Shandoee’s Waterbox Marine X 90.3

shandoee

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Ok, time for a boring backstory. (It’s okay to skip the reading, I’ll understand)

This is all started when I was a senior in high school (2007). My choice for my senior project was to build a saltwater tank full of corals and fish in time to present it. Needless to say, I procrastinated and didn’t set up the tank until the last 2 months of the school year. By the time I presented it, I had just live rock, sand, and a few fish - a couple clowns and a yellow watchman goby.

Because I was a smartalec teenager, I didn’t know what I have gotten myself into. This endless money pit of a hobby sure is addicting. I was instantly hooked.

I started with a 12 gallon Aquapod with a 70w MH Sunpod (old stuff I know). I went from that to a standard 55 gallons long with HOB and canister filters, to finally settling with a custom 24x24x18 shallow tank with a 10 gallon sump. Soon after, I started to work heavily and was also a busy college student so I neglected the tank and lost interest. I quit the hobby in 2011.

Fast forward to January 2020. My older brother wanted a saltwater tank to keep his kids entertained. We bought a Biocube 32, upgraded the stock lighting to Steve’s LEDs to keep the hood, and I was bitten by the reef bug again.

Okay, enough of my boring history. Over the past few months, I have been researching and looking for the right tank. My ideal tank is one that is around 50-70 gallons in the display. I narrowed down my choice to two tanks, both were great, but I pulled the trigger on the Waterbox Aquariuams Marine X 90.3.

After a short 6.5 week wait, the tank finally arrived. This is my official build thread. Thanks for following along.

3DDB0E89-625B-47AE-829C-9925CC029E82.jpeg 01287FA8-F030-42D1-80B0-1FA5743A8CA7.jpeg
 
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shandoee

shandoee

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I played hookie on Monday to make sure I was there to accept the delivery. The guy was very cool and parked the tank in my garage. Tank arrived 10am sharp. I went and spent all day Monday and part of my Tuesday assembling the stand. With the help of my lovely wife, we were able to lift the tank onto the stand. She almost dropped it and I was thiiiis close to getting an upgrade courtesy of her lol.
Here are the pictures with everything assembled. I actually bought some dry rock and tried my best at putting together a good rockscape. This is my first time using e-Marco 400. Please, DO judge me lol
 

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dochow

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Looking good! Can you shoot me a pic of what the sump looks like all connected? I’m interested in the space below with the sump hooked up. Thanks!!
 
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shandoee

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Looking good! Can you shoot me a pic of what the sump looks like all connected? I’m interested in the space below with the sump hooked up. Thanks!!
Not the best picture, but hopefully it gives you an idea of the space. It’s really tight in there. There are about 2 inches on each end between the sump and the stand once centered.
 

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shandoee

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So I had a busy week. I’m home 99% of the time, as my wife and I both work from home. But here are some updates:

I received the skimmer and installed it, I went with a Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT.

I was finally able to fill up the Waterbox along with adding some special grade live sand, just waiting for the tank to clear up now.

I ordered two Radion G5 XR15 Blues with RMS mount. I’m just waiting on the delivery, which should be sometime this week.

I have not started the cycle yet, I have ammonia chloride and Dr. Tim’s One and Only, but I’m just waiting for the water to clear.

Pictures coming soon, I promise!
 
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shandoee

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Here are some pictures from today. Saltwater is in, the cycling has begun. I used Dr. Tim’s One and Only along with ammonia chloride to do a fish less cycle.

There are approximately 40 pounds of dry rock and about 35 pounds of dry sand. Because this will SPS dominate, I chose special grade reef sand. I was originally contemplating going bare bottom, but I have yet to see an ocean with glass bottom. I like a natural looking tank.

Radion XR15 Blues are coming in on Thursday. I’m super excited. Cheers!
 

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shandoee

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Tester the water today. Wowzers!! Ammonia is 8ppm+! I need to add more Dr. Tim’s One and Only. I may have overdosed on the ammonium chloride. Yikes!
 
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shandoee

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A small update, ammonia is at 4ppm lol. The XR15’s are here, along with the RMS arms and multi-light rail. The RMS slides are coming in tomorrow. More pictures to come later!
 
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shandoee

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Everything is in! Just waiting on the cycle and then I can add fish.

My wife’s fish of choice are mocha storm clowns and a blue hippo tang.
I know the blue tang will be too small for this tank, but I am looking to put a yellow tang in here instead. I also would like a school of threadfin cardinalfish along with a leopard wrasse. I will need to get a tank cover for sure. Have a great weekend!
 

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shandoee

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Okay, it’s over a week in the cycling period and here are the 3 crucial parameters. Well, maybe 2 crucial and one not so much.

Ammonia 2-4ppm (API)
Nitrite 0ppm (API)
Nitrate 3ppm (N

With the API test, the ammonia looks like it could be a solid 2 or a solid 4. It really depends how the light hits it. I guess this is one of the reasons why API is trash. I only use it because, frankly, I spent the money on it earlier this year, might as well use it.

This past Sunday, I went to the old house and swapped out the Koralia with the MP10 on the Biocube. The MP10 is now on the Waterbox. I also grabbed a small piece of live rock from that tank. The Biocube had nerite snails that constantly laid eggs. There are hitchhikers on that live rock and I have counted 3 baby nerite snails in the new tank so far, three days after being placed with high ammonia levels.

I have 20 gallons of RODI ready for a water change if needed. I have another bucket of Tropic Marin coming in tomorrow. This is expensive salt to cycle with. Lol... Happy reefing!
 

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BarSnackz

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Looking good so far! I love the look of the Waterbox tanks - I'll probably have to get one when I outgrow my current tank.
As for your parameter readings: you may be good to go as API's test kits always seem to give a false positive on Ammonia and I have always gotten a reading of 2ppm on mine, even on fully cycled tanks.
 
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shandoee

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Thax i guess i cannot add a clarisea filter roller sk3000 :(
I’m thinking about some kind of filter roller as well. But I have yet to look into it. The sump will definitely need a modification in order for it to fit. Either that or just upgrade the sump and sell this one. Let me know what you do, I’ll be considering it for the future.
 
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shandoee

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Looking good so far! I love the look of the Waterbox tanks - I'll probably have to get one when I outgrow my current tank.
As for your parameter readings: you may be good to go as API's test kits always seem to give a false positive on Ammonia and I have always gotten a reading of 2ppm on mine, even on fully cycled tanks.
Thank you! The Waterbox tanks were my second choice initially. I had my heart set on a Red Sea 250. But the place I wanted to buy it from was always sold out. I actually love this tank, now that I have seen it in person.

My ammonia was at or around 8ppm initially. I will try a couple of snails to see. So far, my 3 hitchhiker snails are moving around and about on day 4 here. So, maybe you’re right, the cycle is complete?
 
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