New Here & New to Reefs

DeepBlueSomething · Oct 18, 2017

Howdy R2R -

I am new to SW and Reef tanks - kept FW back in the day. Figured I would jump back in with a challenge. So much to learn -- but trying to take the practical and patient approach.

My tank is 1 month old now: cycled with established LR and ammonia dosing

40b
20L sump with SCA-301 skimmer, fuge
GFO - (offline)
Jebao PP-4 wavemaker(s)
Galaxyhydro 165w LED
Few mushroom, palys and zanthia came on LR
CuC from reefcleaners.org

Parameters are stable:

1.026
78'F
0 ammonia, nitrites, PO4
<20 nitrate
pH ~8.1
Ca = 420
dKH = 9

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

Sounds like you're off to a good start, here's a thread about setting up a new reef aquarium if you get stuck along the way: http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

kschweer · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome!!!

Lovemyreef2015 · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R. We love pictures!

Tahoe61 · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome.

77railer · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to the club...your doing good so far...whats the next step your taking?

dbl · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R and thanks for joining.

DeepBlueSomething · Oct 18, 2017

77railer said:
Welcome to the club...your doing good so far...whats the next step your taking?

That is the next great question - kids and wife are ready for fish - I am still sorting through top off automation / evap rates as well as managing some gha that came in with the LR.

Edit - first post; Anthelia (waving hand) - not zanthia!
My drawing board has the addition of a Watchman goby, cleaner shrimp and then maybe a hardy mid-tank swimmer or 2.
As I get closer to 4 months maybe get more serious with some easy corals - GSP, euphyllia

Thoughts / suggestions?

jsker · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R, Howdy back

I would suggest adding a couple of hardy corals at 60 days then start introducing fish at 90 days. Mushroom and pylops are very hardy

KJ · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R!!!

DLHDesign · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

DeepBlueSomething said:
...trying to take the practical and patient approach.

Off to a great start already.

I'd suggest starting up a build thread - it often helps as a way to track your own progress. Plus; we all like to tag along.

DeepBlueSomething · Oct 18, 2017

DLHDesign said:
Welcome to R2R!

Off to a great start already.
I'd suggest starting up a build thread - it often helps as a way to track your own progress. Plus; we all like to tag along.

Will have to start pulling that together, TY

Salty1962 · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

iemsparticus · Oct 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R! Show us pictures!!!

DeepBlueSomething · Oct 18, 2017

jsker said:
Welcome to R2R, Howdy back

I would suggest adding a couple of hardy corals at 60 days then start introducing fish at 90 days. Mushroom and pylops are very hardy

So some corals first - is that more in line with bioload or ease of care or both?

77railer · Oct 19, 2017

I think GSP would be a great starter coral. They are hardy and not very light demanding. Just a friendly word of caution on the GSP....put them on a rock by themselves, kinda like and island, so they dont become a problem when they decide to start growing

jsker · Oct 19, 2017

DeepBlueSomething said:
So some corals first - is that more in line with bioload or ease of care or both?

Both, and with helping steady out parameters. Instead of going willynilly I decided you follow some directions. I used this plan link as a guideline for timing and when to add, not the equipment

dragon99 · Oct 19, 2017

HOWDY and welcome.

Let's see a picture. A few snails or hermits would be good at this point. Don't go buy a cleaner pack for a 40b or anything that huge though.

DeepBlueSomething · Oct 19, 2017

Thanks jsker - good link, I will refer back to that -- so far I have followed that a bit.

dragon99 - much appreciation for your avatar pic - that takes me back. I did add a full 40b CuC but that was because I have several live rocks from a fellow member that had quite a bit of GHA that was uninhibited. Snails & hermits all seem to be doing well and working their way through the algae right now. My chaeto is growing like gang busters in the fuge, so I am hoping the nutrient load is correctly going there! I will try and get a decent picture tonight. For now, here is the best FTS on my phone. The picture is not great -- the tank looks much better!