Shack's Reefer 350

[shackb]

Hi everyone! I just got back in the hobby the last couple months and welcome to my build thread.

I bought another Reefer 350, a gen 2 this time, back in July. During the time I had the tank dry, I spent much of my time doing as much research as possible, since so much has changed in the last 7 years.

The goal this time around is a mixed reef with heavy emphasis on SPS when its time. I've always loved the SPS structured growth, but also love the movement and color in the LPS family. I decided that monitoring and automation are key so you will notice I tried to keep it specifically between Red Sea and Neptune equipment.

I've had the tank only wet for the last week (wet on 9/16). My LFS, that I have been visiting multiple times a week and who have been extremely patient and helpful through the process, suggested I do a live cycle. They mentioned that I could get a pair of clowns and dump some Fritz Turbostart. I was a little unsure about it so I started with a Fritz Fishless cycle, dosing only a quarter of the ammonia and dumping half the bottle of the turbo start. Earlier this week, my buddy at the LFS texts me saying they have a new clown shipment in. Fast forward to the weekend, it was my younger sister's birthday who I told could pick out a pair of clowns if we both really liked em - hence the fished cycle has begun.

Look forward to this journey and sharing updates! Happy to take feedback as well!

Equipment:

Tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 G2

Lights: 2x Radion XR 15 Pros

Wavemakers: 2x Red Sea Reefwave 45s

Return: Red Sea Reef Run 6000

Filtration:

• Red Sea Skimmer 300
• Red Sea ReefMat 500
• Caribsea Special Grade Sand
• Dry Rock

Other:

• Neptune Apex A3 Pro
• Neptune Trident
• Aqua 25W UV
• Red Sea ATO w/ Reefcan

 

[shackb]

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! Love the clowns!

 

[shackb]

Hey y’all! It's been over six weeks since my last update, so here’s whats been happening for those interested! I've added more fish, went through my first diatom bloom, got my first zoa and did my first water change.

Before I proceeded to stock any other fish to the tank, I went ahead and bought an Aqua 25W UV and added a Vlamingii Tang early October, along with my first seeding of pods anticipating my diatom bloom. Low and behold a bout a few days later started getting the bloom. I know the Vlamingii will get big, so I have rehome plans for him in the future.

My LFS a week or so later just got a bunch of Leopard Wrasses, which I've loved ever seeing my buddy's when I was first getting started, so I picked one up. Found out later it was the only one that survived. The Vlamingii and the Leopard get along so well, they swim around together and have even started eating seaweed together.

A few weeks later, I added the Yellow Coris Wrasse, another beauty and I love its colors. It’s been quite shy, but the past week its been warming up a bit. I did get my first zoa at the same time as the Coris. My buddy at the LFS was saying that it would be fine to add Euphyllia but I personally want to wait a bit longer for some Coralline algae growth - any advice on helping this process along would be greatly appreciated. Currently I just have some Margarita snails with the algae on them.

I was at the store earlier this week when they got their shipment of salt fish in and notice a baby Purple Tang, Blue Tang and Midas Blenny and fell in love with how cute they were. I came back yesterday and picked those guys up as well as water for my water change. Nitrates read about 1.1 and Phosphates were at .39 last week before my work trip and noticed more brown algae and green algae growth. Curious how much the water changed helped when I test tomorrow.

So far everyone is happy and healthy, there hasn’t been any aggression. I did notice this morning that the anal fin (I believe thats the term) on the Purple Tang had kind of been rubbed away. I’m assuming it's the way the Regal and the Purple were sleeping last night, so close to the rockwork - going to monitor it but they are all eating and getting along.

I appreciate those reading the long post, but much has happened! Feel free to give any feedback!