New to R2R too

Dinkin's Aquatic Gardens
Jump to Last
Tidal Gardens
Deltec
Deltec
Reeferoo said:
Greetings and salutations,

Thought I post an intro here. I've been on Reef Central, but I'm new here and really like R2R so far.

(Tl;dr)
120 gallon mixed LPS/softy reef (started as FOWLR in 2015, converted to reef 2019) Orphek Bar 90 (daylight and blue) 29gal sump, Mag 12 return, Vortech MP40/Koralia 4, 100 Vertex IN skimmer, chiller (reefkeeping since 8/07) Looking for GSP, hairy mushrooms, LPS/softy freebies. Active SCMAS member.

(my camera doesn't play well with my LEDs - open to advice) Current tank photos attached.
ftsclose.jpg
ftsclose.jpg

Previous tanks (nano and 50 mixed) http://s559.photobucket.com/user/marxistwombat/library/?sort=3&page=1

(verbose version - we're on a reef forum, we'll read it!)
I've been in the hobby since 2007 - I started with a 50 gallon mixed softy/LPS reef with much guidance from Ron at Total Tropical in Upland (I know some people remember that amazing store! Wish they were still around). I also have had a 12g nano cube set up a few times. I have frequented Mystic Reef and Tropical Fish in Rancho, as well as Fontana Fish and Pets on Sierra (mostly for water).

In 2015 I upgraded to a 120gal aggressive FOWLR keeping my rock from my first tank, but some illness tore through the tank late last year and I lost every fish except Mr Muggles the sailfin tang who is a fat happy dude. So I let the tank chill for a while, and now I'm going back to a mixed softy/LPS reef.

Thanks to a local reefer, I just upgraded my lights to Orphek Bar 90 (daylight and blue) LEDs. I run an MP40 that I've had since 2010 (new wet side in 2016 and just got a new dry side a month ago). I have a 29g sump, and Vertex 100 IN skimmer, Mag 12 return pump, and a chiller. I also have a Korailia 4 in there for cross flow. I top off and two-part (Randy's/BRS bulk) the good old fashioned way. I just made an egg create sandwich for my cheato (thanks for the suggestion, R2R) in my sump, and I run chemicure blue and a filter sock. I make my own Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt.

For livestock, right now I have a cleaner shrimp, 1 captive bred ORA true perc clown who is a bit broken (he always stays at the surface. I can urge him down, and I've seen him swim normally without a ton of effort, so I don't think his swim bladder is shot, but he's not all ok either). I have the mighty Mr Muggles my fatty sail fin, a little ORA captive bred watchman goby I plan to get a pistol shrimp buddy for, and what I hope is a bonded pair of tank bred Bengaii cardinals.

I have some ORA duncans, 1 frogspawn/hammer, 2 monti caps, a gorgonian, a lovely leather, and one angry purple mushroom that still hasn't latched anywhere so he's locked in a strawberry basket with some rubble right now. Tank looks bare, but it's still really new coming back to the coral game.

I'm hoping to get some GSP, some hairy shrooms or ricordias, and other delightful softy/LPS (let me know if you hear of local freebies). I want some pulsing xenia, but I know it can be a weed and I want to see if people think I could isolate it or if it isn't worth it. I like the movement it brings to a tank, but easier to put in than to take out, for sure.

I got some new dry rock (40lbs) I'm going to add as well. I really enjoyed the aquascaping tips sticky here. Maybe I'll make a different thread for that adventure.

I have plans for a dwarf flame angel (always been a fan) and maybe another niger trigger (I've had luck with them being polite and I'm not into SPS). I'd like to have more than one clown, so if I think they can coexist ok, I might go that route. I'll see what else tickles my fancy for fish.

I also have an awesome guy that comes helps me clean and do a water change monthly, so if you are local to my parts of SoCal, I highly recommend AquaZone John.

Dude, high five if you made it to the end of my huge post. :)

fts.jpg
Click to expand...
Beautiful tank and welcome to R2R!
 
Chewy.com
Reeferoo said:
Greetings and salutations,

Thought I post an intro here. I've been on Reef Central, but I'm new here and really like R2R so far.

(Tl;dr)
120 gallon mixed LPS/softy reef (started as FOWLR in 2015, converted to reef 2019) Orphek Bar 90 (daylight and blue) 29gal sump, Mag 12 return, Vortech MP40/Koralia 4, 100 Vertex IN skimmer, chiller (reefkeeping since 8/07) Looking for GSP, hairy mushrooms, LPS/softy freebies. Active SCMAS member.

(my camera doesn't play well with my LEDs - open to advice) Current tank photos attached.
ftsclose.jpg
ftsclose.jpg

Previous tanks (nano and 50 mixed) http://s559.photobucket.com/user/marxistwombat/library/?sort=3&page=1

(verbose version - we're on a reef forum, we'll read it!)
I've been in the hobby since 2007 - I started with a 50 gallon mixed softy/LPS reef with much guidance from Ron at Total Tropical in Upland (I know some people remember that amazing store! Wish they were still around). I also have had a 12g nano cube set up a few times. I have frequented Mystic Reef and Tropical Fish in Rancho, as well as Fontana Fish and Pets on Sierra (mostly for water).

