My First Build (45 Gallon, 2 Quarantines)

[zladson]

So I decided to keep graphical evidence of our first Saltwater build and what a better place to do it the right here.

These are the two quarantine tanks on Day 1 of the build.

Less then a week and according to the LFS we are cycled and ready for the CUC.

 

[zladson]

So we purchased the CUC for each tank, roughly 5 snails and 10 crabs per tank (give or take thanks to our awesome LFS dude.)

 

[Mrfresh]

Very nice.

 

[alyak06]

Just started cycling our display tank today. Sorry about the mess in the reflection. We plan to add live rock every week as our budget allows. Good work, honey (Zladson).

 

[mallorieGgator]

Looking good! As far as the Quarantine tanks go, I wouldn't add snails or any CUC to them unless you're QTing the CUC itself. I would also not have a sandbed or live rock in the QT tanks. Let one run with a barebottom and no liverock if you can. The reason I say this is because you'll want to use one for fish. When you QT fish, you may actually have to treat the fish with a copper treatment. This will kill any invertebrates that are living in the tank (ie tiny inverts in your sand bed and liverock) and cause a large ammonia spike which is bad in itself but magnified in the presence of copper.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Also I should add that after you do a copper type treatment in a quarantine tank, you can't put invertebrates into that tank anymore (snails, corals, shrimp, clams, etc) because the residual copper is toxic and deadly to them.

 

[zladson]

Thanks for the tips! We planned on removing the rock and CUC when they became official QT tanks and moving them to the DT, we thought that the CUC was part of the cycling process.

 

[zladson]

I just drained the DT because I am tanking it to get drilled and adding bulk heads for the future sump installation.

 

[eliramos]

I just drained the DT because I am tanking it to get drilled and adding bulk heads for the future sump installation.

youre going to be so happy you did this!

 

[zladson]

Drained and drilled the tank and installed Bulk Heads and plugs.

 

[zladson]

Removed the shelf from the stand for future sump installation.

And refilled the tank.

 

[mattvisocky2003]

Good start. Do it right from the beginning and you will be much happier in the end.

 

[zladson]

Added a new rock to make a cave.

Moved some rock from one of the QT's over to the big tank for the time being.

An overall look at the DT with the CUC and a few empty shells.

Our first fish in the QT stage.

 

[zladson]

More of our first fishies Squishy(More Black) and Chomper(Less Black).

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Squishy and Chomper look great!!

 

[mattvisocky2003]

Just picked up a clown today myslef

 

[zladson]

Just finished some aquascaping and we have added the clowns to the dt.

Got a Spotted Mandarin and Anemone in QT now.

We moved the ZOA to the DT as well.

 

[Genesis Corals]

The mandarins need pods, make sure if your tank doesn't have enough to go buy some at the LFS. I love the spotted mandarin btw.

 

[zladson]

I plan on starting a pods colony in my sump but thus specific mandarin eats brine shrimp.

 

[kes]

Excellent planning with 2 qt!