Prostar 200 Build

[Uncle99]

I really like how the aquascape turned out.

Looks great!
I have had my Pro-Star 230 for 5 years.
Very well constructed glass box.
Absolutely love it.

 

[rcpiv93]

Looks great!
I have had my Pro-Star 230 for 5 years.
Very well constructed glass box.
Absolutely love it.

Gorgeous! I have one question about the tank, and that has to do with the overflow. It is not sealed from the display tank. Have you ever had any issues with that?

 

[rcpiv93]

We added our first two fish today. We got a flame angel and a lamarck's angel! The lamarck's angel was not part of the original plan. I don't see them often, and it wasn't on my radar. That said, the LFS had one in stock, and I have always loved them. I figured now was the best time to add it since I was getting the Flame anyway.

 

[rcpiv93]

Got some lyretails for the tank. Added some corals from my biocube as well. Things are coming along.

 

[rcpiv93]

A quick video

 

[rcpiv93]

So an update on stocking:

Lamarck Angel and Flame Angel added on 4/19. Both are doing well and eating like pigs.
Four female lyretails and a male lyretail added on 5/4. So too was a royal gramma. Since then, everyone has started eating well except for the male. He continues to take bites only to spit them out later. I think, with time, he will adjust and start eating.

As for coral, I am mostly focusing on my euphyllia gardens at the moment. The left side of the tank has a five different hammers and frogspawn. The right side has a variety of torches.

In addition to these guys, I've also transferred some sps that needed more room than my biocube could provide, as well as a pink and purple goni that wasn't doing well in the cube. The goni has since opened again and looks great.

 

[rcpiv93]

For those that are curious, I set my Nicrew lights to 100% blue and violet, 15% for white, and 10% for green and red. They turn on at 9am and go off at 11pm with a 2-hour ramping period.

I have two 200w fixtures on a five foot tank and this seems to be sufficient. I don’t have a par meter, though, so who knows. When it comes time for coral I will probably rent one and map out the aquascape.

I now max the whites at 25% and the green and red at 15%.

 

[rcpiv93]

Edit to the list above: Sicce Pro 7000 replaced with Sicce Syncra ADV 9.0. This will enable me to run two dual random flow generators by VCA.

Another change. The ADV 9.0 was too big. I finally settled on the Jebao DCP-8500.

I also returned the UV sterilizer as the sleeve arrived broken. I think I will wait for now and add one in the future if I find a need for it.

 

[rcpiv93]

One last update for now: I got a steal of a deal on a Maxspect Jump 30W refugium light. $36 new on clearance!

Added a ball of chaeto on 5/4. We will see how it does this early on. Not a ton of nitrates and phosphates in the water at the moment.

 

[PPBlimpy]

Very nice setup! Like the aquascape. I am setting up a tank currently and may take some time for a nice arch!

 

[rcpiv93]

Very nice setup! Like the aquascape. I am setting up a tank currently and may take some time for a nice arch!

I got so lucky stumbling upon that piece at my LFS. They do maintenance and had recently broken a tank down and brought it in dry. They only charged $1/lb...$44 after taxes!!!

 

[PPBlimpy]

I got so lucky stumbling upon that piece at my LFS. They do maintenance and had recently broken a tank down and brought it in dry. They only charged $1/lb...$44 after taxes!!!

Thats killer! I have approx 150 lbs of nice live rock that I am transferring from my 125 -> new 300. I also have another 50-60 dry that I can build the arch and get dark curing with some seed rock and will transfer it in later.

I think a nice arch on the far side of the tank will be a nice addition. I am going from a 72x18 foot print to 96x30. have a ton more space to play with!

 

[rcpiv93]

After spending $100 on a variety of foods, the male anthias decided to start eating (before the new food ever arrived). I was confident he would start eating, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't try live pods and other frozen foods. Turns out I didn't have to, but they'll get a nice variety going forward.

Everyone is eating aggressively and looks to have settled in nicely. I've got a large order being quarantined by Dr. Reef: yellow tang, hippo tang, blonde naso tang, a magnificent foxface, a yellow "coris" wrasse, exquisite wrasse, and, yes, a moorish idol. Wish me luck! I've got plenty of bacteria on hand, but I will also have another few weeks to continue maturing the tank before their arrival!

Although I wasn't going to add all of these fish at once, I want to cut back on aggression, and I want to limit the number of changes and stressful events moving forward. I didn't like the idea of adding new inhabitants every couple of weeks over a few months. If I can keep the water chemistry in check, this should provide more harmony between each of the fish.

 

[rcpiv93]

Some new additions on 5/11:

Tiger Pistol and Randall’s Goby
Leopard Wrasse—Already out and eating. She was at the store for two weeks and looked healthy, so I took a chance.

In addition to the fish, I transferred three gonis from my Biocube, two more frogspawn, an Alien Invader Pectinia, and a small Duncan frag.

 

[vhoang2]

Unrelated but what was the driving factor to choose Prostar tank?

 

[rcpiv93]

There were a few things that factored into my decision.

1.) My LFS carries them and has several set up and running. It was nice to see their quality in person.
2.) Price: I was between this tank and the IM EXT. Knowing that the quality was pretty darn good, I was comfortable saving a thousand bucks on this tank.
3.) Dimensions: I wanted something taller than the IM tanks.

Unrelated but what was the driving factor to choose Prostar tank?

 

[vhoang2]

There were a few things that factored into my decision.

1.) My LFS carries them and has several set up and running. It was nice to see their quality in person.
2.) Price: I was between this tank and the IM EXT. Knowing that the quality was pretty darn good, I was comfortable saving a thousand bucks on this tank.
3.) Dimensions: I wanted something taller than the IM tanks.

Thanks. Would you mind PM me the price you paid for the Prostar? It seems IM just dropped the price based on the tariff impact today so really considering buying soon. Thanks

 

[rcpiv93]

Thanks. Would you mind PM me the price you paid for the Prostar? It seems IM just dropped the price based on the tariff impact today so really considering buying soon. Thanks

The price is no secret. They use MAP pricing. So, other than taxes, the price should be the same everywhere, online or in person.

ProStar Rimless V2 200 Aquarium w/ BLACK Stand - Pro Clear Aquatic Systems

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[rcpiv93]

Flukes... All of the anthias are showing signs of flukes, and two have a minor case of popeye. This likely explains why they were begging (to no avail) the pistol shrimp to clean them.

I did a small water change, added three scarlet cleaner shrimp, and dosed prazipro. I have kept the skimmer running for aeration purposes, but I am allowing the skimmate to drain into the sump.

Everyone is eating and acting normal. Is there anything else you recommend doing?

I plan to dose three times every 5-6 days.

 

[vhoang2]

Is the cabinet aluminum or plywood?