In 2015 I upgraded to a 120gal aggressive FOWLR keeping my rock from my first tank, but some illness tore through the tank late last year and I lost every fish except Mr Muggles the sailfin tang who is a fat happy dude. So I let the tank chill for a while, and now I'm going back to a mixed softy/LPS reef.

Thanks to a local reefer, I just upgraded my lights to Orphek Bar 90 (daylight and blue) LEDs. I run an MP40 that I've had since 2010 (new wet side in 2016 and just got a new dry side a month ago). I have a 29g sump, and Vertex 100 IN skimmer, Mag 12 return pump, and a chiller. I also have a Korailia 4 in there for cross flow. I top off and two-part (Randy's/BRS bulk) the good old fashioned way. I just made an egg create sandwich for my cheato (thanks for the suggestion, R2R) in my sump, and I run chemicure blue and a filter sock. I make my own Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt.

For livestock, right now I have a cleaner shrimp, 1 captive bred ORA true perc clown who is a bit broken (he always stays at the surface. I can urge him down, and I've seen him swim normally without a ton of effort, so I don't think his swim bladder is shot, but he's not all ok either). I have the mighty Mr Muggles my fatty sail fin, a little ORA captive bred watchman goby I plan to get a pistol shrimp buddy for, and what I hope is a bonded pair of tank bred Bengaii cardinals.

I have some ORA duncans, 1 frogspawn/hammer, 2 monti caps, a gorgonian, a lovely leather, and one angry purple mushroom that still hasn't latched anywhere so he's locked in a strawberry basket with some rubble right now. Tank looks bare, but it's still really new coming back to the coral game.

I'm hoping to get some GSP, some hairy shrooms or ricordias, and other delightful softy/LPS (let me know if you hear of local freebies). I want some pulsing xenia, but I know it can be a weed and I want to see if people think I could isolate it or if it isn't worth it. I like the movement it brings to a tank, but easier to put in than to take out, for sure.

I got some new dry rock (40lbs) I'm going to add as well. I really enjoyed the aquascaping tips sticky here. Maybe I'll make a different thread for that adventure.

I have plans for a dwarf flame angel (always been a fan) and maybe another niger trigger (I've had luck with them being polite and I'm not into SPS). I'd like to have more than one clown, so if I think they can coexist ok, I might go that route. I'll see what else tickles my fancy for fish.

I also have an awesome guy that comes helps me clean and do a water change monthly, so if you are local to my parts of SoCal, I highly recommend AquaZone John.

Dude, high five if you made it to the end of my huge post. :)

fts.jpg
Click to expand...

Dudette, welcome and a high five back at you! :)
 
reeferoo- How creative of a name. Tank off to a nice start and we are here to see that you have a Nice finish to your tank.

af7c881e16af4285f55820e44cc0e044--frog-quotes-frogs.jpg
 
Chewy.com
Not sure if I am supposed to maintain a separate build thread for things like this, but here's an update on my tank :)

Things are going well!! I am hankering for some new fish, but have to take it slowly to let everything settle. I just got the clown and bengaiis in January.

My new lights are awesome. These are the best I can do with my pixel right now, but the little orange filter folks have recommended to help is in the mail.
Here is FTS from far away to see the new aquascape, a closer FTS, and a shot of what I think might be an ultra ricordia looking glorious front and center :)
farwawayfts.jpg
ftswithlights.jpg
ric.jpg


I got some frags from a local reefer - some green palys, some palys grandis (I believe), a green sinularia (YAY!) and some gorgonians!

I got a little bit of brown on the sand after the new rock (I added 40 lbs and had about 70 in there), but I turned my mp40 up and it seems to be taking care of itself without getting worse. It'll be a while for them to purple up, but it will be worth it.

Params are settling pretty well - I got new test kits coming in the mail because my tank maintenance guy is getting different readings than me on nitrates and I want to double check that.

Specific gravity: 34 - working my way to 35 with sw topoff - (I think the cause was a water change that was a little too low)
Alk 10.5
pH 7.9 (I think I just had my house buttoned up too much - I've been keeping the windows open more to try and keep this up)
Ca 420
Nitrates 15
Phosphates - I read 0, but I am sure I have some - last time Steve Garrett tested for me at SCMAS I was .25
Nitrites and Amonia 0
 
Looking good. I would encourage you to start a build thread if you haven't done so already. You can follow the red link below my signature. It's a great way to track and share your progress and ask questions. It's always fun to look back at old pictures and see where you are today vs. when you started.
 
Tidal Gardens
Dinkin's Aquatic Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Tidal Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
World Wide Corals
Nutramar Foods
TCK Corals
Chewy.com
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Deltec
New Posts
Back
Top