My first salt water reef tank experience: 38 gal Innovative Marine

[rvlcf]

Chowder,
I created a wishlist at marine depot and showed it to my lfs. He met all pricing.
He made money and I saved money. win/win.
give it a shot.

 

[apw63]

I am about to order everything as soon as I get some love from any retailer (not successful yet). Are you happy with everything you purchased so far? Wish you had done anything different?

The only thing I would and will change is the tunze ATO. I would go with the tunze nano version or a DIY type my apex can control. I purchased the larger version with the intention of one day upgrading to a bigger tank. I'm having issues maintaining salinity at 1.025. When I feed the apex turns off the ATO. When the feed cycle times out and restarts the ATO. The ATO does a self check and pumps RO/DI water in to the sump. Over a few days this extra water starts to drop salinity. I currently have the ATO turned off and am manual adding salt water to raise salinity as water evaporate. When salinity is back to 1.025 I turn the ATO back on. Even doing 10 to 15% water changes weekly the salinity slowly drops down to 1.023 with ATO in auto mode. Some would say don't turn off the ATO. When return pump shuts down water in the return rises. I for one do not like to listen to the high water alarm for 15 min.

Andy

 

[apw63]

New little buddies in QT. I got my new fish today. Sorry for bad photo (iphone) wife has the DSLR today. Looks like everyone made the trip in great shape.



Andy

 

[JoeT77]

If you are asking about my ATO here's a picture to show location. You can also see my pH & temp probes in the second chamber. You can keep the level in the return where ever you like, so long as its below the second chamber lip. You can see the level I keep mine at. How is the IM skimmer working out for you?

No problem happy to help. The shrimp is a goner. I seen his parts come out of the VorTech. He got cuisinarted.

Andy

I have the same tank and am curious how you have your probes support in that picture? Trying to keep mine from either floating or being fully submerged is a PITA.

 

[Pointboy]

I would get rid of the hermits... They will most likely eat your nassarius snails and pick at the rest... I had all 5 of mine killed and 2 Astraea so I'm ditching mine. That's my opinion but I am not a reef master lol. Nice set up

I agree; I recently removed all of the crabs from my tank. They were fine for years then all of a sudden started killing my snails. There were ample shells for them to move into.

 

[apw63]

I agree; I recently removed all of the crabs from my tank. They were fine for years then all of a sudden started killing my snails. There were ample shells for them to move into.

I will keep a watch on them thank you.

I lost the watchman in QT. he refused to eat. The cardinal is doing great. Another week of so an ill put him in DT. Thinking of replacing watchman with blue neon gobi or maybe a prawn gobi.

Thanks all for looking and offering advice. I really appreciate it.

Andy

 

[chowder12]

Qt

Qt

Curious what you setup you have for a QT tank. Thanks

 

[apw63]

Curious what you setup you have for a QT tank. Thanks

10 gallon with foam air stone filter, some PVC fittings so critters can hide. If you look at post 83 or a little farther back in thread you can see most go QT.

Andy

 

[RKReefTank]

I have basically the same setup, I don't have a controller though and a different light. Very nice tank!

 

[apw63]

I have basically the same setup, I don't have a controller though and a different light. Very nice tank!

Thank you! Do you have a build thread?

Andy

 

[RKReefTank]

No not yet, took some pictures just haven't put them together. Received my RODI system and Tunze 3155 ATO yesterday, pretty excited haha

 

[RKReefTank]

Where do you keep the water and in what for your ATO?

 

[apw63]

I have a 5 gallon carboy that sits next to the stand. Ill take a picture and post it tonight.

Andy

 

[RKReefTank]

ah I'm looking to keep it inside the tiny IM stand since its smack dab in the middle of my living room

 

[apw63]

I took some pics of my ATO RES but ran out of time to post them, maybe tonight I'll have some time. I watched a video where a guy use a small decretive box kind of like a foot rest. He drilled holes in the back to run line and wires. It look really good, you would never know. I seen some nice boxes at Hobby Lobby if my wife ever starts complaining about mine. My tank is in our media room so not out in the main living room. Hope this helps.

Andy

 

[apw63]

It's been a little while so here is a tank update video. New fish are out of QT and in DT. I have removed some of the corals from the plugs and glued them to the rock work. I did my very first fragging. The eagle eye I fragged in to 2 pieces.



1 prawn gobi (not in video was hiding)
1 cardinal
1 neon gobi
1 sexy shrimp



Thanks for looking

Andy

 

[Armand9601]

In post #12 I see a surge protector - any special brand / type? Is so, any specific reason? I've just finished my stand & hope to be picking up my 38 next week. Any help or insight is greatly appreciated

 

[apw63]

In post #12 I see a surge protector - any special brand / type? Is so, any specific reason? I've just finished my stand & hope to be picking up my 38 next week. Any help or insight is greatly appreciated

That's not a surge protector that is the E88 power strip for my apex tank controller. I would highly recommend a tank controller! Get an auto top off, loose the glass top and make a 1/4" screen top. Take your time and go slow.

Thanks for looking!

Andy

 

[Armand9601]

ahhh, see always good to ask!

Thanks Andy, appreciate the info - will definitely look into the Apex.

 

[mike55]

Is this thread still active? I am setting up a IM 38 and was wondering if anyone has switched out the stock return pump for something more powerful?
Thanks
Mike