Midnight 4 gallon

[Auto Midnight]

New tank setup,

 

4gallon ebay glass tank

Cobalt 25 watt neo therm heater

HOB refugium

Hydro nano circulation

No name Chinese pump

Finnex px-360 canister filter

Coral compulsion 14w 18k par 30 light

 

The flow on the canister filter is way to strong, once the sand settles I think I will just remove it all together, I plan on putting chaeto in the refugium and doing regular water changes. Any suggestion or feedback would be awesome as I new to this.

 

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/Againstmebomb/Pico/imagejpg1.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/Againstmebomb/Pico/imagejpg3.jpg

[Auto Midnight]

I read something about adding a T with a ball valve between the intake and output on the canister to reduce flow without damaging the filter, if anybody could elaborate from experience if that works or not let me know.

[Livewreck]

Welcome!

 

I used ball valves with a canister filter in a fresh water planted aquarium. It worked to reduce flow. But to tell you the truth, I hate canister filters. They work well enough, but I always dreaded disconnecting the canister from the rest of the plumbing to clean it once a month. What a mess - and that was with fresh water. I'd hate to think of salt water dripping all over the place.

 

Live rock, weekly water changes (25% - 50%), and the HOB filter should be all that you need... especially if you use Purigen (to keep Nitrates down) and Phosguard (to reduce PO4 to near zero).

 

_Larry

 

 

[Auto Midnight]

Thanks Larry, I am pretty sure I am going to let run while the tank cycles and then remove it form the system all together. I rigged up a spray bar crammed with filter floss to retard the flow enough to keep the sand from blowing everywhere. Other wise it's coming along nice.

 

Water is clearing up nice.

pH is currently 8.0

Salinity: 1.025

Ammonia: 0

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 0

 

So far so good

 

Here is a pic after the water cleared up.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/Againstmebomb/imagejpg1-2.jpg

 

The only other weird thing is my light turns itself on and off intermittently for the first 5 minutes or so when I first power it up. I sent an email to coral compulsion to see what they say. It's weird cause it works fine after the first few minutes.

 

 

 

[Auto Midnight]

So day 4 or so and no change whatsoever in water parameters, no ammonia, nitrite or nitrates. Yet my live rock is coming to life. There are tons of tiny little critters that crawl around on he rocks at night and a few feather dusters...hopefully not aiptasia. Lots of little specs of green stuff starting to form on the rock. Not sure where I am at in my cycle. Everything I have read says that every tank has a cycle and when in doubt to wait a week. So I am waiting for some sign of a cycle. I changed the rock a bit and moved the circulator a bit. Everything seems fine. Evaporation is huge I'm having to add a little more than a cup of water a day. Seems like a lot but what do I know. I guess it does matter as salinity is staying at 1.025

 

http://s53.photobucket.com/user/Againstmebomb/media/Pico/imagejpg1-2.jpg.html'>

 

[Amy]

I love your rock work, is that one piece?

[Auto Midnight]

I love your rock work, is that one piece?

 

Thank you, it is three pieces. And since you like it, I won't fiddle with them anymore.

[Halo_003]

What's your temp set at? At 80F I lose 5 cups a day from my 20 Long.

[Livewreck]

That's great. Water parameters are impressive. Where did you get the LR? It must be fully cured.

[teenyreef]

Very nice! I love the rocks. Are you running anything in the cannister? If you have any chemical filtration that could be slowing down your cycle, but if the rocks were cured already you might not see much of a cycle.

[GHill762]

Welcome!

 

I used ball valves with a canister filter in a fresh water planted aquarium. It worked to reduce flow. But to tell you the truth, I hate canister filters. They work well enough, but I always dreaded disconnecting the canister from the rest of the plumbing to clean it once a month. What a mess - and that was with fresh water. I'd hate to think of salt water dripping all over the place.

 

Live rock, weekly water changes (25% - 50%), and the HOB filter should be all that you need... especially if you use Purigen (to keep Nitrates down) and Phosguard (to reduce PO4 to near zero).

 

_Larry

couldn't agree with this more.

 

canisters are great while they're running, they're quiet, concealed, etc. but cleaning is a major PITA, I always hated opening it because I made a mess every single time..

[teenyreef]

Yep. I've got a big cannister on my freshwater 90g. I hate messing with it every month.

[Amy]

I agree with canisters, when I had my 46 gal freshwater I really wanted a canister and did get one. It seems so many people call them NItrate traps and yes that they sure are. I had nothing but issues for the 3 years I had mine, they are quite, run smoothly but the nitrates were ski high using it. Then I switched back to the Aqua Clear HOB and perfection. I will never use a canister again. That was for freshwater.

 

I have never used one for salt and never will. I hear the same thing from reefers about how they have not had luck with them either. It seems the salt really does a number on the parts etc but its all individual for sure if you want to use it. I will only use an Aqua Clear on my salt tank but its a tiny 3 gal pico and its perfect. When I had a 25 gal salt I used 2 of the Larger Aqua Clears and never had any issues either I love these brands of filters but its all up to each person.

 

Good luck and keep us posted

[Auto Midnight]

Thanks for the input on the canister filters. So far it seems to be working great the only thing I am running is floss and a sponge. I replace the floss when needed and rinse the sponge out at the same time. I'm going to stick with it for the time being since it is collecting a ton a debris.

[Auto Midnight]

That's great. Water parameters are impressive. Where did you get the LR? It must be fully cured.

