My Reef Journey Begins!

[Brew12]

I'm following this too. Keep the updates coming? What lights do you plan on using? Are you going to stick with the custom ones?

I'm sticking with them for now. I'll have to see how my coral growth is before I decide if I need to replace them. Right now my 2 zoa and 1 sps frag seem to be flourishing.

 

[gettaReef]

Personally, I suggest waiting for the tank/rock to mature more before adding any real expensive corals (WWC is a little pricey imo, but the best). But this is just my opinion, but it is possible that you might lose some of the corals (and the dough that brought them to you) Ive seen and experienced lots of new systems where the person goes out and gets loads of frags where there systems just arent ready for one reason or another, often system is not matured yet leading to some type of nitrate, bacteria, phosphate, salinity, etc.. spike or drop, or a new hobbyist doesn't quite know or fully understand how to dose two part leading to imbalanced system or overdosing one, or they don't acclimate frag to lighting correctly which causes STN or RTN, and many more reasons. To me, people setting up a tank for the first time should take it slow.....add more fish first then coral, try a coral or 2 and wait and watch, then buy a few more frags and wait/watch, etc... This way the person gets experience along the way, learns what to look for in coral/fish behavior, sees how their tanks chemistry acts (the nutrients like n03, phosphate, alk, cal, mg, salinity, temp, things you test for and measure), and just gets to know their system a bit more. Of course there are many first timers (and esp the experienced) who add tons of coral right after the system cycles and it does fine, again this is just my opinion from the experience I've had. I'd hate to see you get the frags and some don't make it ultimately losing some money (or just call it a costly experience!). So I just suggest getting a few corals, don't load up or spend too much just yet

Oh and btw, I bought a anemone from blue zoo also 6-7 years ago which was my 1st online purchase (along with other frags which didn't make in the last 7 years), and he's happy as can be! Really like blue zoo

 

[Brew12]

Personally, I suggest waiting for the tank/rock to mature more before adding any real expensive corals (WWC is a little pricey imo, but the best). But this is just my opinion, but it is possible that you might lose some of the corals (and the dough that brought them to you) Ive seen and experienced lots of new systems where the person goes out and gets loads of frags where there systems just arent ready for one reason or another, often system is not matured yet leading to some type of nitrate, bacteria, phosphate, salinity, etc.. spike or drop, or a new hobbyist doesn't quite know or fully understand how to dose two part leading to imbalanced system or overdosing one, or they don't acclimate frag to lighting correctly which causes STN or RTN, and many more reasons. To me, people setting up a tank for the first time should take it slow.....add more fish first then coral, try a coral or 2 and wait and watch, then buy a few more frags and wait/watch, etc... This way the person gets experience along the way, learns what to look for in coral/fish behavior, sees how their tanks chemistry acts (the nutrients like n03, phosphate, alk, cal, mg, salinity, temp, things you test for and measure), and just gets to know their system a bit more. Of course there are many first timers (and esp the experienced) who add tons of coral right after the system cycles and it does fine, again this is just my opinion from the experience I've had. I'd hate to see you get the frags and some don't make it ultimately losing some money (or just call it a costly experience!). So I just suggest getting a few corals, don't load up or spend too much just yet

Oh and btw, I bought a anemone from blue zoo also 6-7 years ago which was my 1st online purchase (along with other frags which didn't make in the last 7 years), and he's happy as can be! Really like blue zoo

I really appreciate the advice. What you suggest was my original plan but I think I am willing to take the risk. The fact that these corals are life forms would bother me more than losing the money. I'll be stocking my tank so slowly, and with a 150g+ water volume, I think I can keep things stable. I'm actually ready to set up and start dosing if I need to.
I'll give it some more thought over the next day or two and see how I feel then.

 

[RamsReef]

So brew, cuc and corals in dt for 70 days fish start qt 40 day mark?

 

[Brew12]

So brew, cuc and corals in dt for 70 days fish start qt 40 day mark?

I might start fish a little later and do the tank transfer method. Still going back and forth in my own mind in how I want to do it. I hate the thought of treating fish with copper if I don't have to. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much convinced that most of the fish in the supply chain carry disease. I have some time yet before I decide.
Until then.... Humblefish says no fish.

 

[RamsReef]

Yeah Ive been thinking of starting display with corals and cuc, then copper and prazi fish when im near the 40 day mark.

 

[Brew12]

Yeah Ive been thinking of starting display with corals and cuc, then copper and prazi fish when im near the 40 day mark.

