Well, I've been lurking around here long enough and figured I might as well get it going.
I started this version of my reef back in August of 2017 after moving from MN to OR via a stop over back in TX. Before coming to OR, I sold off my tank and equipment thinking I would not get back into the hobby until I was more settled. That thought changed when I was internet window shopping tanks and came across the CAD Lights Aquariums "Shallow Reef Versa II."
The tank went up in August of 2017 with a very basic set up, added CaribSea "Special Grade Live Sand" and wondered if there was really anything live in the sand so I attempted to cycle to tank with only the sand and it worked - so I guess there really is bacteria in that there sand!.
I decided to go with live ocean rock and ordered from ARCreef.com because I though there rock was very nice looking and they use the proceeds to fund their research. Unfortunately, hurricane Irma hit and it was not until after Thanksgiving of 2017 that I finally received my shipment of rock. It came from Florida to Oregon with very little die off and was looking awesome in just a few weeks.
I have focused on stocking the tank with coral and invertebrates from the Caribbean, specifically the US Virgin Island area. I have discovered that most, if not all of these coral species are protected, I had to settle on close cousins of these species. So far I have been satisfied with how it is going. I did get several more native species of SPS on the live rock and several Gorgonian that must have been tiny specimens on the rock as I never saw them until they had grown large enough to be visible.
My reef tank was my first time into the hobby and I made huge mistakes, mostly because I didn't follow a wonderful community like Reef2Reef and tried to research out everything on my own. After fits and starts it was doing okay and then the move from MN to TX came.
With the new tank, I instituted continuous automatic water changes, changing out a gallon a day, along with a minimal dosing of 2 part. For me this has resulted in a tank that is very stable.
Here is a photo of my aquarium right after adding the live rock in late November 2017. I will get more photo posted of current state.
I started this version of my reef back in August of 2017 after moving from MN to OR via a stop over back in TX. Before coming to OR, I sold off my tank and equipment thinking I would not get back into the hobby until I was more settled. That thought changed when I was internet window shopping tanks and came across the CAD Lights Aquariums "Shallow Reef Versa II."
The tank went up in August of 2017 with a very basic set up, added CaribSea "Special Grade Live Sand" and wondered if there was really anything live in the sand so I attempted to cycle to tank with only the sand and it worked - so I guess there really is bacteria in that there sand!.
I decided to go with live ocean rock and ordered from ARCreef.com because I though there rock was very nice looking and they use the proceeds to fund their research. Unfortunately, hurricane Irma hit and it was not until after Thanksgiving of 2017 that I finally received my shipment of rock. It came from Florida to Oregon with very little die off and was looking awesome in just a few weeks.
I have focused on stocking the tank with coral and invertebrates from the Caribbean, specifically the US Virgin Island area. I have discovered that most, if not all of these coral species are protected, I had to settle on close cousins of these species. So far I have been satisfied with how it is going. I did get several more native species of SPS on the live rock and several Gorgonian that must have been tiny specimens on the rock as I never saw them until they had grown large enough to be visible.
My reef tank was my first time into the hobby and I made huge mistakes, mostly because I didn't follow a wonderful community like Reef2Reef and tried to research out everything on my own. After fits and starts it was doing okay and then the move from MN to TX came.
With the new tank, I instituted continuous automatic water changes, changing out a gallon a day, along with a minimal dosing of 2 part. For me this has resulted in a tank that is very stable.
Here is a photo of my aquarium right after adding the live rock in late November 2017. I will get more photo posted of current state.
