My Reefer 200 Xl

[ecoreefguy]

Been setting up my reefer for a little bit. While everyone gone bigger and bigger, I’ve done the opposite and gone smaller. I went with a reefer 200 XL this time.

I had ordered the tank online , but with COVID everything was delayed. Months went by and I contacted them and they couldn’t give me an answer. I found a tank locally and cancelled my online order and picked it up.

Initially I wanted to go with real reef rock to save myself the headache of hitchhikers from live rock and still have the “aged” color. Changes my mind several time and finally ordered 50 lbs of BRS shelf rock. Perfect amount.


I had already started the cycle previously with Dr. Tim and Bio bricks. Rocks were watch than went into cycles tub with high flow to make sure all dust and nasties were clear of all rocks. Didn’t want to rely on hopes and dreams to hold up everything I used acrylic rocks on bigger pieces. The smaller pieces I just stack. I might puddy them later when corals come in.


First life in rocks were a pair of Picasso clown. In my rush and stupidity I didn’t calibrate my refractormeter. I thought I had 1.020 water but it was closer to 1.010. Thankfully I had acclimate them to the water for about an hour. I spent next few days increasing salinity to 1.020 . I was doing at about .02 a day. My flame wrasses were next. I put them in with a trio of trocus. In hindsight I should have waited on the snail. I have 0 algae right now.


This is the wank as of 06/18/2020. About a month after the tank saw its first inhabitants. I have coralline but no diatoms like I have gotten before. Not sure if I should be happy or concern.

Here’s the current tank and equipment list
Reefer 200 XL
Return: COR-20
Flow : MP10wdq x 2
Skimmer: Nyos 120
Salt: Salinity
Controller: Apex

Levels


Calcium : 440
Mag: 1400
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites : 0
Nitrates: 10

I don’t have a phosphate kite right now lol.

 

[ecoreefguy]

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

 

[ecoreefguy]

I had my first and only lost of coral last night. It has STN. I tried to salvage anything I could , but I don’t think I can save it.

Onto more of my mistakes. In hopes of bringing everything to Mobius, I ordered a new driver for my Mp10wqd. It came today and guess what I discovered? The drivers are wireless and Mobius COMPATIBLE not ready. It doesn’t come with an RF chip. So I upgraded my wireless QD to a normal QD -.-. I will have to order an RF chip from Ecotech. At least I have more flow again...

I guess hiccups are nothing new in the hobby. POWER FORWARD!!!

 

[ecoreefguy]

My first scare of the tank. Power lost for about 7 hours last night. Not sure why, it was seem it was exclusive to my neighborhood. I saw more of my neighbors yesterday than all year. Everyone charging their electronics in the car lol.

I had ordered some battery back up that was suppose to be here Monday, but still showing “in transit -arriving late “. Thankfully someone had some spare back up battery air pumps. Saved the tank essentially. I think I’ll buy an extra 1-2 to leave around in case anyone else needs them as well. These are life savers. I’m in the Duluth area with if anyone ever needs emergency water or pump(s).

Back to tank news. I may be getting a delayed algae/bacteria bloom. My water has a slight haze/cloudiness to it. Hoping it goes away soon. Corals seem to be doing fine. Polyp extension is nice. I’m still trying to find the best setting on the gen 5 to make SPS pop. Might have to add T5s.The name G5 blues are really only Blue in pictures. It’s more like a 12k (white) with all channels at 100. Even with a blanket of light I might get a diffuser to adjust the look.

 

[DiefsReef]

My first scare of the tank. Power lost for about 7 hours last night. Not sure why, it was seem it was exclusive to my neighborhood. I saw more of my neighbors yesterday than all year. Everyone charging their electronics in the car lol.

I had ordered some battery back up that was suppose to be here Monday, but still showing “in transit -arriving late “. Thankfully someone had some spare back up battery air pumps. Saved the tank essentially. I think I’ll buy an extra 1-2 to leave around in case anyone else needs them as well. These are life savers. I’m in the Duluth area with if anyone ever needs emergency water or pump(s).

Back to tank news. I may be getting a delayed algae/bacteria bloom. My water has a slight haze/cloudiness to it. Hoping it goes away soon. Corals seem to be doing fine. Polyp extension is nice. I’m still trying to find the best setting on the gen 5 to make SPS pop. Might have to add T5s.The name G5 blues are really only Blue in pictures. It’s more like a 12k (white) with all channels at 100. Even with a blanket of light I might get a diffuser to adjust the look.
View attachment 27042

Glad you where able to save it all!

