Bronc's 25g Reef Build

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

So much has changed in the last 15 years since I last had a reef tank. My last tank was 110g with a home built sump, Oceanic Protein Skimmmer (that I don't think I ever had working correctly), bio-balls and (6) T5 strips. When I moved that tank from the middle of Tulsa, OK to Broken Arrow, OK near the city's water treatment plant I could never keep anything alive and couldn't figure out why. (Well, I knew it was the water, but not what was IN the water) I now know that it was the super high amounts of chloramine.

Fast forward 15 yrs, and I got the itch again and started reading online and found that a LFS near me provides RO/DI & RO/DI saltwater! This is PERFECT for me, as I only have a 25g tank (left over from a turtle). After talking with Seth at coralguy.com (my LFS) I jumped in and setup my tank.

25g Tall tank
Tetra Whisper 40i Internal Power Filter (I know.. its what I have for now..)
Aqueon 200w heater
Odyssea T5 Quad 24 Lights with 10K/Actinic/LED
25lbs of live rock
20lbs of Caribsea Arag-Alive Reef Sand

Here is Day 1:

IMG_3017 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3021 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3024 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Day 4:

IMG_3026 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

After a week of cycling, I was able to add livestock:

IMG_0010 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_0011 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_0013 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3028 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3029 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

larangcon · Mar 31, 2016

Second chance is always a charm. Good looking tank you got there.

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

I also added a Jebao RW-8 Wavemaker. It's a bit large for this size aquarium, but I'm hoping to upgrade to a larger tank in the future.

Day 9:

IMG_3030 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3031 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

and on Day 10 I found a Brittle Star in my rock

IMG_3034 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3038 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

So everything was going great, and then my granddaughter decided to feed the fish while we were away one evening..

IMG_3041 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

This was full before I left:

IMG_3043 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

I spent hours sucking food out, adding Prime and doing a partial water change..

IMG_3042 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

But in the end, decided to start over. Washed off the live rock and got new sand and water.

IMG_3044 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_3045 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Decided to re-aquascape as well after reading a thread on here.

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

Added a Reef Octopus Classic 100-HOB Protein Skimmer as well. AMAZINGLY, even though I lost all of my fish after the "overfeeding" all of my corals survived.

IMG_0022 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

New fish and my old corals! Thanks again to Seth at coralguy.com for babysitting my corals and taking such great care of me.

IMG_0023 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

IMG_0028 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Also added a Watchman Goby:

IMG_3049 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

Today when the lights came on, I was surprised to see a ton of Pods all over my back glass, etc. I've never added any, but I'm happy to see them!

IMG_3052 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

pelphrey · Mar 31, 2016

Welcome back! As my first and only child at the moment gets older I have to constantly remind myself to put all foods & chemicals up and make sure she can't get into the tank cabinets! Glad you were able to rebound!

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

pelphrey said:
Welcome back! As my first and only child at the moment gets older I have to constantly remind myself to put all foods & chemicals up and make sure she can't get into the tank cabinets! Glad you were able to rebound!

Thanks! If it had to happen, I'm glad it happened so early in the process.

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

FTS as of today

IMG_3055 by BroncoBob9, on Flickr

Reefnoobie12 · Mar 31, 2016

looking good! Nice simple set up! reminds me of my first one! Now just find stability and everything will take off in no time.

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

Reefnoobie12 said:
looking good! Nice simple set up! reminds me of my first one! Now just find stability and everything will take off in no time.

larangcon said:
Second chance is always a charm. Good looking tank you got there.

Thanks!!

revhtree · Mar 31, 2016

Looking great!

Bronc · Mar 31, 2016

revhtree said:
Looking great!

Thanks! It's looking pretty bare still and it's killing me not to go buy a bunch of corals, but I know that patience is the key in this hobby.

Bronc · Apr 1, 2016

New additions today

Bronc · Apr 4, 2016

Added a Tiger Pistol Shrimp on Saturday. He & the Watchman immediately teamed up and built a new home.

Bronc · Apr 8, 2016

I thought I had my Zoas glued down pretty well, but apparently not. Either the pistol shrimp is taking them, or the snails/crabs are knocking them off - and then the pistol shrimp is taking them back to his underground lair. I finally tore my rock apart today and retrieved the 2 frags that were gone, then promptly puttied the crap out of them.

Bronc · Apr 16, 2016

Added a few Feather Dusters and a Finger Leather. Also cleaned up the ridiculous putty job I did. Things are starting to grow now - there are some new Zoas on their frags and my Hydnophoria is starting to get some texture to him and polyp extensions.