Red Sea 525xl - and my first build thread :-)

[clhardy5]

Well....I did this today:

Found a great deal from a local reefer - who after moving, decided not to set up his tank again. Got the tank, stand, sump, and Vortech M1 pump for $1500. I think that's a good deal . But even it it wasn't - I'm so excited.

A little back story - my daughter has been a reefer for a long time, and has a beautiful Waterbox 220 in her study. For Mother's Day, she bought me a Biocube 32 and got it up and running with live rock, water, and other stuff from her tank. I've really enjoyed the maintenance and problem solving that comes with a Nano tank (currently learning all about Dino's). A couple of days ago, she sent me the link to the tank in the picture, and the bug bit hard! Needless to say, we came home with the tank about an hour ago. The tank is in great shape. I need to clean it up a bit (anyone know how to remove Coraline algae from the back wall)? My daughter is planning on coming over tomorrow to help plumb it up! I've got LOTS of decisions to make......lights, skimmer, and all the things I haven't even considered yet - as this happened so fast. I just wanted to get my initial excitement recorded . Wish me luck!

 

[MERKEY]

Congratulations and following to watch you fill it up!

 

[clhardy5]

Ok.... System is set up and plumbed. Aquascaping starts tomorrow .

So far, I'v purchased the following:

Eheim Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 300w - x2 for redundancy​

Marco Reef Saver Rocks - from BRS - 70 lbs (I have some left over from my 32 Biocube build)

Aragonite Special Grade Dry Sand 40lbs plus 10 lb. Florida Crushed Coral Dry Sand - Caribsea
(thinking I need a bit more sand, but will buy at the local LFS)

Bubble Magus BM-Curve 7 Protein Skimmer​

Biospira (x2) - to seed bacteria. Still considering ammonia source.

I will get Salt and RODI water from my daughter - she has a neat system set up in her garage, and lives less than a mile away. I know....lugging water sucks....but for now, the cheap option is the best! I bought her some salt, and watch her kiddos (which I love) to help pay for my water

Still struggling with what type, and how many LED's.....Would love to hear some opinions!

 

[clhardy5]

Update - Jan 1 2020 - Tank is 'cycled'....according to the chemistry - so two yellow tail damsels, and a cleaner shrimp were added (per LFS recommendations). I will leave them as the sole inhabitants for several weeks while I quarantine the first fish on my draft stock list. Plan is to add my peaceful fish first (not sure if the damsels will stay), then the semi-aggressive, then my tangs. Here is my draft fish list:

Banggai cardinals (2) Purchased 12/29/20 - currently in observation tank
Long nose hawkfish (bottom/perch)
Exquisite fair wrasse (male)
Carpenters flasher wrasse (male) Purchased 12/29/20 - currently in observation tank
Firefish (not sure what color)
Scooter blenny (maybe??).
Striped blenny
Gold Head goby (added to list 12/31/20 - currently in observation tank)
Cleaner Shrimp
Assorted snails/hermits

1 Tang (choices):

Kole Yellow eye tang or
White tale bristle tooth (sort of look the same as Kole yellow eyed. Bristletooth is expensive!)
Squaretail bristle tooth tang
Yellow Tang

I have set up the observation tank - quickly cycled with sponge filter I've been storing in the back of my 32 gallon...and have purchased the Cardinals, flasher wrasse, and a sleeper gold head goby (wasn't in the plan, but he called out to me from the holding tank!). Everyone is doing great, and eating well. Plan is to observe them for 3-4 weeks, and then add them together. When they are in the tank I will purchase the semi- aggressive fish and observe .....then tang....

I want to leave room for utilitarian fish as needed.

Skimmer is up and running - and still breaking in. I'm testing to see what setting and water level work best.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hey,

Rock work looks good. Saw some of your other threads. Hopefully everything is running smooth. Love yellow tail damsels. Keep us updated

 

[clhardy5]

Hey,

Rock work looks good. Saw some of your other threads. Hopefully everything is running smooth. Love yellow tail damsels. Keep us updated

Everything is still going great! Thanks for checking in......Now my Biocube 32.....that's another story....still battling dinos, but I'm starting to see some improvement. Luckily all my fish and corals in that tank don't seem to be bothered.

 

[clhardy5]

1/16/21 Update....

Bought - received - and installed 3 AI Hydra 32's.....and 2 MP40s.....and a Inkbird controller. Skimmer is dialed in and pulling gross stuff out. Damsels have both settled into their own little territories on opposite sides of the tank. Cleaner shrimp is everywhere and begging for food every time I walk by. All 5 hermits are still alive, and trying on different shells for size.

The observation tank update: the smallest Bangai cardinal didn't make it. I could never find a food he would eat....so I think he just gave up. The larger bangai is doing fine and growing. The gobi took the leap of death - he found the one small hole by the HOB filter, and I found his shriveled body next to the desk. The fairy wrasse, long nose hawk fish and the purple fire fish are doing fine - looking great - swimming great - and no signs of disease so far. I will probably observe for one more week, and then transition them into the tank.

I'm keeping the lights off for now....and maybe for the next 3 months to keep the ugly stage at bay.

 

[missgoofyx24]

Your aquascape looks really good! I'm looking forward to following this build and watching it come to life. I, too, won't be turning on my lights for awhile to avoid the ugly stage for now and let the bacteria claim as much surface as possible. Are you going to seed this tank with any coralline algae from your previous tank or your daughter's tank?

