LFPR Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 This setup has been up and running for a few months now. Lack of time for getting the pictures together was the main factor for this late “tank thread”. For one full year, and before buying any tank, I was a voracious reader of NR.com It was one full year of research and I was hooked. I needed to get my own tank… and I bought a Red Sea Max 130. I take the opportunity to thank all NR.com’ers. I hope you enjoy it. I decided I would go for the best setup I could afford, right away from the start, instead of upgrading with time. This delayed the start so I could get all the money together, but I believe it was absolutely worth it. The numerous threads on NR.com and other web resources made very clear that the RSM could do better than with the stock hardware. So I went to my local dealer and got the RSM + Tunze 9002 protein skimmer + Hydor Koralia (which was replaced later with a Tunze Nanostream 6025). I also got the Tunze Osmolator to replace the evaporated water automatically and I ordered the now famous media rack from StevieT. The 2 last weeks before getting the tank, I spent them buying important accessories: reef salt, RO unit, a refractometer and Salifert Test Kits (pH, Ca, KH, Mg, NH4, NO3, NO2 and PO4) A few pics: September 2008 Freshwater leak test: SW in + live rock Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Right after dropping a 20lbs bag of Caribsea Arag-Alive Oolite live sand: and a few hours later... Link to comment
Lalani Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Nice start. I like that rockwork. Link to comment
The_Yellow_Pony Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Cleared up nicely! Keep the pics coming! Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 inTank you for your purchase I have added you to the RSM Index Thread Nice start! Love new RSM tanks! Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks lalani. I would have done it just a little bit different now, but who wouldn't? The_Yellow_Pony: I used an extra small filter just with floss to help with the "cleaning" of the water. I believe that helped clearing it up in a couple of hours. Thank YOU StevieT That media rack rocks. A few more pics: I was rather lucky with the live rock and 2 weeks later the parameters were already stable for a few days. Main parameters such as pH, NO2, NO3 and NH4 were monitored daily in the first week and every two days afterwords. The tank was cycled with a short light period (4 hours) and skimmer switched off. The GHA showed up and I decided to the the CUC in. It consisted of 4 Astrea snails, 2 hermit crabs and 7 small nassarius snails. enjoy, -luis Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 The typical brown diatoms are very visible: For 3 full weeks the CUC were alone in the tank! Its incredibly hard to control the temptation of getting your first coral in. I believe I only managed because the amount of life that was sprouting out of the rocks kept me busy and amazed for hours in a row. Pretty most of the diatoms and GHA were gone when I got my first coral. Here it is under the RSM moonligths: 8th October 08 Its a great moment to see your first coral opening up after 1 or 2 hours. Only second to the moment next day, after lights on, when you realize it is still there and looking healthy! thanks for looking -luis Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 So... another quick update... If I remember correctly, 2 weeks later I added the following corals: - Zoanthids (Fireball? can someone ID them?) - GSP - 2x orange ricordea The zoas and the ricordeas got a 15 min dip in Seachem's Reef Dip solution before going to the tank, which I found to be quite effective in avoiding small pests (flat worms could be seen in the bottom of the dip bucket) thanks for looking -luis Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 yeah... they're cute, and they have grown a bit A few shots of new individuals... and now FTS as of 7th February 2009: Link to comment
Lalani Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Great pics. I want that plate coral.... Link to comment
LFPR Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 Great pics. I want that plate coral.... that coming from you is quite a compliment! thanks! ... and a picture of the lobo and the ricordea under the RSM moonlights Link to comment
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