Champtain's Red Sea Max Nano Build

champtain · Mar 19, 2019

DOS & DRR came in today, and I get to pick up my APEX Friday. Ready to get the inside of the cabinet done so I can start getting ideas on stocking my tank.

champtain · Mar 21, 2019

I guess I was supposed to start my build thread in the Member Tanks forum. Here is the start of mine... https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/champtains-red-sea-max-nano-build.569781/

I will be continuing the build on this thread.

Thanks for checking it out!

MombasaLionfish · Mar 21, 2019

champtain said:
He’s not quite sure what to think of it yet.

Haha

hdsoftail1065 · Mar 21, 2019

champtain said:
Did a 50% water change last night, checked the salinity at lunch today. It's up to 1.02. I think I'm going to do a 5 gallon change today with 1.03 salinity and check it tomorrow. If it's still a little low, which I assume it will be, I will do daily 5 gallon water changes until it's where I want it to be.

Anyone have any other suggestions on how to do this?

Looking good, nice scape!

hdsoftail1065 · Mar 21, 2019

We might be able to get one of the #mods to move your build thread over. You tank is looking good.

dbl · Mar 21, 2019

champtain said:
I guess I was supposed to start my build thread in the Member Tanks forum. Here is the start of mine... https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/champtains-red-sea-max-nano-build.569781/

I will be continuing the build on this thread.

Thanks for checking it out!

hdsoftail1065 said:
We might be able to get one of the #mods to move your build thread over. You tank is looking good.

Original thread moved and merged with new thread. Carry on with a great build.

champtain · Mar 22, 2019

dbl said:
Original thread moved and merged with new thread. Carry on with a great build.

You're the real MVP.

champtain · Mar 22, 2019

hdsoftail1065 said:
We might be able to get one of the #mods to move your build thread over. You tank is looking good.

Thank you!

champtain · Mar 22, 2019

Got my Apex today, now time to set it up and get the cabinet finished.

hdsoftail1065 · Mar 22, 2019

champtain said:
Got my Apex today, now time to set it up and get the cabinet finished.

That looks first class, nice job!

champtain · Mar 28, 2019

Well today marks the 2 week point, algae is growing on the sand bed, my water tests have all leveled off, and one of my friends was tearing down a tank and asked if I wanted a little six line if he could catch it. So, I got my first fish. He seems to be doing great and is eating. So I guess I will start slowly adding a cleanup crew.

count krunk · Mar 28, 2019

late now, but since the tank was just cycling you could have just added more salt to it.

champtain · Mar 28, 2019

I just did 2 5 gallon water changes and it’s now at 1.025. Worked out well.

Westside Guy · Mar 28, 2019

You are still cycling and I hope that you don’t have a ammonia spike by adding a fish too early. That happened to me and I thought I was good to go and I lost a azure damsel.

champtain · Mar 28, 2019

Westside Guy said:
You are still cycling and I hope that you don’t have a ammonia spike by adding a fish too early. That happened to me and I thought I was good to go and I lost a azure damsel.

How long after you added your fish did your ammonia spike? Did you use any concentrated forms of bacteria? Any rock or sand from an established tank?

Westside Guy · Mar 28, 2019

champtain said:
How long after you added your fish did your ammonia spike? Did you use any concentrated forms of bacteria? Any rock or sand from an established tank?

It happened at about the 4 week mark. I used Carib Sea live sand and Marco dry rock, nothing from another tank. I used Smart Start Complete that my LFS recommended to speed up the cycling process.

champtain · Mar 28, 2019

I used bio-spira after every water change, used a cup of live sand and a rock from an established tank. The first week was up and down, week 2 was pretty level. I put fish food in the tank during the second week once algae started growing and nothing spiked. Since I’ve added the fish I’ve tested twice a day (for 3 days) with no change. I’m going to do a large water change Friday. If the water levels stay like they have been I’ll add hermits and snails. I don’t plan on adding a coral frag for another week or so, so it should be fine.
If the Ammonia does spike I’ll give the fish back for another week or 2 until it’s safe, but I have no reason to believe anything will change.

champtain · May 20, 2019

It’s been awhile. Not a whole lot to report back, but here’s a little update:

When it comes to lights, I'm an idiot. I had my AI Prime at 100% on all channels, and well, hair algae. I just thought it was part of my cycle, but since I’ve gotten my new light (hydra 26 hd) figured out, the hair algae has subsided and I’ve gotten a few corals.

Had good luck with my fish (knock on wood). The current fish are a pair of premium snowflake clownfish, the original six line wrasse (will be off to a new home soon), and an orchid dottyback.

Invertebrates: Astrea & Nassarius snails, red, blue scarlet hermits, Strawberry crab, cleaner shrimp, and green bulb anemone (that my clownfish have zero interest in).

Corals (got yesterday): zoas (gatorades, bam bams, and wwc Illuminati) meteor shower cyphastrea, an ultra ricordia, and an SPS frag that’s bright orange that I can’t remember the name of.

I also ordered the trident today, so hopefully that will be in tomorrow.

Thanks for looking! (And sorry for the crappy cellphone pics)

champtain · May 24, 2019

Spoke too soon, woke up this morning and one of my clowns decided to go carpet surfing in the middle of the night. Needless to say I purchased the DIY screen top, hopefully it will be here by tomorrow.

MombasaLionfish · May 24, 2019

champtain said:
Spoke too soon, woke up this morning and one of my clowns decided to go carpet surfing in the middle of the night. Needless to say I purchased the DIY screen top, hopefully it will be here by tomorrow.

Oh no did the clown survive?