Hexadron Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Introduction This is my tank journal for my Reef Aquarium "Nitoralis"The Name Nitoralis is a pseudo word from two latin words merged together. Nitor and Borealis. Nitor meaning: elegance, brilliance, to shine and Borealis meaning: Northern. Canada=Nothern and those LED's sure do shine! I spent quite a while thinking of the name, and believe it really adds to the character of this tank. History This is my first Reef Aquarium, and first saltwater tank. I have only had one Aquarium in my lifetime - and that was a freshwater 10g from when I was about 12 years old. Many years have passed since then and looking back, I didn't do much right! It's truly a miracle that the livestock didn't croak within the first week, but that tank lasted me a good two years before I got bored with it. I have spent the last four years doing much research and readings from forums to books to learn as much as I possibly could before embarking on a journey like this. This is probably much longer than the average reefer, and I truly wish I could have started sooner, but glad I waited as I believe waiting saved me many disasters. I have dreamed of saltwater tanks from the time I was small. I would always stop by the pet store every chance i could when my family and I went into the city (small town growing up) and would spend the majority of the time looking at the tropical fish. Many delays were from my own fear of messing up, and always having the assumption that Saltwater is so difficult you had to be a rocket scientist to get it right. None of my friends, family or co-workers seem to have any interest in anything Aquarium-related; so it was up to me to push myself to get started. Cost was a bit of an issue as I didn't want to have to constantly replace equipment along the way, and I am a firm believer in "Doing it right" the first time. I have had many inspirations - mainly from Nano-Reef including: Rehype, urbaneks, MedRed, Schreiba, AJ_Tsin, Uhuru, and el fabuloso. Not in any particular order, and there are many more to mention, but these in particular stood out and inspired me to get started with Reefing. Okay enough about these guys, lets get on to the journal! Equipment I chose my equipment very carefully to suit the needs for this build. having absolutely nothing to start with wasn't easy on the wallet, but there are lives at hand here, and nothing but the best for my livestock. The components I chose had a lot to do with energy savings as well (Go Green!)Main System Tank - PicO Aquariums Custom Starfire (all 4 sides) 20"x12"x10" ~10g Lighting - Maxspect R420R 120w 16k Circulation - 2x Ecotech Marine VorTech MP10w ES (one in back center, one on left) EcoSmart TSM Ecotech Marine Battery Backup Pumps - 2x Eheim Compact 300 (one in each of the two back chambers) Heater - Cobalt Aquatics 75w Neo-Therm ATO - ELOS Osmocontroller Digital Filtration Media - Purigen, Carbon ROX 0.8, inTank Filter Pad Accessories/Misc. Equipment Base Rock - BRS "Reef Saver" Rock Substrate - Caribsea Arag-Alive! Fiji Pink 10lbs Salt - Fluval SEA Pro Formula Glass Cleaner - Nimble Nano & Vertex Duplex Magnetic Algae Cleaner (I couldn't decide, so I got both!) Kent Pro Scraper II Test Kits - Elos Testkits (Nitrate, Nitrite) API (Ammonia) Hanna Checkers (Alk, Calcium, Phosphorus) Red Sea (Nitrate, Phosphate, Alk, Calcium, Magnesium) Refractometer - ATC Refractometer RO/DI - BRS 5 Stage Chloramines PLUS RO/DI Remorbis (Coral QT) RETIRED Tank - 5.5g AGA Lighting - LEDTRiC Par38 Full Spectrum Plus Heater - Cobalt Aquatics 50w Neo-Therm Circulation & Filtration - AquaClear 50 Filtration Media - Carbon ROX 0.8, inTank Filter Pad Livestock For this build, I am aiming to keep things clean and in line with my vision for this tank. Keeping certain color groups for corals, and not overcrowding the Fish & Inverts. This saves me on my Bio load and also keeps everyone happy in such a small volume. My goal is to have equal amounts to positive and negative space by using simple design philosophies, and keep an open feel to the tank. I don't really care for the "Thousands of Frags wasteland" that I see all too often.Fish Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) Invertebrates Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus) x1 Corals "Wicked Frags Bonsai" Acropora nana "Wicked Frags Cobalt Tort" Acropora tortuosa "Fire & Ice Prostrata" Acropora prostrata "ORA Purple Plasma Acro" Acropora sp. "Cali Tort" Acropora tortuosa "Tyree Rainbow Stylophora" Stylophora sp. Table of Contents Blueprints The Tank (up close and personal) An Aquascape Studio Photoshoot An Aquascape (in the tank) It's Wet! A whole 'lotta Filter Pads A Mystery Box Part I A Mystery Box Part II From Prototype to Final What I'm Feeding Let the ZEO Begin! BONUS: Osaka Aquarium BONUS: Vancouver International Airport BONUS: Tokyo Sea Life Park The Whole Setup Updated ZEO dosing & A Sneak Peek Diatoms! Coral QT Part I Maxspect R420R shots for IllustrioSolo Remorbis (unveiled) Corals Unboxing! & Group Shot! Live Rock - Whaaa?! Lenny the Blenny Jacques, you handsome devil you I love Equipment Goodies! Random Photos I II III IV Extension Tubes Tank update July /13 MadJellyCorals order coming... Nom Nom Nom A few closeups at some Frags from the LFS Jacques RIP 2013-2013 RTN Special Delivery! Coral Pics EST. February 23rd, 2013 Retired sometime thereafter. Link to comment
