Hugo’s Waterbox 100.3 build ....

[Hugo’s_reef]

Reef fam I’m back !!!
After taking a break from the hobby I’m finally back .

I will be updating my build here for you guys to enjoy ,follow, critique, and give advice .hopefully this time I can master sps haha.


Here are som pics and info
The tank is a Waterbox 36”x24”x22”

Return pump is a Vectra M2

Skimmer Nyos 160

Brs media reactor

Heater is a jagger 300w -it’s having trouble keeping up so I’m waiting for brs to get their titanium heaters back in stock.

Flow -I currently have an Mp10 but will soon purchase 2 mp40’s

Light = I’m not sure on lights yet.i have a Radion gen 3 xr30 pro that I used on my last tank .i might re use that one since I only used it for about 3 months and maybe add a hybrid t5 fixture. Really looking into the noopsyche . Like I said not sure yet I welcome any recommendations.

I went with BRS dry rock I believe it was 50lbs .Bare bottom of course .i do want to keep minimal rock in the display.therefore I added marine pure blocks .hopefully that works out .

I decided to plumb a manifold and make the ato reservoir my refugium .hopefully it’s big enough otherwise we will add a larger one .

I also plan to use the kessil h80 to light the refugium.(have you guys used that light before ?) .


I started the tank with dr.tims one and only .its been running for about 3 weeks .now I’m currently adding 1 cap full of micro Bacter 7 to further seed the tank .

Anyone with a mature clean sps tank that has rubble rock or anything I can further increase biodiversity in my tank please let me know .i would like to get my micro fauna going ASAP. Thanks guys let me know what you think .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EyeReef]

So clean! Can’t wait to see this tank in a few months! Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

I was able to pickup so chaeto from a local reefer (Matt) since algae barn was sold out .
I’m glad I did .The chaeto was full of pods.Thanks again matt.

My plan was to get the kessil h80.After looking around at the reviews I convinced myself that in the future I might need a bigger refugium .Therefore i should buy the light one size up and turn intensity down . So I decide to go with the kessil h160.

In order to save room I converted my ato reservoir into a refugium.i simply plumbed it from my manifold to my refugium with 3/4” holes drilled on the bottom pipe.water just overflows into skimmer chamber. Seems to be working well.i set the holes at an angle so it can tumble the chaeto. One issue I had so far was the small pieces of loose chaeto going over and into return pump.im afraid overtime it would clog it up .i had to put a screen made out of egg-crate and 1/4” clear mesh .not pretty but it works.

At the moment my intensity’s set about 25% and set at grow.if you guys see any issue with intensity or light placement please let me know .

In about a month I’ll get the main lights .Im looking at the Giesemann stellar with my Radion gen 3 xr30 pro.Untill I save up for the gen 5’s and they get their kinks sorted out.

Anyone have the stellar light fixture ? How did you like it ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dontavo27]

I’d keep the Gen3 and Giesemann. If anything maybe a ATI six bulb fixture, with a LED strip.

 

[OGFrenchHorn]

I was able to pickup so chaeto from a local reefer (Matt) since algae barn was sold out .
I’m glad I did .The chaeto was full of pods.Thanks again matt.

My plan was to get the kessil h80.After looking around at the reviews I convinced myself that in the future I might need a bigger refugium .Therefore i should buy the light one size up and turn intensity down . So I decide to go with the kessil h160.

In order to save room I converted my ato reservoir into a refugium.i simply plumbed it from my manifold to my refugium with 3/4” holes drilled on the bottom pipe.water just overflows into skimmer chamber. Seems to be working well.i set the holes at an angle so it can tumble the chaeto. One issue I had so far was the small pieces of loose chaeto going over and into return pump.im afraid overtime it would clog it up .i had to put a screen made out of egg-crate and 1/4” clear mesh .not pretty but it works.

At the moment my intensity’s set about 25% and set at grow.if you guys see any issue with intensity or light placement please let me know .

In about a month I’ll get the main lights .Im looking at the Giesemann stellar with my Radion gen 3 xr30 pro.Untill I save up for the gen 5’s and they get their kinks sorted out.

Anyone have the stellar light fixture ? How did you like it ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got the stellar light fixture. When I got it they weren't selling the shortening kits in the US. It comes with 2 unfinised aluminum light mountings that are crappy and cheap looking but they now have mouting struts avalable.

BRS did a head to head performance video against the aquatic life fixture. The Guisseman lost. However, they did say that it could be because the Guisseman was too wide. At the time of the video the shortening kits were not available in the US so they couldn't test that theory.

Over all, the Guisseman looks better and feels like it's built better. If I had to do it again, I'd get the Aquaticlife fixture. It's cheaper and has more mounting options.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

I got the stellar light fixture. When I got it they weren't selling the shortening kits in the US. It comes with 2 unfinised aluminum light mountings that are crappy and cheap looking but they now have mouting struts avalable.

BRS did a head to head performance video against the aquatic life fixture. The Guisseman lost. However, they did say that it could be because the Guisseman was too wide. At the time of the video the shortening kits were not available in the US so they couldn't test that theory.

Over all, the Guisseman looks better and feels like it's built better. If I had to do it again, I'd get the Aquaticlife fixture. It's cheaper and has more mounting options.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I think I might have made up my mind as far as going with a hybrid fixture for sure .another contender I’m looking at is the noopsyche.i just love the fact that you can adjust the tilt on the light.im not sure how much I’d use it but I like the fact that you can haha.im just not to familiar with that brand.

