Red sea Reefer 170 deluxe build

[Meat locker]

I have decided to go the qt route for this system. I didnt qt in the past and it was hit or miss. I will do at least a 30 day qt. The first few days I will observe, then treat with prazipro, general cure, and finish out with a copper. Or adjust as needed.

While the tank is still cycling I did place an order with saltwaterfish.com. I have used them in the past with decent experience. They are in Los Angeles and I'm about 215 miles away.

My stocking list will be:
Snowflake clown
Royal gamma
Tiger jawfish

Flame angel
Shrimp Goby

Dont mind the creepy leftover Christmas decor

 

[Meat locker]

Boy were off to a good start. Saltwaterfish.com said the tiger failed inspection. Package arrived today hours late and all DOA. Water temperature was at 50 degrees per bag.

 

[TheWB]

Boy were off to a good start. Saltwaterfish.com said the tiger failed inspection. Package arrived today hours late and all DOA. Water temperature was at 50 degrees per bag.

That’s just awful man. I’m so sorry that happened. Are they making it right with a credit or something?

 

[Meat locker]

Started ticket and uploaded photos. After closing hours, so I wont hear anything for a bit. We'll see how it goes.

 

[TheWB]

I hope it works out. Did they ship without heat packs or some type of insulation in the box? With the weather so cold lately I would hope they would take precautions. It was 16 degrees here when I left for work this morning. The high was 33. That’s no weather for reef fish.

 

[Meat locker]

Everything looked good. Styrofoam box with the bags wrapped around paper and 2 heat packs. One was cold and the other still warm. So it arrived in Bakersfield over night a didnt ship out til 815am. Was in the van for 10 hours. It's more fedex's fault for missing their time frame. Should have been delivered first. Definately a cold day it was about 32 all day. But still, to drop to 50 degrees and being in a van. Guess the dude doesn't drive with the heat on.

 

[TheWB]

Yeah, you’re right, sounds like it’s on FedEx. Was it labeled “live animals”? Really just no excuse for dropping the ball like that. It’s hard to get that cold inside the van though. Maybe it was mis-delivered and sat on someone’s porch for a while. Might explain the late delivery if they had to chase it down. I don’t know but I hope you at least get your money back from their mistake.

 

[Meat locker]

It was labeled "live fish" "rush." Cant wait to see what saltwaterfish.com says.

 

[Meat locker]

SWF.com says they will ship out a replacement and set for Tuesday 12. No charge. I've asked then to add more heat packs and complain to the local fedex terminal. Well see what happens. I've advised them the weather is a high of 44 and a low of 32 for tuesday. I dont understand the issue. I'm sure they ship all over the US in way colder weather. Fingers crossed.

 

[TheWB]

SWF.com says they will ship out a replacement and set for Tuesday 12. No charge. I've asked then to add more heat packs and complain to the local fedex terminal. Well see what happens. I've advised them the weather is a high of 44 and a low of 32 for tuesday. I dont understand the issue. I'm sure they ship all over the US in way colder weather. Fingers crossed.

Good luck. I hope they get it right this time.

 

[Meat locker]

Never again online fish. Nightmare with fedex and swf.com Fedex cant make next day air to ship 180 miles in the same state. Had to drive 3 hours to pick up a box that temps was in the low 60 maybe even 50s only after 18 hours in shipping. Jawfish DOA. I told swf.com to add more heat packs and they added 1 less...what the heck. asking for a refund. I went to my lfs and picked up a black storm clown. Grabbed some chaeto and a few small pieces of their cycled LR to help seed and cycle.

I don't recommend the redsea reef mature. Flowed directions and never got the anticipated levels. Seems the cycle stalled out. Ammonia stayed at .25 or less and nitrite is off the charts. Did a 16 gallon water change and still off the charts.

 

[TheWB]

That sucks man, I’m sorry to hear about this happening a second time. You’d like to think better care would be taken to protect the livestock.

 

[Meat locker]

Some cord management... setting up more equip. Wont does for awhile. Maybe some iron/mag for the chaeto.

 

[Meat locker]

Looks like the tank has finally cycled. Ammonia and nitrite hit 0. I'll add some Dr. Tims ammonium chloride and check again.

Kinda surprised to see the nitrate only at 20ppm.

Chaeto doesn't seem to be thriving..

Skimmer is working well and pulling out some nasty stuff with nothing in it.

Finally seeing some diatom algae.

So far so good for the fish in QT. Started 2nd round of GC

 

[Meat locker]

Update.. added more equipment. Stock ATO resevoir wasnt cutting it so I got a 15 gallon hydro fill from innovative marine. This thing is awesome! Only complaint... I wish they had a pump section to hide the pump.

Went with the tunze nano ato. So far so good. It will refill the stock resovior which is on a float.

Now I have 2 point of failure!


Decided to add the fish to the display tank after 2 rounds of general cure. The fish look healthy and eating. Lfs has low levels of copper in their water so why do another treatment... plus there are no inverts in the display yet. I cant order the cuc that I want due to weather. If I need to, I can medicate the display. Plus they are the original live stock.

 

[Meat locker]

Been a bit. Added some coral and re worked the sump.

Decided to do the ATO mod to refugium. I wanted the space back to run bio pellets and marine pure.

 

[Meat locker]

1 year mark...

Additions:
Added 4 bulb T5 to supplement l.e.d.
Bio pellet reactor
Acrylic cover
More heaters

Ditched:
Bubble magus 5 replaced with reef octo essence 130
Carbon reactor
Mp40 <after failing> replaced with a nero 5

Most livestock is still original with minimal losses.


Struggled with socal edison shutting off power for days at a time.

So far so good. Things a little angry from the water change.