40 gallon clear for life, First timer!!

[Klx110ripper]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm starting my first reef tank! pretty excited too!

So i had a buddy give me a clear for life uniquarium for free, was in great shape! My plan is to do a fish/reef tank, starting out very slow with maybe a pair of clowns and moving into some soft coral once the tank is establisihed! Have been doing all kinds of research and studying, my girlfriend is sick of me talking about aquariums all day lol

So the specs of my tank:

• Clear-for-Life 40 Gallon Uniquarium Tank
• 15"L x 36"W x 16"H
• Tank has built in filtration with a sump. 2 gallons of bio balls
• Fish and reef combined
• 40lbs Live dry rock
• caribsea live sand (reef sand)
• BH50 Coral octopus skimmer
• 1 jebao

I just replaced the main pump with a SICCE 2.0 2150L/H 568GPH pump.

still looking for a good light, came with a Marineland but I don’t plan on using.

many input would be greatly Appreciated

 

[Klx110ripper]

Heading to grand cayman on Friday to do some scuba diving for 10 days. Hoping to get my cycle started the week of 11/19

 

[Klx110ripper]

Back from diving, Hoping to add sand and water tonight! Plan on cycling with Dr. Tim's bacteria and Ammonia

 

[Klx110ripper]

Still looking for a light as well. Been looking at the reef breeder 24" V2+

 

[Casket_Case]

yeah, girlfriends tend to despise hearing the reef talk XD

 

[Chris2351]

Im interested in seeing this Build. I considered one of these tanks.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Wow. that cleaned up nice!

 

[arturoo1977]

Very nice tank! It looks like new.
May I suggest to re arrange rocks to have some clearance with laterals? That will make easier cleaning tasks in future.
Congrats on your new project!

 

[Klx110ripper]

Very nice tank! It looks like new.
May I suggest to re arrange rocks to have some clearance with laterals? That will make easier cleaning tasks in future.
Congrats on your new project!

Thanks for the input, i did do some moving around of the coral. I got it started cycling today, so i might play with it some more as i get bored during the cycle lol

 

[Klx110ripper]

As of this morning at 6am, starting to clear up

Had some trouble with my heater, was shorted out and shocking me every time i put my hand in the tank. So i ordered a new heater and a grounding cable.

 

[arturoo1977]

A GFDI receptacle is always a good idea.

 

[Klx110ripper]

Well had to do my first water change last night. Started adding dr tims ammonia bottle to reach 2PPM and i misread the bottle. Added wayyyy to much, should have read twice and added once lol But i took my ammonia test and it was at 8+PPM. So i changed out 12 gallons and got it down to 4PPM, hopefully it'll be down a little more when i get home from work. Also, i did add a bottle of the dr tims nitrifiyng bacteria to the tank as well.

 

[Klx110ripper]

Tank has been running for about 3 weeks now! The cycle went completely smooth. All paramaters are right where they need to be;

NH4- 0
NO2- 0
NO3- 10
SG- 1.023
TEMP-77.1
PH- 8.2
KH- 8
CAL- 230
PO4- 0

Also, i end up buying a reefbreeder photon v2+ and im really liking it so far!!!

Added a pair of banggai cardinal fish, they seem to be loving the tank!! I didn't get them as a bonded pair, was really hoping they were male and female but i think that was a fail. Good thing is they leave each other alone and still both eat very well during feeding time!!

 

[Klx110ripper]

A little update. Tank is going good, all parameters are stable. Had a diatom bloom about a week ago. So working daily on getting that back under control. Lowered the hours on lights and did some scrubbing

 

[Klx110ripper]

Wow its almost been a year since I updated the build. Done a lot of updates and a lot of additions. Have a new UV system, new Skimmer (HOB 100 reef octo). Using filter floss with a carbon bag. Tank has been running incredibly well, been fragging a lot of coral because its growing so fast!! Sorry for the lousy pictures lol

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Tank looks great! Good work.

 

[fishface NJ]

Looks nice and healthy. Congrats!

 

[Klx110ripper]

Thanks guys!! Love the hobby, already starting my upgrade, building a 220 peninsula for my living room.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Congrats on the new reef tank!

 

[Magneezy]

I’ve got the same tank, about to redo my scape. Anything you wish you would have done differently??