It's a very smart way of doing it, but I consider myself a very patient person and I am struggling with not having fish in the tank. It looks so amazing and all it lacks is fish!

 

[RamsReef]

Im jelly of your usa ordering, boarder stops corals

 

[Brew12]

It would appear that my tank has had its first fatality. My diatoms are quickly receding! I didn't expect that until after I got my skimmer up and running (delivered tomorrow I hope). Its almost strange seeing the rocks go back to being almost white again. Everyone else in the tank looks happy, so I would call this another positive step in my tanks development!

 

[Brew12]

Well, my new skimmer came in last night. Went with the Bubble Magus curve 7. The assembly drawings were terrible but I think I have it put together correctly. Right now it is trying to skim the vinegar out of a 5 gallon bucket in the garage. No matter how I try to adjust it, it keeps overflowing the cup. Not sure if I put it together wrong or if that is normal for a new skimmer in a vinegar bath. I'll play with it more tonight.

 

[Brew12]

Well, got home and the skimmer seemed to have settled down a bit. Was hoping that it would act a little better in the tank than it did in the bucket. It did, but not by much. I raised it a few inches higher than the pathetic directions called for and it still overflows a hair. I would really be lost if not for a youtube video where a guy got frustrated by the lack of directions and ended up figuring it out by trial and error.

That said, it is very close to being able to properly skim so I will leave it in the sump for now. Just starting to get a little algae build up on my rocks, so things are progressing nicely. I have reached stage 6 in the cycling process! Haven't seen any sign of stage 5 (bacteria) but that could be the lack of fish.

 

[RamsReef]

Setting up those skimmers is easy, just, גּיּⱤתּﭢﭻﮒ◦☺☻ﻖ

 

[Brew12]

The anemone has been wandering around quite a bit but he seems to have found a spot he likes. Front and center in the tank. I kinda like him there! Still no fish, but I'll probably set up a QT this weekend and might try to pick up my first fish 2 weeks from now.

 

[RamsReef]

Nice bud!

 

[Frosty Latte]

The anemone has been wandering around quite a bit but he seems to have found a spot he likes. Front and center in the tank. I kinda like him there! Still no fish, but I'll probably set up a QT this weekend and might try to pick up my first fish 2 weeks from now.

Nem looks a little white. Don't forget to feed it often just in case.

 

[Brew12]

Nem looks a little white. Don't forget to feed it often just in case.

It's more of a light green than white. Have tried feeding it small pieces of shrimp but no luck so far. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[Brew12]

Tried feeding the nem this morning, still no luck. However, unless I am trying to feed him he still looks happy! I really need to find some long forceps since he likes hanging out on the bottom of the tank. I also think I will try a slightly smaller piece of shrimp next time.

On a different note... here I thought I was providing my tank great water conditions. Testing looks great. Only lightly feeding it to help keep the CuC alive. And then.... I looked at my skimmer. Yuck! It's amazing how deceptive our eyes can be when it comes to water quality!

 

[Brew12]

Today is tank maintenance day. All my chems look good. I've been slowly raising my salinity to 1.025 from 1.023 over the last week and that is looking good. Still have some algae growing, which at this point I am taking as a good sign.
The one thing that I have really noticed is that my tank is absolutely loaded with both copepods and amphipods. Every time I touch a rock my water almost turns cloudy with bugs. I may put my sock filter back in to help catch some of them and get them out of the tank. I'm still over a month away from adding fish so they basically have a 150 gallon refugium.

 

[micorals]

Today is tank maintenance day. All my chems look good. I've been slowly raising my salinity to 1.025 from 1.023 over the last week and that is looking good. Still have some algae growing, which at this point I am taking as a good sign.
The one thing that I have really noticed is that my tank is absolutely loaded with both copepods and amphipods. Every time I touch a rock my water almost turns cloudy with bugs. I may put my sock filter back in to help catch some of them and get them out of the tank. I'm still over a month away from adding fish so they basically have a 150 gallon refugium.

Not a bad problem to have if you're planning on hosting a Mandarin. But again I'm by no means an expert on this fish.

 

[Brew12]

Not a bad problem to have if you're planning on hosting a Mandarin. But again I'm by no means an expert on this fish.

I was thinking about trying it some day, but not until my tank is more established. I do agree that it is a good problem to have. I'm sure the fish I put in will appreciate the easy access snack.