yycmarine's Fusion 10 build

[yycmarine]

Current Snapshot:

 

Hey everyone,

Been creeping these forums for months and months and finally took the 'plunge'. This community is great and thank you for all of the shared wisdom and knowledge!

This is my first SW experience. I'm a total newbie. And thought this tank was a good place to start.

Equipment:

Tank: IM Fusion 10
Light: Skkye 18 W LED
Heater: Cobalt 50 W
Return Pump: Stock IM 8W 110v/60Hz 13-92 GPH (set to full)
Thermo: Marina Digital

Filtration:

Media Basket: IM Stock Basket
Media: IM Stock Media
Rock: 7.98lb of live rock (cured) from LFS (Pisces Pet Emporium)
Sand: CaribSea Indo Pacific white & black live sand
Salt: Instant Ocean Sea Salt

Monitoring & Testing:

API SW Master test kit

Additional Equipment:

Pump: Aqua scape 70 gph for mixing
Buckets: 3x 5 gallon

Current Readings:

Day 4
PH: 8.2
Amm: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: between 0 - 5 ppm

Livestock Plans:

Fish: possibly a clown but undecided.
Corals: will start very slow with easy maintenance. I like the Zoa gardens and Acan gardens I've been seeing on here but will most likely seek advice!

Updates to come every other day.

[reefernanoman]

Welcome to the club! Good start.

Great way to start at NR!

[yycmarine]

Thanks. Your thread has been a big inspiration .

 

I really undecided on the scape. I'm trying to visualize how this will pan out with livestock involved. Appreciate any tips / warning flags etc.

[reefernanoman]

Thanks. Your thread has been a big inspiration .

I really undecided on the scape. I'm trying to visualize how this will pan out with livestock involved. Appreciate any tips / warning flags etc.

Thanks!. I think that the your current light can only support LPS, zoas and softies. I would try to invest in an ATO like the tunze nano osmolator so that you don't have to be be topping off every day and it helps keep your salinity stable too. Good luck!

[yycmarine]

Thanks!. I think that the your current light can only support LPS, zoas and softies. I would try to invest in an ATO like the tunze nano osmolator so that you don't have to be be topping off every day and it helps keep your salinity stable too. Good luck!

I'm going to look into this for sure. The water evaporates faster than I expected. Thanks for the tip. As for the light - good to know. I'll start small for now!

 

Just ordered the intank media basket...

 

... And a new scape. The other one was clunky and didn't leave alot of swimming room. I had to remove a massive piece of LR completely but I think it was worth it.

 

[teenyreef]

Welcome to the IM10 Club! I like your new scape - more room for corals

[reefernanoman]

I'm going to look into this for sure. The water evaporates faster than I expected. Thanks for the tip. As for the light - good to know. I'll start small for now!

 

Just ordered the intank media basket...

 

... And a new scape. The other one was clunky and didn't leave alot of swimming room. I had to remove a massive piece of LR completely but I think it was worth it.

 

Good choice in having more room! Remember that once you start buying corals, some of them might come with LR. Yeah, it's better to have a little less LR.

I wouldn't get a clown! They get annoying after a while. They start digging, become very aggressive, they start messing with all your corals by rubbing on them, etc. I got a white and black clown in my Fusion 10 and he is starting to do all that. He is even attacking my cleaner shrimp!. I also have a Maroon clown pair in my other tank too, and you guessed it, same problems! I even had to remove my sand from my 28G because my huge female MC was making a mess!

[yycmarine]

Welcome to the IM10 Club! I like your new scape - more room for corals

 

Thanks! Good to be here. Been following your build as well. Great stuff.

 

 

Good choice in having more room! Remember that once you start buying corals, some of them might come with LR. Yeah, it's better to have a little less LR.I wouldn't get a clown! They get annoying after a while. They start digging, become very aggressive, they start messing with all your corals by rubbing on them, etc. I got a white and black clown in my Fusion 10 and he is starting to do all that. He is even attacking my cleaner shrimp!. I also have a Maroon clown pair in my other tank too, and you guessed it, same problems! I even had to remove my sand from my 28G because my huge female MC was making a mess!

