Hi Reefers. Here is Build Thread of my 140 gals Mixed MQReef. Details as Under :-
1. Starting Cube Tank. In October 2018, when my daughter asked me for a pair of Nemo, i decided to give her the Clown pair. But Wait... What ? We add Salt in water cause its a Saltwater Fish.... This is what i learnt from LFS there at Quetta, Pakistan.. and When he told me an expanse of Thousands of bugs,, i said No Way but im gona make one myself and much within budget. This Challenge led me to my first ever aquarium that too when i had no prior experince of even a Fresh Water Tank. Having Said, i went to Glass guys and to cut it short, made a DIY 2x2x2 feet Cube with 18x18x18 inches Sump as shown below. Cabinet was also self designed but made at carpenter shop. here are some memories :-
2. First Nemo Fish pair. Drove all the way to karachi with 700 Kms one way and brought a pair of Clown Fish. But as i learnt, i needed to start cycling the Tank and Clowns have to be kept in QT till its safe. A saga of Testing Started which took a month cause API kit was not accurate.. But Fish Pair was finally added and can be seen as Source of Joy and mission accomlished... wait for what lies next
3. Giving Clowns a Home Full of Corals... ? What ... Corals ? Yes fishes live happily in reef..... OK Lets Google, what corals and reefs are? Ohh seen these in Nat Geo... This was exect Moment in my Journey which led to me First Wow.. and Then a Deep Dive into Reefing World.... Here I Thank Adnan Mumtaz from Riyadh and Haider Ali from Turkey who guided me what the heck Parameters are , what this Bio Media and What all is Needed to Keep Corals and Fish happy.. BRS 52 Weeks Reefing helped a lot in basic understanding as well regular reading of blogs at reef2reef here. Tank grew in Gear , Skimmer with bio balls came In.. This was 18th day after addition of my First Fish when i decided to add corals .. My Daughter was nonethe less most happier.. Here is what i got as my first corals brought by Air and it was December 2018 and there she was enjoying Snow outside and i was busy in running generator for electricity as electricity broke down due to snow and temperature was fast falling inside home/ aquarium..
4. A 4 Feet Display and Serious Reefing Journey Began. As days started to pass and by Spring 2019, i had got myself involved deep in passion for Reefing . So Decided to go bigger for reasons that Bigger is more stable and my cube wasnt peforming well in fast fluctauations. Here Again i Travelled 900 kms to lahore one way and got a Custome Built 4 feet Display with Sump. By March/ April 2019 I had embarked on a Reefing Journey for Good. I Remember, i had added sps right on 28th day after cycling this 4 feet. Cube Corals finally also opened up in 4 feet DT cause i had stopped using Gas Heater inside room to keep tank warm.. pH was not known Then.. :-
5. Moving the Reef tank. There came the Nightmare when in August 2019, i had to move to another city around a 1000 Kms plus away in North. Well I sent corals/ live stock by Air to LFS and Tore down the tank. Loaded all gear in my Jeep keeping wet rocks and some water. But due to extreme Humidity and temps touching 48 Degrees outside, the LFS whom i requested to keep rocks aerated couldnot as Holidays broke the Pump and all Rocks started Spoling outside. It wasnt a good response from LFS who put blame on his worker but I thanked him for keeping my Live Stock Alive Inside and it was sufficient forgetting the Rocks and bacteria episode. Within 10 days, as i settled in new house, i Started my reef Tank at present Location with Full Zeal and Motivation to make it a Fully matured Reef tank. On 20 August 2019, the Current Reef Re-Started and by December 2019, after 6 months i had introduced sps in my tank. The Ora bird nest can be seen grown later ahead.
6. A More Professional Look/ More Gear. To Keep reefing as my current hobby, i decided to sell my beloved camera gear finally (despite the fact i was a national Silver medalist in Photography) and As i added sps, i had already decided to make MQReef as showpiece with Full Automation Setup. Therefore, i ventured on higher Purchases including Naptune Apex Controller and other Gear for a 5 feet future build in mind. Details of Gear is as under :-
2 x Jebao Pumps 4500 for Chiller and 8000 as return Pump
Neptune Apex Controller.
