Rob’s Waterbox 100.3 Build

[Rip3618]

Here comes another Waterbox 100.3 build thread! I’ll keep my first post brief. This will set up as a mixed reef.

After 14 months of successful reef with our IM 20 gallon peninsula I finally got my fiancée addicted and we took the plunge (pun intended!) on a new, larger tank. Scored a Waterbox 100.3 from WWC while it was 20% off! It’s still boxed in the garage while I finish the accent wall it will be placed in front of. Now the fun part, deciding on and ordering the equipment. Below is my preliminary list to get going. We’ll take any advice we can get. Thanks!

RODI: Kleanwater 6 Stage RODI
Lighting: A.I. Hydra 64 - 1 (not sure if it will be enough light) or Hydra 32 - 2
Return Pump: Ecotech Vectra S2
Circulation: A.I. Nero 5 - 2
Skimmer: Reef Octopus (still haven’t decided which model)

We’re still deciding on live or dry rock and sand.

 

[Jonify]

We’re still deciding on live or dry rock and sand.

My vote for dry rock or something like Caribsea Life Rock (dry, but it's colored purple to mimic Coraline, and it's seeded with bacteria) and live sand (from someone like Caribsea--not sand from another tank or the ocean, of course ... don't want hitchhikers). This kind of setup should get you fully cycled in about 3 weeks if you're doing a new reef program like Red Sea Mature Reef.

 

[Rip3618]

Here it is, four months later and I’m finally updating my build thread. As a relatively novice nano-reefer the thought of jumping from a 20 gal with minimal equipment to a 100 gal with more and advanced equipment started to overwhelm me. So, in May I installed the tank, stand and equipment and haven’t touched it since out of fear of the unknown and unfamiliar which could ultimately lead to failure. For months I was walking past this giant empty tank and stand every day and the longer I avoided it the more I became intimidated.

My biggest hang up was the RODi unit And mixing station (crazy, right!?). Once I got the RODI installed and started using it for my nano-tank all the intimidation vanished. Game on, Waterbox Reef 100.3!

After deciding on my equipment, I choose a place for the tank and did some interior redesigning with repurposed pallet boards, the real deal stuff that took a few nights to break down! Next, the stand was built and the tank was located to the perfect spot in my house. Inside the stand I installed white led light strips I picked up from Home Depot. Most of my equipment is new the rest is gently-used from fellow R2R members (Thank you!).

Currently, we’re working on the rock scape and I can’t decide if I’m happy with it. I like the larger piece but the smaller section on the right reminds me of something out of The Flintstones and now I can’t unsee it! I’ll likely be doing something different with that smaller section. Or, I might scrap the entire scape and start over. Opinions on the scape are appreciated and I’ve got thick skin, don’t spare me.

Next project will be getting the mixing station together so I can fill this bad boy and start cycling. Mixing station is your typical beginner Brute set-up until I get comfortable enough to invest in something more advanced.

Before I provide my final equipment list I’d like to give some advice to anyone who might be feeling overwhelmed or intimated. You’ve spent countless hours choosing what tank, equipment, aqua scape and stock you want. You’ve probably made lists and watched days of YouTube videos on how to get started. Now you have a VISION of your dream reef tank! Don’t be afraid of failures, learn from them and take that first step. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.


TANK/SUMP
-Waterbox Reef 100.3
-A.I. Hydra 26 HDs with mounts x2 (used on forum)
-A.I. Nero 5 x2 (used on forum)
-Reef Octopus VarioS-6
-Reef Octopus Essence S-130
-Tunze Osmolator 3155
-Cobalt Neo-Therm 150 x2
-Tropic MarinPro Reef
-CaribSea Arag-Alive
-Marco Rock

MIXING STATION
-SpectraPure 180gpd
-Danner Supreme Aqua-Mag 7
-Hydor Koralia 850
-Brute 44

 

[Rip3618]

Changed up my scape because I couldn’t get the Flintstones out of my head. Really happy with the new scape. However, it’s only 10” and I can’t put together anything taller that looks decent. Thoughts?

 

[KWT]

Looking good, I hope to have a waterbox some day

 

[Rip3618]

Final scape and we think it came out pretty good. Tomorrow starts the Dr. Tim’s fishless cycle then the fun begins! Can’t wait to start stocking this tank!

 

[Rip3618]

Doing it’s thing, waiting on the cycle to be over. No rush.

 

[Rip3618]

I’m using Dr. Tim’s One and Only for my fishless cycle. I added the second dose (day three) of ammonium chloride before I realized I was only supposed to add it if my levels were at 2 ppm and not 8 pmm like I was testing at. No biggy, I stopped dosing and my levels are still high. Again, no biggy, I’ll just avoid dosing until my levels drop to 2 ppm.

Tonight (day 8) I noticed the water in my sump sounded different. Upon inspection I discovered the water level almost to the top of my second sock chamber and on the verge of overflowing (thank god this happened when I was home!). Pulled the sock and the water dropped back to a safe level, but the sock felt slimy and hardly any water would drain through it.

Is my assumption that the cause of my clogged sock is the result of me essentially double dosing ammonia within three days? If so, what exactly did I cause the ammonia or bacteria to do in my water to cause the clogged sock? And finally, should I leave my filter socks out for the remainder of my cycle to avoid another clogged sock? FYI, both filter socks were removed for the first 48 hours per the instructions.