Hello all,
I have finally started my reef tank after a lot of research, decision-making, and bank-breaking. Today, I DIY'd my stand (still a work-in-progress, I want to add walls and a door but the wood I got cut at Home depot is slightly too large), set up my RO/DI filter, and filled my tank up. I just added Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride (2-3 ppm) and a mix of both BIO-Spira and Nite-Out II. My current plan is to:
1. Get the tank cycled
2. Add clean-up crew (still not fully determined, probably some blue-leg hermit crabs and some snails)
3. Beat the ugly phase + Grow coralline algae
4. Add corals (I am in love with euphyllia, especially torches, so they get priority)
5. Add a bubble-tip anemone
6. Maybe add more corals
7. Finally add a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish. I know I can get them before adding anemone and they don't even need it (hell I can even do it when I'm done cycling), but I want the tank to be very stable and a small, yet welcoming, paradise for them
I know this process is going to take a while. I am still in the process of setting up my ATO system, I think I will DIY it as well because it just seems really expensive to me for such a simple function. I also need to get a lid-- I think lids are also much more expensive than they should be so I might DIY it even though it won't look nearly as pretty as a Kraken lid. I am using Red Sea tests and will be constantly checking my nitrates and phosphates for the next few weeks and once I'm ready to grow coralline (getting ready for corals) I will try to test my magnesium and calcium as well. I also need to look into some fail-safes for when my heaters eventually fail (I'm currently using 1 titanium heater by AquaTop, they have worked in my freshwater tanks really well), so feel free to recommend some. My light is an AI Prime 16HD, but it is currently not up because I don't feel safe using the ceiling hangers so I want the more rigid tank mount.
Here is my tank now, though you cannot make anything out because it is cloudy from the sand and salt (I did not pre-mix it although I probably should have-- I only have 1 bucket right now so I thought this would be fine). You can also see my stand so far, I glued and nailed an 18x18 inch yoga mat under it to help with the inherent slight stabilization issues (it's my first time working with wood and my floor is slanted), and it seems to be helping though it looks kind of weird.
I have finally started my reef tank after a lot of research, decision-making, and bank-breaking. Today, I DIY'd my stand (still a work-in-progress, I want to add walls and a door but the wood I got cut at Home depot is slightly too large), set up my RO/DI filter, and filled my tank up. I just added Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride (2-3 ppm) and a mix of both BIO-Spira and Nite-Out II. My current plan is to:
1. Get the tank cycled
2. Add clean-up crew (still not fully determined, probably some blue-leg hermit crabs and some snails)
3. Beat the ugly phase + Grow coralline algae
4. Add corals (I am in love with euphyllia, especially torches, so they get priority)
5. Add a bubble-tip anemone
6. Maybe add more corals
7. Finally add a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish. I know I can get them before adding anemone and they don't even need it (hell I can even do it when I'm done cycling), but I want the tank to be very stable and a small, yet welcoming, paradise for them
I know this process is going to take a while. I am still in the process of setting up my ATO system, I think I will DIY it as well because it just seems really expensive to me for such a simple function. I also need to get a lid-- I think lids are also much more expensive than they should be so I might DIY it even though it won't look nearly as pretty as a Kraken lid. I am using Red Sea tests and will be constantly checking my nitrates and phosphates for the next few weeks and once I'm ready to grow coralline (getting ready for corals) I will try to test my magnesium and calcium as well. I also need to look into some fail-safes for when my heaters eventually fail (I'm currently using 1 titanium heater by AquaTop, they have worked in my freshwater tanks really well), so feel free to recommend some. My light is an AI Prime 16HD, but it is currently not up because I don't feel safe using the ceiling hangers so I want the more rigid tank mount.
Here is my tank now, though you cannot make anything out because it is cloudy from the sand and salt (I did not pre-mix it although I probably should have-- I only have 1 bucket right now so I thought this would be fine). You can also see my stand so far, I glued and nailed an 18x18 inch yoga mat under it to help with the inherent slight stabilization issues (it's my first time working with wood and my floor is slanted), and it seems to be helping though it looks kind of weird.