This build has already been quite the experience, let me tell you! We bought the tank/setup in November, and it only just had water put in last night.
So the story goes: we bought the tank and various pieces of equipment from Aquarium Care Center in November. They gave us great prices on everything, and have pretty much been super helpful every step of the way. It took just shy of 3 weeks for the tank to come in, which we very patiently waited (...aka I called them every week until it was there). They wound up not having the return pump in stock, so we waited another couple weeks for that to arrive.
Finally, it's in. The husband picks it up, brings it home, we go to set up the tank, and BAM.... there's a chip in it. /sigh.
Aquarium Care Center was great. They got in touch with Red Sea to get us a replacement, but after a few days, I hadn't heard from Red Sea, so I gave them a call. Apparently they were having some sales force team meetings, so no one was really around. The customer service rep I spoke to eventually got in touch with the regional rep, and they sorted everything out with a supervisor. I had called on a Thursday, and within 11 days, we had a brand new tank delivered no charge, and they don't want the damaged one back. I considered fixing and keeping it for future use, but we don't really have storage space. It's just one panel affected, so I think we are going to sell it. (Anyone interested??)
So the end of the backstory is that the tank was delivered intact yesterday, and by the time I was home from work, the husband had it mostly filled with water. The sump isn't ready yet, since he is attaching some weirs in order to have a refugium. That will take probably a week to fully cure, so we are looking probably at a New Year's full birthday! =]
I'm planning on cycling with a firefish and Dr. Tim's One and Only. I know that a fish cycle tends to be frowned upon, but I'm not worried. I'll keep a very close eye, and have water ready in case I start to get ammonia readings. The fish police are almost as bad as the keto police, man.
As for equipment, here's what we are working with at the moment:
Tank/stand: Red Sea Reefer 170
Light: ReefLED 90 w/ bracket
Heaters: I dunno, something leftover from our previous tank
Powerhead: Ecotech Vortech MP10 (1) - intending to get another shortly. Will have Hydor Koralia 850s or 1350s on standby
Protein Skimmer: Bubble Magus Z5
Controller: Neptune Apex Classic
Planning on the following fish:
Firefish
Lawnmower Blenny
Goby/shrimp pair
2 Clownfish (either Maroon or Clarkii)
Mandarin (probably in a year or so)
Corals will likely be LPS and softies.
I think that's it for now. =]
So the story goes: we bought the tank and various pieces of equipment from Aquarium Care Center in November. They gave us great prices on everything, and have pretty much been super helpful every step of the way. It took just shy of 3 weeks for the tank to come in, which we very patiently waited (...aka I called them every week until it was there). They wound up not having the return pump in stock, so we waited another couple weeks for that to arrive.
Finally, it's in. The husband picks it up, brings it home, we go to set up the tank, and BAM.... there's a chip in it. /sigh.
Aquarium Care Center was great. They got in touch with Red Sea to get us a replacement, but after a few days, I hadn't heard from Red Sea, so I gave them a call. Apparently they were having some sales force team meetings, so no one was really around. The customer service rep I spoke to eventually got in touch with the regional rep, and they sorted everything out with a supervisor. I had called on a Thursday, and within 11 days, we had a brand new tank delivered no charge, and they don't want the damaged one back. I considered fixing and keeping it for future use, but we don't really have storage space. It's just one panel affected, so I think we are going to sell it. (Anyone interested??)
So the end of the backstory is that the tank was delivered intact yesterday, and by the time I was home from work, the husband had it mostly filled with water. The sump isn't ready yet, since he is attaching some weirs in order to have a refugium. That will take probably a week to fully cure, so we are looking probably at a New Year's full birthday! =]
I'm planning on cycling with a firefish and Dr. Tim's One and Only. I know that a fish cycle tends to be frowned upon, but I'm not worried. I'll keep a very close eye, and have water ready in case I start to get ammonia readings. The fish police are almost as bad as the keto police, man.
As for equipment, here's what we are working with at the moment:
Tank/stand: Red Sea Reefer 170
Light: ReefLED 90 w/ bracket
Heaters: I dunno, something leftover from our previous tank
Powerhead: Ecotech Vortech MP10 (1) - intending to get another shortly. Will have Hydor Koralia 850s or 1350s on standby
Protein Skimmer: Bubble Magus Z5
Controller: Neptune Apex Classic
Planning on the following fish:
Firefish
Lawnmower Blenny
Goby/shrimp pair
2 Clownfish (either Maroon or Clarkii)
Mandarin (probably in a year or so)
Corals will likely be LPS and softies.
I think that's it for now. =]
And as far as cycling with a fish. I’m won’t Tattletale to the fish police. But to be honest a cocktail shrimp will do the exact same thing. You can eat the rest of them. And no risk of fish problems. Truly a win win.
