Update! TmR's 7 gallon full view (powered by Nanobox) Slowest Build Ever

[AvaS]

4 hours ago, Tmr8188 said:

I am using a hydor pico pump 300 gph.  It fits nicely.  I got it from amazon for $11.49.

Tank is hopefully getting wet today!

Thanks so much! That’s what I was looking at and now that I know it it’s I will definitely pick one up! I am actually using stack rocks too! Great minds think alike I guess and I can wait to see the tank wet and what you do with it! 

-Ava 

[Tmr8188]

I didn’t get the tank wet yesterday.  I forgot that I needed to silicone the co2 tube hole.  So that needs to dry before I can add water.

 

I did do some cutting to the plastic on some old Innovative marine filter socks to make them fit in this tank.  Seems to fit quite well too.  Not a media basket, but it’ll do.

[Burks]

I saw this tank come across Facebook as an ad. Doing some searching....I found your topic! Really want to get back into reef tanks and this is perfect. I'll be following your build! Good luck. 

[Tmr8188]

Added the sand.  Grabbed the cheapest aragonite at Petco.  I need to grab a power strip today and then she gets wet today!

[Tmr8188]

And we are wet!!  Added biospiral and let’s wait to see how long it takes to clear up.

[AvaS]

How does the flow stream? Sting and waves or just slight surface movement?! 

And nice! Tank sure looks great with water? 

[Tmr8188]

Flow is pretty decent.  I have it angled to get some surface agitation.

[AvaS]

Thanks! 

[Tmr8188]

And we are clear!

[Lula_Mae]

Nice to see this tank finally up and running! I'm glad you decided to forgo black sand, it caused me major headache algae issues and I've heard others say the same. Are you adding an ammonia source too?

[Tmr8188]

I threw in a little frozen food.

 

I will say the glass top is working magnificently to control evaporation.  Water level has barely changed since Sunday.  I think I will toss in a mushroom tonight to see how everything goes.

[Lula_Mae]

It took about 3 weeks to cycle my 15 with dry rock, bacteria and ammonia so just keep an eye on it and keep adding microbacter/biospira/whatever you have.

[Tmr8188]

New fish!  Tests were reading 0 for ammonia and nitrites.

[Lula_Mae]

 Is that a yellowtail damsel? Cute!

[Tmr8188]

6 hours ago, Lula_Mae said:

 Is that a yellowtail damsel? Cute!

Yes.  One of my favorite fish.  Very hardy and they adapt pretty well to life in smaller tanks.

[Tmr8188]

First coral went into the tank!

[Tmr8188]

Some new additions.

[Lula_Mae]

Nice! No tester corals for you! 

[Tmr8188]

15 hours ago, Lula_Mae said:

Nice! No tester corals for you! 

Nope.  I kind of cheated using aged marine pure from another system.

 

Happier pics

 

[Tmr8188]

Managed to make it home from the lfs without dropping major coin.  I picked up 2 astrea snails, 2 scarlet hermit crabs, and a nice green hammer.  Tomorrow I will be doing a small water change and adding a mini bag of chemipure blue.

 

 

I’m not really a fan of the Aquarium Cam app.  I feel I can get better pics adjusting the wb manually on my iPhone.  Oh well $2.99 is a drop in the bucket in this hobby.

[Reeferadicto13]

Nice collection!!

[Lula_Mae]

9 hours ago, Tmr8188 said:

Nope.  I kind of cheated using aged marine pure from another system.

 

Happier pics

 

Clever idea. A different take on a similar concept to metrokat using a canister filter to build up bacteria before moving to prevent a cycle. 

[Tmr8188]

1 hour ago, Reeferadicto13 said:

Nice collection!!

Thanks!

[Reefkid88]

You are crazy foe throwing all those bounces in there lol. Hopefully they all make it. Looking great though !!! 

[MrObscura]

I'm going to be honest. I don't get the bounce hype. Sure some are pretty cool and would be worth adding to a tank for regular shrooms prices, but at the prices they go for... I don't get it.