Tank is wet and ready to rock!

[DidYouSayReefer]

So I’ve been away from reefing for about 5 years. Started with a 29, moved to a 110, then down to a 60 cube. I mentioned getting back into it to the wife before Christmas so she got me EVO 13.5. I love the fact that reefs are so densely packed with life and they all work together to create an eco system. I’m going to try to keep this build simple and natural. Stock light (just because it’s a challenge and everyone upgrades right away), no skimmer, maybe a fuge in the back. So here we go, my first build thread.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Stock EVO 13.5
75 watt Jager Heater
Inkbird Temp Controller
Jebao SLW-10
AutoAqua lite ATO on the way
15 lbs of KP Aquatics uncured live rock which was amazing

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Here’s the scape I set up after the rock came in last week.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

When the rock came in, it took about 14 hours from the time it shipped until I got it. It was wrapped very well with plenty of life still.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Urchin and pistol were alive and well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Way to start. You know the #1 rule- go slow, stock slowly and research what you want to add for livestock

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

It was pretty chili, around 40 degrees in Columbus. The water was 66 degrees in the box by the time I put the rock in the tank.

 

[Fishy212]

Welcome back to the reeeeeef!! Nice build setup. Glad to see you got some nice rock and hitchhikers!!

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

I’ve done a 30% water change for the first 4 days to keep what’s alive in clean water in case there was a lot of die off. So on day 4 I figured I would throw a small
amount of reef frenzy in there for the life the life that may be hungry. To my surprise a mantis shot out of the rocks and grabbed a piece! It was so cool. I’ve done some research and I’m going to give him a chance to stay even if I have to keep buying snails. I’ll try to post a video. The one I just took is took large. He’s pretty cool.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Good plan, keep it simple. Looking good so far

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Installed my AutoAqua Smart ATO Lite today. I’ve got a key for reference on its small size. It pumps a water a little too fast for my liking so I’ll get a valve to sow it down. I’m only using a quart jar so it won’t ever overflow either way. I’m hopeful I can go a week in between fill ups. We’ll see.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

I used Velcro to secure the jar from animals tipping it.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

FTS with stand and blue light. The star was $130 at Home Goods and the shelves flip up for easy access which is great.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Urchin hitchhikers come out at night. I always catch them when I flip the lights on. Can’t believe they made it through shipping and cycle with mantis shrimp. So far my clown is safe.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

I added the CUC, 3 hermits and 5 snails last week. Mantis hasn’t touched them so far as he’s enjoying the frozen food I give the tank nightly. Doing weekly 30% water changes with Red Sea Coral Pro and everything is looking great. No major algae yet. Just enough for the CUC to eat.

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Brought home a nice BTA today. I bought one and there was a baby stuck to it so it was a bogo. Clown took to it with in just a few hours. The big one settled nicely where I put it so far but the baby has retreated behind the rock.