Sea Clear Tank Build

[jevans311]

Hello Everyone! I have been a lurker for quite a while on the forums and finally decided to create a build thread. I have enjoyed reading everyone's tank threads and it has kept me excited about starting my own tank. I will start with a little about myself. I have kept aquariums since I was around nine years old, beginning with freshwater. I got into saltwater around my Junior year in high school. I had to take a break during college as it was difficult to keep one since I was going to college three hours from my hometown. After College, I set up another saltwater tank and had it running for about four years until I decided to join the military. Difficult to keep an aquarium with all that moving around I was in the military for about six and a half years. I then had to wait another four years for things to settle down so I could again set up a tank. So, I have been out of the hobby for about eleven years, but I was all the time lurking on forums keeping up with it. My previous saltwater tanks were fish only. I was just beginning to get into corals when I had to take the last one down. I plan on this one being a reef tank.

Now, on to the tank. I received this tank from a friend that could no longer take care of it for health reasons. I think it is is a 46 gallon Sea Clear; 40 gallons view-able. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro salt. For lighting I have one AI Hydra 32 and for ATO the Tunze Osmolator. I also have a 6 stage RO/DI unit. The tank has been up and running for a week. Looking forward to getting critters for it in a few weeks!

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Welcome to the lagoon! Looking good!

 

[jevans311]

After observing the flow, I noticed that the return pump was not giving enough in the tank. Which I expected. I ordered an AI Nero to add flow to the tank. It should be here Thursday.

 

[jevans311]

The AI Nero has been set up and running for about a week. I really like it. I have it set on random flow with a range from 25%-55%. It was amazing how much stuff was kicked up when the flow increased, down the overflow and into the filter it went. I also like the fact that I can control both my light and power head from the same app.

On another note, if things continue to go well, I will be getting the first fish/critter on Feb. 1. Patience is hard.

 

[Bxr126]

Welcome. You're off and running. Have you cycled the tank

 

[jevans311]

Welcome. You're off and running. Have you cycled the tank

It is in the process of cycling now, about three weeks in.

 

[CasaReefer]

Hi J.... Welcome to R2R... Great Start.... Thanks for adding the pics... Thanks for jumping in... I am glad your here..

 

[yan2pr]

Welcome to R2R!! Glad you could jump back to the hobby and i feel your pain my tank is also in the cycling process and it sucks.

 

[jevans311]

Hi J.... Welcome to R2R... Great Start.... Thanks for adding the pics... Thanks for jumping in... I am glad your here..

Thank you, I am glad to be here

 

[jevans311]

The diatoms are starting to disappear. I meant to take a picture last night and forgot I will try to remember to take one tonight.

 

[jevans311]

Finally got some fish/critters for the tank. I wanted the guy that gave me the tank to pick the first something to go in the tank. He picked a black gold clown. I picked a Mandarin orange Zoa as the first coral to go into the tank. It is difficult to see from the pics, but the coral is bright orange. The polyps opened/colored almost immediately after placing it in the tank. The fish hid where you see her in the pic for about 15 minutes and then came out and has been extremely active ever since.

 

[jevans311]

The fish and coral I got last week are doing well. I got two more corals this past Saturday. A Ricordia and another mushroom I can't remember the name of.

 

[jevans311]

And I almost forgot, current FTS.

 

[jevans311]

Got a few more things this past weekend. My boys picked out some things for the tank. My oldest picked an Orchid Dottyback, and my youngest picked a Fire Shrimp. I decided to try a couple of LPS coral. I got a Dragon Soul Favia and a Hammer Coral. The only pictures I have of the fish and shrimp are in the bags. They have both found good hiding spots. They do venture out on occasion. The fish is definitely getting more used to the tank and ventures out more. The shrimp just appears for food I forgot to take an updated FTS. I will try to get that soon and post it.

 

[jevans311]

Finally got an Updated FTS. I placed the Hammer Coral on the rock in the far left of the tank. The the next rock to the right is where the Mandarin Orange Zoa is (Side note, it is growing a 3rd polyp). The lowest rock in the center, right above the cave is the Green Ricordia. Above it and to the right is is the Dragon Soul Favia and below right of the Favia is the Superman Rhodactis. Question, as I am still learning Corals. On the right side of the tank I have a lower light area that is medium-high flow depending on where on the rock you are. What would be good corals to place here?

 

[Dragon52]

 

[jevans311]

Thank you!

 

[jevans311]

I did pick pick up some Coral on Saturday, a Punk Rocker Zoa and a Golden Girl Cyphastrea. I unfortunately have not gotten any pictures of them yet. I also picked up a couple of hermit crabs as I am getting some algae.

 

[jevans311]

I took a picture of the Golden Girl Cyphastrea. The Punk Rocker Zoa isn't happy at the moment, the main reason being the putty I used didn't stick well enough and it fell to the sand bed yesterday. Hopefully it will open soon. I was also able to get a picture of the Fire Shrimp when he came out at feeding time, and another FTS.

 

[jevans311]

It was my youngest son's turn to pick out a fish and he chose a Diamond Goby (or as he calls it, a rock fish). I also got a couple more hermits for algae control and picked up an Acan.