I bought the live rock from premium aquatics and so far it looks as it is fully cured as advertised. I am going to order a clean up crew from reef cleaners tonight as algae is starting to grow almost every where. I have seen zero change in water parameters and am pretty convinced that I'm not going to. Here is a updated pic that shows some progress. http://s53.photobucket.com/user/Againstmebomb/media/Pico/imagejpg3-1.jpg.html'>

 

What's your temp set at? At 80F I lose 5 cups a day from my 20 Long.

My temp is set at 80 deg and I am consistently losing 12 ounces per 24 hours

 

I agree with canisters, when I had my 46 gal freshwater I really wanted a canister and did get one. It seems so many people call them NItrate traps and yes that they sure are. I had nothing but issues for the 3 years I had mine, they are quite, run smoothly but the nitrates were ski high using it. Then I switched back to the Aqua Clear HOB and perfection. I will never use a canister again. That was for freshwater. I have never used one for salt and never will. I hear the same thing from reefers about how they have not had luck with them either. It seems the salt really does a number on the parts etc but its all individual for sure if you want to use it. I will only use an Aqua Clear on my salt tank but its a tiny 3 gal pico and its perfect. When I had a 25 gal salt I used 2 of the Larger Aqua Clears and never had any issues either I love these brands of filters but its all up to each person. Good luck and keep us posted

If the can gives me any grief I will for sure check out the aqua clear filters thanks for the input

[Amy]

Do you have a lid on your tank? That will help a lot with water evap. I top my little 3 gal up every other day but it has a lid on so I don't loose that much. Even just a piece of plexi or glass cut to fit the size of tank can really help. Mine is not tight there is area at the back where the filter pours back into the tank so maybe an inch is open at the back.

 

Its looking good, have you thought about what you are going to all be adding to this tank in time??

[Auto Midnight]

Do you have a lid on your tank? That will help a lot with water evap. I top my little 3 gal up every other day but it has a lid on so I don't loose that much. Even just a piece of plexi or glass cut to fit the size of tank can really help. Mine is not tight there is area at the back where the filter pours back into the tank so maybe an inch is open at the back.

 

Its looking good, have you thought about what you are going to all be adding to this tank in time??

I'm going to keep it pretty simple a cuc with a shrimp and some coral, I really like rics, dendros and zoas. I ordered a cuc from reef cleaners that should be here Tuesday. Also got some chaeto to go in the hob fuge. Definitely going to buy a piece of acrylic and make a lid.

[Auto Midnight]

I am going to put chaeto in the hob fuge and have read that a typical fuge should run on a reverse photoperiod. Is it worth building something that would enable me to block the light from the hob fuge so that I can run a reverse photoperiod? Second question how do I know if my hydor circulation head is too powerful for my tank? I know that different coral like different condition but I have no idea how to gauge what is heavy or low current.

[Amy]

I am sorry but I have never had a fuge nor powerhead in these tiny tanks. I keep things very very simple. In my HOB filter I just run a sponge, filter floss and carbon. I don't use a powerhead as in my opinion its just to small of a tank and the smallest one out there creates to much movement in the little tank. My Aqua Clear I have set on the lowest flow and its perfect in my tank, all the flow I need in there.

 

Hopefully someone on the board here will be able to help you with these questions.

[Auto Midnight]

I am sorry but I have never had a fuge nor powerhead in these tiny tanks. I keep things very very simple. In my HOB filter I just run a sponge, filter floss and carbon. I don't use a powerhead as in my opinion its just to small of a tank and the smallest one out there creates to much movement in the little tank. My Aqua Clear I have set on the lowest flow and its perfect in my tank, all the flow I need in there.

 

Hopefully someone on the board here will be able to help you with these questions.

Thanks for your input, my gut says my flow is too strong, I guess time will tell.

[Auto Midnight]

A buddy of mine has two frags that he is offering me however he doesn't remember the names of coral. Neither of them are doing well in his tank. He thinks that my tank has better lighting for them because it is so small. Not sure if I should take them as I've heard sps can be difficult. Here are a couple pics if anyone can id. I think one is some type of stylophora and the other is some type of acropora but that is just from pics I've seen.

 

http://s53.photobucket.com/user/Againstmebomb/media/Pico/imagejpg1-4.jpg.html'>

 

 

http://s53.photobucket.com/user/Againstmebomb/media/Pico/imagejpg1-5.jpg.html'>

 

[CosmicCanine]

Yup thats a stylo and an acro! May not be the best in a new tank but. i guess it wont hurt much if they die, just going to helo the cycle haha!

[Auto Midnight]

Yup thats a stylo and an acro! May not be the best in a new tank but. i guess it wont hurt much if they die, just going to helo the cycle haha!

 

Not very helpful but certainly on point, I'm hesitant to take them as I am not in this to kill coral, however I am obviously chomping at the bit to put something other than rock in the tank. I'll probably wait to see what happens with my cuc...before I take the freebies.

[CremeFraiche]

About ur reverse photo for the chaeto...

The way el fab did his was just turning a 9w light facing the wall behind the aquarium/fuge. This way u dont have light bleed into the main display from the back and ur chaeto will gain the light it needs. Expect it to grow like weeds

[Auto Midnight]

Ok, so I checked all the water parameters I am able to and everything is where it should be. My cuc arrives tomorrow and I'm going to give them a week or so to work then do a 100% wc. (My second 100% wc) Then I am going to recheck water parameters and if everything is fine I am going to add the stylophora and acropora my friend offered plus I am buying a purple ricordea that he is having trouble getting to grow. Also picking up pulsing xenia and couple zoas. All very small frags. Pictures for sure once I get it all in the water. A little nervous and excited about adding life to the tank.