Sdoutreefer's Cube Build - Red Sea Reefer 200 G2+

[Sdoutreefer]

Use rails for wires

Rails...?

 

[2Plus2]

Rails...?

yeap like the grey ones in mine, hide all the wires inside.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

yeap like the grey ones in mine, hide all the wires inside.

Oh, just like a wire mold. Got it. It does look good! I just used the chinese fingertrap stuff to "hide" my wires.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I wanted to give an update. I am just hanging out, waiting for my tank to continue cycling. I'm pretty positive I'm cycled. My Nitrates have hit >/= 5 and nitrites were super low this past Thursday (0.2pm). I Was out of town so I have not taken an additional read on my Nitrites, but plan to today.

I've been thinking of adding some live sand from an established tank, or having some shipped to my house from TBS. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around how in the heck my tank will have any sort of bio-diversity from a bottle of ammonium chloride and Nitrifying bacteria. Do ya'll who do the fishless cycle introduce any sort of live rock or sand to create that bio-diversity? Or does it develop over time?

On a side note, I got my Apex hooked up last week. Will be hooking up the trident this weekend (just waiting on a sampling tube). My LFS has a "like new" Neptune DOS for sale at 50% off retail, so I plan on picking that up and getting it set up sometime this week.

Really no new news to report, just more so reporting and recording for my own sake.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I wanted to give an update. I am just hanging out, waiting for my tank to continue cycling. I'm pretty positive I'm cycled. My Nitrates have hit >/= 5 and nitrites were super low this past Thursday (0.2pm). I Was out of town so I have not taken an additional read on my Nitrites, but plan to today.

I've been thinking of adding some live sand from an established tank, or having some shipped to my house from TBS. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around how in the heck my tank will have any sort of bio-diversity from a bottle of ammonium chloride and Nitrifying bacteria. Do ya'll who do the fishless cycle introduce any sort of live rock or sand to create that bio-diversity? Or does it develop over time?

On a side note, I got my Apex hooked up last week. Will be hooking up the trident this weekend (just waiting on a sampling tube). My LFS has a "like new" Neptune DOS for sale at 50% off retail, so I plan on picking that up and getting it set up sometime this week.

Really no new news to report, just more so reporting and recording for my own sake.

I did live sand and the fishless cycle in my tank. Mine cycled relatively fast doing that!

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I did live sand and the fishless cycle in my tank. Mine cycled relatively fast doing that!

Good to know. I used a dry-sand, and I'm thinking I either need a scoop or two of live sand from my LFS, or somewhere online.

My only issue with taking from my LFS is pests. He unfortunately has a small pest issue, at least in his frag tanks, and my main drive for going fishless with dry rock was to have the control on introducing any pests early on.

 

[2Plus2]

Good to know. I used a dry-sand, and I'm thinking I either need a scoop or two of live sand from my LFS, or somewhere online.

My only issue with taking from my LFS is pests. He unfortunately has a small pest issue, at least in his frag tanks, and my main drive for going fishless with dry rock was to have the control on introducing any pests early on.

Should be fine once your cycled, what’s your first purchase for fish?

I’m almost cycled myself, I put in an order for frostbites, i want babies.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Should be fine once your cycled, what’s your first purchase for fish?

I’m almost cycled myself, I put in an order for frostbites, i want babies.

I haven't bought any fish yet, and probably won't for maybe another month or two. Trying to get that bio-diversity

BBUUUTTTT, my 4-year old daughter really wants a purple fish (purple dottyback) or Nemo and his dad. So, of course I'm going to have to get all 3. I'm not too keen on the purple dottyback, but whatever makes her happy!

I really want a pair of designer clowns, if I can get a hold of them for a reasonable price. I went to a new LFS yesterday, and he had a Anthias Borbonius.... I think I'm in love. It is still in quarantine but eats great. He fed the little guy when I was there. It does have quite the price tag on it, but man I love those borbonius's.

If anyone else has some stocking ideas, let me know! I'm open to anything

 

[Sdoutreefer]

update on the tank:
I’m getting some very weird Nitrite and Nitrate readings. I’m talking over 4ppm via salfert on Nitrites, and over 100ppm via salifert on Nitrates. I added a bottle of copepods last Thursday and dosed about 6ml-8ml of live phyto since then. Could this enormous spike be from the pods and phyto? Or is there something else going on? I almost feel I might have rushed but I want to hear your thoughts.

