should be 0. Thanks!

 

[neo1738]

1st fish in the tank! Royal Gramma. I know they hide a lot but he seems to really like my power head. I turned it off to be sure wasn't stuck by current no change so turned back on to 20%.

 

[neo1738]

So good news is hours later RG moved to a nice rock hole and is doing great! Added tank to my home automation using TP Link HS300 outlet w wattage sensing. Then set high and low parameters for each to alert me if out of operating norms.

 

[neo1738]

Got another fish! Black Cap Basslet. Beautiful colors and a little shy as to be expected. Getting along great with the Royal Gramma.

 

[neo1738]

Today was tank maintenance day. Washed the sand, cleaned a lot of salt creep, washed filter socks, topped off ATO, and did a full battery of water tests. All looking good!

 

[shoelaceike]

Looks great! I have an INT on the way. Do you have the sump sitting on that shelf? Also, did you split the main siphon drain?

 

[neo1738]

Looks great! I have an INT on the way. Do you have the sump sitting on that shelf? Also, did you split the main siphon drain?

haha yes it is on the shelf but if you go back a few pages I had to put some 1" PVC cut to size under as supports. 40 gallon sump too heavy for that shelf. 20 gallon probably ok. But if have extra pvc not a bad idea to support it. I did not split the main siphon drain, my sump has 3 inlets so I have primary, secondary, and emergency. Works great.

 

[shoelaceike]

haha yes it is on the shelf but if you go back a few pages I had to put some 1" PVC cut to size under as supports. 40 gallon sump too heavy for that shelf. 20 gallon probably ok. But if have extra pvc not a bad idea to support it. I did not split the main siphon drain, my sump has 3 inlets so I have primary, secondary, and emergency. Works great.

Ah ok....i was nervous you put that there lol....why didn't you just put it on the bottom?

 

[neo1738]

I use that for some storage.

 

[neo1738]

Can't believe how quiet my tank is. Very impressed w the IM 100 EXT, trigger 39 sump and current usa dc return Pump and powerheads.

 

[Butcher333]

Can you show another photo of how your sump is sitting under the display?

 

[neo1738]

Ĺook back in my build thread bunches of photos. If need me let me know but out of town till tomorrow night.

 

[Fragging_out]

Thank you definitely trying to do it right. Appreciate all the people on the forums here and a friend is a big saltwater guy so he gave me a 2 page google doc primer lol. Happy to share if anyone wants.

I'd like that guide.

[email protected]

 

[neo1738]

Sent!

 

[neo1738]

Uploading the document here for anyone that wants it. Please note there is a little unsavory language but again I didn't write it lol.

 

[neo1738]

So think I have diatoms. Brown spots starting on the rocks only right now. Tank has been up a couple months now. If so will just let it go and eventually burn itself out. Already using RODI 6 stage w 0 tds for water changes and nitrates 0. Also exciting in last 3 to 4 weeks got another RG, ocellaris clown, and mocha gladiator clown. At first black cap was very territorial and almost a bully to new RG but after 2 to 3 days they basically just stay on their sides of the tank. Original Rzg can go between both without issue lol. Even though he's smallest he was in tank 1st and neither really mess with him. Glad I didn't wait any longer as I knew multiple Basslets could be trouble. Here are some pics.

 

[neo1738]

So diatome bloom came, started getting green hair algae. Cut back feeds and completely turned off tank lights for a week. Got the current usa bt controller for xmas once installed will cut back light intensity and timing and try lights again. My first RG seems to be displaced from his home by the black cap. Thinking of getting some small fish house type rocks to put one on top of pedestal so he has a home. Poor guy sleeping in the sand bed or on the power head magnet...otherwise tank is great so far. I think I've come as far as I feel comfortable with setting up a tank now to the real unknown of how the ecosystem will do. Ordered snails from LA should help w algae as well. Loving my 5 fish so far and in few weeks will get some chromis and then flame angel. Last fish will be Mandarin Goby but plan to wait months for that and get large copeopod population first.