JB's Reefer 250 Coral Salad with Sushi

[Obsessed Reefer]

I have the Red Sea mesh top for my tank, I don’t think it hinders light that much. Plus there’s a good number of fish that are prone to jump out if easily spooked, so I’d recommend it. Very simple to create it, and especially since you have a Red Sea, they give you the measurements you’ll need.

 

[Jeffcb]

I really want to keep Blennys. I have been told they are very prone to jumping. I guess I will order one. Thanks

 

[Flameback Pair]

Chrissy the Cat Fish. She is hoping something jumps out. Should I put a screen top on the tank? Will it hinder lighting?

That’s one beautiful cat! And no a screen top won’t inhibit light from going into the tank. There’s a BRS video about that I’ll try to find it for you.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Here’s my cat Blackie checking out the coffee with our ranch hand, Mark Carr.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Here’s the video I promised:

 

[Jeffcb]

Got a few Coralline Rocks and a few Coralline incrusted frag disks from LFS. Starting Red Sea KH Coralline Gro. Lets see if I can get some Growing.

 

[Jeffcb]

Soaked 12, 1.5 inch Brightwell BIO Blocks in RO water overnight with MicroBactor7. Moved them into the refugium this morning. Have Caulerpa also add Chaeto.

 

[Jeffcb]

OCD popping in. Labeled my switches. I don't think they are straight.

 

[Flameback Pair]

@Jeffcb101 labels look level to me. Things are looking great!!!!!

 

[Jeffcb]

Feeding Nemo and Marlin about 1/2 cube of Frozen Brian S. a day. They seem happy. Threw in 4 Emerald Crabs. A couple Hermits gone. Various snails ok. 1 Turbo didn't make it.
Finished off NitroBactor 7 . Water was looking good.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2.0
PH 9.1
KH 11

Today water turned cloudy and Ammonia is .2. I'm guessing because I finish the NitroBactor?

I guess I'll just let it rip and cycle? Or should I go get more NiroBactor.

 

[Jeffcb]

Made a big mistake. Was probably in a hurry to see water in the tank and I didn't glue my rocks together first day.

. They seemed to be stable enough. I had to move my heater from the sump to tank, thats another story. Anyway I knocked a rock over. Can't imagine what that would of done full of coral a year from now. Used 2 Little Fishes pink epoxy and did the best I could to glue them together underwater. We will see.

 

[Jeffcb]

I started my build thread 1 week after tank was filled. So its actually been running 3 weeks today.
Water is really cloudy.... The 2 clowns seem happy. 3 of the 6 Hermits are still alive. 1 Turbo died. Getting a little brown algae. Does the cycle seem normal. Seems like I would have more NO3. Refugium is working?

Installed a Coralife 6x 18 watt UV filter recirculating in the sump today. Hoping that helps clear the cloudy water.

• Ammonia < .1
• NO2 .2
• NO3 2.0
• PH 8.1
• SG 1.023
  

 

[Flameback Pair]

I started my build thread 1 week after tank was filled. So its actually been running 3 weeks today.
Water is really cloudy.... The 2 clowns seem happy. 3 of the 6 Hermits are still alive. 1 Turbo died. Getting a little brown algae. Does the cycle seem normal. Seems like I would have more NO3. Refugium is working?

Installed a Coralife 6x 18 watt UV filter recirculating in the sump today. Hoping that helps clear the cloudy water.

• Ammonia < .1
• NO2 .2
• NO3 2.0
• PH 8.1
• SG 1.023
  

@Jeffcb101 is that one of those UVs that has an internal twisting design?

 

[Jeffcb]

@Jeffcb101 is that one of those UVs that has an internal twisting design?

Yes "Turbo Twist". it puts more contact surface on the glass insert.

 

[Jeffcb]

Assembled Red Sea DIY Aquarium cover. Relatively easy except for screen. I don't like the way the screen came out. Luckily they suppy enough welting and screen to redo. Gobie safe now. Ammonia 0, NO3 .4, NO2 3.0. I may add one soon.

 

[Jeffcb]

The orange filter makes a real difference on cell phone pics! Time to do some snapping!

 

[Jeffcb]

The Reefer has been up for almost 4 weeks and about cycled. 2 Clowns and Diamond Goby doing well. The only brown algae is in the refugium. UV, Snails and crabs doing good job.

I should of waited a little longer but I didn't. Added 5 frags. 3 Xoas, 2 Ricordea and a Toadstool.
Not really happy with my glue job but is my first try. The pesky little Emerald Crab has to jump on any thing put in the tank immediately. He got super glue all over his claws. I think he finally got it off.

Should I of waited longer?

• Ammonia 0.0
• Nitrite 0.2
• Nitrate 5.0
• Ph 8.2
• KH 10.1

 

[Jeffcb]

Got a bottle of Purple Helix and Pink Fusion today from Algae Barn. They get a fresh batch each week and ship on Tuesday. Turned off sump for 2 hours. We shall see!

 

[Jeffcb]

Turned off UV, Skimmer and removed filter sock overnight. Back to normal this morning. We will see in 8-10 weeks . I hope it works.

 

[Jeffcb]

Added African Flameback. Centropyge acanthops. Incredibly beautiful! He hid in a rock for about 30 mins. Feeding well after 30 mins!