BoCoMo Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Scored a 10g(ish) Kotobuki (from Japan) cube off of craigslist. I am thinking it is time I see how things are on the dark side! (salt) I have kept planted aquariums in various sizes for many years but I am excited to give salt a go. I will be making this tank a macroalge tank. Not 100% sure on stocking yet but for the Macro's I am thinking Halimeda opuntia, Red Grape or Sting of pearls, and some blue ochtodes. I want to keep it pretty simple. Here is the tank. Would welcome any pointers, tips, thoughts, feedback about anything Thanks for looking! A quick rendering of what I am thinking: Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 That looks simple but nice. Saltwater Planted tanks are much, much easier than Freshwater Planted. Not a lot of fancy equipment needed. I do have one minor tip for you. I have found in the past that Macroalgaes respond well to the use of Fiji Mud somewhere in the system. I've seen it really intensify their coloration. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thanks for the tip! Should I do a layer under the aragonite sand? Excited to get my rock this weekend. Once I get this 10g under my belt I have a couple 40B sitting empty that may need to get reefed! My other idea for the tank was a single torch coral (or similar) With black sand and black background. Like so? I like simple Link to comment
VeganBrian Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 AWESOME! you need to go with the macro idea. It's way cooler! Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 AWESOME! you need to go with the macro idea. It's way cooler! Thanks! Yeah I am pretty much sold on the Macro's Gotta get this guy set up and cycled and then I can start sourcing my algae! Link to comment
VeganBrian Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 By the time you're cycled i might have some grown out for sale/trade winters a rough shipping time though. Keep pictures updated please, i love watching macro tanks evolve! Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Check out the threads stickied at the top of the Macroalgae Forum for some links to Macroalgae Dominated tanks that others have done and also to some good vendors for Macros. Keydiver is also a good person on here to get Macroalgaes from. On the Mud: the one time I used it, it was in a small refugium hooked up to my 4g Pico tank w/Macros, and at that time it was fairly easy for me to just put a layer of mud in the bottom of the refugium. However, the stuff can be expensive and if I did it again I'd probably either do a thin layer of Fiji Mud w/a thin layer of sand on top of that or mix it in with the sand. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thank you both for the input, advice, and encouragement! I have to do it as a macro since I have already called it my "Macro Journal" I will get some live rock and water from an established aquarium tomorrow and when it is all set up I will post a pic. I am just planning on using 100w 6500k cfl is this too much light? I think the spectrum is good to go. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Not much to look at I'm afraid. I'm also afraid that I over estimated the size. I measured for myself and recalculated that it is only about 6 gallons. Real Pacific Ocean water (specific gravity 1.022- salinity dead on 30) Pukani Live Rock Fiji mud under the rocks (instead of egg crate) Shallow layer of CaribSea live rock Hit it with Instant Ocean Bio-Spira and will do it again after it has cycled before I add any livestock. How soon until I can add the Macro's? Next Project: DIY Skimmer (like this: http://vimeo.com/32682228) but with a nice glass bottle Link to comment
VeganBrian Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Nice, The mud will help a lot. When i go bigger with my macro tank i will be using mud also. You can add macros after your cycle is over. Start with cheaper ones first just in case something happens. Are you planning on using fertilizer or dosing Nitrates, phos or iron? Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 I will be fertilizing for sure! It looks like there are a few macro's (and maybe a squirt) on the live rock so hopefully they make it through the cycle! Here is an update after the storm. It's still a little cloudy and I moved the center stone but I am still not sure about the scape. I am thinking about ordering a couple Par38's (6,500k & 10,000k w/ blue & red) other than that the skimmer is next and just waiting patiently. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 Rescaped and upgraded to 6700k LED for the Macro's Link to comment
VeganBrian Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 What are you doing for water movement and any filtration? Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 What are you doing for water movement and any filtration? Right now the only water movement is coming from the HOB. There will be a small MAME style skimmer in tank. My circulation pump should be here tomorrow and it is an Eheim 1212 Aquaball adjustable flow and direction. (hope this works out for me because the maxi-jet I tried was way too much flow. Link to comment
keydiver Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Looks good so far, I like the pukani. You really don't need a skimmer, as it basically just takes out excess organics that would be converted into trates and phates and used by the macros regardless. I would just let the natural filtration do the work and try not to overcomplicate things. Any updates yet? Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted December 30, 2012 Author Share Posted December 30, 2012 I appreciate the advice! It is cycled and doing great but it is getting ready to grow into a 40Breeder I have been setting up. Link to comment
jersey Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I'd love to see some new pics of progress. Hope it's doing well. Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Thanks for checking in The tank is doing well and there isn't really much to report. I haven't found any good deals on display algae (to be truthful I haven't been looking very hard as I have been concentrating on setting up my 40) I will take a look around to see if anyone has any good deals on algae for sale and see if I can get some purchased so I can stop leaving you guys hanging Link to comment
Biogenetic40379 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 where did you pick your live rock up at? I am thinking of doing that style for the 40b, but don't wanna pay $9 a lb Link to comment
BoCoMo Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Update? It has grown into this: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/317573-bocomos-40g-reef The tank is currently broken down and awaiting new inspiration. Link to comment
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