 

That's what I've been reading. I'm thinking fire fish now with some type of shrimp. Is 2 firefish too many for this tank?

 

Played around with the scape a bit...

 

[deathbyart]

Loving the new scape. Great work.

[da1001]

Thats some cool and unique looking rock.

[yycmarine]

Loving the new scape. Great work.

 

Thanks! I may trim some rock from the back left and right base of the arch. It's hard to see but it's a little crowded and could use some opening up.

Thats some cool and unique looking rock.

It is pretty funky looking. I have no idea where it comes from or what category of LR it sits under. Any ideas?

 

Need some advice here. Is it time to add my clean up crew?

 

I'm 13 days in (started with cured LR and live sand) and am seeing a bunch of of algae growth. Diatom all over the rock and glass. Also some hair algae starting to grow on the rocks as well.

 

Also a few bristleworms.

 

My levels:

 

Day 3

Ph 8.2 Amm 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm

 

Day 5

Ph 8.0 Amm 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0ppm

 

Day 7

Ph 8.2 Amm 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0-2.5ppm

 

Day 13

Ph 8.3 Amm 0-0.25 nitrite 0 nitrate 0ppm

 

I haven't measured phosphates but have been meaning to get a kit. I've read that that's what I should be concerned about over all else at this point.

 

Advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[da1001]

It took me 13 days for mine to finish but I used dry live rock and live sand and tossed in some fish flakes to get my cycle going. Every cycle is different. I say as long as ammonia is zero, its probably done. I saw a much larger spike in mine though. Like ammonia went up to about 2 at one point so I did a water change in the middle of it and that brought it under control again. About a week later it hit 0 for 3 days in a row so I tossed a couple hardy corals in then and they did just fine.

[Uphoric]

Looking good! definately get an ATO. Makes life so much easier.

[yycmarine]

It took me 13 days for mine to finish but I used dry live rock and live sand and tossed in some fish flakes to get my cycle going. Every cycle is different. I say as long as ammonia is zero, its probably done. I saw a much larger spike in mine though. Like ammonia went up to about 2 at one point so I did a water change in the middle of it and that brought it under control again. About a week later it hit 0 for 3 days in a row so I tossed a couple hardy corals in then and they did just fine.

 

 

Thanks for the heads up here. It did look like it was maturing well, so I added some fish:)

 

 

Looking good! definately get an ATO. Makes life so much easier.

 

 

Thanks! Going to look into an ATO soon... just have to decide what's more deserving of money. Corals or equipment!

[yycmarine]

I've made some additions.

 

1st. Added the clean up crew. Emerald Crab, some scarlet hermits and assortment of sand sifting snails and other usual suspects. No turbos though.

 

Later on I added two clowns who have been doing well just under a week in. At first they were showing some attitude towards each other but the LFS provided me with a pair that was in the same tank for a while, and one is already smaller than the other. The little guy seems to submit himself to the larger clown with a weird seizure once in a while. And they are together 85% of the time...

 

I also added a Coral Banded Shrimp which I think I'm going to take back. He's been taking swipes at my big clown (who provokes him). I think it's a case of limited real estate and territorial dispute. Or the CBS may just be mean (seems to be the common consensus online).

 

(I'll get a good camera soon!)

 

 

 

 

 

[reefernanoman]

I've made some additions.

 

1st. Added the clean up crew. Emerald Crab, some scarlet hermits and assortment of sand sifting snails and other usual suspects. No turbos though.

 

Later on I added two clowns who have been doing well just under a week in. At first they were showing some attitude towards each other but the LFS provided me with a pair that was in the same tank for a while, and one is already smaller than the other. The little guy seems to submit himself to the larger clown with a weird seizure once in a while. And they are together 85% of the time...

 

I also added a Coral Banded Shrimp which I think I'm going to take back. He's been taking swipes at my big clown (who provokes him). I think it's a case of limited real estate and territorial dispute. Or the CBS may just be mean (seems to be the common consensus online).

 

(I'll get a good camera soon!)

 

 

 

 

 

Good progress! Don't get turbos, because they are like bulldozers when they grow! They will also starve very quickly because they eat your algae very quickly.

