Hi all!
Welcome to the build thread for my 40B tank, my first foray into the saltwater hobby. I don't plan to really begin the build until mid-January due to a vacation (to Costa Rica, if anyone has any activity suggestions?!) but I thought it would be best to document everything, in the event you all have any suggestions on how to make this process more fluid.
Bad jokes aside, here's the plan as it current stands:
40 Breeder Equipment
40 Breeder Stocking
40 Breeder Setup
First and foremost, I plan to research these independently - but any input here is greatly appreciated as well! Some notes for perspective:
- I'm willing to spend the right amount of money to get all of this up and running, but I don't want to go into debt to do so. $800 pieces of equipment are just not in my wheelhouse for the first tank.
- I live in a very moderately-sized NYC apartment. Space is a concern, so I'm trying to be creative in how to do this in a painless way, while not overloading myself with excess gear.
- Rummy2Reef
Welcome to the build thread for my 40B tank, my first foray into the saltwater hobby. I don't plan to really begin the build until mid-January due to a vacation (to Costa Rica, if anyone has any activity suggestions?!) but I thought it would be best to document everything, in the event you all have any suggestions on how to make this process more fluid.
Bad jokes aside, here's the plan as it current stands:
40 Breeder Equipment
Filtration (sump-less)
- CPR Aquatics Aquafuge2 (HOB refugium - medium - 3.7g)
- I plan to use chaeto or perhaps dragon's breath, using AlgaeBarn's starter kit.
- Heater will (hopefully) be placed inside this refugium, suction cupped below the macro, but above the bottom. - Tunze Comline DOC Skimmer 9004 (sleek, in-tank skimmer)
Lighting
- (2) AI Prime 16HDs
Heating
- 125w Eheim (w/ temperature controller)
Water Circulation
- EITHER
- Red Sea Reefwave 25
OR
- Jebao CP-90 Cross Wave
General Equipment
- BRS 5-Stage 100GPD RO-DI system
(more on RO-DI later, as it's my biggest concern about this whole process)
- Tunze Osmolator 3155
- Will pull freshwater from on old 10gal tank I will have inside the stand.
- Real Reef Rock (55 lbs, mixed sizes)
- Carib-Sea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand
40 Breeder Stocking
Fish
- (2) Oscellaris Clowns
- (1) Yellow Watchman Goby
- (1) Coral Beauty Angelfish
- (1) Orchid dottyback
- TBD?
CUC
- Added gradually with algae appearance post-cycle
- Added gradually with algae appearance post-cycle
- (1) Tuxedo Urchin
- (1) Emerald Crab
- Copepods
- (2) Blue-legged hermit crabs
Corals
- A multi-color colony of hammers and frogspawn - I love the density/color/movement you get from these.
- Pulsing Xenia (on an island)
- Duncan
- Kenya Tree
- Green Star Polyps
- Alveopora
40 Breeder Setup
Day 1: Build a new stand, as I'd like something more living room friendly than the utilitarian shelving.
Day TBD: Add Rocks, Substrate, Water, Pumps
Day TBD 2: Start Fishless, Lightless Cycle
- Dose w/ Brightwell MicroBacter Start XLM + QuickCycl
Week 2 (post-cycle): Add 2 clowns, continue lightless bacteria building period
Month 2: Lights on, add first coral
The rest TBD.
Questions I have:First and foremost, I plan to research these independently - but any input here is greatly appreciated as well! Some notes for perspective:
- I'm willing to spend the right amount of money to get all of this up and running, but I don't want to go into debt to do so. $800 pieces of equipment are just not in my wheelhouse for the first tank.
- I live in a very moderately-sized NYC apartment. Space is a concern, so I'm trying to be creative in how to do this in a painless way, while not overloading myself with excess gear.
- RO-DI Water - I plan to get that 5-stage system, but I have concerns about the time it will take to make it for the initial fill. I also don't know that I want to transport 45g of water from a store to my home. So I'm thinking of transporting the raw RO-DI water to my tank, with the rock and sand in place. Would that kill off the bacteria I'm bringing in with the ReefRock and Live sand? The plan would be to add salt after filling is complete.
- Salt - Any strong recommendations for a salt brand?
- Saltwater Storage - An idea for making my maintenance life easier is storing a Brute trash can of mixed saltwater outside, covered by a tarp (to keep critters out/block any light). I would drop a heater/pump in there to get it ready to add to the tank in the winter months. Anyone have any experience with this sort of setup?
- Rummy2Reef