Hi, I'm Josh.

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello!

I'm finally getting back into reefing seriously. I've lurked on this forum ever since I started with this hobby (7 or 8 years, I'm not a well seasoned reefer by any means) and am just now getting around to creating an account. Figured it was time to actually participate and say hi to you lovely people.

My goal is to get a build thread/tank journal up and running on my soon to be wet tank, a Nuvo 25 Lagoon AIO, that I plan to stuff with acros and MAYBE some encrusting montis. I've never kept acros prior to this and I would love to give it a go.

I'd go into details on what's happened to tanks I've ran in the past that made me shut them down, but I'll save that for the build journal as this doesn't seem like the appropriate forum. I actually typed it all out and realized how hilariously long I ranted on about what I learned and pasted it into a Word document to toss in the build journal, or another discussion. The heavily condensed version is that I had very different experiences with live and dry rock, and I've had some time to think about what went wrong.

Long short for the 25 Lagoon Redemption Story is that I'll be breaking away from the common advice I received when I was in my first few years of the hobby and just going with theories I've cobbled together that I think will work in a smaller tank. One hopefully full of sps to boot.

Thanks for reading my intro and I look forward to joining in on the fun!
-Josh

Hi Josh and Welcome! Glad you joined.

Excited you are already considering starting your build thread. I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID). Sounds like you'll have some good info in there when you create that upcoming thread.

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[FiddlersReef]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!

 

[BrotatoSalad]

Hi Josh and Welcome! Glad you joined.

Excited you are already considering starting your build thread. I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID). Sounds like you'll have some good info in there when you create that upcoming thread.

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I'll go ahead and link it up so I get that neat little badge.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I'll go ahead and link it up so I get that neat little badge.

Let me be among the first to say CONGRATULATIONS - Now your build thread is there!! YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY!!!! WAHOO!!!

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and back to the salty world Josh. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Welcome Josh! Would love to read about your experiences!

 

[DE FISH]

Welcome back to the hobby.

 

[BrotatoSalad]

Let me be among the first to say CONGRATULATIONS - Now your build thread is there!! YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY!!!! WAHOO!!!

You're too kind! I appreciate the energy and positivity you bring to this community and hobby, friend!

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Welcome to reef2reef Josh!!!!!

 

[Adolfo]

 

[BrotatoSalad]

Welcome Josh! Would love to read about your experiences!

And I'd love to share! Thank you for the warm welcome! I just end up too long winded when recounting them via text.

The shortened version is my first step into the hobby was a 10 gallon standard tank with a HOB filter. I started it with liverock and was religious about my water changes (2.5 gallons every 3 days minimum). I ended up getting choked out by bubble algae and manual removal with upped water changes didn't keep up with its growth. I ended up discouraged, and then I had a heater go bonkers. Tank looked great for about 1.5 years prior.

Tried again, but in a 25 lagoon tank with dry rock to avoid bubble algae coming in on the rock along with other pests. The short version here is I treated it like I treated my live rock tank and stuck to water changes as my export method, and it was a monumental algae filled failure. I had some really great acan lords that are sorely missed.

After a break, and seeing some new ideas from BRS being talked about, I'm getting back into it with a plan to pump up desirable bacteria, carbon dosing, and not shying away from medias for nutrient removal; especially while the tank is still building the bacteria population. Water changes aren't going to be a main ingredient for nutrient export. I might post a thread some time with more details on my failed tanks of the past, but I'd like to see how I do on this new run to have at least one leg to stand on. Also plunging into an SPS only reef with this build focused on acros. Mainly just want to see what a smaller tank started with dry rock can be pushed into doing and sharing my inevitable hardships along the way.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!