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Toybox's Overkill First Reef IM 40


toybox22

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Background

 

Hey guys. This will be the start of my journal into the saltwater world! I’m coming from multiple years in the planted tank world. Started with a 20gal long, then moved to a 34 gal. I ran a high tech tank.

 

Here are some of the last shots I have before I tore it down to make the switch.

 

 

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Journal

That’s enough background, onto my tank!

 

I decided to go with an IM 40. It was the same size as my 34 gal so I got to reuse my stand! I also chose this size because it something manageable. I’m a full time student working towards my Aerospace Engineering degree. I’ll be graduating this spring with my BS and my Masters the following spring! I am also working part time at Neptune's Aquatics in San Jose.

 

This is my first saltwater tank, so lots to be learned. I plan on having a mixed reef. I’m undecided on fish right now.

 

Equipment

  • IM Fusion 40

  • Sicce 2.0 Return pump

  • Kessil AP700

  • Apex Standard

  • WXM Module

  • ALD Module

  • 2x Koralia Nano Powerheads

  • Tunze ATO

  • Eheim Heater

  • 2x MP10wQD

  • Battery Backup

  • Intank Media Baskets

  • Purigen

  • Chemipure Elite

 

 

 

Coral Stock

  • Red hot chili pepper Monti

  • WWC Red/Green Graph Monti

  • Rainbow Monti

  • Orange Monti

  • White Monti

 

  • Orange Zoa

  • Taiwanese Zoa

  • Green eye dragon Palys

  • Blue Palys

  • Orange Tip, Purple Mouth Zoa

  • Paradise Zoa

  • Gatorade Zoa

 

  • Orange Acan

 

  • Open Brain

 

  • Green Rhodactis Mushroom

  • Red Mystery Mushroom

  • Green Spotted Mushroom

  • Interstellar Mushroom

 

  • Yellow Tip Torch

  • Duncan

  • Purple Tip Frogspawn

  • Green Kenya Tree

 

  • Green Polyp Stylo

  • Green Acro

  • Green Slimer Acro

  • White Birdsnest

 

  • Hollywood Stunner Chalice

  • Miami Hurricane Chalice

  • Avatar Chalice

  • Watermelon Chalice

 

  • Green Toadstool Leather

 

  • Green Chip Coral

 

 

 

Fish Stock / CUC

  • Cleaner Shrimp

  • Array of Snails

  • Purple Fire Fish

 

 

Here is the initial setup of the tank. I was unsure of what light I was gonna go with, so I was just seeing how a Kessil A360 would look.

 

 

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Here was my first scape. Realized it was definitely not enough rock. I think it was 26lbs. It looked like so much at the shop, but in the tank it looked empty.

 

 

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Luckily the shop is 5 minutes away from my apartment, so back I go for more rock. 34lbs now. Looking much better.

 

 

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Tank is wet after getting more rock. For now I had an old freshwater light over the tank. Didn't use it, was just for this picture.

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Went through diatoms and all the jazz. No big issues while cycling other than wishing it’d hurry up. It ended up taking just about 4 weeks to cycle. And rather than string you along with all the small updates with every coral added, I’ll jump to how the tank is sitting now. I ended up adding some more rock, mainly shelves for SPS. As you can tell, I went with an AP700.

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So far, I only have a cleaner shrimp and a basic clean up crew in the tank. Haven't decided on what fish I want. I'm thinking about one of the types of firefish. Also considering a Yasha goby.

 

I also have a two MP10wQD on the way with a battery back up. These Koralia nano power-heads just aren't cutting it. That also means I'll be picking up a WXM module to control them through my apex.

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Looks good, how simple was the connection with the sicce 2.0 was it the stock barbs with the sicce or did you have to buy other fittings

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Looks good, how simple was the connection with the sicce 2.0 was it the stock barbs with the sicce or did you have to buy other fittings

 

The connection is rough. I ended up upping the size of the pipe to 3/4 inch with a Y-splitter, instead of using reducers for the smaller stock piping. This allowed me way more flow. But you can't insert the pump with the pipe installed. You have to turn the pump a certain way. You have to put the pump down, and then install the piping.

