Ssteve ghetto reef build.

[Ssteve]

Well thanks to this club I have a running reef tank with some livestock. Got the tank donated to me by threemoneyJ, won the rodi at a club raffle, skimmer on loan from dcarloo, t5 fixture is a cheap Amazon horticulture fixture with old donated bulbs from members. Got the ehiem return and heaters for cheap from a member here too. So far I think I am into this 120g about $600 after rock, sand, salt, test kits, garbage cans etc.

 

[Grant W]

You're off to a good start!!

 

[andrepeixoto]

Nice!

 

[Ssteve]

Just got some good well established rock and a hawk fish today, as well as a fair amount of snails and hermits.

 

[gonzalez78]

Looking good steve

 

[Grant W]

Don't go too fast bro

 

[Ssteve]

Don't go too fast bro

I purchased a tank that was up and running so I had to house the left over livestock from it. I'm sure it will be fine considering my tank has been cycled for several months and I just added about 50lbs of Rock that's been established for close to fifteen years.

 

[Grant W]

Oh wow that is well seasoned

 

[Grant W]

I thought everything was brand new from the prior read. Sry

 

[Ssteve]

I thought everything was brand new from the prior read. Sry

It was all new till today. I purchased a couple tanks from a dr that is closing his practice where the tanks were located. He's had the tanks up and running since 2002 from my understanding. There's still about 30lbs of newer rock and all the sand is new though. I'd like to add some frags and a pair of clowns in the next month but after that I'll let it sit for a while.

Since there's two small rbta's in there now(and some green mushrooms) I have to run my lights so it would be nice to get some corals so I feel justified in lighting a otherwise empty tank.

 

[Ssteve]

Got a apex installed yesterday and first impressions of Neptune is they are absolutely amazingly dedicated to customer service. I was blown away at the lengths they went to to help me out. Secondly, wow. Can't believe I went without a controller all this time. Currently just have my heaters, skimmer, DOS system, and AFS on it. After dealing with Neptune I am surely going to be going to be buying their wav powerhead system.

 

[mav3rick478]

Interesting, I've been debating a controller for my nano just to control things like heater, skimmer powerheads, fuge light and doser. Kind of tired relying on timers. So you like the experience of having one but I wonder if digital aquatic will have the same customer service experiences, I've been eyeing some used reef keeper units.

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

 

[Ssteve]

I have a used apex jr I will sell you. It would be perfect for that. $150 if you want it.

 

[swk]

Interesting, I've been debating a controller for my nano just to control things like heater, skimmer powerheads, fuge light and doser. Kind of tired relying on timers. So you like the experience of having one but I wonder if digital aquatic will have the same customer service experiences, I've been eyeing some used reef keeper units.

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

Once you have a controller, I don't think you can ever go back to operating a tank without one. They are so nice.

Don't ignore the reef angel. A limitless controller that is packed with features for under 225 brand new. It's what I use and I love it.

The new profilux looks promising and of course, Neptune apex has dominated the market for years now. Reef angel is based in the Bay Area and are very easy to get assistance with as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grant W]

Having a controller is soooo much easier and precise

 

[Ssteve]

Fusion is really addicting. I find myself constantly logging in and checking it while imagining I am sitting in front of my reef. I think i am going to setup a webcam so i can view it while i look at my temp, ph and amp draw.

 

[Grant W]

The addiction is real

 

[Ssteve]

Well the tank is progressing on really nicely. Replaced the reef octopus int200 with a skimz skimmer cause the old reef octopus started having some pump issues. The skimz started pulling an insane amount of nasty stuff in about 12 hours. Now it's constantly pulling a ton of skim out. I have added two fish a week the last three weeks so the tank has a significant amount of livestock now and I have been feeding heavy for about two weeks now and just now starting to see nitrates creep up. So far *knock on wood* I haven't lost any livestock. I think all the extremely well established rock is the only reason why. The caviot to that I may be losing a bubble tip anemone. I got a big one from one of the tanks James and I broke down, it split the next day and the smaller rbta was fine for about a week and then decided to walk across the tank, suck itself into a rock and I can't see it anymore. It's been about two weeks now and I can just see a small part of it and it's all white.

 

[Grant W]

I hope it's ok and nice progress

 

[Ssteve]

Yeah I hope so too. It's really puzzling how it's happened. The nems plot, one part bubbled and the larger part didn't bubble. The smaller part was fine and looked great for a few days and then it tucked itself up in a ball and rolled around the tank for a couple hours till it sucked itself into a rock. No other livestock has had issues and I am even seeing decent growth. The frags I got from you where they were cut have almost completely healed, everything has great PE etc.