Maxpect Rs 300 Light
Reef Octo regal 250 Skimmer. Extra Big
Reef Octo ATO
Reef Octo 140 Ca Rx with vario S Pump
2x Chillers 1/4 Hp for Redundancy
DIY UV 36 Watts.
7. First Anniversary. By 20 August 2020, I had my reef developed into a fully Matured system with No Alage or Dinos etc left to deal with intially. Nutrients came under full control . With Vinegar Dosing regimen of 16 weeks by Randy Homes, No3 never ever a problem Since then. PO4 also came under control with Phosphate Rx and Bio Filteration dealt rest of nutrients. My Learning of Reefing related issues and Subjects on reef2Reef and Youtube Resorces continued and i decided to make a Youtube Channel named MQReef.
Link to youtube vid
8. My Reefing Approach. Continuous Learning, Reading, and Stability at all Costs through Weekly Testing remain key features even today. Such Fast growth and Quick maturing of Reef was possible Only Through frequesnt Testing to keep STABILITY, One Word that I Learnt from reefers gurus. I have never left a week without test, specially developing fail safe system. My Approach has been Heavy Feeding equalling Heavy Export Via Skimmer, Bio Filteration and Refugium. Ich has never been an issue with heavy feeding and i never lost a fish from Disease in this tank. Never i missed a fortnight water change using Rea Sea coral pro salt.
9. Full Automation of RODI, ATO and Continuous Water Change System. As i ventured into 2nd year, by October 2020, i decided to fully automate MQReef and adopted a DIY Style. I developed a fully Automated RODI Setup, DIY Semi Auto Water Saltmix Station and Water Change later turend into a Fully Automated Continuous Water Change System USing a DIY Parastaltic Doser Pump. Videos of my these initiatives can be seen on my Youtube Channel whcih i use to record my developments here is the Link
10. 2nd Anniversary. On 20 August 2021, MQreef was fully mature system as shown under. The Ora Birds Next Outgrew nearly 1 feet across :-
11. Conclusion. Reefing is my passion now, and hope you enjoyed the reefing Journey from a pair of Nemo to Fully matured/automated MQReef. It was possible with help from Almighty. Passion , hardwork and Stability remained hallmark of this beautiful journey. Reefing regular updates are avilable at my Youtube Channel MQReef.
1. Starting Cube Tank. In October 2018, when my daughter asked me for a pair of Nemo, i decided to give her the Clown pair. But Wait... What ? We add Salt in water cause its a Saltwater Fish.... This is what i learnt from LFS there at Quetta, Pakistan.. and When he told me an expanse of Thousands of bugs,, i said No Way but im gona make one myself and much within budget. This Challenge led me to my first ever aquarium that too when i had no prior experince of even a Fresh Water Tank. Having Said, i went to Glass guys and to cut it short, made a DIY 2x2x2 feet Cube with 18x18x18 inches Sump as shown below. Cabinet was also self designed but made at carpenter shop. here are some memories :-
2. First Nemo Fish pair. Drove all the way to karachi with 700 Kms one way and brought a pair of Clown Fish. But as i learnt, i needed to start cycling the Tank and Clowns have to be kept in QT till its safe. A saga of Testing Started which took a month cause API kit was not accurate.. But Fish Pair was finally added and can be seen as Source of Joy and mission accomlished... wait for what lies next
3. Giving Clowns a Home Full of Corals... ? What ... Corals ? Yes fishes live happily in reef..... OK Lets Google, what corals and reefs are? Ohh seen these in Nat Geo... This was exect Moment in my Journey which led to me First Wow.. and Then a Deep Dive into Reefing World.... Here I Thank Adnan Mumtaz from Riyadh and Haider Ali from Turkey who guided me what the heck Parameters are , what this Bio Media and What all is Needed to Keep Corals and Fish happy.. BRS 52 Weeks Reefing helped a lot in basic understanding as well regular reading of blogs at reef2reef here. Tank grew in Gear , Skimmer with bio balls came In.. This was 18th day after addition of my First Fish when i decided to add corals .. My Daughter was nonethe less most happier.. Here is what i got as my first corals brought by Air and it was December 2018 and there she was enjoying Snow outside and i was busy in running generator for electricity as electricity broke down due to snow and temperature was fast falling inside home/ aquarium..