I was trying to look more into the stellar just because I use to have a geisemann and know they are a solid brand .unfortunately all the reviews I find are from when they just came out and had lots of small things to adjust. I believe this light and my xr30pro with wide angle lens should be enough at least to get me started?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Today marks the one month marker for the 100.3.I got this in the mail today !! Time to get some variety of pods in this bad boy .Everything else is the same on the tank.

Next stop adding some nice fish !!!im going to definitely add some nice fish soon mostly utilitarian fish and maybe a few that catch my eye.

The ones I have in mind right now is
1. Yellow eye kole thank .
2. A few carpenters wrasse
3. Mystery wrasse
4.algae blenny

maybe later I can try some anthias.

if there’s any utilitarian fish that you guys think is a good idea to have that I did not list feel free to let me know .thanks in advanced.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TeoTheCoral]

Very nice my brother

 

[pikachux3]

Nice diy solution to catch chaeto crumbs with mesh and eggcrate

 

[five.five-six]

Reef fam I’m back !!!
After taking a break from the hobby I’m finally back .

great to have you back.

Light = I’m not sure on lights yet.i have a Radion gen 3 xr30 pro that I used on my last tank .i might re use that one since I only used it for about 3 months and maybe add a hybrid t5 fixture.

I don’t think you can possibly go wrong with gen3 XR30 + T5, you’ll turn that tank into a SPS factory.

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Nice diy solution to catch chaeto crumbs with mesh and eggcrate

Yeah I am afraid of the chaeto clogging my return pump it skimmer .i didn’t like how that looked to I switched it out for a 2” strip of coarse sponge but diatom/algae started growing on it and clogging it.im afraid it completely clogs it and it drains out .

I’m going to wait and see I might just have to get a separate refugium .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

great to have you back.
I don’t think you can possibly go wrong with gen3 XR30 + T5, you’ll turn that tank into a SPS factory.

Thank you ...
That’s the plan .this is my 3rd attempt to grow sps. This time ima make it look easy haha .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Tank is nearing its 2 month mark I’m getting ready to order the light.As of now not much has changed just the addition of fish .I added a yellow eye Cole tang but unfortunately I haven’t seen it eat anything .
I’ve bought multiple types of food (nori,spectrum, mysis, brine , algae wafers,hikary seaweed extreme , still no go.

When I feed the tank he comes out exited like he’s going to eat but just swims up and down in the corner.

I decided to get a very small yellow tang . I actually just added the yellow tang and now the cole tang and him are swimming around together.

I also got 3 anthias and 2 flasher wrasse .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Smite]

Looking good. get some lights on that tank so the tangs have something to naturally graze on. If you have a small piece of live rock, try soaking that nori in garlic and rubber band it to the rock, place it on the rock work. Maybe that will trigger a response.

 

[pikachux3]

Just an idea but how about putting the chaeto in something like this? Might not tumble as well but it will contain it

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Quick update on the tank ...

After the addition of the yellow tank the Kole tank started coming out and eating almost immediately.unfortunately the anthias didn’t have as good of luck I lost 2 out of the 3 .they never really came out and I never really saw them eating . All other fish are doing great .

Current stock list
1 dispar anthias
2 blue chromis
1 yellow tank
1 yellow eye Kole tank
2 carpenter wrasse

The good news,
I now have coralline algae growing in the refugium which to me is a good indicator to start adding coral .

Yesterday I added my temporary lighting .
It’s my new (bought it brand new and didn’t use it ) but old (bought it a long time ago) radion xr30 pro gen 3 with wide angle lens .

I currently have it set at 30% intensity 9 inches above waterline on sps ab+.
Do you guys think that’s a good intensity starting point ?i will eventually look for a par meter and set it up properly.

The bad news ,
I now have this brown/bubbly cyano looking stuff in my refugium .last weekend I completely wiped it off and siphoned it out of my refugium , but now it’s coming back .
After looking at some pics only I’m leaning towards it’s Dino’s???

I will soon be looking for some tester coral to see how we and manually dose .once I see some good songs of growth I will then start ordering some nicer pieces.well at least that’s the plan .

If anyone has a nice “tester” coral pack please let me know. I’m going after mostly sps .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Looking good. get some lights on that tank so the tangs have something to naturally graze on. If you have a small piece of live rock, try soaking that nori in garlic and rubber band it to the rock, place it on the rock work. Maybe that will trigger a response.

I finally did I was just waiting on the hanging kit .plus I couldn’t make up my mind on what light I would be using .right now I’m going to see how far I can get with this xr30 g3 ...Maybe later I’ll get the 2 gen 5 xr15’s.no more t5’s in the plan :/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

View attachment 72795

Just an idea but how about putting the chaeto in something like this? Might not tumble as well but it will contain it

I now have removed the filter pads.the small particles only float out when I trimmed the chaeto .now that I haven’t trimmed it I have no issues with it .plus the brown algae/Dino’s was growing on the pads and clogging them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugo’s_reef]

Got this in the mail today and here are the numbers . Looks like a bunch of scribbles but will work haha.

It looks to me like this light will do for now but I will eventually need more


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Lookin good!