75 gallon reef build

[jlylec]

that brown stuff is normal and will go away on it's own. the cuc will help speed it along though.

your parameters sound good and everything will balance out over time. if you have the patience to wait a month before introducing fish that would be best, but you can do it quicker. just remember the longer the tank is up the more balanced and healthy it is.

definitely smart to nuke those aptasia and majanos now. turn off all your pumps like 10min before and the water will get calm and they'll swell up a bit...then very slowly sneak up on them and just dump a sh*t-load of that x on them. they'll instantly shrivel. they will come back (most likely) but if you have the peppermints in there by then they won't last. it takes a few weeks so you have time. get a bunch of peppermints...like 5-6 for your tank. some of them don't eat aptasia, but if you get enough you're bound to have 1-2 that will and that's all you need.

good luck man!

 

[Nonameben]

that brown stuff is normal and will go away on it's own. the cuc will help speed it along though.

your parameters sound good and everything will balance out over time. if you have the patience to wait a month before introducing fish that would be best, but you can do it quicker. just remember the longer the tank is up the more balanced and healthy it is.

definitely smart to nuke those aptasia and majanos now. turn off all your pumps like 10min before and the water will get calm and they'll swell up a bit...then very slowly sneak up on them and just dump a sh*t-load of that x on them. they'll instantly shrivel. they will come back (most likely) but if you have the peppermints in there by then they won't last. it takes a few weeks so you have time. get a bunch of peppermints...like 5-6 for your tank. some of them don't eat aptasia, but if you get enough you're bound to have 1-2 that will and that's all you need.

good luck man!

Oh yes, no fish will be in there for atleast a month! CUC and invertrabtes will be the first animals in there, I'll be content watching them for the time being.

Hm I didn't think about turning the pumps off, that's a great idea though. I'll video the whole thing and share it with y'all. Hahaha, I'll be using every ounce of X on them. By the time they even think of coming back I'll have peppermints in there to totally destroy them. Thanks, I really appreaciate it Lyle! Stay tuned man, the exciting parts are really close!

And stop falling off the face of the earth! I want to see more of your tank man!

 

[Waddleboy]

also for the sand blowing get tiny puka shells and sprinkle over the sand to way it down temporarily. also as the cycle starts the sand will get heavier with bacteria and stop blowing as much. but the puka shells worked for me and then my goby took all of the shells and made a home out of them. so did my pistol shrimp. also nice job haha. get on that fuge

 

[Nonameben]

Where could I get some puka shells from? That's not a bad idea. Ugh, fuge.....

Alright, I'll see what type of small tanks they have at petsmart. I'll get back to y'all later this evening

 

[Waddleboy]

any store should sell them where they sell sand. its just a different type. so instead of sand its a bag a puka shells

 

[Nonameben]

Nothing new to update. Still waiting on the cycle to finish.

I have planned out my animal list a little bit. Please criticize!

First are the invertes:

CUC will include some turbo snails, 1-2 mithrax crabs, some nassarius snails, PODS, and 1-2 scarlet red hermits. I know that the hermits/crabs will destroy the snails if I get a lot of them, that's why I'll only get a few of them.

I also plan on having a marble sea star.

The fish:
(2) Ocellaris Clownfish
Midas Blenny
Flame Hawkfish
Kole Tang

Still working on the corals but I'd like to have some gsp, acan lords, brains, mushrooms, frogspawn, hammer, blasto, elegance

 

[Nonameben]

I almost forgot the equipment list that I still need to get a hold of. I'm not sure which I'll be buying first, any suggestions?

Apex controller system
TYPHOON 5 Stage RODI Reefkeeper 75
Another heater
Reactors (a little lost on this subject)
Nikon D3000 (so y'all get to see some sweet pictures of my tank. For some reason when I use to my moms camera, the tank is completely white. Don't know what to do about that)
HOB Refugium (or a DIY one adjacent to my sump)
Calc and Alk test kit

I think that's it for the equipment list.

 

[Waddleboy]

you want to get the rodi first. hands down best investment

 

[Nonameben]

I've got my jbj ATO coming in Thursday, I'll grab the rodi next then

 

[indyjaco]

Your tank looks really nice! If i can pull the courage together i'll upgrade my 29 to a 75 in the next couple months.

 

[Nonameben]

Your tank looks really nice! If i can pull the courage together i'll upgrade my 29 to a 75 in the next couple months.

Thanks indy! This is my first saltwater adventure, I've been pretty excited about it. Once this cycle is finished the real exciting stuff will begin

 

[wrxreefer823]

Looks like time for a small cleaning crew! Lol...

I see you ordered a JBJ ATO... I just got one a little bit ago... Just be forwarned that once in a while it will top off too much if you have a faster pump on it. I recommend an aqua lifter or something of that nature so that once it reaches the set level, it will kick off in enough time before filling too much. Other than that, a great product!

 

[Nonameben]

Looks like time for a small cleaning crew! Lol...

I see you ordered a JBJ ATO... I just got one a little bit ago... Just be forwarned that once in a while it will top off too much if you have a faster pump on it. I recommend an aqua lifter or something of that nature so that once it reaches the set level, it will kick off in enough time before filling too much. Other than that, a great product!

Haha seriously, just waiting on this cycle. Good time to save some money. Yea I'm looking at pumps for it right now. What gph should I look for?

 

[Nonameben]

Scratch that dumb question, found the pump on marine depot

 

[gohstwrighter]

man i wish i had started t thred like this win i moved from my 55 to my 125 man was that a jump.its a good looking taink to start with good luck and keep posting thoes pictures.

 

[jayjigga]

you want to get the rodi first. hands down best investment

Absolutely!! As soon as I knew I was going the 90G route, a ro/di was purchased. I haven't started the 90 yet, but the 12 and 20H are definitely benefiting from it, and I don't have to buy water anymore

Then probably the Apex...

 

[Nonameben]

Next paycheck is going straight to the RODI system!

Tomorrow I'll be back at my tank (going back and forth from my house to my parents until I move back home is becoming a pita)

Going to war with aiptasia, and I also get to play with my new ATO!
Video and pictures coming tomorrow!

 

[iwishtofish]

I can't wait to see the attack video! I'm not too sure about peppermint shrimp chomping on majanos..I know that some will devour aiptasia (mine did). Be careful not to get duped and end up with the similar-looking camel shrimp, as they don't eat aiptasia. A reputable dealer is your best bet, unless you learn to discern the subtle differences yourself.

Have you seen any ammonia yet? Despite what your LFS said, I'd have left the shrimp in there. All it served to do was be an ammonia source as it decayed, which in turn would help propogate the needed bacteria. A cleanup crew would clean up any remains.

 

[eagle9252]

make sure you get one with double membrane. it cuts the waste water down. \

 

[nanoreef13]

Great start I am looking forward to seeing more!