 

[ecoreefguy]

Diatoms finally here. Not sure if it was due to my over feeding ( I fed not knowing my wife had for past few days). Hopefully a lower feeding and some water changes will remedy this. Water is clearing up tho. I no longer see the haze I did last week. I will have to start using carbon, I do see a slight hint of yellowing. Everything else is coming along nicely. Baby step!

 

[ecoreefguy]

Well, I got nothing done today lol. My plan was to hook up the DOS and DDR. The only thing I manage to do is move it back to the original place I place it. I haven’t even started routing the hosing.

The Pax got even less work. I can’t decide to if I want to manifold the return and route it’s from that or do an varios 2 as a feed. I originally planned on driving the Red Sea ato and turn it into a five. But I deal to buy out one came up. It’s a big boy. It’ll increase my water volume and definitely help with nutrient export. I’m a little concern about light bleed on it and was told I needed to rinse the chaeto often? Never had to do that but it’ll be interesting.

I had to pick up some extra clean up crew. Picked up 5 trochus, 5 nassarius, and 2 star snails to try. I should have bought a utility fish along with that like a lawnmower blenny. I am contemplating buying a small bristletooth for a few months to keep algae in control while I go through the ugly phase. Donate him afterwards maybe? This is the sand bed as of today
Also picked up a pair of sunburst anthias. One was eating ... one was not. Been at the LFS for a while. Hopefully one convinces the other to eat.

SPS seems to not mind the algae bloom right now. Polyp extension is great and a lot of growth since I dropped them in.

Definitely need to order a filter soon.

 

[york1]

Diatoms are normal in a new tank. It will go away with time

 

[ecoreefguy]

Hopefully sooner than later. It was a mix of concern and excitement when I didn’t see the ugly phase sooner.

 

[york1]

Well the tank is 12 days old ? If so i hope things get better but from experience it is probably gonna get worse.Either way stay the course and things will get better.

 

[ecoreefguy]

Tank was saw it’s first fish about 5-6 weeks ago. Tank water was running a bit before that. Posted timeline isn’t accurate. I was just summary. But I’m not too worry. Coral looks happy, fish eating and exploring, and I have beer. Life’s pretty good

 

[Trizzino]

Good work. I am doing the same. Going from my 125 peninsula to a 25 Lagoon for my office. Currently building the stand for the lagoon before I get the tank wet. Should be an interesting project.

 

[ecoreefguy]

Some inhabitants

 

[ecoreefguy]

t
Tanks clearing up a bit. Still getting use to LED photography, can get the corals to show

 

[Trizzino]

My first scare of the tank. Power lost for about 7 hours last night. Not sure why, it was seem it was exclusive to my neighborhood. I saw more of my neighbors yesterday than all year. Everyone charging their electronics in the car lol.

I had ordered some battery back up that was suppose to be here Monday, but still showing “in transit -arriving late “. Thankfully someone had some spare back up battery air pumps. Saved the tank essentially. I think I’ll buy an extra 1-2 to leave around in case anyone else needs them as well. These are life savers. I’m in the Duluth area with if anyone ever needs emergency water or pump(s).

Back to tank news. I may be getting a delayed algae/bacteria bloom. My water has a slight haze/cloudiness to it. Hoping it goes away soon. Corals seem to be doing fine. Polyp extension is nice. I’m still trying to find the best setting on the gen 5 to make SPS pop. Might have to add T5s.The name G5 blues are really only Blue in pictures. It’s more like a 12k (white) with all channels at 100. Even with a blanket of light I might get a diffuser to adjust the look.
View attachment 27042

What frag rack is that?

 

[ecoreefguy]

Someone on arc were selling them. Very similar to ocean box designs. Although not as polished.

 

[ZapataInc]

What frag rack is that?

@tonytran509 makes them.

 

[ZapataInc]

What frag rack is that?

https://atlantareefclub.org/boards/index.php?threads/frag-rack-convid-sale-2-kessil-a150.1177312/

 

[ecoreefguy]

Pair of rhomboids

 

[ecoreefguy]

Well, had some a bad incident recently. My wife and I were cleaning the house. Someone one of us moved my doser and the manual dose button got held down. My alk skyrocketed. A lot of coral didn’t make it over the new few days even with massive water changes. Those that did survive lost a portion of color and had a slight case of STN. Saves a much as I could and clipped the rest. No fish death. Wouldn’t be a reef hobby without hiccups. Wife just said “it’s alright we can buy more”. I love her lol. Considering reorienting the way the doser is places

The coralline starting to spread. I’m surprised at how fast it’s spread. Small patches can be seen around the tank. I seeded it with a single pebble. Hopefully it will cover more and his the green that I fairly dislike.