"Phil's 125 Semi-Aggressive Reef"

Bad Lights make a Stress Filled Reef OWNER.

Bad Lights make a Stress Filled Reef OWNER.

Would it be 2 early to start adding a few frags?

In my opinion those lights are way too low k value. they will grow nothing but algae. And yes i would say add no Coral until the tank at least a month or two past cycle except maybe some gsp or similar.
If you need really cheap lighting Do a ebay search for 20 w floodlights. I Use them over my Refugium and at once time had them over my display tank when i had a issue with mh ballast . For your tank you would need 6 min of them And you would be fine for most softies.. Be Sure to get White / 6500 7000 k Not the natural or 3500k those are yellowish like the bulbs you have now.They run from 10 to 20 dollars each depending on where you get them from. Most come from CA . out of china of course.
i have also seen a few nice helide fixtures on ebay not long ago for a fair price in this area. MH RULES THE Reef Lighting Leds are just not there yet in my opinion.

Hope this helps and good luck...
 
Taking a break from rinsing 40 lbs of sand, that was a chore lol. The last few days I've made even more strides and realized your not always as prepared as you think. The clear pvc came but I did not think to get any t's or other pieces that I need to construct the maze. I am using 1 1/2 for the time being as it does work, just not the snug fit I like, maybe a blessing in disguise to help clean and interchange pieces. That is tbd, can always be easily taken out.
 
Sand

Sand

Just when you think you have the sand rinsed, think again. I added 60 pounds total so far and may add more as some areas have very little.

Am I good with 60 or should I do 80?
 
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What size is the substrate? I easily have 150lbs between fine sand and argonite in my 150g (should be same footprint as your 125g - 72"x18") and that gave me about a 2-1/2" deep sandbed. Course now with the livestock well established I have spots in the rocks dug down to the glass and piles in other areas over 3".

So guess what I'm getting at is you'll probably want more. Are you going to be burying the pvc maze in the substrate or just trying to hide it in the rockwork?
 
What size is the substrate? I easily have 150lbs between fine sand and argonite in my 150g (should be same footprint as your 125g - 72"x18") and that gave me about a 2-1/2" deep sandbed. Course now with the livestock well established I have spots in the rocks dug down to the glass and piles in other areas over 3".

So guess what I'm getting at is you'll probably want more. Are you going to be burying the pvc maze in the substrate or just trying to hide it in the rockwork?

I've got more 20 more pounds on hand of Natures Ocean #5 aragonite sand that can be used, had 80 pounds on hand. The maze is partially buried upfront and down the sides, there is also a 1 1/2 by foot semi-buried in the back that was just added a few moments ago, after the stress of last night I thought an extra hiding spot wouldn't hurt.

How many sleepless nights has yours given you? Last night this is all I wanted to do :headwallblue::headwallblue::headwallblue: lol
 
Alcatraz

Alcatraz

Here's a pic of the lil guy!
 

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Current look from the front.

Alcatraz is in the pot in this pic. He did eat a nice piece of shrimp earlier which was good to see after last nights fiasco.
 

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Seems to be a happy lil guy. Only time I'm unable to see his head is when he is behind the rock with the cleaner shrimp. Currently eating shrimp or clam I put on the end of a straw to feed.
 

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A few things I've noticed

A few things I've noticed

I may have had my chainlink for a week now (still early I know), but some of the things have been unexpected, some of things I was told on here. If you have knowledge, pass it along, because you never know who you may help.

Just a few things I've caught so far:

Even with strangers around Alcatraz isn't very shy, only somewhat timid to fast movements within inches of tank, think my kiddos have helped with that. I was expecting him to be somewhat reclusive.

I know when he's hungry as he comes 3/4 of the way out in a cobra posture, mouth wide open. I have tried feeding other times when I don't see this and he's rejected it every time. It doesn't matter if it's shrimp or clam when he's ready, like my huskys lol.

Now the odd part. A buddy was over earlier and was around to watch me feed as Alcatraz was doing his feeding posture. As I'm walking back from the kitchen 40 feet away with a wall between my buddy goes "he's coming out more." The closer I got the more active he got. He does all switch spots in the tank depending on where someone is in the room we've noticed. My routine is never the same for feeding, if he gets shrimp it takes about 2 minutes from refrigerator to tank, clam takes about 7 as it has to defrost (small clam half shells), he won't accept from shell even if hungry. It's as if he knows I'm bringing food.

Thanks for all the advice/input/opinions so far and keep em coming ya'll
 
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