4. A 4 Feet Display and Serious Reefing Journey Began. As days started to pass and by Spring 2019, i had got myself involved deep in passion for Reefing . So Decided to go bigger for reasons that Bigger is more stable and my cube wasnt peforming well in fast fluctauations. Here Again i Travelled 900 kms to lahore one way and got a Custome Built 4 feet Display with Sump. By March/ April 2019 I had embarked on a Reefing Journey for Good. I Remember, i had added sps right on 28th day after cycling this 4 feet. Cube Corals finally also opened up in 4 feet DT cause i had stopped using Gas Heater inside room to keep tank warm.. pH was not known Then.. :-
5. Moving the Reef tank. There came the Nightmare when in August 2019, i had to move to another city around a 1000 Kms plus away in North. Well I sent corals/ live stock by Air to LFS and Tore down the tank. Loaded all gear in my Jeep keeping wet rocks and some water. But due to extreme Humidity and temps touching 48 Degrees outside, the LFS whom i requested to keep rocks aerated couldnot as Holidays broke the Pump and all Rocks started Spoling outside. It wasnt a good response from LFS who put blame on his worker but I thanked him for keeping my Live Stock Alive Inside and it was sufficient forgetting the Rocks and bacteria episode. Within 10 days, as i settled in new house, i Started my reef Tank at present Location with Full Zeal and Motivation to make it a Fully matured Reef tank. On 20 August 2019, the Current Reef Re-Started and by December 2019, after 6 months i had introduced sps in my tank. The Ora bird nest can be seen grown later ahead.
6. A More Professional Look/ More Gear. To Keep reefing as my current hobby, i decided to sell my beloved camera gear finally (despite the fact i was a national Silver medalist in Photography) and As i added sps, i had already decided to make MQReef as showpiece with Full Automation Setup. Therefore, i ventured on higher Purchases including Naptune Apex Controller and other Gear for a 5 feet future build in mind. Details of Gear is as under :-
2 x Jebao Pumps 4500 for Chiller and 8000 as return Pump
Neptune Apex Controller.
Maxpect Rs 300 Light
Reef Octo regal 250 Skimmer. Extra Big
Reef Octo ATO
Reef Octo 140 Ca Rx with vario S Pump
2x Chillers 1/4 Hp for Redundancy
DIY UV 36 Watts.
7. First Anniversary. By 20 August 2020, I had my reef developed into a fully Matured system with No Alage or Dinos etc left to deal with intially. Nutrients came under full control . With Vinegar Dosing regimen of 16 weeks by Randy Homes, No3 never ever a problem Since then. PO4 also came under control with Phosphate Rx and Bio Filteration dealt rest of nutrients. My Learning of Reefing related issues and Subjects on reef2Reef and Youtube Resorces continued and i decided to make a Youtube Channel named MQReef.
Link to youtube vid
8. My Reefing Approach. Continuous Learning, Reading, and Stability at all Costs through Weekly Testing remain key features even today. Such Fast growth and Quick maturing of Reef was possible Only Through frequesnt Testing to keep STABILITY, One Word that I Learnt from reefers gurus. I have never left a week without test, specially developing fail safe system. My Approach has been Heavy Feeding equalling Heavy Export Via Skimmer, Bio Filteration and Refugium. Ich has never been an issue with heavy feeding and i never lost a fish from Disease in this tank. Never i missed a fortnight water change using Rea Sea coral pro salt.
9. Full Automation of RODI, ATO and Continuous Water Change System. As i ventured into 2nd year, by October 2020, i decided to fully automate MQReef and adopted a DIY Style. I developed a fully Automated RODI Setup, DIY Semi Auto Water Saltmix Station and Water Change later turend into a Fully Automated Continuous Water Change System USing a DIY Parastaltic Doser Pump. Videos of my these initiatives can be seen on my Youtube Channel whcih i use to record my developments here is the Link
10. 2nd Anniversary. On 20 August 2021, MQreef was fully mature system as shown under. The Ora Birds Next Outgrew nearly 1 feet across :-
11. Conclusion. Reefing is my passion now, and hope you enjoyed the reefing Journey from a pair of Nemo to Fully matured/automated MQReef. It was possible with help from Almighty. Passion , hardwork and Stability remained hallmark of this beautiful journey. Reefing regular updates are avilable at my Youtube Channel MQReef.