New Here & New to Reefs

[DeepBlueSomething]

Howdy R2R -

I am new to SW and Reef tanks - kept FW back in the day. Figured I would jump back in with a challenge. So much to learn -- but trying to take the practical and patient approach.

My tank is 1 month old now: cycled with established LR and ammonia dosing

• 40b
• 20L sump with SCA-301 skimmer, fuge
• GFO - (offline)
• Jebao PP-4 wavemaker(s)
• Galaxyhydro 165w LED
• Few mushroom, palys and zanthia came on LR
• CuC from reefcleaners.org

Parameters are stable:

• 1.026
• 78'F
• 0 ammonia, nitrites, PO4
• <20 nitrate
• pH ~8.1
• Ca = 420
• dKH = 9

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Welcome to R2R!

Sounds like you're off to a good start, here's a thread about setting up a new reef aquarium if you get stuck along the way: http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[kschweer]

Welcome!!!

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Welcome to R2R. We love pictures!

 

[Tahoe61]

Welcome.

 

[77railer]

Welcome to the club...your doing good so far...whats the next step your taking?

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and thanks for joining.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Welcome to the club...your doing good so far...whats the next step your taking?

That is the next great question - kids and wife are ready for fish - I am still sorting through top off automation / evap rates as well as managing some gha that came in with the LR.

• Edit - first post; Anthelia (waving hand) - not zanthia!
• My drawing board has the addition of a Watchman goby, cleaner shrimp and then maybe a hardy mid-tank swimmer or 2.
• As I get closer to 4 months maybe get more serious with some easy corals - GSP, euphyllia

Thoughts / suggestions?

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R, Howdy back

I would suggest adding a couple of hardy corals at 60 days then start introducing fish at 90 days. Mushroom and pylops are very hardy

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[DLHDesign]

Welcome to R2R!

...trying to take the practical and patient approach.

Off to a great start already.
I'd suggest starting up a build thread - it often helps as a way to track your own progress. Plus; we all like to tag along.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Welcome to R2R!



Off to a great start already.
I'd suggest starting up a build thread - it often helps as a way to track your own progress. Plus; we all like to tag along.

Will have to start pulling that together, TY

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[iemsparticus]

Welcome to R2R! Show us pictures!!!

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Welcome to R2R, Howdy back

I would suggest adding a couple of hardy corals at 60 days then start introducing fish at 90 days. Mushroom and pylops are very hardy

So some corals first - is that more in line with bioload or ease of care or both?

 

[77railer]

I think GSP would be a great starter coral. They are hardy and not very light demanding. Just a friendly word of caution on the GSP....put them on a rock by themselves, kinda like and island, so they dont become a problem when they decide to start growing

 

[jsker]

So some corals first - is that more in line with bioload or ease of care or both?

Both, and with helping steady out parameters. Instead of going willynilly I decided you follow some directions. I used this plan link as a guideline for timing and when to add, not the equipment

 

[dragon99]

HOWDY and welcome.

Let's see a picture. A few snails or hermits would be good at this point. Don't go buy a cleaner pack for a 40b or anything that huge though.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Thanks jsker - good link, I will refer back to that -- so far I have followed that a bit.

dragon99 - much appreciation for your avatar pic - that takes me back. I did add a full 40b CuC but that was because I have several live rocks from a fellow member that had quite a bit of GHA that was uninhibited. Snails & hermits all seem to be doing well and working their way through the algae right now. My chaeto is growing like gang busters in the fuge, so I am hoping the nutrient load is correctly going there! I will try and get a decent picture tonight. For now, here is the best FTS on my phone. The picture is not great -- the tank looks much better!

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R!