 

[clhardy5]

Added some more fish...My Tang Gang....wanted to add them all at once to reduce aggression.
I bought them from a local fish store that quarantines.....and I had them on hold for about two weeks after they were released from quarantine to allow my tank to settle a little more.

Added were: 1 Power Brown, 1 Sailfin, 1yellow, and 1 Scopas - all approximately the same size. They've been in for about two weeks, and look fat and happy. Most are getting along - except my yellow does occasionally pick on the Scopas. I don't see any signs of stress with the Scopas, but I will keep my eye on him. They each have their own cave, and often swim in a group which is fun to watch. I also purchased (after quarantine) a diamond Goby....He is a workhorse and probably one of my favorite fish in the tank.

In my QT tank now I have 3 wrasses (Lubbock fairy, blue sided, and melanarus), and a long nose hawkfish. I will keep them there for another 4-5 weeks, as I'm not pre-medicating. They are eating well, and bury themselves in the sand bowl at night.

Tank went through the diatom stage - and the rocks got UGLY! Forgot to take a picture.....Now, most of the diatoms are gone, and there is some green coloring appearing at the top of the rocks. I assume this is some sort of algae, and another stage of ugly. When the brown algae appeared, I added a small clean up crew. 2 Turbo snails, a small conch, and 5 astrea snails. They went right to work on the back glass, sand, and rocks.

Still haven't added any corals - although my husband is pushing for them. I did buy a few (torch, Duncan, and a couple or zoas), that I'm storing in my biocube while I'm waiting for the 525 to be ready.

I take more pictures later - once the lights come on.

 

[clhardy5]

Just tested my water parameters:

Nitrate: 5ppm Seachem
PO4: .03 Hannah ULR
Alkalinity: 8.0 Hannah

#Reef2Reef#HannaInstruments #GIVEAWAY

 

[clhardy5]

Well.....My Nitrates have climbed and my PO4 has dropped. Some of my corals do not look too happy. After reading a similar situation thread - I've started slowly dosing PO4. I will test every couple of days to see if I can get my current level of 0, to .03 and holding steady. I'm hoping this will help my Nitrate level fall, and my corals to brighten up.

If it's not one thing....its another - but I still enjoy the learning!

 

[clhardy5]

Broke down my Biocube last night.....Moved the live rock, and livestock to the 525....A little bummed because my really nice 'arch' broke in the transfer, and ripped the attached anemone in two. Both 'pieces' are still alive this morning - one looking better than the other. The clowns are still hosting....I hope they are not irritating the poor guy.

Anyway...

New (old from the 32) livestock added
2 Clowns
1 royal gramma
1 lawn mower blenny
1 Alan damsel
1 fire shrimp
1 emerald crab
1 - now 2 - rose bubble tip anemone

Other new fish: 1 female Mandarin dragonet.

New corals
7 ish zoa colonies ( I'm not good with names_
1 frog spawn
1 brain coral
1 Green Goni
3 plating corals (no idea what their names are)

I'm still battling high nitrates - low phophates. Looking into carbon dosing. Everything else in the tank is looking good. Finally got through the diatom stage....now the rocks are bright green....and I see some purple here and there.

I had very small spot of Cyano pop up....but blew it off and it hasn't returned.

I tried and failed to buy and QT 4 Lyretail Anthias. I kept them in for observation for 3.5 weeks...when they all presented with ICH....Started Copper, but they did not tolerate the treatment well, and over the next week, 3 of them passed. I decided to pull the 4th and try tank transfer....Things were going well, and she was eating well....Right before the last transfer she presented with Uronema - and died quickly. I felt like a failure - I did everything in my power to save these fish - but they didn't make it. I'm NOT going to buy any more Anthias. They are just too tough to make through QT.

I'm wondering with my large fish load if I should upgrade my skimmer. Chaeto is growing well in the fuge. I've also started 3 pod cultures - 1 outside, 1 in a 5 gallon bucket, and 1 in a 8 gallon aquarium. All three cultures are doing well, and I feed my tank pods/phyto twice a week. I also culture. Tetra and Nano phytoplankton.

That's my rambling update.

 

[clhardy5]

Just updating so I remember my timeline....

Got rid of the gravity fed ATO - and went with a Tunze Osmolator, and a 6 gallon reservoir. The Tunze is LOUD....but I like the access - and the extra room in the sump. I'm using Kalkwasser in the ATO for the PH boost. Its keeping it pretty steady at 8.1 - so I'm happy with that. I have it hooked up with my Apex and will shut off if the PH gets above 8.4. I'm also dosing two part - but dialed that back little because of the Kalk. Alk, Calcium, and Mag are holding steady.

Over the last couple of days Coraline Algae has popped up on the glass. Blessing or curse....I remember it made a mess in my Biocube....but I'm glad things are stable enough that it is growing.

Nopox is working - Nitrates were at 11.6 (Hanna) this morning - so I'm slowly dialing the Nopox back. PO4 is always around .05. Everything else seems to be going well.

Small diatom bloom appeared this morning - and of course because of my Dino issue in my 32 - I was worried! But my hand dandy microscope eased my mind. Definitely diatoms - although I thought I was over that stage. Not sure where the silicates may be coming from.....