My Next Project - 220G FOWLR

[mitch91175]

Well got the plumbing done this morning. No leaks so it’ll do.

Anytime I do plumbing I never am concerned with the gallons/hour etc. As long and my return keeps up with my drain I’m fine. I always run the return to a manifold. In this instance I have 2 going to the tank and the other to the UV. TheUV drains into the return section also acting like a power head helping keep that section of the sump clear.

Chose flex tubing simply because it was easy to work with and quick to do. Plus much easier to modify down the road if necessary. No hose clamps. I use the 3/4” Lasco Fittings from Lowe’s and have never needed to use clamps with them. Drains all PVC.

 

[mitch91175]

Did a 40g water change. I moved water from my reef over to the new setup. Figure it'll help some with the cycling of the system. Instead I just did a water change on the reef. Barely ever do, but guess I'll take advantage of needing to do so on the FOWLR.

 

[mitch91175]

Figure by this weekend I should be able to add a few fish. If I can find some that have been conditioned I’ll add them, but going to setup a temporary QT with water from the established tanks. Since it’s gonna be temporary will do TTM for any QT over the course of 2 weeks. Know it may not be extremely long but the idea is running both hypo and therapeutic level of copper. Will do fresh water dips in between transfers. Should be fine.

Can almost see through clearly.

I have an ammonia tester but no reagent. Figure once the initial bloom passes and me adding different sources of bacteria to assist the process, I won’t have to worry about ammonia too much.

I also added a ok sized piece of rock from my display sump into the system. Know that’ll help for sure.

 

[mitch91175]

Well placed the first fish order. I considered making this a dominant Angel tank, but Angels get too big, so decided on making this a dominant Butterfly tank.

Starting out with the following:

Red Sea Golden Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterfly
Australian Marginalis Butterfly
Collare (Pakistani) Butterflyfish

All are 3-4" in size.

List I am shooting for (starting out). All of these below are considered peaceful so hope it all works out:

Scribbled Angel
Goldflake Angel
Red Sea Golden Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterfly
Australian Marginalis Butterfly
Collare (Pakistani) Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterfly
Red Sea Bannerfish (3)

 

[mitch91175]

Well already added some fish in. Added a Harlequin Tusk and a male/4 female Pictilis Anthias.

 

[Devaji]

Well placed the first fish order. I considered making this a dominant Angel tank, but Angels get too big, so decided on making this a dominant Butterfly tank.

Starting out with the following:

Red Sea Golden Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterfly
Australian Marginalis Butterfly
Collare (Pakistani) Butterflyfish

All are 3-4" in size.

List I am shooting for (starting out). All of these below are considered peaceful so hope it all works out:

Scribbled Angel
Goldflake Angel
Red Sea Golden Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterfly
Australian Marginalis Butterfly
Collare (Pakistani) Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterfly
Red Sea Bannerfish (3)

I love butterflies my fish only will be BF dominate. let me know who they do for you. are you still gonna do TTM on them?

 

[mitch91175]

I love butterflies my fish only will be BF dominate. let me know who they do for you. are you still gonna do TTM on them?

No deciding to just put them straight into the system. If I need to treat the tank I will. I know the risk involved but going to go straight to display.

Yes I’ve had velvet prior so I know what it can do. I know all fish carry disease but I would be more concerned if they were Tangs going into the system.

 

[mitch91175]

Got some fish coming in about an hour from now. Have my observation setup. If they eat well and look fine after a few days observation they are going into the system.



Whenever I do some type of QT/monitoring and not going directly into DT, like using containers that black out so new fish do not get as stressed once taken out of bags.

 

[revhtree]

Looking good!

 

[mitch91175]

Forgot to mention, water for observation was also taken from my SPS tank. I'll also add a filter sock likely tomorrow that I'll take from one of my systems that need to have them changed.

Have Amquel on hand just in case, but I do not have an ammonia test kit to test . Not overly concerned with having ammonia spikes though. I'll change the water as many times as needed, but do not expect needing to unless fish come in diseased.

Right now have no medications or copper in the water. All butterfly fish this time so before doing any type of treatments, I first want to know what I am dealing with as it relates to this batch of fish.

The first batch I was able to observe and I have trust in the supplier of those fish. Not that I do not trust the supplier for the Butterfly fish, just that they are likely going to be super stressed initially so want them to have time to calm and start eating.

If they eat well and look healthy after a few days without any noticeable spots, etc. they are going to join the others in the FOWLR. Also if needed, I'll just treat the tank if I have to deal with anything unexpected, i.e. Velvet. The idea is I'll know if they have either velvet or any other disease that'll wipe out the tank in a couple days.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I guess there is no chance that the "Planet Aquarium 220g tank just sitting around" had a chubby friend? Ahahaha! I'm enjoying your build.

 

[mitch91175]

No more super white rocks. Getting diatoms.

 

[mitch91175]

Haha, the fish staying in that container didn't last long. Everyone is now in the DT. One of the butterflies had a twitch I didn't like so I gave it a quick freshwater dip and put them all in PraziPro/NeoPlex for a few hours. Wasn't going to keep them in that too long and not really knowing how they are going to eat.

Figure best option is having them in the DT where the Harlequin Tusk and Anthias are eating well. Will ideally help teach them what to do.

 

[mitch91175]

A little light on activity this morning

 

[mitch91175]

Have aiptasia in my display and am considering grabbing the Marginalis and temporary placing in reef. Moved over some zoa disc from the DT that had some aiptasia and it's not gonna last the day . He has been eyeing rock all day long. He pick at brine shrimp I put on the rocks with only return flow going. Everyone else eats brine shrimp free floating.

Pearlscale picks but not aggressive as I'd like. Have some Masstick on the way to put on rocks.

 

[mitch91175]

Well all of the butterflies are now eating brine shrimp. The Pearlscale is still more sensitive than the others but is coming around.

Guess them seeing other fish eating and adding in some live rock from the SPS sump helped too. I noticed all the butterflies peck that rock and the other one from the SPS tank and just look at the other rock. Only peck it if food falls on it.

Also putting in those zoanthid frag plugs with Aiptasia made them seem more comfortable faster.

 

[mitch91175]

Will be adding a few fish soon to the setup. Picking up a Red Sea White Face and Yellow Head Butterflies today.

White Face Butterfly

Yellow Head Butterfly

 

[mitch91175]

Next week will add in a Heniochus Butterfly and a Yellow Pyramid Butterfly. At that point I think I'll be pretty much complete with the butterflies. Only other one I'm considering is a Declivis Butterflyfish.

Then I'll look for a Regal Angel.

 

[mitch91175]

Got the White Face and Yellow Head in.



Shout out to Lee Larson @ School of Fish in Desoto. He has some premium livestock. I wish I could buy all his fish, lol.

School Of Fish | DeSoto TX

School Of Fish, DeSoto, Texas. 1,586 likes · 17 talking about this · 30 were here. Full Service Aquarium Company that offers conditioned collector quality saltwater fish, livestock, p

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[Dcal]

Gorgeous fish I'm very jealous