First Large Reef

pj wags · Apr 7, 2018

Goal 1 lion Fish, 4 Tangs, 1 L 1 S angelfish, 2 Clowns, 1 Eel, mandarin goby, royal gramma, 1 butter fly fish, Heading for Mushrooms and Soft Corals w/ one host anom . 180 gal dual Herbie overflow with reef octo 2000int skimmer, 2100 gph return, r300 3rd gen esshops sump, with a mixed miracle mud, and live rock algae ref . 2 Ocean revive t247's lighting, 2 300 watt heaters, Maxspect GYRE, using reef grade salt, and 6 stage BRS RO/DI. soft plumb tubing non clear,
After Next step is to work equip to a mixed hard/ soft plumb with a Calcium reactor, and UV ster, and auto top system.
I Have tank, sump, return, ro/di, lighting, 160 LBS live rock, live sand, Multiple low rate POWER HEADS, 3 CAN FILTERS, t5 LIGHTs, 65 gal tank, and 55 drilled overflow with 30gal dual baffled sump, 2 300 watt heaters, low rate return pumps.
so,
Is there any key component I have overlooked, seems like I have enough to make a quarantine and display tank depending the addition to a led sump light to build a good refugium, being able to decide on skimmer size and output, and hold out until I get a good understanding of bio load of fish, to add coral, then acquire proper reg mx tools, and then work into getting optimized water quality/flow to grow corals?

Tahoe61 · Apr 7, 2018

Hi and Welcome to R2R.

I would fore go the Lion Fish and Eel. Those fish are better included in a predator tank. If you're not getting a dwarf Eel or Lion fish then those two have the real potential to eat the smaller fish types.

How big is the tank?

1WildBill · Apr 7, 2018

Forget the miracle mud right now, your tank is too new for it. Just stick with a bare Sump with live rock. What kind of tangs? In a 65 gallon tank, there’s not a lot of tangs that will work. What type of butterfly? There’s not a lot of butterfly fish that will fit in that tank, and as Tahoe said, forgo the lion fish and eel.

pj wags · Apr 7, 2018

I have the 180 gal reef ready was using the 65 as a quarantine tank

pj wags · Apr 7, 2018

Have 180 gal, was going to use the 65 as a quarantine tank not as a main. Otherwise my concern is fish wise definitely the Mandarin and other smaller fish will be a food source to eel and lionfish, just looking into major things I might be overlooking. Otherwise you think waiting on miracle mud on refugium until I establish it, not using it to start up?

1WildBill · Apr 7, 2018

Correct on the miracle mud. For now, just use live rock. Once it’s cycled, throw some Chaeto in the fuge. It will help keep your nitrates low.

pj wags · Apr 7, 2018

Weird they sell a startup, and a sustained version like Fiji mud, a lot of comments of it setting a nitrate bomb if disturbed after install, is this to avoid that? Or no need because levels do not require it so early

1WildBill · Apr 7, 2018

It’s not necessary this early. Once you start getting a bio load, throw some chaeto in the fuge. You’ll be surprised at what it will do.

pj wags · Apr 19, 2018

Curing live rock complete just waiting for my stand to start plumbing and painting it. Afterwards aquascape with acrylic rod

pj wags · Apr 19, 2018

Will be scratching the eel, still looking into dwarf lionfish as last addition when all fish are sized and established

pj wags · Apr 22, 2018

Long night plumbing and leak check

pj wags · Apr 25, 2018

Leak check on tank and bulkheads good, looking into plumbing changes and pvc seal small leaks on pressure lines. Adding more soft plumbing into sump for easier movement and better placement.

pj wags · Apr 28, 2018

Having plumbing issues, started improvising not best choice. Braided vinyl tubing is hard to work! Pvc cement non potable is the way to go though no leaks.

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pj wags · Apr 29, 2018

Think I have plumbing down no leaks, no bulkhead binding and looks clean for most part. Just letting her run through with proper flow rates to determine what is req for proper water levels.