My First Tank and Build Process

Been dosing the Medic every morning and night. No signs of ich on any of the fish. All look healthy and eating well. I am going to continue to dose for an additional month to ensure if any ich is already encrusted in the sand bed, when it comes out into its free floating stage I will be able to kill it.
 
Some picture updates after moving the frags around the tank. I added some crushed-up corals for the jawfish to "œdecorate" her home. The frogspawn and hammer corals were put closer together and a water change performed.

Zoas moved to a free rock to created a zoa garden so they don't grow over everything.
<a href="https://ibb.co/dnixyw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/kNymrG/IMG_2290.jpg" alt="IMG_2290" border="0"></a>

Oregon tort and a millepora frag.
<a href="https://ibb.co/kZJVJw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/hMPRrG/IMG_2292.jpg" alt="IMG_2292" border="0"></a>

Green slimmer sps frag, ricordeas, and frogspawn and hammer corals.
<a href="https://ibb.co/jOPsWG"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/n5R6rG/IMG_2293.jpg" alt="IMG_2293" border="0"></a>

a red candy cap montipora, jedi mind trick montipora frag, leprechaun birds nest frag, and an acropora turquoise frag
<a href="https://ibb.co/ib9gQb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jmaMQb/IMG_2294.jpg" alt="IMG_2294" border="0"></a>

torch coral and orange mushroom
<a href="https://ibb.co/hbyakb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/bCt85b/IMG_2291.jpg" alt="IMG_2291" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/kiTakb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/c0Vo5b/IMG_2295.jpg" alt="IMG_2295" border="0"></a>
 
My purple and yellow tang have started fighting more frequently. Both are trying to claim the same area of the tank. I will add some sheets of nori at opposite ends of the tank and see if this helps. The purple took some damage on the dorsal fin. Will have to see if they can stay in the tank together or if one has to go...
 
I rearranged the rock work and now the yellow tang stays on one side and the purple on the other. I haven't witnessed fighting since moving the rocks. The kole still goes everywhere without any issues. I did start to notice more algae growth so I am going to drop to 2 feedings per day instead of 3 and add some more cleanup crew since I lost a few members last month.
 
Here are some tank update pictures. I need to work on how to take better pictures. Everything is growing and seems happy.

<a href="https://ibb.co/eEPnAm"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/ia1pO6/IMG_2314.jpg" alt="IMG_2314" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/bQQuqm"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dy0SAm/IMG_2315.jpg" alt="IMG_2315" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/c3J3i6"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jFPyGR/IMG_2316.jpg" alt="IMG_2316" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/eqrZqm"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dBHkwR/IMG_2319.jpg" alt="IMG_2319" border="0"></a>
 
November Update

November Update

Our frogspawn coral died. Unknown cause because parameters look good. I moved the turquoise coral away from the pump because it is starting to bleach on the side closest to the pump. I think because to too much flow. The montopira are growing like crazy and have grown over their plugs. Everything else is looking good. No signs of remaining ich on any of the tangs, aggression is gone after rearranging the rocks, and the fungal infection bump on the kole tang is gone after soaking food in garlic for a few weeks.
 
Added 6 turbo snails and another emerald crab to the tank. Hope is to obliterate the hair algae that is starting to form. I took the teal spa coral that was starting to bleach and made it into frags and put around the tank. Hopefully they survive. I also added another LED light strip I had lying around to give some more light to the tank. Working the night shift so didn't take any pictures but hoping to get some posted tomorrow.
 
It's been a month since I posted so here is a tank update. Lots of new coral and coral growth. All fish are healthy and looking good. Lost 2 SPS coral frags to bleaching but otherwise things looking good. My orange mushroom has two new heads that popped up last week. We have started building a new house and will be moving in May. It's bittersweet because all the work with the tank will not be able to be enjoyed... although, I have a new spot in the new house and will be building as soon as possible there. I am planning on getting a bigger tank and keeping things going in a few temporary tanks.

<a href="https://ibb.co/mmuvEm"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/nBmWn6/IMG_2406.jpg" alt="IMG_2406" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/gsv2um"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/g7MxS6/IMG_2407.jpg" alt="IMG_2407" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/bGXt0R"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jj4j76/IMG_2408.jpg" alt="IMG_2408" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/czyBn6"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/n8XFEm/IMG_2409.jpg" alt="IMG_2409" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/g4ej76"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/gfVrn6/IMG_2410.jpg" alt="IMG_2410" border="0"></a>
 
Since we are upgrading to a 240 gallon in May when we move, I figured I would go ahead and get this acclimated to his new friends. I wanted a Naso every since going to Hawaii. No signs of aggression and since adding him, all the other tangs have become much more active and swimming all over the tank. I also added another mushroom frag.

<a href="https://ibb.co/bDi6Um"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/c7jrvR/IMG_2426.jpg" alt="IMG_2426" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/d4qmUm"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/gXAmUm/IMG_2427.jpg" alt="IMG_2427" border="0"></a>
 
I had a bad cyano outbreak so have dosed Chemi-clean and will be doing lights out for 3 days. Currently on day 2, with most cyano not showing. I am assuming my sand bed is still not up to par, any thoughts on how to get a better bacteria level in the sand bed? I am confident I was vacuuming too much of the sand bed so I will try and not touch the sand when I vacuum with my water changes going forward.
 
Last edited:
some updates

some updates

What I thought was cyanobacteria was actually dinoflagellates. I did a 50 gallon water change this morning after skimming off as much dinoflagellates as I could. I cleaned all the rocks in the tank and cleaned out the protein skimmer as well. I added carbon and phosphate remover to my sump as well to hopefully get rid of any extra nutrients that we not detectable on my test kit. All my parameters are good within the tank. As always, comments and or suggestions are welcomed.

Here are some pictures of the tank. The torch coral is thriving and has a bunch of small white sponges growing on it.

<a href="https://ibb.co/gSvFPw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/kJP9jw/IMG_2445.jpg" alt="IMG_2445" border="0"></a>

The bubble coral likes it better a little further back in the tank so it is not in direct current.

<a href="https://ibb.co/i3b0rb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jLmdcG/IMG_2446.jpg" alt="IMG_2446" border="0"></a>

My fire and ice zoas didn't survive but these green ones are thriving.

<a href="https://ibb.co/nRi24w"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/kjgpjw/IMG_2447.jpg" alt="IMG_2447" border="0"></a>

The rest are pictures throughout the tank.

<a href="https://ibb.co/eDWdcG"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/hZ8frb/IMG_2448.jpg" alt="IMG_2448" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/dTz9jw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cJXUjw/IMG_2449.jpg" alt="IMG_2449" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/j926Wb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/c5e9jw/IMG_2451.jpg" alt="IMG_2451" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/jEWpjw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/eqRN4w/IMG_2441.jpg" alt="IMG_2441" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/nF49jw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/b4mN4w/IMG_2443.jpg" alt="IMG_2443" border="0"></a>
 
I didn't take a picture but it was a solid red film with what looked like hair follicles on it. I compared it to other photos online and it looked the exact same.
 
Bittersweet

Bittersweet

We sold our house and are moving. The tank will be staying with the new owners. Thanks for following along. I will be starting a new and bigger one this summer. Stay tuned...
 
I glad you are doing it fast but not skipping steps. That's not easy to do. Most people rush it and make mistakes or overlook opportunities to make changes that won't be possible later.
 
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