Ken's 215G Build

kenchilada · Nov 29, 2020

I’m thinking of ordering a GEO calcium reactor while they’re on sale. Any suggestions for which model?

Gablami · Nov 29, 2020

618 or 624. If you have the room, can go 818 if you want, but not needed.

kenchilada · Nov 29, 2020

Gablami said:
618 or 624. If you have the room, can go 818 if you want, but not needed.

Thanks! I could fit a 624 and have a couple inches clearance.

I also just saw Avast has Seabones reactor 30% off. It doesn’t hold much media though.

kenchilada · Nov 30, 2020

I ordered fish! Six azure damsels and a whitetail bristletooth tang from Divers Den. These will all go straight into quarantine and hopefully I’ll have the tank running within a month.

Gablami · Nov 30, 2020

Good choice. Love white tail bristles.

saltwaterpicaso · Nov 30, 2020

Great build. I agree with you on the apex it is a cheaply made unit that is not built to last. I'm going ghl next

Steph72 · Nov 30, 2020

Omg!!!! I the tank looks amazing!!!! I love that bristletooth too! I’be been extremely pleased with fish from Divers Den. They seem to acclimate well, are healthy and they take such care with their packaging. My last order of babies arrived with heat packs and lots of extra padding to keep them warm. Please post a picture of this little guy once he’s settled in.

kenchilada · Dec 1, 2020

Steph72 said:
Please post a picture of this little guy once he’s settled in.

Oh yeah I'll have pictures! I'm working on getting QT setup now for them.

kenchilada · Dec 2, 2020

Fish coming tomorrow. I’m setting up the QT tank tonight. It’s a 20L with an Aquaclear 70, 100W heater, and a power head. Using Turbostart to cycle. Doing Copper Power first.

Also I’m still having issues with my salinity probe. I like my Apex less every day, mostly because of this probe. I just don’t like that this is the accepted behavior for a $800 controller.

The actual salinity is 1.025 steady, but Apex says...

Apex probably leaving as soon as my wallet heals and I feel like buying more gear.

kenchilada · Dec 2, 2020

Quarantine ready. Salinity is 1.018, alkalinity 11dkh, added 2ppm ammonium chloride and some fish food, dumped a bottle of fritz turbostart over the ceramic media in the filter.

JGT · Dec 3, 2020

Ju

kenchilada said:
Quarantine ready. Salinity is 1.018, alkalinity 11dkh, added 2ppm ammonium chloride and some fish food, dumped a bottle of fritz turbostart over the ceramic media in the filter.

Just add some hiding places and you are good to go.

kenchilada · Dec 3, 2020

JGT said:
Ju

Just add some hiding places and you are good to go.

I even bought a bag of pvc fittings for this and can’t find it. Always something.

kenchilada · Dec 3, 2020

Live rock looking much better. It does look much more mature than dry marco rock after six weeks. I’ve kept it lit with one Kessil A360x on 30%.

Sorry about the nylon sock of carbon.

Manny’s Reef · Dec 3, 2020

kenchilada said:
Live rock looking much better. It does look much more mature than dry marco rock after six weeks. I’ve kept it lit with one Kessil A360x on 30%.

Sorry about the nylon sock of carbon.

I don't see a nylon sock of carbon. I see a very rare see cucumber

kenchilada · Dec 3, 2020

Fish got here about 11AM. All alive and in really great shape. I took a couple quick pics while the bags were floating. I’ll get better pics tomorrow when they’re settled.

I might pickup a few more fish from the LFS tomorrow and run a second 20L and QT them all same schedule. They’re holding a nice sailfin for me.

Here’s the whitetail...

These Azures are tiny but they were cheap...

CMMorgan · Dec 3, 2020

kenchilada said:
Time to break out the big boy toys!! The stand front is designed like kitchen cabinets would be, so construction is the same. Because I’m attempting inset doors, everything has to be very accurate. The gap around the doors will be 3/32” so any mistake will show badly.

Cutting the side panels, 3/4” birch.

Cutting the face frame on my MFT3 table. These were ripped on the table saw and cut to rough length on the miter saw first. Poplar is so pretty!

Next all the face frame pieces are mortised with a Domino joiner. It’s basically a drill that cuts a special square hole that these little domino tenons fit into. The joint is super strong and requires no nails or screws.

Here’s the hole the Domino cuts...

Festool? That tool costs as much as my tank. SWEEEEEEET.

BirdGuy21 · Dec 4, 2020

Great build thread, excited to keep reading as you go! Incredible stand, too.

Steph72 · Dec 4, 2020

kenchilada said:
Fish got here about 11AM. All alive and in really great shape. I took a couple quick pics while the bags were floating. I’ll get better pics tomorrow when they’re settled.

I might pickup a few more fish from the LFS tomorrow and run a second 20L and QT them all same schedule. They’re holding a nice sailfin for me.

Here’s the whitetail...

These Azures are tiny but they were cheap...

Awwww!!!! What a handsome fellow!!! I’ve always had great experiences with Divers Den. Congratulations!!!!