Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Johnny Reefer's FOWLR

Just thought I’d share a little chronology on how things have gone, and are going, with this new FOWLR system.

Some specs first…
135g FOWLR. 72"L x 18"W x 24"H.
4 – MaxiJet 1200 Powerheads, 2 of which are diffused at the surface.
1 – Ebo Jager 250W heater.
1 – Rena 200W heater.
1 – Fluval 404 canister filter.
1 – Rainbow Lifegard 600 fluidized bed filter.
1 – Red Sea Prizm Pro Deluxe skimmer.
2 – Sea Star lightstrips running 2 x 30W Power Glo and 2 x 30W Marine Glo bulbs in each strip.

Day One-Sunday November 27:
Shut down 135g Reef Tank. Everything moved to 70g & 45g holding tanks.
135g tank moved from “Dining Room” area to bedroom. (180g tank to assume “Dining Room” space and Reef specimens, etc.).
140 lbs of aragonite placed. (120 lbs of new rinsed CaribSea medium grade and 20 lbs of live sand from the previous set up).
Filled tank to approx. 80% capacity with new saltwater. (Tapwater, not RO/DI).
Ran up two surface agitating powerheads, one heater, and one lightstrip.
Even though the sand was rinsed, the water is very cloudy. Turbidity allows for a visibility of about only 1”.
66 cups of IO salt was used. I did not use any water from the previous setup.

Day Two-Monday November 28:
Hooked up the Fluval 404 canister, but just running the foam and polywool for now. This is to trap all the aragonite dust that is still leftover from the rinse job. Amazing how much of it there still is. Even after rinsing it first.
180g stand delivered. Attention diverted to that.

Day Three-Tuesday November 29:
Bacteria bloom already. This I attribute to the 20 lbs of live sand.

Water test results:
Temp: 79.3F
Ammonia: 1.8
Nitrites 0.1
Nitrates < 5;
pH 7.7.

Added approx. 100 lbs. of live rock.
Got the Fluidized Bed running.
Replaced the polywool in the canister filter.

Day Four-Wednesday November 30:
Got the skimmer up and running, although it is not skimming yet. (1 ChemiPure in skimmer).
Replenished the Fluval 404 canister with carbon; BioMax; & 2 ChemiPure (3 ChemiPure total). Continuing polywool, for now, and holding off on RowaPhos, for now.
As well, hooked up a PinPoint temperature monitor.
180g tank delivered. Attention diverted to that.

Day Five-Thursday December 1:
Bacteria bloom dissipated.
Aragonite cloudiness pretty much neutralized.
More water readings. Things are good.
Ammonia is way down. From 1.8 to 0.3. I attribute this to the addition of the LR. Amazing stuff. Instant cycle.
Temp: 79.9 F
pH 7.9
NO2 0.1
NO3 5
NH3 0.3
Alk 7.28 dKH
SG measured in the AM to be 1.0295. Removed water down to 90%. Added 10% freshwater to lower SG. Tank now full.
The remaining live rock put in place for a total of 136 ½ lbs, or 1 lb/ gallon.
PM SG reading 1.026.
Second lightstrip added. Commence gradual photoperiod sched. Starting with 4 hours light/day, increasing by 1 hour /day to a total of twelve hours/day.

Cheers,