Help with new 125 gallon build

[tassod]

So if i understood correctly, even if my alk is lower than 8 at the moment, i should not start dosing until AFTER i add corals and taken levels. Will the low alk not hurt the corals initially?

 

[SimonSKL]

I think you may want to go slow on adding more fish until this weekend or next week. Usually we want to keep about 1 week in between so your tank can adjust to handle the additional bioload. Keep in mind you have a fish missing and probably decomposing in the tank.

Have you thought about what kind of fish and corals for your new tank?

 

[SimonSKL]

So if i understood correctly, even if my alk is lower than 8 at the moment, i should not start dosing until AFTER i add corals and taken levels. Will the low alk not hurt the corals initially?

Your alk is a little low but not bad. Your calcium is high enough so you don't need any additional Ca. If it makes you feel better you can raise the alk to 8.

 

[tassod]

This chromis must be Houdinni himself because he's not in my tank! :hmm2: i took out my cannopy and searched with a light and moved my rocks...he's not there. All key levels are still at 0. This is going to remain a mystery it seems :debi:

 

[SimonSKL]

You may have a jumper. Look behind the tank or on the floor around the tank. I once lost a cinnamon clown and found it months later on top of my DIY light, all dried up.

 

[tassod]

You may have a jumper. Look behind the tank or on the floor around the tank. I once lost a cinnamon clown and found it months later on top of my DIY light, all dried up.

That would have to be quite a jump to get out and behind the tank. I did look earlier but i'll look again with a bigger flash light. At least i know he's not decaying in the tank.

 

[tassod]

I think you may want to go slow on adding more fish until this weekend or next week. Usually we want to keep about 1 week in between so your tank can adjust to handle the additional bioload. Keep in mind you have a fish missing and probably decomposing in the tank.

Have you thought about what kind of fish and corals for your new tank?

I have given this some thought and have come up (along with my daughter) with the following:

Fish:
-----------
Yellow Tang
Blue Tang....maybe a poweder blue
2 percula clowns
Royal Gramma Basslet
Foxface
Midas Blenny
Six Line Wrasse...for now thats about it

Corals - have not really familiarized myself with the different types and species but something definitely easier to have to begin with. I love what you have going in your tank. Do you mind listing what you have as corals? Would like to reasearch them. My daughter has done a lot of research..:spin2: She's listed bubble coral, frog spawn and acropora.

Would love to get some nice inverts as well..

 

[SimonSKL]

Excellent choice of fish. I think they are all reef safe. Are you going to replace or get more Chromis? I think those 8 fish plus the Chromis are pretty much the limit of your 125g tank. Keep in mind, the Powder Blue or Blue tang will get pretty big in a few years. I would not add any more fish beyond that. Probably you should plan on adding these many fish over a 2 month period to allow your tank to adjust.

As far as corals, start with soft corals first like toad stool, or as your daughter suggested bubble coral or frog spawn. Some hard corals like Birdnest, Monti cap or monti digitatas are very easy to keep for new comers.

 

[tassod]

Excellent choice of fish. I think they are all reef safe. Are you going to replace or get more Chromis? I think those 8 fish plus the Chromis are pretty much the limit of your 125g tank. Keep in mind, the Powder Blue or Blue tang will get pretty big in a few years. I would not add any more fish beyond that. Probably you should plan on adding these many fish over a 2 month period to allow your tank to adjust.

As far as corals, start with soft corals first like toad stool, or as your daughter suggested bubble coral or frog spawn. Some hard corals like Birdnest, Monti cap or monti digitatas are very easy to keep for new comers.

I may get 2 more chromis this weekend. Would also like to add one more along with the chromis. Which one from this list would be good to add next?

I also got my auto feeder today. I ordered the ASF-1 Super Feeder as it is the only one besides the the one you have (discontinued) that is powered by AC voltage. Going to have my Apex control it. its pretty big and i'm going to have to figure out where to install it (Isn't it funny how I always have these installation dilemmas? :fun4.

 

[SimonSKL]

Percula clowns will be what I would add next but you have to add the two together at the same time. Pick one bigger than the other so they become a pair.

I will send you a picture how I place my feeder later as I am not home.

 

[tassod]

Simon, sent you a PM. BTW, i noticed a lot more hair algae growing yesterday all over the rocks and sand..Can't wait to get the CUC today.

 

[SimonSKL]

Here is how I place my auto feeder.

I made a quarter circle with plywood as a plafform and hold it to the right front corner rim with two plastic clamps (Actually you can choose any of the 8 corners), I then made a funnel holder with 1/8" acrylic sheet. The funnel is just a PVC 2"x 1.5" coupler. The purpose of the funnel is to collect all the food when they drop from the feeder. The bottom of the funnel is below water level so the food will not just float at the surface and get skimmed out.

I hope you have enough height inside the canopy to do something like this.

 

[tassod]

Simon, that's a nice setup you have with your auto feeder. Unfortunately with the way my canopy is setup, this would not be possible. I'm going to have to figure out another way. Would it be ok if i removed the canopy lid and kept the aquarium open?

 

[scuzy]

Well here is what i made for a autofeeder






I screwed it to the side of canopy and parts of it submerge

 

[SimonSKL]

Simon, that's a nice setup you have with your auto feeder. Unfortunately with the way my canopy is setup, this would not be possible. I'm going to have to figure out another way. Would it be ok if i removed the canopy lid and kept the aquarium open?

I can't see why not if you don't mind some light escaping into the room. That gives you more options to do things and make maintenance easier.

 

[tassod]

I can't see why not if you don't mind some light escaping into the room. That gives you more options to do things and make maintenance easier.

So I shouldn't worry about fish jumping out, although i think if they tried they would most likely fail and hit one of my lights.

 

[tassod]

Been meaning to ask this, is there anyway to fix the lack of flow on my left side corner flow? Hardly any flow in there and water in the corner looks stagnant and just collecting stuff...

 

[SimonSKL]

Are you running your pump at max setting?

 

[tassod]

Are you running your pump at max setting?

Yes absolutely. Right side which has the full siphon has good flow. Left side is like nothing's going on. This is the fuge side. I have the valve fully open.

 

[SimonSKL]

Check see if your tank is still level left to right.