cycled and ready?

[NetSyphon]

Hey everyone.. So I have gone all out, gotten through the hurdles and finally I think I may be ready minus understanding some numbers. We have been doing planted tanks with the betta sororities for a bit now but not in the main living room. I have been really good at keeping the bettas, the kids respect the fish and the tank so its time to move up to what I (the family too, although they don't know it) have been wanting to do for over a year.

First off let me give you the equipment list:

Tank - JBJ RL-45 AIO
Filtration - Intank (1) Filter not installed yet- may get another depending on room left over with skimmer..
Skimmer - Eshopp PSK-100H (this was a day 1 mistake as its really an eyesore!) - Looking to replace with Tunze 9004 or Cadlights PLS‑50.
ATO - Tunze Osmolator
Powerhead - (2) Ecotech MP10wQD, (2) Spinstream Nozzle
Pump - (1) Tunze Silence 1073.05 ~792GPH
15Lbs Cured live Fiji Rock / 40 Lbs BRS Reef Rock / CaribSea Hawaiian Black live sand (~1" depth)
Lighting - Ecotech Radion xr30w Pro (was current pro 24")
Heating - Aqueon pro heater 200w
Control - 2016 Apex with the 832 and WXM Module - (I received a bricked base unit.. pending the telephone call to try to fix remotely)
Testing - Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro kit / Marine Care test kit (was API kit, which made me feel colorblind)
Water maker BRS 6 stage RO/DI (great for my beer too!)

I started this in late May with cycling, I have seen some numbers move around but today here we stand:

PH: 8
Nitrate: 10
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: .07
KH/ALK: 2.8(Meq/L), 7.8(DKH)
Magnesium: 1440
Calcium: 355
Salinity: 1.026
-
I have the intank with the factory stuff JBJ provides (carbon, coarse sponge, ceramic rings).. I bought some lifeguard prefilter floss, purigen and chemipure elite to put into the intank.. question is - am I ready to do that? Do I need to use anything from the original media besides perhaps the coarse media?

I was thinking to put the filter floss on top, then the coarse sponge, then purigen, then the chemipure - should i do that before I try to intro any livestock? Mainly planning on 4 fishes, some CuC (shrimps crabs, snails) and some really easy to keep light-loving SPS. Im still trying to put together a non-expensive list of things to buy as far as that goes.. trying to stay under 40$ per lifeform.

Advice would be appreciated.

 

[NetSyphon]

some pics to share, not completely final on the scape as I am feeling like its a bit wall'ish. May have to take the hammer to the reef rock a bit.

Early Cabinet building pre-stain / Spar Urethane:


A few weeks ago during cycling with old current LED and cabinet minus the door and shelf:


updated scape, wife approved but I am still deciding whether this will work:

 

[Tahoe61]

I have this tank. But have Hydra Lighting, I would rather have the Radion though.

Do not stock until there are no detectable nitrites, but that may be a test kit error if using API.

I run the sponge on top, next charcoal and then bio products (bio balls). I prefer the Chempure Elite myself, purigen never really made any noticeable difference for the cost.

I really did not like the Tunze, and I like their products, and I have not heard good things about the Cadlight. The Desk Top Ghost is not a great skimmer either. Hear nothing but good things about the Aquamax.

Fantastic stand.

 

[NetSyphon]

Perhaps just use same media and pop in the chemipure instead of the stock charcoal on the intank? the PSK-100H actually is good but its got a bit of a hum and is an eyesore.. not to mention it requires almost 6" in the rear, prevents me from using an intank filter because the piping distance and needs a really full sump to get foam action. If i look at the aquamaxx, I would need to see how loud and how deep it is.. I know its a good one too but the beauty of a in-sump AIO Tunze/Cadlights is what I was hoping for in terms of form factor.

I also want to get some of this Chaeto stuff as I got the IM refugium light and it just sounds neat to filter with algea

 

[NetSyphon]

I love my radion.. pretty much at the lowest setting right now. skimmer off for 3 days after the bio-spira and diatom bloom appears to be liking the right side. Not sure why

 

[Pruett-nc]

I too have the jbj 45 . I use the aquamaxx hob1 and love it . Yes it sticks up some but my attention is on my stock lol . One thing I see on your rock it is close to the glass . I wouldn't want it touching or so close you can't get your magnet past it to clean the glass . How are the spin stream . Heard they were noisy. Do you have any Windows light or other light shining in on that right side or the flow not circulating on that right side very good .

