Red Sea Reefer 200xl build

[monti mike]

I can’t wait to see this one grow out. It’s the “mystery team” tenuis. The polyp extension is crazy on this one! This picture doesn’t really do it justice either - it has a blue base with pink polyps and yellow tips. Ignore the dinos - I think the balance is just a little out of whack after the crash but everything looks happy.

 

[gerards_reef]

I picked up a MALM cabinet at ikea at turned it into my new controller station. Check it out! Nice and clean

Nicely done! Definitely felt your struggle here going through the nightmare of cleaning up wiring on my new build as well.

 

[monti mike]

Everything’s doing well and the acros are starting to encrust on the rocks. Here’s a full tank shot and some closer up pics.

 

[Little c big D]

Beautiful.

 

[shadow1013]

What wrasse do you have in there?

 

[monti mike]

What wrasse do you have in there?

It’s a crescent tail fairy wrasse

 

[shadow1013]

I was tempted to get one as WWC had a few of them, or something close to them.

 

[monti mike]

I was tempted to get one as WWC had a few of them, or something close to them.

I had a flasher wrasse before the heater malfunction. The new wrasse isn’t as showy as the flasher wrasse but it has a fun personality. Its still a gorgeous fish and who knows!? It may color up more as it gets older

 

[monti mike]

Not a lot of updates over the last month. I cleared out some of the overgrown sunny Ds and got rid of the chromis. The chromis were bullying everyone so they had to go.

The acros are all encrusting but nothing too exciting for progress pics. The colors are kind of underwhelming so I’ve been adding nitrate and phosphate to keep them both above zero. The extra nutrients are causing some algae issues so I ordered a cleaner package from reef cleaners. That should be here in the next couple of days.

 

[monti mike]

Reef cleaner package arrived today and everything looked great!

pile of snails - get to work!

Brittle star -

Pitho crab

hairy chitons

 

[monti mike]

I decided the last additions to the tank are going to be a squamosa clam and a lobo brain. I placed an order and these two and they were supposed to be delivered today by 10:30am:

Todays been a bit of a roller coaster. The shipment got stuck at 1am due to a mechanical error. The tracker was saying delayed and expected delivery is now Monday. I called UPS this morning around 7am to see if they could update the order to Sat delivery - apparently the plane broke down there was nothing they could do. The rep said the package is going to be delivered by Monday at the earliest… ugh… there’s almost no chance they’ll survive over the weekend.

The company offered a full refund if they die but I just feel horrible about that happening.

And then some good news - the tracking updated at around 7pm and said it would still be delivered today by midnight! Awesome!

So I’ve been watching the status (so I don’t miss the late delivery) and it just changed again. Now it is supposed to be delivered tomorrow by noon.

Not great but better than Monday. I really hope they make it.

 

[Little c big D]

Good luck! I hope it arrives asap, I know I've been wanting to order somethings and all these shipping horror stories have me worried. It used to be so much better! The tank is looking great and make sure you update when it arrives! Looking forward to good news

 

[monti mike]

Good luck! I hope it arrives asap, I know I've been wanting to order somethings and all these shipping horror stories have me worried. It used to be so much better! The tank is looking great and make sure you update when it arrives! Looking forward to good news

Thanks! It’s out for delivery now. I’m so nervous!

 

[monti mike]

I hope so!

 

[monti mike]

I hope so!

 

[monti mike]

The clam seems to be ok. It’s reacting to light and moving. One thing that’s a little concerning is the intake hole is pretty wide open - so I hope it’s not dying.

The lobo’s water smelled disgusting and the shrimp immediately went to it. I fed everyone heavily to hopefully buy some time. Now I just wait and hope for the best.

 

[monti mike]

 

[monti mike]

it looks like the clam is going to make it! The lobo is a goner sadly

 

[Little c big D]

Well, considering the circumstances you did alright. Im happy for the clam! Are they going to replace the lobo?

 

[monti mike]

Well, considering the circumstances you did alright. Im happy for the clam! Are they going to replace the lobo?

I ordered these two from Austin aqua farms and they have been amazing to work with. I’ve never felt the need to do vendor feedback but I’m going to write up a positive review for them. They’ve been in touch with me every day. When the order was delayed they were on the phone with their UPS rep to see what their options were. They offered a refund before the shipment even the morning it was delayed for the mechanical failure. Normally they have a 2 hour DOA policy like most vendors but they said to watch the two and if they die in the next 48 hours they’ll make it right. Awesome customer service!