ceemo Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Hey everybody!! Been in the background for a while, learning loads from everybody’s threads. I have finally made the leap and decided to set up my own nano reef and would like to share and document the journey with all you guys and gals that have inspired and amazed me with your tanks (partic Teenyreef, Sk8n Reefer and Paandemonium) – if I can get mine looking half as good I’ll be well pleased!! Still in the early stages of getting all the equipment (of which there seems a never ending list!!), but so far the script goes like this: Already got: · 17 gallon tank (16Lx16Wx16H) AIO – Aquanano 40 · Ikea besta stand (to be strengthened) · 50w LED light unit (same style as Reefbreeders Nano-lite) · DIY media rack · 50w heater Still to get: · Circulation pump – hydor pico 1150 · Wavemaker – Jebao rw-4 · ATU – not sure which one yet · RO/DI water from store · Salt – make undecided · Live rock · Salifert test kits – NH4, NO2, NO3 to start with · Assorted supporting props (temp gauge / ro containers / ATU container / algae scraper / DIY stand for light etc) And once that’s all arrived, off I go!! Planning on not using a skimmer to start with, and see how I go with regular weekly 10-20% water changes. The AIO rear chambers will run as follows: Water in - filter floss – chaeto – DIY media rack housing rowaphos / carbon – heater / ATU / return pump – water out Down the line I may change out the self build media rack with a mini reactor.... The current proposed casting list: · 2-3 fish, from a wish list so far of: Goby / prawn combo Green banded goby or yellow clown goby Tail spot blenny Pink streaked wrasse / springers damsel (is tank too small?)/ royal gramma · Inverts: Pom pom crab Mithrax crab Hermits Snails (Astrea, Cerith, Nass) Sexy shrimp Corals Plan is to start with a few easy to keep but colourful softies such as zoa’s and ricordia’s. Once happy that I can keep these going I’ll look at introducing some LPS such as acans, hammer, Duncan, chalice, plate etc, and then hopefully branch (!) into SPS – by which stage I’ll be probably needing a skimmer and possibly a doser as well. Thanks for reading, and I’ll get pics up as soon as things start to get more interesting!! C Link to comment
ceemo Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Thanks HippieRose - I think I'm going to need it! Checked out your thread - looks like I've got a big learning curve ahead. C Link to comment
HIppieRose Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 The biggest problem I have is patience. Or lack there of. I am so use to setting up FW and having it go quickly with very little problems. Link to comment
ceemo Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Yes, I use to have a couple of FW a few years ago, and that seems like a walk in the park compared to this - still, the rewards are worth it with marine, thats for sure... C Link to comment
teenyreef Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Good luck, and thanks for the shout out Any updates yet? Link to comment
ceemo Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 Hi All, plans have been delayed due to unexpected costs on getting the wife's car fixed! Nearly there though - next payday should see me getting the last few bits to get the tank up and running. Just need to get carbon / rowaphos and purigen, then salt, live rock and sand, a splash of RO and I'll be away - patience is a good thing, but its wearing thin a bit at the moment! Especially after seeing all the great tanks on here!!! Soon, my friends, soon.... C Link to comment
ceemo Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 Things have finally progressed somewhat!! IMG_2997 by Colin Ormston, on Flickr IMG_2998 by Colin Ormston, on Flickr Tank finally got wet on the 5th September, using dry marco rock rather than LR!! Just running with filter floss. Apologies if images are too large - still getting to grips with this posting lark! Using the guide on the Dr Tims website, been dosing ammonia to start cycle (no bottled bacteria). After 10 days added around a 1lb of LR to help seed tank, although they have infringed on my 'scape a little - see below for scape before LR added!! IMG_2945 by Colin Ormston, on Flickr IMG_2943 by Colin Ormston, on Flickr Dosing ammonia to 1.5ppm every time ammonia drops below 0.25 - taking about 2 days to process down to 0ppm so nearly done (Needs to be able to process this in 1 day, right?) but happy to wait. Nitrites peaked around day 12 at 3ppm and have been 0ppm for 8 days. Nitrates peaked early at c50ppm (!!) day 16 but have been dropping since (with no water changes) and was at 0ppm today!! Phosphates have been at a steady 0ppm since tank got wet. The two pieces of live rock are now a little fuzzy with various algae - and have now got first signs of algae developing on marco rock, as well as a small covering of diatoms I think (see first pic, bottom left on sand bed). Had to remove one piece a couple of times to harvest (!) bubble algae. Seen peanut worms, small bristles and a fan worm. Hope you all like Link to comment
JabaReef Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Wow that scape has some good depth to it love what you have done so far can't wait to see corals in that thing Link to comment
teenyreef Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I like the scape - glad you were able to get it going finally! Link to comment
ceemo Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Thanks both Took a good couple of weeks to get to that final scape. Tried one that I'd put together outside of tank, but it just didn't seem right once in tank IMG_2778 by Colin Ormston, on Flickr Ammonia at 0 tonight, so dosed up to 1.5ppm - lets see what that falls to by same time tomorrows..... Link to comment
vlangel Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Looks like you are off to a great start. I like the scape. Link to comment
ceemo Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 Thanks vlangel!! Ammonia tonight at 0.5 ...ish (salifert test kit), so still not done. According to tests, nitrites and nitrates still at 0. Left it to do its thing, expect ammonia will be 0 tomorrow (5 weeks in) so its still taking 2 days to process. Beginning to get a bit angsty waiting for this first cycle to complete, but need to buy another ammonia test kit tomorrow so get to do some window shopping at the LFS at least! Link to comment
ceemo Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 Yup, Ammonia at 0, so another few drops added to bring it up to 1.5, lets see if tomorrows the day............... Link to comment
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