MySoCalReef
Community Member
Three months ago my family went for a bike ride and came across a local fish store. Three months and a fortune spent later, here we are 
! This is the (short version of the) story of my very first aquarium:
I ordered the main components on Black Friday 2024:
Red Sea Reefer Max S 550 G2+
Red Sea ReefDose 4
120lbs of Caribsea Special Grade Aragonite Sand (I only used 80lbs)
~150lbs of a few kinds of Marco Rock (mostly premium shelf)
Once it arrived, I spent a couple days building the stand, it took me a few days to coordinate help to lift the tank onto the stand (5 large guys lifted it easily), another couple days plumbing everything, and 2 more days (and 7 lbs of mortar) building the rock. On 12/22/24 I made my first mistake. I dumped the sand straight into the tank (forgetting to rinse it) and filled it up. Here's my dust storm:
I fishless cycled with 16 oz Fritz-Zyme TurboStart 900 and Brightwell Aquatics Ammonia.
On day 9 (1/1/25) I noticed my alkalinity had dropped all the way to 5.6dkh. I started heavily dosing AquaVitro eight.four to raise it.
On day 18 (1/10/25) I turned on the lights and added 4 different kinds of copepods and ARC's Pink and Purple Coralline algae. I started adding phyto everyday. Ammonia was 0 and Nitrates were ~15ppm. The Nitrite test I was using was still maxed out at 5.
On day 21 (1/13/25), I did a large water change.
On day 23 (1/15/25), I added my first fish: 2 Ora Mocha Gladiator Ocellaris Clownfish (pair), and 1 Ora Striped Blenny.
On day 24 (1/16/25) my phosphates were high (0.11ppm). I talked to my LFS and added 15ml of Red Sea NoPox. My tank got a little cloudy and my nitrates dropped from 12ppm all the way to zero. I'm not so sure this was a good idea.
On day 25 (1/17/25) I noticed some spots that turned out to be my first diatoms. I added a tuxedo urchin and 10 cerith snails (Both from Ora).
On day 27 (1/19/25) Ammonia, nitrites, and Nitrates all tested 0ppm, salinity tested 35ppt, phosphates tested 0.07ppm, alkalinity tested 8.3dKH, pH tested 8.1.
Today is day 34. The diatoms are dying off (they're clogging up my reefmat), and there are quite a few neon green algae spots that are starting to grow. Here is where I'm at right now:
A few notes: I added a Clearview lid, and some Unreef shades on the lights. I can't believe how poorly adjusted the RS lights on the RS stands were. They threw so much light all the way around the tank. Adding the shades made the tank so much more enjoyable. I still need to install The ReefDose 4, and a Plank Auto feeder from Avast Marine. I also reaaallly need to organize all of the controllers and wires underneath the aquarium. I want to add a battery backup, but need to get the wife onboard with the additional cost first. I have 3 Banggai Cardinalfish and a Helfrichi Firefish (all pre-QT'd) on the way from Adam at Ocean Devotion LA. I also have a huge cleanup crew on the way from John at Reefcleaners. Expect some more updates soon
! This is the (short version of the) story of my very first aquarium:I ordered the main components on Black Friday 2024:
Red Sea Reefer Max S 550 G2+
Red Sea ReefDose 4
120lbs of Caribsea Special Grade Aragonite Sand (I only used 80lbs)
~150lbs of a few kinds of Marco Rock (mostly premium shelf)
Once it arrived, I spent a couple days building the stand, it took me a few days to coordinate help to lift the tank onto the stand (5 large guys lifted it easily), another couple days plumbing everything, and 2 more days (and 7 lbs of mortar) building the rock. On 12/22/24 I made my first mistake. I dumped the sand straight into the tank (forgetting to rinse it) and filled it up. Here's my dust storm
:I fishless cycled with 16 oz Fritz-Zyme TurboStart 900 and Brightwell Aquatics Ammonia.
On day 9 (1/1/25) I noticed my alkalinity had dropped all the way to 5.6dkh. I started heavily dosing AquaVitro eight.four to raise it.
On day 18 (1/10/25) I turned on the lights and added 4 different kinds of copepods and ARC's Pink and Purple Coralline algae. I started adding phyto everyday. Ammonia was 0 and Nitrates were ~15ppm. The Nitrite test I was using was still maxed out at 5.
On day 21 (1/13/25), I did a large water change.
On day 23 (1/15/25), I added my first fish: 2 Ora Mocha Gladiator Ocellaris Clownfish (pair), and 1 Ora Striped Blenny.
On day 24 (1/16/25) my phosphates were high (0.11ppm). I talked to my LFS and added 15ml of Red Sea NoPox. My tank got a little cloudy and my nitrates dropped from 12ppm all the way to zero. I'm not so sure this was a good idea.
On day 25 (1/17/25) I noticed some spots that turned out to be my first diatoms. I added a tuxedo urchin and 10 cerith snails (Both from Ora).
On day 27 (1/19/25) Ammonia, nitrites, and Nitrates all tested 0ppm, salinity tested 35ppt, phosphates tested 0.07ppm, alkalinity tested 8.3dKH, pH tested 8.1.
Today is day 34. The diatoms are dying off (they're clogging up my reefmat), and there are quite a few neon green algae spots that are starting to grow. Here is where I'm at right now:
A few notes: I added a Clearview lid, and some Unreef shades on the lights. I can't believe how poorly adjusted the RS lights on the RS stands were. They threw so much light all the way around the tank. Adding the shades made the tank so much more enjoyable. I still need to install The ReefDose 4, and a Plank Auto feeder from Avast Marine. I also reaaallly need to organize all of the controllers and wires underneath the aquarium. I want to add a battery backup, but need to get the wife onboard with the additional cost first
. I have 3 Banggai Cardinalfish and a Helfrichi Firefish (all pre-QT'd) on the way from Adam at Ocean Devotion LA. I also have a huge cleanup crew on the way from John at Reefcleaners. Expect some more updates soon 