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Cencalfishguy56

following along just because we are probably the only two on here that are running a Kessil AP700 =P

that surprises the hell out of me! I thought you were one of the nanobox spokespersons lol

 

The connection is rough. I ended up upping the size of the pipe to 3/4 inch with a Y-splitter, instead of using reducers for the smaller stock piping. This allowed me way more flow. But you can't insert the pump with the pipe installed. You have to turn the pump a certain way. You have to put the pump down, and then install the piping.

what dpolt said!
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Looking good! You seem to be one of the rare people who has managed to execute the "wall of rock" 'scape attractively. :lol: I guess it must be all the aquascaping expertise you learned as a freshwater aquarist, huh? (By the way, your old 34g is gorgeous. Props to you.)

 

Why did you go for the AP700, though? It can cover a 4 ft tank; it seems like overkill to me.

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The tank is looking good! How are you liking saltwater in comparison to your old planted setups?

It's different. It's not any harder, just different things to watch out for. And its so slow. I think that's the biggest one. I was used to having plants growing inches over night, trimming once a week, had a scape in a couple months. But corals, I keep wanting to buy more to fill the tank because it looks empty! But so far I'm really enjoying it.

 

following along just because we are probably the only two on here that are running a Kessil AP700 =P

How could you not? haha What settings are you using? I max out at 30%. How do you like it?

 

 

Looking good! You seem to be one of the rare people who has managed to execute the "wall of rock" 'scape attractively. :lol: I guess it must be all the aquascaping expertise you learned as a freshwater aquarist, huh? (By the way, your old 34g is gorgeous. Props to you.)

 

Why did you go for the AP700, though? It can cover a 4 ft tank; it seems like overkill to me.

Thank you! I spent a long time at the shop building my scape, but everyone knows it's never the same when you get home. But I'm also jealous at some people tanks with minimal rock. But coming from fresh, I'm more interested in the plants than the fish. And that is the same with salt. I love the corals, fish come second. So I really wanted as much room for as many corals as I could. So looking down into the tank, there are a ton of shelves.

 

I went with the AP700 because I was fortunate enough to get it for a great price. I knew it was overkill, I max out at 30%. But I saw the growth the light can produce and I couldn't pass it up. Eventually when I graduate and find a stable job, I'll be moving the Kessil to a bigger tank forsure.

 

Looking very Good! :)

Thank you! I had meant to start the journal when I got the tank, but school is keeping me busy.

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Ecotech order came in! Got my MP10's and battery backup. I plan on hooking everything up this evening. Excited to get some real flow in the tank. The little nano 240's haven't been cutting it.

 

Work has some corals and fish coming in today/tomorrow, I plan on heading over tomorrow and seeing what fish we have. I'm looking forward to getting a fish in the tank. I'm thinking of a firefish.

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Got my MP10's and battery backup. Got everything installed and went to start up the pumps and one of them gave me a blinking red light. Look at the power supply and the little green light is blinking. I tried resetting the pump, but it didn't respond. I switched power supplies and the pump worked fine. This leads be to believe it's the power supply. I shot Ecotech and email. Hopefully will hear back tomorrow.

 

For now I have one MP10 going, and I love it. Looks so much cleaner and the flow is so much better. Am gonna have to mess with the different flows and see how things respond.

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Great first build, looks like you have spent a lot of time (and resources) planning this out. As for the MP10's, Reef Crest is the only mode you will ever need, unless you you want a side to side wave.

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Great first build, looks like you have spent a lot of time (and resources) planning this out. As for the MP10's, Reef Crest is the only mode you will ever need, unless you you want a side to side wave.

Thank you! I don't have much patience, but for this tank I held out and am trying to do things the best I can.