 

[NetSyphon]

Yeah still deciding on the skimmer. If I can sell my psk-100h then I can afford the aquamaxx. We will see how that goes. As far as rock distance only on one side with one small point do I have it where the cleaner can't get through I definitely agree and I need to move some of this in a bit more. Thanks for the feedback.

Yes slipstream is actually the only thing you hear with the skimmer off. They are loud. I'll probably go back to the locline and standard nozzle I can randomize the patterns better with the vortechs I think.

For flow it seems pretty uniform but I am going to move them around to see. No windows or anything near.

Another question -does it make sense to install a small CuC before adding anything else?

 

[Pruett-nc]

CuC ?

 

[Duke4Life]

Have you thought about a quarintine for your fish? I highly recommend this!

 

[NetSyphon]

CuC = clean up crew, which i assume is stuff that eats poop and algea.

I have thought about a quarantine tank but how much do I invest in that? I mean I am pretty topped off now.. I do plan to acclimate with a drip but are there any other benefits? do you see diseases come out quickly or do you mean to do the dip/bathe thing? Honestly I havent gone there since I am not planning on spending big on livestock just yet.

this is what I was thinking.. loosely!

1. Cycle Tank - almost done
2. aquire small amount of hermits, snails
3. get 2 clownies
4. get some soft coral/anemone (not sure on this one but something that doesnt swim but lives on rocks)
5. get a blenny/goby?
6. more inverts
7. more CuC
7. 2 more fish
8. more inverts

this is i guess at least 2-4 months.. im patient but I do need to get life that the family can see somewhat quickly

 

[Tahoe61]

Get the anemones late in the game.
Look around the threads on any forum and you'll see that the money invested on a simple QT is far surpassed by the money spent later on with no
QT on medications, fish, down time for the tank/fallow. A QT is not expensive and well worth the investment. IMO an QT is far more important than drip acclimation methods.
I agree start with the a small amount of small hermit types, and a few snails.

 

[Untamedrose]

updated scape, wife approved but I am still deciding whether this will work:

It's way to.....square IMO.(that I wouldnt have shared normally but you said you were not sure)
Maybe try moving the one of the bottom ones more forward(like that right bottom one)...and switching up the right top with the left top... that should give an arch look and a high focus point.

 

[Untamedrose]

CuC = clean up crew, which i assume is stuff that eats poop and algea.

I have thought about a quarantine tank but how much do I invest in that? I mean I am pretty topped off now.. I do plan to acclimate with a drip but are there any other benefits? do you see diseases come out quickly or do you mean to do the dip/bathe thing? Honestly I havent gone there since I am not planning on spending big on livestock just yet.

this is what I was thinking.. loosely!

1. Cycle Tank - almost done
2. aquire small amount of hermits, snails
3. get 2 clownies
4. get some soft coral/anemone (not sure on this one but something that doesnt swim but lives on rocks)
5. get a blenny/goby?
6. more inverts
7. more CuC
7. 2 more fish
8. more inverts

this is i guess at least 2-4 months.. im patient but I do need to get life that the family can see somewhat quickly

Doesnt sound like a bad list but the anemone should be last on the to do list. They are pickier about having a stable tank then most fish and soft corals.

Id look into getting some coralline rubble rock to help seed what you have too.

 

[NetSyphon]

well I feel like i learned so much I took a trip into the future! Thanks guys.

-On the QT tank, do I need flow/filtration? I have a AquaClear 150, perhaps that will do enough of both? What size? 5g?
-Yes.. its freaking square.. i almost want to shard one of the bigger ones so i can picaso something back together.. I will try what you mentioned and let you know. I got some of this putty stuff.. does the rock have to be dry to use it or can i do "open tank surgery"?
-Coraline rubble rock, that sounds cool.. too cool for my LFS. is that something that can be attained online, at a reputable place somewhere in the east coast?

Again, guys I cant thank you enough!

 

[Tahoe61]

You can always drop a few boulders on the cement, that is what I do. Or look at some Tongan rock. Dry or wet makes no difference, smash it and let it dry for a day before epoxy or glue.
A HOB filter will be fine for a QT. Get a 10 gallon if you can, the larger the volume of water always allows more room for error. I believe Petco is having there dollar/gallon sale until the 17th of July.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

You can buy a simple cured piece of live rock at the LFS and break it apart, or a handful of rubble from the LFS, just make sure there are not Aiptasia, Majano or FW on the rock or rubble.

 

[Untamedrose]

well I feel like i learned so much I took a trip into the future! Thanks guys.

