H8Mondays' Waterbox Frag 105.4 Build

[Daniel@R2R]

Looking good!!

 

[h8mondays]

Well it's been a minute, life has just been brutal, but I finally got the tank off the stand and spent two days getting it releveled. I had a sheet of plywood underneath it that I removed. Turns out my wood floor isn't remotely level. It's like a bloody sine wave. So we're adding water again to see how we look. Fingers crossed. If all goes well I'll power up the pumps and let it run while I plan out the scape.

 

[h8mondays]

And she held!!!! Hallelujah! Added an MP40 and let it run for three days with zero issues. Now to get the scape together. This build may actually be happening!!!

 

[h8mondays]

Big update today. Added sand and scape and filled her up on June 30th. Took about three days to get dialed in. Started the cycle using Dr. Tim’s and am breaking in the skimmer.

 

[h8mondays]

Nice and clear.

 

[h8mondays]

Added a Jumpguard Pro lid while waiting for the tank to cycle. Pretty happy with it overall. A few kinks in the netting but not bad.

 

[john90009]

Looks nice! Glad it’s finally getting filled. Do yourself a favor and go get an icp test since you just fillled it. You want to see why is in the water day one and see what changes so you can tell what’s changing over time.

 

[h8mondays]

Cycle completed and stocking has begun. So far:
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
Midas Blenny
Blood Red Fire Shrimp x 2
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp x 4
Tiger conch x 2
Assorted snails (Cerith, Nassarius, Astrea)
Pods, tons and tons of pods and dosing phyto. USPS did a bang up job on the delivery. Box ripped open and retaped. Gel packs ruptured. Good times.

All feeding and doing well. Going to let the tank mature further before adding anything else besides CUC as the situation requires.

 

[Mr bigolsworth]

Looking good. Im thinking of running a similar set up but using a reefmat for the low mx aspect. I have a move coming up to Vegas this winter so I'll be following along. I love those printed covers for the light.

 

[h8mondays]

A few photos as of 08/22/2022. Lost my original McCosker's likely due to a virus. Took a chance on a new one. Time to get out my DSLR for better pics. Updated the full stocking list in first post.

 

[h8mondays]

So I went and added two new fish. I've been planning for a Mandarin since the beginning. Been seeding the tank with pods and dosing phyto as soon as the cycle completed. Did this for weeks before the first livestock were added and continue to do so weekly. I figured in a few years when the tank matures I'd get one, likely wild caught because I simply could not find any of the ORAs online. Well, I stopped at a shop in Metarie hoping to find an aquacultured Flame Angel and came away with two mandarins. Both were no longer than the width of my thumbnail. They are eating TDO pellets (extra small), mysis and hunting pods and have grown significantly in the last week. I vividly remember when I first read about their successful breeding in captivity. Such an awesome achievement. One my favorite memories from diving in the Philippines was night dives to watch them spawn. I've cranked up my own pod culture farm to expand capacity in case they decide to stop eating TDO/mysis.

 

[h8mondays]

Long overdue update. A bit carried away with the hammers and torches. Things are running well with the only exception being a bubble coral outbreak. I did get a torch with euphyllia flatworms and have successfully eradicated those. Now to eliminate the bubble algae.

 

[h8mondays]

And while I'm updating, I just got back from a visit to Orlando. Couldn't help myself...did a quick drive by at Waterbox HQ. Wouldn't have a tank if it weren't for them.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank is looking great!!!

 

[h8mondays]

Tank made a year in July. Let's see...a lot has happened since January. Had a massive outbreak of bubble algae that took three months to get under control. Next battle was with BJD. Was losing random heads from hammers and torches. I treated that and haven't lost a thing since (been three months without a sign or symptom). Left town for a week in May and went from very low nutrients to rather high thanks to some heavy feeding by my mother. Still working on getting that under control but so far have had minimal negative impacts. Managed to pick up ulva from somewhere but it's easy enough to deal with. Decided to try the Reef Moonshiners method and so far everything seems to be responding well. I'm very pleased with growth and color. As for the most odd thing so far, my pistol shrimp seems to be smitten with my male Mandarin and it appears that the feeling is mutual. Have a Yasha Goby in the tank and they could care less about working together. Oh and got to take a tour of the Coralvue facility back in May. Amazing stuff!

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Tank made a year in July. Let's see...a lot has happened since January. Had a massive outbreak of bubble algae that took three months to get under control. Next battle was with BJD. Was losing random heads from hammers and torches. I treated that and haven't lost a thing since (been three months without a sign or symptom). Left town for a week in May and went from very low nutrients to rather high thanks to some heavy feeding by my mother. Still working on getting that under control but so far have had minimal negative impacts. Managed to pick up ulva from somewhere but it's easy enough to deal with. Decided to try the Reef Moonshiners method and so far everything seems to be responding well. I'm very pleased with growth and color. As for the most odd thing so far, my pistol shrimp seems to be smitten with my male Mandarin and it appears that the feeling is mutual. Have a Yasha Goby in the tank and they could care less about working together. Oh and got to take a tour of the Coralvue facility back in May. Amazing stuff!

Beautiful tank!!