EliMelly’s Bacteria Driven Mixed Reef

[EliMelly]

Hello Everyone!

I got into the hobby about a year ago with my first tank (Red Sea 350) and learned quite a bit. After news from my wife that we were moving I did what any sensible reefer would do… Used it as an excuse to upgrade my tank. I’m super excited to start again due to having a lot more knowledge, experience, and more of a game plan to achieve my goals!

Now to the details!

Tank - Red Sea 750 G2+ (6x2x2) (Purchased due to time constraints having to leave the old place and needing to set up a tank asap)

200 total gallons about 160 display and 40 gal sump.

Equipment:

Lighting - 3XR30 will add more once I bring my corals back from my friend.

Heater - IM Helio 1000 Watt

Reefmat 1200

Pump - DC 9000 ReefRun

Wavemaker - 2 MP40s

Skimmer - DC 600 will upgrade later if needed. Upgraded to Akula Ultra Reef 200 UKs

Red Sea Doser

ZeoBak Reactor

Aqua UV 57

Plan on following the sunnyx method with all for reef, carbon dosing, and bacteria dosing!

Just ordered a custom lid from Top Lids.

Current stocking list:
Yellow Tang
Hippo Tang
Achilles Tang
Wantanabe Angel
Flame Angel
Earmuff Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Ocellaris Clownfish (regular and a black one)
Firefish
Banded Snake Eel
Long Nose Hawkfish
Mandarin
Royal Gramma

Future stocking plans:
8 Lyretail Anthias
Gem Tang
Midas Blenny
Another firefish
Copperband
Male Wantanabe Angel
Snowflake Eel
Possibly a trigger and another wrasse.

Moving the tank in was quite the task. I first added in extra reinforcement to the structure of the home, and created a more efficient RODI system due to the need for bigger sized water changes. All said and done I got the tank in and stand built within 3 hours and with the help of 5 guys!

The most stressful part of the move was transferring over my NSA aqua scape in a time efficient manner to not lose all the bacteria. Longest 30 hours of my life moving over all inhabitants and corals and tanking down my old tank but now we’re all done! Let the fun begin!

Tank Goals

Minimalist and modern SPS dominant mixed reef. A focus on stability, simplicity, consistent water changes, and most of all patience.

Looking forward to keeping everyone updated on my journey and hopefully passing on the knowledge I’ve received from this amazing platform!

 

[EliMelly]

If anyone would mind providing some assistance for the following questions I would be super appreciative!

I am adding in a bunch of new fish, will I need to add in a bunch more hiding spots?

My Wantanabe female is the most aggressive fish in my tank. Will adding a male decrease this behavior or exasperate it?

Any recommendations for a solid skimmer? I’m not the biggest fan of my DC Red Sea Skimmer. I would like most of all ease of use and consistency.

 

[thedon986]

Your aquascape looks like its mostly the NSA type so I would say yes you need a lot more hiding spots. I have 12 fish in my 100g and 9 of them sleep within the rock (nothing fancy just a pile of rocks). I know the NSA scapes look pretty but if you want to lower stress and aggression you need need some actual spots to hide completely.

I love my Aquamaxx ConeS Q-2.

 

[EliMelly]

Awesome appreciate it, I’ll make another NSA structure for middle of the tank with a couple hiding spots. My other Little Rock platforms in the sand all have hiding spots!

 

[EliMelly]

So brief update:

There’s another post going around where I lost a bunch of fish. I added an Achilles who quickly got ich and what seemed to be black ich.

I attempted treatment with polyp lab, UV set up, and dosed prazi pro twice.

I believe now that the prazi pro lowered my oxygen levels in the tank and I lost my yellow tang, Achilles, Wantanabe, red flame Angel, and both shrimp.

I’m going to set up my old 90 gallon as a QT tank and I’m officially done with ich management.

 

[EliMelly]

Just a heads up, I would suggest people don’t order a lid from top lids. I spoke with Tyler on the phone and decided to give him a shot this build and he promised me a 4 week delivery with paid expedited fees.

Once I confirmed the order about a week or two later after reviewing dimensions I was told that expedited was no longer an option when I followed up on eta.

I was given the option for a refund minus 30% or just to wait the time. I don’t have that much free time so I wasn’t interested in going through the whole process with another company.

I did find the 30% decreased refund when they failed communication wise a bit dishonest.

 

[EliMelly]

This thread is long overdue for an update. I finally turned the lights on after six months. Fallow period is in the last week so I’ll be ready to add in fish.

I just added my first coral back and it’s a holy grail torch.

Setting up dosers and bacteria reactor today

Additional NSA pieces added in as well to give fish extra hiding spots!

 

[EliMelly]

 

[EliMelly]

Got my new ultra reef skimmer in as well. Got 30% off as it was used…

 

[EliMelly]

Another thing, I lost nearly three quarters of my fish to velvet and ich. Mike from Dr Reef was kind enough to ship me a box and some bags and treat my fish for free. Unfortunately most of them didn’t make it through treatment so this tank has a completely clean slate.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Another thing, I lost nearly three quarters of my fish to velvet and ich. Mike from Dr Reef was kind enough to ship me a box and some bags and treat my fish for free. Unfortunately most of them didn’t make it through treatment so this tank has a completely clean slate.

So sorry about your loss!

 

[EliMelly]

Would love some advice here regarding the fish I’m adding. This is my dream stocking list, please let me know what is feasible etc.

Banded Snake Eel
Skeletor Eel

Wantanabe Angel Male and Female
Red Flame Angel
Goldflake Angel

Copperband Butterfly
Moorish Idol or 3 Bannerfish

9 Lyretail Anthias

Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
Watchman Goby
Mandarin

Pair of Clownfish

Long Nose Hawkfish

Yellow Tang
Achilles Tang
Hippo Tang
Gem Tang
Naso Tang

Earmuff Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Cleaner Wrasse
Can I add another?

Fox face??

 

[EliMelly]

So sorry about your loss!

Thanks I’m still reeling from it. Nothing like setting up a new 200 gallon and losing all fish and having to wait fallow…

 

[EliMelly]

I added in a UV with its own line. I will send pictures later today for people who have a similar tank of how I set it up!

 

[Mschmidt]

Would love some advice here regarding the fish I’m adding. This is my dream stocking list, please let me know what is feasible etc.

Banded Snake Eel
Skeletor Eel

Wantanabe Angel Male and Female
Red Flame Angel
Goldflake Angel

Copperband Butterfly
Moorish Idol or 3 Bannerfish

9 Lyretail Anthias

Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
Watchman Goby
Mandarin

Pair of Clownfish

Long Nose Hawkfish

Yellow Tang
Achilles Tang
Hippo Tang
Gem Tang
Naso Tang

Earmuff Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Cleaner Wrasse
Can I add another?

Fox face??

not sure if the littles would become eel food... @Slocke @Goaway you know eels right?

 

[EliMelly]

not sure if the littles would become eel food... @Slocke @Goaway you know eels right?

These eels are pretty reef safe I’m more of curious about the amount of fish…

 

[Mschmidt]

Gotcha. I'm not much help then. It's a lot of big fish, but it's a big tank too.

 

[EliMelly]

Gotcha. I'm not much help then. It's a lot of big fish, but it's a big tank too.

Appreciate it!

 

[EliMelly]

Added in two RBTA that my friend @Coral Kai was kind enough to gift me, as well as a holy grail with pink tips Will get better pics tomorrow.

 

[Nano_Man]

Nice big tank
Your better been under stocked than over stocked
Wish you luck going forward