-On the QT tank, do I need flow/filtration? I have a AquaClear 150, perhaps that will do enough of both? What size? 5g?
-Yes.. its freaking square.. i almost want to shard one of the bigger ones so i can picaso something back together.. I will try what you mentioned and let you know. I got some of this putty stuff.. does the rock have to be dry to use it or can i do "open tank surgery"?
-Coraline rubble rock, that sounds cool.. too cool for my LFS. is that something that can be attained online, at a reputable place somewhere in the east coast?

Again, guys I cant thank you enough!

lol assuming you mean the two part epoxy. You can use it with wet rock and underwater. Timing is important. want to figure out how the rock needs to sit look for the critical junction points...blend and stick the two rocks together with a bit more then you think you will need. If you blend it to soon....like before then play with rocks it will start to harden in the air :/
It's not strong enough to hold impossible angles. Got to drill and rod for that...but good for stablity in the it's a bit to shaky to stay on it's own long term.

http://floridaliverock.com sells coralline rubble... some folks on ebay too but I know this company is all.

 

[NetSyphon]

I have at least 10 lbs of live rock now mixed in with the 40 lbs of reef saver. The live rock I got from the LFS is coming out and getting sideshow'd but not without first scraping the purple stuff off. Lesson learned there.. I purchased smaller batches of CaribSea Life Rock and will re-scape with perhaps smaller/midsize pieces. Shelf, Base and Branch to reconstruct and follow on some of the posts for aquascaping.

I did get some hermits and snails, they are absolutely thriving - my numbers are perfect with everything at 0 except for nitrates at 8ppm.. which is slowly dropping. I've added a couple CuC to the mix and they are really "cleaning up" well.. 3 hermits and 2 snails to start but I probably need more if I get to any type of normalized light cycle? I do see a bit of hairlike algea coming so I will need to take a better look at my filtration or CuC. Water looks good, nice and clear. May be getting a zoa frag from a friend who promises no BS on the frag and I can put it straight in the tank.

 

[Bob Escher]

Welcome to Reeftoreef.
Also welcome to the JBJ 45 gallon AIO family. By the way we have a forum dedicated to the JBJ just to let you know.
Also I didn't read if you actually started in May? If so I highly highly recommend waiting a while. Your CUC may be thriving and you may be able to add fish but don't add any corals for at least another six months ( I may be wrong but that's what the forums told me) and I have learned from my mistakes.

What is your skimmer rated at?

I have:

JBJ 45 gallon all in one
A Zetlight 6500 led light (APEX READY)
Apex setup with all probes except for par meter and moonlights and dos
A innovative Marine reactor.
Ecotech Vortechs MP10's (2)
In tank basket with Seachem Matrix, Seachem purigen and filter floss and polyfilter
Coralvue Icecap Pk 50 skimmer
Waveline DC 2500 apex ready return pump
Trigger systems crystal cube sump and refugium (20 gallons) ( inside of original stand)

For fish ( I won't name corals other than two trumpets, a zoa, and a BT anemone that won't stop moving)

2 ocellaris clowns
3 pajama cardinalfish
5 chromis
Yellow watchman goby
Diamond watchmen goby
Scooter blenny
Royal gramma

My tank has been setup since the end of Feb and I don't believe it's fully matured yet. Still have problems keeping CUC especially snails but that maybe because I don't have enough algae.
My water parameters are spot on
And my corals are so so just lost some zenias, don't know why other than maybe too much water flow

 

[NetSyphon]

Ended up selling the psk-100h and getting an aquamaxx hob-1. Wow what a difference. Had to put a coarse filter on the return since it's above waterline about an inch or so bit man does that thing make some stinky skimmate.

Also added a chaeto refugium and IM refugium light. Got the apex finally works bg and next is to work on the levels.

Current population is:
2 Astra snails
7 assorted hermits (maybe 6 if this one guy isn't molting)
2 emerald crabs
1 fire and ice zoa

I pulled out a pretty big bristle worm which I think came from either a shell the LFS gave me or maybe the one live rock I kept.

Went with all new rock work using the liferock too. Very little rocks touching sand using a combination of base, shelf and branch rock. I would snap a pic bit I don't want to startle the little dudes.

I got the qt tank going and will be starting with hopefully two ocelaris clowns and a diamond goby. It's 10 gallon and I hope to do a 4 week quarantine for them all. I'll start that the 5th when I get back from Vegas.

 

[Pruett-nc]

Sounds like your to a good start . I like my hob-1 . Does a good job and fairly quite running .