WaterBox Marine X 60.2 (1st reef tank ever) Mixed Reef project

Alexoss · Apr 9, 2021

So here we are, my first reef experience, the tank itself should be home in about 4 weeks directly from WaterBox.
It's gonna be a Marine X 60.2 (36 gallons tank + 18.5 gallons sump).

I open this thread to get advices as it'll be my first ever reef tank, i'll make mistakes for sure but luckily with your help i'm gonna learn about those in the best way possible.
(Precision, english isn't my birth language so you might read a few mistakes, sorry about that.)
I do A LOT of research on my own, but my plan might have some flaws i don't see yet, so feel free to point those mistakes if you see some.

First things first, the gear (95% already received) :
- Skimmer : Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite
- Return pump : Jebao DCA6000
- Light : 1 x AI Prime 16HD Reef
- Heater : Eheim Jager 250w with InkBird ITC-308 controller
- Powerhead : 2x Nero 3 (opposed)
- Refugium light : Growstar 150w UFO
- Salt : IO Reef Crystals
- RO/DI 100gpd
- MarinePure balls in sump
- Flipper Magnet
- Hannah meter for the salt
- TDS meter
- Various API, RedSea tests kits to cover all the water parameters.

Aquascape will be made with 50% Real Reef Rock Artifical Live Rock from J&L aquatics and the remaining 50% from base rocks i already own plus marco rocks, sealed together with Coralcrete to get something nice and stable.

The plan is to start that tank fishless (of course) with Microbacter7 for a few weeks without turning the skimmer or the light on to get the parameters as stable as possible without algae.
A fellow canadian is gonna provide me scraps of coraline to go in the tank and a ball of chaeto to go in the sump.
Once the tank is stable enough, i'll add a pair of clowns, and probably a tang (i know he will outgrow that tank so i will relocate him once he's too big, probably in my next bigger tank if my experience is conclusive).
The corals will be added in the next weeks if no nuisance algae growth is visible, i will start with easy corals, zoa, leathers... and an anemone for the clowns.

That's pretty much about it, can't wait ti receive the tank and to begin this journey, with a little fear and a lot of excitement !

lapin · Apr 9, 2021

Alexoss · Apr 11, 2021

So the wife surprised me yesterday and was waiting for my 5feet cichlid tank to be sold to tell me that she'll help me to invest in a 5feet reef tank for my 40th birthday in a few month, best wife ever !

ReeferPolly · Apr 11, 2021

Busy setting up my first waterbox. You'll be very impressed with the quality.

Zach B · Apr 11, 2021

Sounds awesome and what a great bday present! Following along

Alexoss · Apr 11, 2021

@ReeferPolly That's what i read everywhere, was initially going for a RedSea, but the WB tanks instantly catched my eyes when i saw various pictures of established WB setups.
Which model did you get ?

Alexoss · Apr 11, 2021

Z&KFarmsWI said:
Sounds awesome and what a great bday present! Following along

I just didn't sleep well last night because of how excited i'm !

Alexoss · Apr 15, 2021

Everything's here...except the rocks....and the tank itself...can't wait !

Alexoss · Apr 19, 2021

30lbs of premium Fiji live Rock ordered from Aquarium Illusion, 24h delivery, plan to cure them for a few weeks while waiting for the tank.

Joshua123 · Apr 19, 2021

Getting quite the stash there, following along for the setup

Alexoss · Apr 23, 2021

Live rocks came in today, bought from Aquarium Illusion, shipping cost was off the chart but fast, 2 days to cross Canada from west to east.
Packaging was just okay, a thin polystyrene box that didn't resist the handling, in a plastic sheet.
Very few wet newspaper in it but the rocks were still kinda wet, most important there was a nice sea smell when i opened it, no foul smell or anything rotten like so i guess it's all good.
Found two dead bristtleworms in the box, so there might be more in the rocks.
The rocks are now in a salwater bucket with heater and wave maker while waiting for the tank that should be here in about 2 or 3 weeks.

FrontRangeReefer · May 6, 2021

Looking forward to following your build! I think you’ll be impressed with the quality of the tank once it arrives.

If you’re interested, feel free to follow my build here

Alexoss · May 6, 2021

@FrontRangeReefer still waiting for the Marine X to come, but i did receive my Reef 200.6 today, and you re right, quality is flawless, will work on it tomorow !

Alexoss · Jul 6, 2021

After weeks of waiting, finally got the delivery last week, tank is now up and running, already saw nitrates after only 2 days wet (put liquid ammonia in the first days, around 2ppm), thanks to the whole lot of rocks, marine pure balls already seeded in my 200.6 for 8 weeks, even took the water from the big tank to fill this one, guess it'll be an express cycling process !
Done a home made sump baffle to create a refugium and i'm pretty pleased with the result, no water fall noise !

Next step will be adding chaeto and pods from the big tank, then first livestock abd corals (softies).

Shawaiz_106 · Aug 13, 2021

looks great, definitely following this build

Alexoss · Sep 15, 2021

2 months into this build, everything's doing great, first fish (2 clowns) and first easy corals are all doing fine and growing.
Had a bit of uglies in the first months, still a little of brown-ish carpeting spots on the sand, but nothing too extreme.
No3 on the high side, increased the light time of my home made fuge to help.
Not impressed with the AI Prime 16HD, not as bright as i would want, and to much shadows on the sides, tried several heights, no miracle here, thinking about switching to Radion XR15 (blue ? pro ?), any feedback would be awesome from you guys about this light switch.

Alexoss · Sep 29, 2021

This tank being beside the sofa, it was anoying getting the light in the face, specially at night, but i love moon light tho, so after months of hesitation, i just bought my first 3D printer, and after two little test objects, here come my first 3D useful print.
I have still to learn how to 3D model, but learning is fun !