40gal Nuvo Fusion - First SW Tann

[jazonPartij]

I've been infatuated by marine life since I've been a kid. Now at 30, I'm starting my first SW reef tank. I'm super excited and have put a lot of thought and research into my tank. It's just starting to get exciting so I wanted to share my story. Please feel free to give any feedback as it would be greatly appreciated.

Instead of listing all of my equipment, here's a picture:

My DT:

Currently I'm seeding 4 sponges for my TTM quarantine
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/spars-tank-transfer-method.209690/
Thanks to Humblefish for this great article

Here's my TTM setup:

-I've got two 5.5 gallon tanks
-two aquaclear filters
-air pump and a bunch of airstones
-I will be treating with Prazipro
-I would really like to stick with the 72day quarantine period based on the recommendations of this write up, but I don't think I'll have the patience.

Once I had all of this set up and ready to go I went and got my first fish today. I wanted two but the LFS just didn't have another Clownfish that excited me. Some of the fish seemed to already show signs of ick in a separate tank so it's even better that I'm going through this TTM. I may go get another fish so "Chief" has a friend so that may through my 12 day cycle off a little.

He ate as soon as I got him acclimated and has been swimming around as happy as can be. I keep checking on him like a newborn baby to make sure he's still breathing. It's stressful having the wellbeing of something be your responsibility. Anyways follow along and I'll post more pictures as it progresses slowly.

Best,
Jazon

 

[jazonPartij]

I also reinforced the bottle of my tank stand just because I was extremely paranoid about this

 

[reefwiser]

You didn't spring for the stand. The IM stand for the fusion 40 is great Lots of storage space and holds my ATO water container.

 

[jazonPartij]

I wanted to spend that money on other equipment. Maybe I'll make that a Christmas present to myself. I worry that some of these stands are built like ikea furniture.

 

[jazonPartij]

I went to a LFS that I haven't been to yet in Manhattan called "Manhattan Aquariums." The team there was really great and much more informative than the last store I went, plus a better selection, so this is my new go to. After not of a need to be convinced, Tom recommended to get a controller because I was having trouble keeping the temperature controlled.

I got a Neptune Aquacontroller today. More to come on that after I get it set up.

The main purpose of my visit was to get "Chief" a friend. After acclimation my new unnamed clownfish immediately joined "Chief" for comfort.

 

[jazonPartij]

My fish have been in my tank for about two weeks now. I through in a cleaner crew of 8 hermit crabs and 3 snails. I want some more snails and a fire shrimp.

I've added an ATO since my last post. Works like a charm. I also bought some two part dosing from Kent but right now my parameters are:

Magnesium: 1300
Calcium: 460
dKH: 8

Today I got my first corals. Very excited and nervous that I've done all of my research. I started them low in the tank to begin photo acclimating them. I've got two ATI T5s for now and next week will have a combo t5/halide fixture. After about 45mins some of the polyps came out and after about 2hrs almost all of them have slight polyp extension to good extension.

Left first two:
Quadra Color Millepora
Tropic Thunder

Next 6 from Left to Right & top to bottom:
Cotton candy
Pink bliss
Mystic horizon

Blue lagoon
Blue rainbow Millepora
Disney

Last two (right):
Jamba Juice
Strawberry shortcake

I'd love to hear your thoughts and criticisms.

 

[jazonPartij]

Just got done scaping my new corals.

I put them in the sand for a week. Tomorrow I'm getting a T5/halide combo light. Currently I just have two T5. I started them at 6hrs and increased the light cycle by 2 hrs every 3 or 4 days. Once I put the Halides in I'm going to cut the light cycle back to 6hrs again and do the same thing but over two weeks. Once I get the halides then my tank is finally up and running and hopefully everything I've done to get to this point will be successful.

 

[jazonPartij]

Ps my Disneyland is right in the center

 

[melypr1985]

What a great and well researched start! Gotta love it when a plan comes together. Good Job!

 

[jazonPartij]

What a great and well researched start! Gotta love it when a plan comes together. Good Job!

Thanks!

 

[jazonPartij]

Some more random pics.

 

[jazonPartij]

So I ordered some brine shrimp. I'm going to try to grow my own live food based on Paul B's recommendations to increase the immunity of my fish. I'd rather them eat all live food. I'm also going to start raising and dosing copepods. If anyone has suggestions how to raise worms I'd like to be self sustaining in feeding my tank.

 

[melypr1985]

I do the bbs right now. Its super easy to do. The only fish that eats from the feeder is the cardinal as of right now, though i did see my purple tang munching down once. I know the mandarin is getting some cause its gaining weight slowly. Good luck! Im interested in how easy it is to do the copepods and worms too.

 

[jazonPartij]

I do the bbs right now. Its super easy to do. The only fish that eats from the feeder is the cardinal as of right now, though i did see my purple tang munching down once. I know the mandarin is getting some cause its gaining weight slowly. Good luck! Im interested in how easy it is to do the copepods and worms too.

I'm having trouble getting them to hatch. How do I know that they've hatched? Am I going to be able to see them? They've been in the hatching bottle for about 24hrs now.

 

[jazonPartij]

Just received and installed the T5/halide light. I'm not crazy about the color. Any suggestions on a good halide bulb?

 

[jazonPartij]

 

[jazonPartij]

Any help getting some color?

 

[jazonPartij]

I'm trying to hatch brine shrimp eggs. Looks simple enough but my first two attempts didn't work. Anything wrong with this setup? How long does it take the hatch and how long can I keep them in this "hatchery" before I need to move it to a larger container?

 

[jazonPartij]

I got some new corals. I really want to pack the corals in I guess. I hope I'm not overdoing it.

I can't wait to see how the tank looks in a year.

 

[jazonPartij]

I also just got the new hydra 26 hd. My mounting kit doesn't work for it . Now I have to wait for that.