 

[2Plus2]

update on the tank:
I’m getting some very weird Nitrite and Nitrate readings. I’m talking over 4ppm via salfert on Nitrites, and over 100ppm via salifert on Nitrates. I added a bottle of copepods last Thursday and dosed about 6ml-8ml of live phyto since then. Could this enormous spike be from the pods and phyto? Or is there something else going on? I almost feel I might have rushed but I want to hear your thoughts.

I also just added pods, ordered the little kit from Algaebarn..... Those are some weird readings.

I dumped the whole bottle of 5280 pods or whatever its called and phyto illustrates to dump 5ml per 20gallons everyday, so ive been doing this for about 3 days now. My nitrates are sitting around 10ppm and my nitrites above 1ppm for sure since my Red Sea test kit wont go over 1ppm.

Since adding those little doods, I havent seen one anywhere.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I also just added pods, ordered the little kit from Algaebarn..... Those are some weird readings.

I dumped the whole bottle of 5280 pods or whatever its called and phyto illustrates to dump 5ml per 20gallons everyday, so ive been doing this for about 3 days now. My nitrates are sitting around 10ppm and my nitrites above 1ppm for sure since my Red Sea test kit wont go over 1ppm.

Since adding those little doods, I havent seen one anywhere.

Very bizarre readings indeed. I wouldn't imagine that pods and phyto would spike nitrites like that.

Another thought that I had is maybe my old "live rock" is curing out. I don't know if this is even possible, since my old "live rock" has been sitting out of water for about 12 years. In my eyes, that "live rock" is now just dry rock.

 

[2Plus2]

Very bizarre readings indeed. I wouldn't imagine that pods and phyto would spike nitrites like that.

Another thought that I had is maybe my old "live rock" is curing out. I don't know if this is even possible, since my old "live rock" has been sitting out of water for about 12 years. In my eyes, that "live rock" is now just dry rock.

What were your readings today?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

What were your readings today?

Same as yesterday.

No2: >/= 4ppm
No3: >/= 100ppm

Both tests taken with Salifert. I went ahead and ordered the No2/No3 kits from Tropic Marin. I’m sure I won’t get any different readings but it would be nice to confirm.

Not totallly sure what’s happening. I was thinking maybe what I thought was my initial spike was not, and this is it… trying to think of everything. Hopefully someone with an idea will read this!

 

[2Plus2]

Same as yesterday.

No2: >/= 4ppm
No3: >/= 100ppm

Both tests taken with Salifert. I went ahead and ordered the No2/No3 kits from Tropic Marin. I’m sure I won’t get any different readings but it would be nice to confirm.

Not totallly sure what’s happening. I was thinking maybe what I thought was my initial spike was not, and this is it… trying to think of everything. Hopefully someone with an idea will read this!

Just finished testing mine.

NH3/4: 0PPM
NO2: 0PPM
NO3: 30PPM

Major differences from last night, Im ready to host. My clowns come in Friday, ill be picking them up Saturday.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

My tank finally has fish!!! I went ahead and bought a small school of blue chromis this weekend as "testers" and of course a "purple fish" because my 4-year old had to have it. I am a little concerned having the dottyback, as they can be somewhat aggressive. So far she's been fine, but I worry about my Chromis once the dottyback gets a bit more comfortable. I hate to say that, but that is what they are. It's day 3 of fish being in the tank, and all are swimming happily, showing zero signs of stress and eating until they look like they're going to pop.

I also got a few frags over the weekend. Got a small chalice (about 3 mouths), a Ricordea mushroom (smoking good deal on this. The frag has (4) mouths and looking to be splitting, all for $10) and a small colony of zoanthids.

I seeded my tank with some bottled coraline form Algae Barn and I can't tell if I already have coraline growing from that, or if it's all "zombie" coraline coming back to life from the rock I used in an old tank, about 13 years ago. Either way, there's quite a bit of coraline popping up.

