Starting a Red Sea max 130d

[KillerKlownFish]

2nd try at posting this.
Ok day 1 got my 130d built the totem cabinet
Put the tank up on my own. Yes I'm strong.
Filled it to see if there are any leaks then drained it.
I got no test kit
No salt
No rock
No sand

I did get an upgraded pump with a thick cord
A heater

It was kinda simply to put together. The diagram for tank set up sucks. It needs more details and diagrams.
The video that come with it sucks at helping start the tank.
Technically it's not a plug and play. It's a put it together got to the LFS get what you need put it all together and plug in and wait.

What it got at LFS:
30lbs of rock. The owner showed me some nice rocks said this should be good (50lbs) for the price $8 lbs I said I'll take 30.
Got a test kit
Thermometer

Got the Caribbean live sand which isn't fine sand it's more like pebbles.
Got 6 5gallon jugs of salt water. Yes it's 34 gallons remember sand/rock you don't need lots of salt water.

Ok so it's all up and running smoothly. Started at 11am ended at 7pm

So far so good. I'll let it run for a week or two test it. Wait a week and get a clean up crew.

Ok guys
Opinions:
Ideas:
Constructive criticism:

 

[KillerKlownFish]

Oh hey forgot one thing had to mod where one of the wires runs though cause the cable was too thick.
Next the casing for the wires won't allow the plug compartment on the side to close. Had to remove that piece.

What else.....?

 

[KillerKlownFish]

I got 12 lbs more live rock. It came with feather dusters.
Gonna do a water change tomorrow am think if it's better to do a 10 gallon change of 5 gal and then another 5 in a few days?
I'll post some pics of what the new aqua scape looks like

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Looking good so far man

 

[nanoreef1]

This going to look sweet!

 

[55g]

Do you know Insane Clown Posse? Just sayin... nice tank.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

It's a bit stressful aquascaping. Here is my tank now with an additional 12lbs of rock.
The live rock came with a few feather dusters.
Who knows what else!

Doing a 10 gallon water change today. Unless someone knows something I don't.
My ammonia is at 0
My nitrites and nitrates are a bit up
PH is good.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

So I've been looking on you tube at videos and wow some people have amazing reefs!
Some are like music videos. Pretty sick.
I see myself going broke...from fish to coral to going bankrupt. Lol

 

[DeepSeaIllusions]

Well done on the aquascape. It looks really nice. Just make sure you take your time. To save yourself from going bankrupt go for coral frags instead of bigger pieces. I know it looks better to go big straight away, but your wallet will better off staying on the frags track.

Plus when you stock your tank, stock slowly. The best and most beautiful tanks have not been formed overnight, but by gradual adding of livestock over many years. Rushing will only cause you problems.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

Thanks.
I was just researching it. I found good stuff on reef-a-holic but they are mia.
I'm a bit iffy about buying live online.

 

[powers2001]

Is this a build thread? because if it is you got a good start.

 

[Greguls]

Looks nice, I wish I coulda sprung for a red sea max setup, but I actually enjoyed the DIY aspect of setting up my aquarium. Good luck and keep posting progression!

 

[KillerKlownFish]

DIY would have drove me nuts to set up. I'd be way to indecisive on what to get and I would probably have gone broke just trying to get it up and running.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

So I did a water change on Friday tested the water before and a few hours after.
Tested the water again today and nitrates and nitrites went down.

I may be ready for fish

 

[revhtree]

Well on your way!

 

[ARNALDOLEX]

looking good

 

[bairdimusprime]

Looks good! there are some great vendors here on R2R where in NJ are you located??

 

[KillerKlownFish]

I live near Westfield NJ.

Here's a pic of some neon green algae in my sand bed. Not sure if it's a build up of the same algae from the glass.
I googled it and it says it's nothing to worry about. Anyone else got advice.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

It's normal algae growth in the sand bed. My tank has something similar.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

So today I did a water change. I went to LFS got the saltwater. They had no fish for a 34 gallon tank. So I went to another LFS. The owner usually helps me, this time I got some young guy. I told him what I got RSM130d and that I just started and my tank is ready for fish. They didn't have much. I asked for something easy since I'm new. I got a scooter blenny $18. He's tiny. They threw in a frogspawn for $30 it was originally $45.
I get home I acclimate them. I look up the blenny. I thought they were herbivores! Found out scooters aren't easy to take care of. What to do?