WATERBOX AQUARIUMS REEF PRO 180.5 BUILD THREAD

eatsleepreef · Nov 8, 2020

Finally 8020 shipped!!! I’m so happy. I also made a video on 8020 to explain how you can apply it to your tanks

Making custom light mount or tank stand

JMac82 · Nov 10, 2020

Saw you use Mollies to cycle. Here is a pic of my Mollies I used to cycle my tank. They are still alive and kicking. They had a few babies that didn't last to long after I added a few more fish.

eatsleepreef · Nov 10, 2020

I decid

JMac82 said:
Saw you use Mollies to cycle. Here is a pic of my Mollies I used to cycle my tank. They are still alive and kicking. They had a few babies that didn't last to long after I added a few more fish.

View attachment 1873544

thats all I ever use to cycle

tonydig11 · Nov 11, 2020

eatsleepreef said:
Hello brother and thank for following along. Refugiums are great and work very well. Personally I know that they can also be super messy with the light spill growing algae everywhere in the sump. I didn’t want to deal with that so decided to do the pax. Not to mention the pax can run a calcium reactor if you buy the kit they sell for it which forces the effluent from the CALRX back into the pax, which feeds co2 to the Chaeto thus crazy growth and increases ph. As far as the skimmer I run it the way Triton method does it. Also I want the first chamber to maybe become a frag section in the future or a fuge display. For now I just want it open.

All makes sense. Good luck with the rest of the build.

eatsleepreef · Nov 15, 2020

For those wanting to see how I made the mixing station here you go

Plumbing mixing station + QT fish have babies!!

eatsleepreef · Nov 16, 2020

Ordered a hose Automatic reel to convert it to vinyl tubing so it’s safe to use. This will make rolling the hose back so easy

Jimbhoy13 · Nov 16, 2020

Great job. Well done.

revhtree · Nov 17, 2020

Awesome job!

eatsleepreef · Nov 17, 2020

revhtree said:
Awesome job!

Thanks!

eatsleepreef · Nov 17, 2020

Jimbhoy13 said:
Great job. Well done.

Appreciate it

eatsleepreef · Nov 17, 2020

Plumbing is coming along. So far I’m very happy with it. For the manifold I made sure it was 100% adjustable by adding unions before and after the T. I’m happy I did the grey fittings over the white

eatsleepreef · Nov 24, 2020

Sand coming in. I think I will
Go for a 1” thickness. These 120lb of Caribsea special grade should do the trick

eatsleepreef · Nov 24, 2020

I like to leak test my tanks just to make sure all is good. I also notice on certain floors it allows the tank to settle.

eatsleepreef · Nov 24, 2020

Next is adding rock. I don’t like adding the rock without the sand being put down. If for any reason a rock slips at least the glass is protected. Once rock is in I make sure it is seated and making contact with glass

eatsleepreef · Nov 25, 2020

The time is almost here to mix up some Tropic Marin. After trying so many salts this is my go to for sure from now on.

eatsleepreef · Nov 26, 2020

The time has come to add saltwater

tonydig11 · Nov 30, 2020

looking good. I am in just about the same stages you are in with my 6x2x2 true 180g display. Like you were with you 80/20, I am at a roadblock waiting for my contractor to brace and support my flooring before I can move forward. Everything else is ready to go. 20 frags in a frag tank and 6 fish spread between 3 QT tanks. Hopefully it gets wet after Christmas to start the cycle.

It will be nice to follow my progress along with yours as they will be just about the same age. Keep up the good work.

IMO I would have waiting on the Kole Tang (My fav tang). Being the first fish he will claim the entire tank as his and will battle any new additions. I am starting with a peaceful bunch of fish followed by a pair of clowns and a lawnmower blenny to control the ugly stages. THEN I will add 2 tangs at a time for a total of 4 tangs. I am sure you will be ok but tangs in the early stages can lead to aggression.

eatsleepreef · Dec 1, 2020

tonydig11 said:
looking good. I am in just about the same stages you are in with my 6x2x2 true 180g display. Like you were with you 80/20, I am at a roadblock waiting for my contractor to brace and support my flooring before I can move forward. Everything else is ready to go. 20 frags in a frag tank and 6 fish spread between 3 QT tanks. Hopefully it gets wet after Christmas to start the cycle.

It will be nice to follow my progress along with yours as they will be just about the same age. Keep up the good work.

IMO I would have waiting on the Kole Tang (My fav tang). Being the first fish he will claim the entire tank as his and will battle any new additions. I am starting with a peaceful bunch of fish followed by a pair of clowns and a lawnmower blenny to control the ugly stages. THEN I will add 2 tangs at a time for a total of 4 tangs. I am sure you will be ok but tangs in the early stages can lead to aggression.

Very cool!! My first batch is a total of 4 tangs none the crazy aggressive. Generally bristle tooth with only go after their type. Then again every fish is unique. All I can do is add them and pray all goes well. Most of my tanks will be in before 3 months and are all small so I think we should be okay. But only time will tell