First saltwater build, still learning

[mipstien]

We started our tank in early July 2018. This will be my ongoing build thread to keep track of what we have done.

 

[mipstien]

Started with 2 clownish and a pirate ship. One clown did not make it.

 

[mipstien]

Building the base to house the sump. I overbuilt the stand so that when we upgrade it wouldn't be so much work.

 

[mipstien]

Over a week we received the sump, skimmer, and hob overflow.
Sump is an Aqueon model 4.
Skimmer is a Bubble Magus c3+
Overflow is the CPR brand I can't recall size. I'll update later
The cats and dogs like to help.

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R

 

[mipstien]

Received the rodi filter and it came broken. Repaired the problem and it was working great. The company still sent me a complete replacement due to the broken parts.
Liquagen 6 stage 50gpd bought off Amazon.
I have 55ish tds coming from the faucet and 0 after the filter now.

 

[mipstien]

Getting plumbing, rock, and skimmer set up.
Skimmer took 2 weeks to break in.
I have some more dry live rock and base rock just no pictures of it out of the tank.
Plumbing started out strong and then I had to fix something so the paint was pushed to the side.

 

[mipstien]

Just after taking out the pirate ship and deciding to go with rock only.

 

[mipstien]

I was having a lot of trouble with micro bubbles so I used another filter from the hob I previously used and wrapped it around the output of the skimmer. Bubbles almost completely gone after that.
This is the day I also put the chaeto in. It took it about 3 days to start growing.

 

[mipstien]

The mess around the tank just after getting everything running good.
The mess only gets bigger the longer I have to tank up. So much to add to it.

 

[mipstien]

Starting to put cleaners in the tank.

 

[mipstien]

Moving the rocks around.

 

[mipstien]

Green chromis
Clownfish
Conch inside the rock

 

[mipstien]

Placing that very first Coral. Late August.

 

[mipstien]

August 29

Pencil urchin
More snails
Added some more rocks

 

[mipstien]

Activity is increasing a lot.

 

[mipstien]

Sump is becoming useful. Added live sand in the refugium and chaeto is going strong. Skimmer is finally getting stuff out.
Upgraded the heater to a Finnex Titanium with an Inkbird temp controller.

 

[mipstien]

Some more livestock pictures.

 

[James M]

Cool tank ,Do You plan on adding coral ?

 

[mipstien]

Added a watermelon duncan and another that I don't know the name But was in the zoa section.
Also added a puffer but he immediately started eating the duncan so he is now in timeout in the refugium until we get another tank for him.