Keep an eye on that crab, since they can become little monsters, according to some reefers.

[yycmarine]

Good progress! Don't get turbos, because they are like bulldozers when they grow! They will also starve very quickly because they eat your algae very quickly.

Keep an eye on that crab, since they can become little monsters, according to some reefers.

 

That's what I've read. My rocks are just self sustaining at the moment as well (no glue) so I didn't want any rock slides!

 

As for the Emerald. Good to know. Monster in what way - Size, Eating fish or just corals etc? I think I may have to do some population adjustment once corals are introduced. For now I think it will stay as clowns, crabs & shrimp for about a month or a little less. It's kind of a circus at the moment... but really entertaining.

 

[teenyreef]

Looks great, and those clowns are very nice

 

I loved my emerald crab and he did a great job of mowing down all my algae. But then he got bigger and more aggressive after about three months. No problems with the fish, but every time I tried to feed the corals, he was all over them, reaching right down their throats to pull the food out

[yycmarine]

Looks great, and those clowns are very nice

 

I loved my emerald crab and he did a great job of mowing down all my algae. But then he got bigger and more aggressive after about three months. No problems with the fish, but every time I tried to feed the corals, he was all over them, reaching right down their throats to pull the food out

 

Sounds like he became the tank bully at lunch hour. . Maybe mine will be a big softie, but something tells me that's wishful thinking.

 

Right now i'm in the process of researching coral selection and placement, flow and lighting etc. The fun stuff!

 

And... a better shot of the two stars.

 

[Uphoric]

I really like where this tank is going. Are you going to glue the rocks into that place?

[yycmarine]

I really like where this tank is going. Are you going to glue the rocks into that place?

 

 

 

Thanks! It's slowing coming together, but that's the whole point right? Never finished!

 

As for glueing the rocks, I'm not sure yet. I don't think I'm totally sold on the scape.... but the fish swim through the loop / cave as planned and it gives the CBS shrimp and Emeralds a variety of good hiding placing. So maybe I'll leave as is.

 

Has anyone had issues with a CBS and Clowns before? I can't tell if it's harmless aggression but after scoping out the tank at night I watched the CBS stalk up to the clowns sleeping in the corner, and he tried to grab the female! This has been happening a little more. I wonder if i should return him before it gets messy.

[reefernanoman]

 

Sounds like he became the tank bully at lunch hour. . Maybe mine will be a big softie, but something tells me that's wishful thinking.

 

Right now i'm in the process of researching coral selection and placement, flow and lighting etc. The fun stuff!

 

And... a better shot of the two stars.

 

Are you planning to keep these clowns in there permanently? Because I only have one black and white clown and everyone I asked here told me that two clowns in one fusion 10G is a no go,since they are messy eaters and the female can get to be 3+ inches.

 

Thanks! It's slowing coming together, but that's the whole point right? Never finished!

 

As for glueing the rocks, I'm not sure yet. I don't think I'm totally sold on the scape.... but the fish swim through the loop / cave as planned and it gives the CBS shrimp and Emeralds a variety of good hiding placing. So maybe I'll leave as is.

 

Has anyone had issues with a CBS and Clowns before? I can't tell if it's harmless aggression but after scoping out the tank at night I watched the CBS stalk up to the clowns sleeping in the corner, and he tried to grab the female! This has been happening a little more. I wonder if i should return him before it gets messy.

CBS are little monsters and they will catch and eat your fish. He needs to be returned.

[yycmarine]

Are you planning to keep these clowns in there permanently? Because I only have one black and white clown and everyone I asked here told me that two clowns in one fusion 10G is a no go,since they are messy eaters and the female can get to be 3+ inches.

 

CBS are little monsters and they will catch and eat your fish. He needs to be returned.

 

I was planning on keeping them in there for a month or so before moving to a bigger tank. good to know about the CBS. Time for him to go! Thanks.

[yycmarine]

it's been quite a while since I posted. Some updates.

biggest lesson so far: I'm never putting GSP in a tank again .

[Droy008]

lol, the gsp looks great, you almost have a full carpet going!