HTown Reef - 200g Waterbox Reef LX 270.6 (SPS Dominant)

[sfin52]

Interesting, in my own anecdotal experiences of other friends keeping melanurus wrasses, they never seemed to have issues. Tbh it's on the bottom of my current wrasse list so I can prob axe that and include something else.

I had a mel and it was never a problem. Kept with scopas yellow tail damsel, Toby puffer, cinnamon clown. I briefly had a leapord and there was slight aggression nothing serious. It wasn't what killed it.

Crabby is a wrasse expert. I'm not sure how well it would do with other wrasse. In my brief time with the leapord I'm not sure how the aggression would have turned out.

 

[Ugin]

Nothing new to report on the waterbox, but over the last 2 days I've felt like ****... decided to use an at-home covid test kit and GG

Tested positive. Hopefully it runs its course before the tank arrives next week

 

[Crabby48]

Nothing new to report on the waterbox, but over the last 2 days I've felt like ****... decided to use an at-home covid test kit and GG

Tested positive. Hopefully it runs its course before the tank arrives next week

Feel better. Hope it passes in a few days.

 

[sfin52]

Seems like everybody getting it.

 

[Ugin]

My Covid symptoms are mostly gone... what a great way to kick off 2022!

@Crabby48 So I've been refining my planned wrasse list and I had a few questions.
1) Do you have any suggestions regarding the potter's wrasse? Is this a fish you'd only recommend after having a well established pod population akin to other leopard wrasses/mandarin's?

2) Do you have any experience with the Checkerboard Wrasse (Marble/Hortulanus)? I have a reef buddy who keeps one with success, but I don't see much information online for care/experiences, so I figured I'd ask.

 

[Crabby48]

Potters are not being collected because Hawaii is closed. But Yes them and other leopards are better in a more mature reef. Potters are a more fragile leopard. If you find them I’ll buy them all lol.
Ornate, Meleagris and blue stars that are eating are more hardy for leopards and will be ok in a newer tank but might be hard developing pods with them .

I don’t remember what I read awhile back on checkerboard wrasse but don’t remember anything alarming. Best to ask that question in wrasse lover thread. I’m sure people had/have them

 

[Crabby48]

Forgot the link https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-wrasse-lovers-thread.113942/page-694

By the way great taste in wrasse so far!

 

[sfin52]

Potters are not being collected because Hawaii is closed. But Yes them and other leopards are better in a more mature reef. Potters are a more fragile leopard. If you find them I’ll buy them all lol.
Ornate, Meleagris and blue stars that are eating are more hardy for leopards and will be ok in a newer tank but might be hard developing pods with them .

I don’t remember what I read awhile back on checkerboard wrasse but don’t remember anything alarming. Best to ask that question in wrasse lover thread. I’m sure people had/have them

Halichoeres hortulanus the care would be very similar to any other halichoeres. Now that its on the bigger side orinmental shrimps and crabs would be on the menu. I know my mel went after a emerald I tried in the 55.

 

[Ugin]

Forgot the link https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-wrasse-lovers-thread.113942/page-694

By the way great taste in wrasse so far!

Haha thanks, I will. I wasn't aware the potter's were found only in Hawaii, so I may table that for now unless I can find a supplier.

 

[Ugin]

So... the tank was supposed to arrive tomorrow. I also just got off a call from the Fedex freight guy telling me he was 5 minutes out and if I was home, so........

The only damage to the box I noticed was on the top on one side. As the tank is sealed in with wood/nails + my drill's battery is low, I'm charging the battery and then I'll get some shots of it soon. There is a 30 day return in case of damage and I signed the courier papers accordingly, so if there's any damage they'll be back out here to collect and reship. Crossing my fingers though.... SO EXCITED

 

[Crabby48]

Halichoeres hortulanus the care would be very similar to any other halichoeres. Now that its on the bigger side orinmental shrimps and crabs would be on the menu. I know my mel went after a emerald I tried in the 55.

