HFX's 210g build thread

hfx987 · Oct 17, 2018

Ok... So here we go (nice and slow). First reef tank.

Leak test completed,
Sump cabinet lights installed
Sump modifications made
Temporary RODI storage set up
Return pump dialled in (not real happy with this - but it will work for the moment)
RODI and salt mixed
Heaters calibrated
First attempt at a scape - i think it will be ok

Controller ordered
2x 40L QT tanks set up and ready to go.

Now we wait
(im sure it will be a longer cycle given I am going bare on the bottom - but I think it will be best as I just know its going to end up all sticks in there one day)

Im going away for a week or two - so hopefully the cycle will chug along nicely (and i dont have to look at it)

dbl · Oct 17, 2018

Very nice start to your first tank....it looks great. Signing up to follow along.

hfx987 · Nov 15, 2018

a few updates:

Skimmer has been installed - Got a Deltec SC1660. (i think it is a bit noisy)
The Kessil KoolAid has begun... two purchased - and i think ill get another two down the track for the sticks.
Peter - my first fish is nearly through his QT. I did buy 2, but one didnt make it as soon as the second dose of cupermine went in. (im going to slow down on the cupermine dosing and do it over a few days instead of the two doses).
and my first two corals in QT too

small progress

hfx987 · Mar 20, 2019

Slow slow progress... got a few more fish and some corals.
next up - more kessil kool aid - another A360 for the dt and a H360 for the fuge
then a stick hunting we will go.
(ill try and take better pictures next time)

((and i should clean the glass))

dbl · Mar 20, 2019

Looking good! Thanks for the update.

hfx987 · Mar 21, 2019

i love how these guys look under the blues

hfx987 · Aug 12, 2019

And some more (still slow) progress...

with a gha outbreak that i need to clean up. phosphates at 0.03 with hanna LR (havent checked nitrates yet).

(sorry for crap photos)

electronics cabinet installed powered by GHL.

saving cable management for 'Ron (when he returns from holidays)
i purposely havent taken a photo of the space between this cabinet and the tank...

purple tang installed (he had a mate that didnt make it through qt

)
the yellow tang hassled the crap out of him at first, but then purple woke up and went, "hang on a minute, im twice your size, you can behave". now the yellow follows him around like a shadow and plays nice.

kessil h360 installed on the fuge - starting to get some cheto growth.

ill take a picture of the engine room once i have tidied it up a bit.

next steps:
sticks
triton core 7 (once i can get it somewhere in australia)

hfx987 · Aug 28, 2019

so...
went to wipe down a wall after removing some un needed cabinets and to repair some water damage at the top of the wall, and my hand went straight through the dry wall..
turns out the roof has been leaking quite badly into the cavity, and termites have gotten in to two of the studs that were completely soaked from the water ingress. (luckily they haven't touched anything else!)

out it all came

i know i should be upset... but im using the "while you are there" philosophy, and thought - "lets build a fish room"

this area where the cabinets were was a weird "end" of what could be a dining room - that i never used... so even though its a bit weird cutting off a window with a wall... its a perfect place

tank is conveniently mounted on the other side of the wall of the left hand side.

Duke approves

This is going to be a real slow burn...

but should be a fun project.

hfx987 · Sep 11, 2019

found some triton in AU.
Cheers to Majestic Aquariums in Sydney.
havent actually started dosing, (no demand), but did an ICP test anyways

first icp

hfx987 · Nov 4, 2019

Stage 1 of the electrical panel in the new fish room complete

Peach02 · Feb 4, 2020

looks good what are you future plans for the tank?
am I right with saying thats a cade pro reef s2 1500 with a custom sump?

hfx987 · Feb 5, 2020

Hi Peach,
Cheers,
Im hoping to have wall to wall sticks... i particularly like anything really fluffy like Pocillopora.
Taking it really slow though (just noticed that its now a year and half since i started!)... got two or three frags that i havent managed to kill, so i want to improve that ratio before I go too crazy.
Yeah - its a cade pro reef 1500 - but the first version, and im pretty sure its the standard sump (i bought the tank sump and stand second hand).
I have modified it though - i use the first chamber as a fuge - so i put a baffle with a comb on it to increase the water level in the first chamber.
Also replaced the red sea style drain valve that came with the tank for something a bit more controllable.
When i find some time (and work up the inclination) ill start building a new sump for the fish room... cant wait to get all the gear in there out of the living room, where it will also be a lot easier to work on not being under a tank stand.

Peach02 · Feb 5, 2020

Sounds great!
I'm looking into the s2 1500 currently but also won't be using the sump as intended

Do you have any problems with the tank other than the red sea style drain valve?

hfx987 · Feb 5, 2020

the tank is beautifully made
no problems at all for me
i think the s2 has much better valves on it now

hfx987 · Feb 24, 2020

a small update.

the GHA has gone - and i'm finally growing some coralline. so i bought and qt'd a few more sticks, and they are now in the DT.

excuse the bad shots - i cant use an iphone properly - i went to break out my slr, and cant find the CF card. i think i left that at the office

so my crap iphone work will have to do for now.