Stolireef Reborn -- Rebuild Thread

Noticed my first diatoms and cyano today. In the past, it would have bothered me but I'm actually pleased to see it. Since I don't have any corals yet, I can let the cyano take up excess nutrients in the water. I still have a couple of weeks before I'd add corals so this works out really well. The diatoms are mostly in the fuge so they don't bother me either. All a natural part of the cycle.
 
As I was looking at the tank today, I thought back to my first successful tank. I would make RO/DI water in the basement for water changes and have to carry five gallon buckets up the stairs for every water change. Top off was a daily manual affair and I didn't have a controller. It was so easy to get fed up with all of the work and as a result, husbandry would occasionally suffer.

With this current build, I can do a twenty gallon water change in about ten minutes. The water change station is right next to the tank so no carrying buckets. Top off is completely automated and I can control every piece of equipment with either the click of a mouse or the touch of a button. I can access everything relatively easily.

I hope all of the foregoing makes the hobby more fun than work. Time will tell.
 
Thanks to JPorter, I added my first coral a little ahead of schedule on Saturday. He dropped off a beautiful rock loaded with Fire and Ice Zoas as a 'tank warming' gift. I'll try to post a picture a little later but we all know that photography is definitely not my strong suit.
 
Fire and ice zoas from jporter
uploadfromtaptalk1399414089281.jpg
 
something to consider Allen, is to start your tank by adding all your fish first, in essence making it a fish QT, even possibly treating the tank with Chloroquine Phosphate if needed to eliminate Ich and Velvet, then when you have your fish population established and disease free, remove any medication(s) with carbon and WC's, and add your coral
 
I actually considered that but despite my professed desire to be patient...you know the rest of the story.

Yesterday, I added a Bartlett's Anthias to the tank that had been at Aquatouch for about 5 months. I think that's the last Russian Roulette I'll play with this tank. I'm going to set up the 29 gallon I won as a QT for any further fish. Once it's done as a QT then I can play with doing something else.
 
Stolireef said:
I actually considered that but despite my professed desire to be patient...you know the rest of the story.

Yesterday, I added a Bartlett's Anthias to the tank that had been at Aquatouch for about 5 months. I think that's the last Russian Roulette I'll play with this tank. I'm going to set up the 29 gallon I won as a QT for any further fish. Once it's done as a QT then I can play with doing something else.
Click to expand...

this entire hobby is Russian Roulette :lol:
 
Yup. You can dip, QT, and do everything else and still have problems. I've actually never dealt with ich nor, before this tank, ever run a QT. Frankly, if I didn't have the 29 just sitting here, I might not ever set one up.
 
arguments both ways (stress of QT vs benefits), however when one gets to a point when there is an established reef without pests, and there is a lot at risk, QTing new additions makes sense
 
Stolireef said:
I really don't think you can make a good argument against QT but you have to admit that it's a huge PIA.
Click to expand...

well, my QT is up and running continuously with a sump/skimmer/LR/auto top off/easy WC's, etc., so yes it's a pain but the maintenance is about as low as can be, which is a necessity for me :rolleyes:
 
Reminds me I need to get my QT up and running here as Im about ready to add some more fish.

and very true about not being affording not to at this point.

Elliot, your QT is plumbed to the same sump as the DT or a different one?
edit: NM I see sumps is plural in your signature.
 
Mael said:
Reminds me I need to get my QT up and running here as Im about ready to add some more fish.

and very true about not being affording not to at this point.

Elliot, your QT is plumbed to the same sump as the DT or a different one?
edit: NM I see sumps is plural in your signature.
Click to expand...

yes, I have 180g with it's own sump/skimmer and a 150g (partitioned) with it's own sump/skimmer, both are set up for minimal maintenance, they get used a lot and getting more valuable the longer the DT matures
 
Well, I think I can now say my 'build' is complete. I installed the doors on the stand last night and I can't think of any other other equipment that needs to be installed. I added my first SPS to the tank on Thursday and it is already showing signs of growth. Of course, we know how fast things can go down hill on a new tank so I'm sticking with the go slow approach. I'll try to post some pictures tonight after the sun goes down and the MH's have been on for a while.
 
I'm actually travelling out of town on Wednesday so I'm going to try not to add anything else until I get back. The acro that I put in the tank is kind of my canary in the coal mine. Right now, it looks great but lets see what happens in a week or two.

Don't worry Francis, I'll be following up with you as soon as I'm confident that I can keep things alive.
 
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