Bello Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Now that's a great start! Brilliant title! I can completely empathize with the "None of my friends, family or co-workers seem to have any interest in anything Aquarium-related; so it was up to me to push myself to get started"........ my friends think I'm nuts, and my poor poor wife....given up on me . Good equipment choices. I'm waiting to see the filtration plans though? Skimmer? Time to subscribe! Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Now that's a great start! Brilliant title! I can completely empathize with the "None of my friends, family or co-workers seem to have any interest in anything Aquarium-related; so it was up to me to push myself to get started"........ my friends think I'm nuts, and my poor poor wife....given up on me . Good equipment choices. I'm waiting to see the filtration plans though? Skimmer? Time to subscribe! Tell me about it. There is one guy at work that used to have a Reef, but he's one of those "I use tap water and it's fine" He showed me old pictures of his tank, and it looked absolutely horrible. I hate to say it, but it was BAD. Well Filtration-wise it will be mechanical/chemical filtration. No skimmer. I just haven't quite decided on which chemical filtration to go with ATM, but will be using simple filter floss as mechanical. There was no room for a sump, and i'm trying to keep it as an AIO type. Water changes and strong flow will be key with this tank. Thanks for subscribing Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Shoobeedoo... Link to comment
logansreef Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Nice print, are you an engineer? Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Nice print, are you an engineer? Thanks! Not an engineer though Link to comment
logansreef Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Well you should be:) Nicer than most of the engineered prints I see! Link to comment
logansreef Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Are you cycling with the reefsaver rock right out of the box or did you prep it any? Im thinking an ro rinse than in the tank to cycle for me. Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Are you cycling with the reefsaver rock right out of the box or did you prep it any? Im thinking an ro rinse than in the tank to cycle for me. Out of the box for me. I was going to do a vinegar soak, but after much reading I came to the conclusion that the ReefSaver rock was actually pretty clean, so decided against the soak. It couldn't hurt if you decide to do it though Well you should be:) Nicer than most of the engineered prints I see! Thanks Link to comment
logansreef Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I had some pukani in another tank seemed like it had alot of phosphates in it. Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 26, 2013 Author Share Posted February 26, 2013 I had some pukani in another tank seemed like it had alot of phosphates in it. I heard the Pukani is pretty dirty. Well I guess if I made a mistake you'll hear about it! Link to comment
ESJ Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Thats quite an impressive beginning...you better deliver. Link to comment
Rehype Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Wow that looks like an awesome start jordan cant wait to see this tank in action Link to comment
DCUEVAS74 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Me likey the print! Clever intro... I'm in! Link to comment
Bello Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 That's a very cool print! Since you're going skimmer-less, have you seen Marko Haaga's reef? IMO, the king of skimmer-less tanks. Google it P.S. Loved the meme on the aquascapers thread...lol Link to comment
SeahawkReefer Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Great sounding plans! Link to comment
MGDMIRAGE Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Excellent intro and nice hardware choices Link to comment
hey Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 this is going to look great, definitely the epitome of nano setups simple, yet high end equipment always looks good on these. Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thats quite an impressive beginning...you better deliver. Thanks I'm going to do my best! Wow that looks like an awesome start jordan cant wait to see this tank in action Me too! I have a few more things to post tonight Me likey the print! Clever intro... I'm in! Thanks so much! That's a very cool print! Since you're going skimmer-less, have you seen Marko Haaga's reef? IMO, the king of skimmer-less tanks. Google it P.S. Loved the meme on the aquascapers thread...lol I haven't seen that setup, but i'm definitely going to check it out, thanks for sharing Haha, well we have a newcomer Canadacorals.com which is shaping up to be really great, but i'm seriously jealous of you guys down South, so many choices! Great sounding plans! Thanks, I spent a fair bit of time planning this one out. Thanks so much kat! Your tank is amazing! Excellent intro and nice hardware choices Thanks It honestly took me forever to decide on a light fixture, but I think i made the right choice for me. this is going to look great, definitely the epitome of nano setups simple, yet high end equipment always looks good on these. Thanks hey! I am loving your tank as well, shaping up to be something amazing Link to comment
AMAYEU Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 The intro page is awesome. Love the theme and meaning. Subscribed. Link to comment
Deckoz2302 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I shall wait and watch. Link to comment
Hexadron Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hey guys, I meant to update yesterday, but got a new office chair delivered, and couldn't wait to put it together! Here are some pics of the actual tank. Chris@Pico Aquariums did an amazing job. Craftsmanship is out of this world. love the start so far Thanks, hopefully things get even better from now on! The intro page is awesome. Love the theme and meaning. Subscribed. Thank You I shall wait and watch. And you shall be rewarded. (hopefully) Link to comment
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