Here's some photo updates:

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Update on the tank:

I was out of town this weekend (Thursday to Sunday) and was not able to touch my tank, or look at it. I returned home to what appears to be diatoms, and potentially other algae blooms. It is safe to say, I have entered the ugly stage. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to shorten this ugly stage? It really came out of nowhere, and I don't recall what I've done with past tanks. As I have stated in previous posts, it's been about 13 years since my last reef tank. I have never done a fishless cycle, nor have I ever used dry rock and dry sand. So my expectations are a bit skewed, since we used cured live-rock in the old days...

On a side note, a small chalice frag that I picked up is starting to bleach. It is on the sand bed, in a somewhat shaded area. Could the frag be bleaching due to nutritent drop out? I started running my skimmer about a week ago, and noticed a huge influx of algae blooms. This could just be timing of my cycle finishing up, me introducing fish, and increasing bio-load overall. I feed a small chunk of frozen mysis daily, along with 1/2 the recommended dose of reef chili, as well as Reef Blizzard. My fish prefer the coral food over the mysis...

Do I cut back my photo-period? Currently running 12 hours per day, with peak being about 7-8 hours per day.

Or do I just let my tank figure it out and stay up on water changes? I haven't had time to run any tests but plan to after work this evening, as well as another water change.

I'll get some photos posted when I can. Stay tuned.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Update on the tank over the weekend…

Tank is stable, for the most part. I took a reading on my sg, in the tank it came back as 1.022. Very low to what I was originally at. I did a 5 gal WC with a bath of sg at 1.028 to slowly try and raise it up. I’ll be doing another 5gal WC with another batch of 1.028.

Other than my salinity being low, everything is looking good. Introduced a handful of montipora and acropora. Currently have 2 unknown millepora, as well as a no name acro (very similar to an Oregon Tort), an orange montipora digi (almost has a blue skeleton, pretty cool), and a poker star montipora. All have decent polyp extension.

Still monitoring any potential bleaching.

Hoping to take some pictures soon, as I got the Orphek lens kit over the weekend. I don’t have any pictures worth sharing yet… still trying to figure out this lense.

On a side note, I’m going to Mexico in a week and have awful anxiety. I’m hoping I’ll have my dosing pump up and running (plan to dose all for reef and have been manually dosing for the past week). My next big concern is the tank getting enough nutrients while I’m out. Thankfully my tank sitter has done this before, but still full of anxiety lol. Hopefully I’ll have some growth while I’m away.

While doing the WC last night, I took out the sponge that is in the last baffle, right before the return pump. Is there some sort of media I should replace that sponge with? Or leave that baffle section empty?

I also need some stocking ideas. Currently, I have a purple dottyback and 2 green chromis. I will most likely add a pair of "designer" clowns but am wanting a "show" fish. What would you all reccomend be my "show" fish? I would like a tang, but I'm worried they will outgrow my tank very quickly. I also plan on a mandarin goby, but that is a ways down the road, once my pod population has stabalized.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

BUMP for ideas on fish stocking ideas.

In the meantime, here's some photos taken from last night. Getting somewhat better at photography. The Orphek lense kit really does help.

Any idea if I should be concerned with the green algae growing on the rock? I do believe it is all beneficial, and there is no fine film. When you touch the green spots, it just feels like the rock. I do feed live-phyto daily, which leads me to think the green stuff is from the phyto. Majority of the green stuff is on my old rock, from a previous tank. I'm hoping that since I used rock that was already exposed to the ugly stage, I may not have quite as long as an ugly stage? Or my logic is broken haha!

Let me know your thoughts! Enjoy.

FTS - 9.23.24

LEFT SIDE - 9.23.24

MIDDLE - 9.23.24

RIGH TO LEFT (Back) - 9.23.24

RIGHT TO LEFT - 9.23.24

Zoas - 9.23.24

RICORDEA - 9.23.24

NO-NAME CHALICE - 9.23.24

 

[Monad]

Watched.

Can’t help you with anything because I’m completely new to this.

But I’m curious, what is your CUC?

Looking forward to seeing this tank mature and you beating the uglies.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Watched.

Can’t help you with anything because I’m completely new to this.

But I’m curious, what is your CUC?

Looking forward to seeing this tank mature and you beating the uglies.

My CUC consists of (3) blue leg hermits, 7 scarlet hermits, 3 xl nassarius snails, 5 cerith snails and 5 trochus snails.

I would have went all blue legs, but my LFS only had 3, and they're super duper small.