Hi Everyone,
This is way overdue. About 6 months overdue to be exact.
Initially this tank was going to be a softy dominant tank with some LPS. Maybe an SPS or two. Welp, that didn't last long..
I would describe my infatuation with Montipora as professionally romantic. The different growth forms and color combinations have me a tad obsessed.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.. Let's rewind ~6 months and start at the beginning.
Equipment:
Tank - Waterbox Reef 100.3
Powerheads - Ecotech MP10QD (x2)
Return Pump - Sicce Syncra Silent 3.0
Lights - Ecotech XR15 G4 Pro (x2) with diffusers on Ecotech Tank Mounts
Heater - Inkbird Controller running Neotherm and Titanium
ATO - Tunze Osmolator 3155
UV Sterilizer - Green Killing Machine (24W)
Skimmer - Bubble Magus Curve 5 Pro
Lid - ClearView Classic
Battery Backup - Ecotech Backup Battery
RODI - BRS 6 Stage Deluxe Plus 100GPD System
Salt - HW Wiegandt Reefer
Rock - Dry Marco Rock
Sand - CaribSea Aragonite Fiji Pink Dry Sand
Python Water Changer to remove water from DT with Sicce Ultra Zero Utility Pump set up to pump fresh salt water back to DT. (best thing ever - back saver)
I finished the leak test, drained the tank and filled with RODI and salt mix (no inhabitants at this time). Plugged in the return pump literally at 12:01am, September 9th, 2021.
Isn't she beautiful (it's funny writing this months in the future and looking back).
The next 2 months I ran the tank with the lights out and performed only top offs, no water changes. About 1.5 months in, I seeded the tank by placing a small piece of live rock from my LFS in the sump. I wanted to begin establishing pods, algae, bacteria, etc as the tank finished its 'lights out' cycle. After two weeks I removed the piece of live rock from the sump and tossed it in the backyard. It was a different type of rock than I had in my DT and it had served it's purpose well. I don't keep rock in my sump for a variety of reasons.
While I was letting the tank cycle, I focused on setting up my water mixing station and figured out my wire management. This stuff is pretty boring to most people, so I'll spare you the details, but I am very happy with how everything turned out. And yes, I do have all my plugs labelled.
Mixing Station:
Equipment Cabinet:
Inside:
I run all my Ecotech gear through my Reeflink utilizing the old school EcoSmartLive. Mobius is an abomination.
Two months in, December 2021, I turned on the lights and began introducing the first inhabitants. I purchased a Purple Firefish and Pigmy Yellow Banded Wrasse from TSM Aquatics. The Wrasse didn't make it past day two, but the Firefish is still alive and healthy. I then added four Blue Green Chromis, a Biota Yellow Tang, and a Long fin Flasher Wrasse. I also began to add some zoas, a duncan and some other misc corals. I also added a few bags of pods as well as some CUC from Reefcleaners.
Here she is ~ 2 months in:
In my next post I will cover some small things I've added along the way as well as an updated coral stocking list with some pics.
This is way overdue. About 6 months overdue to be exact.
Initially this tank was going to be a softy dominant tank with some LPS. Maybe an SPS or two. Welp, that didn't last long..
I would describe my infatuation with Montipora as professionally romantic. The different growth forms and color combinations have me a tad obsessed.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.. Let's rewind ~6 months and start at the beginning.
Equipment:
Tank - Waterbox Reef 100.3
Powerheads - Ecotech MP10QD (x2)
Return Pump - Sicce Syncra Silent 3.0
Lights - Ecotech XR15 G4 Pro (x2) with diffusers on Ecotech Tank Mounts
Heater - Inkbird Controller running Neotherm and Titanium
ATO - Tunze Osmolator 3155
UV Sterilizer - Green Killing Machine (24W)
Skimmer - Bubble Magus Curve 5 Pro
Lid - ClearView Classic
Battery Backup - Ecotech Backup Battery
RODI - BRS 6 Stage Deluxe Plus 100GPD System
Salt - HW Wiegandt Reefer
Rock - Dry Marco Rock
Sand - CaribSea Aragonite Fiji Pink Dry Sand
Python Water Changer to remove water from DT with Sicce Ultra Zero Utility Pump set up to pump fresh salt water back to DT. (best thing ever - back saver)
I finished the leak test, drained the tank and filled with RODI and salt mix (no inhabitants at this time). Plugged in the return pump literally at 12:01am, September 9th, 2021.
Isn't she beautiful (it's funny writing this months in the future and looking back).
The next 2 months I ran the tank with the lights out and performed only top offs, no water changes. About 1.5 months in, I seeded the tank by placing a small piece of live rock from my LFS in the sump. I wanted to begin establishing pods, algae, bacteria, etc as the tank finished its 'lights out' cycle. After two weeks I removed the piece of live rock from the sump and tossed it in the backyard. It was a different type of rock than I had in my DT and it had served it's purpose well. I don't keep rock in my sump for a variety of reasons.
While I was letting the tank cycle, I focused on setting up my water mixing station and figured out my wire management. This stuff is pretty boring to most people, so I'll spare you the details, but I am very happy with how everything turned out. And yes, I do have all my plugs labelled.
Mixing Station:
Equipment Cabinet:
Inside:
I run all my Ecotech gear through my Reeflink utilizing the old school EcoSmartLive. Mobius is an abomination.
Two months in, December 2021, I turned on the lights and began introducing the first inhabitants. I purchased a Purple Firefish and Pigmy Yellow Banded Wrasse from TSM Aquatics. The Wrasse didn't make it past day two, but the Firefish is still alive and healthy. I then added four Blue Green Chromis, a Biota Yellow Tang, and a Long fin Flasher Wrasse. I also began to add some zoas, a duncan and some other misc corals. I also added a few bags of pods as well as some CUC from Reefcleaners.
Here she is ~ 2 months in:
In my next post I will cover some small things I've added along the way as well as an updated coral stocking list with some pics.
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