- Joined
- Jan 3, 2020
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 71
Alright folks. After a false start a year ago and watching hundreds of YouTube videos, it's time to start a build thread for real. The tank was ordered last month (still waiting for a shipping notice ), so who knows when it will actually show up but the equipment and supplies have started being delivered. I'm excited!
So here's equipment list:
Marine X 90.3
Reef Octopus VarioS-4
Kessil AP700 light panel
Marcorocks dry rock
CaribSea Special Grade Arag-Alive!
6 Stage Deluxe Plus 100GPD RO/DI System
2x Icecap 2K Gyre Flow Pump w/ dual pump controller
XP Aqua Duetto
2x Finnex HMX Titanium 300 WATT aquarium heater w/ controller
Ultimate refugium starter pack - Large
Tunze Eco Chic Refugium LED Light 8831
25 Watt Classic UV Sterilizer - White Body - Aqua Ultraviolet
VarioS-2 Controllable DC Pump (792 GPH) - Reef Octopus
klir Di-4 Drop-In Fleece Filter System
I've been following Ryan's new tank videos over on BRSTV and YouTube with great interest. The video they did with Colby Johnson of Aquabiomics was pretty fascinating (though the audio problems make it almost unwatchable. you've been warned). But the idea that the biggest problem with starting with dry rock is that the bacterial supplements (like Fritz turbo start and Dr. Tim's) that we use to cycle new tanks do not supply microbial diversity to the system is fascinating. And kinda obvious once you think about it. And the bacterial blooms, dino, cyan and algae outbreaks (i.e. new tank syndrome) seem to be a direct result of the lack of diversity. From watching those and other videos, it seems to me that the way to go is to cycle the tank with bacterial supplements but then quickly (in the week or so) put in some softies and a hardy LPS or two (from different sources) hoping that they will bring along microbial hitchhikers to add diversity. And then add couple clown fish (or other hardy fish) to add ammonia to the system for the microbes and the coral. I also plan on setting up a QT system for the fish and dipping the coral first of course! Tidal Gardens recently posted a couple of QT videos where they use prazipro for internal parasites and then formalin instead of copper for ich, velvet, etc. I'm going to give that a try. Anyone else try formalin yet? What was your experience with it?
You'll notice that I don't have a skimmer on my list. I've decided to just go with filter socks and a refugium to start and the switch over to Klir Di-4 after a few months once I have a few more fish in there. Algae barn has a refugium starter pack that I'm going to order. I'll keep a close eye on my nutrients and see how things go.
I am also going to add a UV sterilizer and plumb it into a manifold with it's own VariouS-2 pump. From the BRS investigates series, it looks like running a UV for bacteria and algae (at least when starting with dry rock) isn't terribly effective. So the plan is to run at fish parasite killing levels (400 gph for my setup) using its own pump. The second pump also adds redundancy.
I was planning to go with Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt but it looks like everyone is out right now (I'm guessing pandemic related) but I'm not sure yet what I'll do there. I'm guessing that I'm still a few weeks away from getting the tank so I can afford to be patient about that. What do you folks think in terms of alternatives?
I'm really interested in hearing about your experiences with QT using formalin and your thoughts about microbial diversity and way to achieve it. Otherwise my next update will likely be when I get a shipping notification from Waterbox!
So here's equipment list:
Marine X 90.3
Reef Octopus VarioS-4
Kessil AP700 light panel
Marcorocks dry rock
CaribSea Special Grade Arag-Alive!
6 Stage Deluxe Plus 100GPD RO/DI System
2x Icecap 2K Gyre Flow Pump w/ dual pump controller
XP Aqua Duetto
2x Finnex HMX Titanium 300 WATT aquarium heater w/ controller
Ultimate refugium starter pack - Large
Tunze Eco Chic Refugium LED Light 8831
25 Watt Classic UV Sterilizer - White Body - Aqua Ultraviolet
VarioS-2 Controllable DC Pump (792 GPH) - Reef Octopus
klir Di-4 Drop-In Fleece Filter System
I've been following Ryan's new tank videos over on BRSTV and YouTube with great interest. The video they did with Colby Johnson of Aquabiomics was pretty fascinating (though the audio problems make it almost unwatchable. you've been warned). But the idea that the biggest problem with starting with dry rock is that the bacterial supplements (like Fritz turbo start and Dr. Tim's) that we use to cycle new tanks do not supply microbial diversity to the system is fascinating. And kinda obvious once you think about it. And the bacterial blooms, dino, cyan and algae outbreaks (i.e. new tank syndrome) seem to be a direct result of the lack of diversity. From watching those and other videos, it seems to me that the way to go is to cycle the tank with bacterial supplements but then quickly (in the week or so) put in some softies and a hardy LPS or two (from different sources) hoping that they will bring along microbial hitchhikers to add diversity. And then add couple clown fish (or other hardy fish) to add ammonia to the system for the microbes and the coral. I also plan on setting up a QT system for the fish and dipping the coral first of course! Tidal Gardens recently posted a couple of QT videos where they use prazipro for internal parasites and then formalin instead of copper for ich, velvet, etc. I'm going to give that a try. Anyone else try formalin yet? What was your experience with it?
You'll notice that I don't have a skimmer on my list. I've decided to just go with filter socks and a refugium to start and the switch over to Klir Di-4 after a few months once I have a few more fish in there. Algae barn has a refugium starter pack that I'm going to order. I'll keep a close eye on my nutrients and see how things go.
I am also going to add a UV sterilizer and plumb it into a manifold with it's own VariouS-2 pump. From the BRS investigates series, it looks like running a UV for bacteria and algae (at least when starting with dry rock) isn't terribly effective. So the plan is to run at fish parasite killing levels (400 gph for my setup) using its own pump. The second pump also adds redundancy.
I was planning to go with Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt but it looks like everyone is out right now (I'm guessing pandemic related) but I'm not sure yet what I'll do there. I'm guessing that I'm still a few weeks away from getting the tank so I can afford to be patient about that. What do you folks think in terms of alternatives?
I'm really interested in hearing about your experiences with QT using formalin and your thoughts about microbial diversity and way to achieve it. Otherwise my next update will likely be when I get a shipping notification from Waterbox!