Newbie 125 Build

[narkicu187]

Had a great suggestion from @Fish Think Pink to catalogue my build. So that is what I am going to do. Kept African cichlids for 10+ years and decided for my 40th Bday that I would take the dive and try my hand at saltwater. List below is what I have and will be using for my setup:

• 2x SunSun 304bs rated each @525gph
• 3x ViparSpectra 165w
• Current Dual eflux wavemaker 2100gph
• 100lbs +\- Aragonite sand carried over from Cichlids
• 115lbs +/- of KP Aquatics dry rock
• Aquatic life 4 stage 75gpd RODI unit
• Refractomter
• FritzZyme 9 nitrifying bacteria

Started by cleaning out and all freshwater remanence and working on Aquascape and got were I liked it. Added the sand but will be adding more as well as added wavemakers. Bought materials to do screen top and be DIYing my own light hanging bracket. More to come but excited to get going.

 

[BostonReefer300]

Looking really great! Only suggestion I'd have is to have some lone "islands" in your aquascape. That way, if you decide you want to add corals that can grow out of control, you have them restricted to one rock. I did my scape with a whole bunch of independent islands and I'm glad I did so

 

[narkicu187]

Worked on the the light hanger last night. I'm gonna cut down the vertical legs another 2" to minimize height of stand and extend bracing feet another 4". Might also paint black. I've gathered (from the Interwebs) optimal light height from surface of water is 8-12".

 

[narkicu187]

Adjusted hanger height and extended feet. Hung all 3 Viparspectra and got schedule set as well as % for W & B. Wanted to see tank with B only.

 

[narkicu187]

Cannisters rebuilt and plumbed. Retrofitted screen tops. Making RO to get'er filled. Coming along nicely.

 

[narkicu187]

Got'er filled up last night and added salt. Cleared up significantly this morning. Measured salinity this at 1.026-.027. Will remove some salt H20 tonight & add back in RO only to pull it down closer to .025. Will add the FritzZyme 9 tomorrow and dose ammonia chloride on Thursday.

 

[narkicu187]

Added FritzZyme 9 to tank this morning. Fishless Fuel should be here this afternoon and will dose accordingly. Unfortunately my Red Sea Marine test kit won't be here until the 9th so I'll just have to stop by Petco/Petsmart and get a cheap test kit to start monitoring. Maybe just this Ammonia monitor and APIs Nitrate test.......

 

[narkicu187]

As of 2/16/2022 readings are as follows:
Temp 79
Salinity 1.025
NH3 0
N02 0.1
NO3 16.5
KH 9.3
PH 8.0
PO4 0.91

Picked up some legit testing devices and wife got me some cool UV art for Valentines.

 

[narkicu187]

Think I spotted the first sign of Coraline but am also seeing very high P04 so I decided to get some Macro Algae and will DIY a HOB refugium out of an AquaClear 110 in the very near future. Also picked up a trio of Flame Scallops.

 

[narkicu187]

First H20 change and first couple fish added. Coral Beauty Angelfish and GoldxLightning Maroon.

 

[narkicu187]

Diatoms are really starting to rear their ugly head so I DIY'ed myself a refugium out of a Aquaclear 110 as well as added in a small cleanup crew from reefcleaners.org consisting of :
24 Dwarf Ceriths
7 Nassarius
8 Florida Ceriths
8 Nerites
6 Assorted Hermits
3 Mexican Turbos
1 Tiger Conch
1 Asst. Conch

Will be adding some more CUC to match algae development. Also added (in the span of a couple weeks) a pair of cleaner shrimp, pair of Black Snowflake Clownfish, pair of Banggai Cardinals, and 4 Green
Chromis. The pair of Snowflakes seem to be getting along fine with earlier added Maroon. Hope to get my first order of coral at the end of the month.