 

That's what I was thinking too. Seems Reef Crest gives a ton of differing flow. For now I'll run that. Once I get my second power-head going, I'll have to see how the flow in the tank looks. Thank you for the suggestions!

 

Nice tank. Should be fun to watch it grow in.

Thanks. I can't wait to see how it looks. Once I get both power-heads going, I'll start permanently start placing corals. Everything is just resting on the rocks right now.

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I am running mine at 65%. I love and hate it at the same time...

The app sucks. In the beginning, I couldn't even use the light because of issues with the app. Now my light will randomly run a different program than what I set, stressing out my corals. It is suppose to shut off at 9:30pm and it runs at peak till like midnight. Also, I am not getting good growth or color on my acros. Great light for LPS and zoas though.

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The app sucks. In the beginning, I couldn't even use the light because of issues with the app. Now my light will randomly run a different program than what I set, stressing out my corals. It is suppose to shut off at 9:30pm and it runs at peak till like midnight. Also, I am not getting good growth or color on my acros. Great light for LPS and zoas though.

Ya. The app isn't my favorite and I knew that it sucked before I bought the light. I did have a chance to talk with the Kessil rep before I bought it and he said they are working on updates. But who knows how quickly those will roll out. But I saw the growth that my LFS got with one on an IM 80, so it was an easy decision to get it.

 

My light did that once, so I did a full reset on it and it hasn't happened again. It's probably due to the app, which again sucks. I am getting good growth from what I've seen. I've only had the light for a couple months and corals even less. But the few SPS I have are happy, acans have new heads, zoas have new heads, my red hot chili monti has grown probably a 1/8th of an inch in a month(not sure if that is a lot), all have great color and extension. And I'm sure I could get better, but I'm new to the light and saltwater and always afraid to bleach something to death. haha

 

Your tank looks great though. I really wish I could get a bigger tank. I'm jealous. I'm already ready for a bigger tank.

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Heard back from Ecotech. They're gonna send me a new power supply. Great support and fast shipping. Glad I got it taken care of so easily.

 

Also ordered some frag racks from Captain Saltys. I have so many plugs just sitting in the sand while I'm waiting to decide where to place them. Also gives me some room for them to grow out.

 

Added my first fish today. Decided to get a purple fire fish. I've always liked them, so I knew once they were back in stock at my LFS, it was bound to happen. Still undecided on what other fish I'll be adding. I don't think I'm gonna get clowns, though my LFS gets all the specialties in.

 

Grabbed a purple tipped frogspawn and green kenya tree while I grabbed the fire fish too. I'll have to get some good pics of everything.

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Got some orange gel filters for pictures. Haven't had the chance to mess with all them, but they definitely help. I also got my frag racks in. I'll get pictures of them tomorrow sometime!

 

KKuRBMSl.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

It's been a while since I updated.

I got some crazy diatoms from something. I don't know if its cause I added too many corals at once or my tank just wasn't completely cycled or I stirred up the sand, but it just wasn't going away. I was scrubbing my rocks and siphoning my sand to pull it out, and it always came back. So I got a cleaner package from @johnmaloney at reefcleaners and I've been watching the thread on vibrant, so I went ahead and ordered a bottle. I've had it for a week and dosed 4ml and the algae looks 100% better. It's still there, but receding.

This was all over my sand and rocks. Like covered.
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As of now, I think I finally have a feel for what my lighting is in my tank and where corals are happiest. So my next move is to start pulling corals off plugs and placing them in my tank. I have an apogee quantum sensor on the way because I would like to know what the AP700 is pushing at 20%. Not a lot of people run it that low, especially on a tank this size. haha Once I get readings, I'll start placing corals.

Here are some pics from last night I took with my cellphone (LG V10) They aren't horrible, but I gotta learn to use my Canon for better pics. These are full blue with an orange filter.

If anyone knows the 'street' names for my corals, go ahead and let me know!

Also, I love feedback so if you see anything, please let me know.

FTS
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Eagle eye zoas
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My little Acan garden.
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Hollywood stunner.
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