I don’t think they are real bad on critters but I can’t remember.

 

[Ugin]

No one can say Waterbox doesn't pack their tanks well...



When I first opened the box I had a mini heart. From a distance, this sure looked like a hairline crack:



On closer inspection, it peeled away with the clingfilm... phew!



This tank is huge!







The stand came pre-assembled as I think all of their aluminum frame stands do.





Electrical side panel. All of the doors/siding came in separate boxes which I already took inside.




That was a lot of pictures! The next step is going to be bringing the tank inside. I have some guys coming this Thursday with a hydraulic press + vacuum suction cups to give me a hand.

Until then I need to clean out the space where my tank is going. The current occupant is my dearly beloved liquor cabinet which is gonna be fun to move

 

[Brett Miller]

Super exciting. My 270.6 XL is hopefully coming on Wednesday! How are you handing the installation of the Clarisea? Are you taking out the filter sock holder? Is it complicated? Are you not going to use the second drain? I ended up buying the Flir filter roller but I really wanted to clarisea. Let me know what you are planning. It could change my direction based on your experience

 

[Ugin]

Super exciting. My 270.6 XL is hopefully coming on Wednesday! How are you handing the installation of the Clarisea? Are you taking out the filter sock holder? Is it complicated? Are you not going to use the second drain? I ended up buying the Flir filter roller but I really wanted to clarisea. Let me know what you are planning. It could change my direction based on your experience

So my plan for the Clarisea was to use one of the manifold connections and jerry rig a ribbed tube connection to it. I'm pretty handy with plumbing so I was just gonna pick up the unit and mess around with it till I got it working.

That said, I can't find the Clarisea instock at any of the places I normally shop at (online or LFS), so it's been kind of a moot point. I have also been playing around with the idea of adding a refugium to the tank so I'm not set on a fleece roller 100% yet because I feel like that may be overkill (Skimmer + Fleece Roller + Refugium) as forms of filtration.

Can you expand on your question on the 2nd drain?

 

[Brett Miller]

So my plan for the Clarisea was to use one of the manifold connections and jerry rig a ribbed tube connection to it. I'm pretty handy with plumbing so I was just gonna pick up the unit and mess around with it till I got it working.

That said, I can't find the Clarisea instock at any of the places I normally shop at (online or LFS), so it's been kind of a moot point. I have also been playing around with the idea of adding a refugium to the tank so I'm not set on a fleece roller 100% yet because I feel like that may be overkill (Skimmer + Fleece Roller + Refugium) as forms of filtration.

Can you expand on your question on the 2nd drain?

@Ugin Since the tank has 2 - 1" drains, will you connect one drain to the clarasea roller and/or let the other drain bypass the roller or not use it all together.

 

[Ugin]

@Ugin Since the tank has 2 - 1" drains, will you connect one drain to the clarasea roller and/or let the other drain bypass the roller or not use it all together.

If I end up going with the fleece roller, I'd first try to use the manifold that comes with the Waterbox and connect clear hosing to a ribbed tube connector on the Clarisea.

If that doesn't provide enough flow, I'd plumb it into the primary drain. What you should understand about their primary/secondary drains is you don't have to use the second main drain but it's nice to have if you want more turn over through the overflow box. The volume of each drain will depend on how you have the valves adjusted, so whichever drain you chose to plumb it if you go that route is up to you.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Beautiful tank! Can't wait to see it up and running!!

 

[Ugin]

Beautiful tank! Can't wait to see it up and running!!

Same! I have a ton of goodies arriving today from BRS. Should be fun

 

[Ugin]

I got some goodies in the mail!



At the bare minimum, I'm missing the 2nd Icecap 4k w/ controller which has been out of stock for ages on BRS. Outside of that plus the equipment I already have, we should be in business!

I uh... also got something for the girl to make all of this a little easier:

 

[Mystikal]

Very nice tank! The stand is clean.