dcknipe Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Well I know I'm late to the party but I've been obsessed with Saltwater tanks since I was a kid. Now that I'm a big kid, figured I'd start one. So being a nano reef creeper after I started purchasing my equipment I know noticed I have the exact equipment list Surveyman has mind the heater. Big thanks to Surveyman, I've been blowing him up with my noobroom questions on Instagram. Equipment: Nuvo fusion 10 Kessil a80 Neotherm 50w Spinstream Sicce .5 pump Bahama oolite 4lbs AquaMaxx Dry rock The remainder is LR fromm my LFS Tunze nano ATO Reliance water 5gals for WC and Rodi. My LFS is reef dedicated and the owner is a marine biologist so I feel confident buying my saltwater and rodi water from him. He also sells it for 1.50 gal and saves me a lot of hassle. He has also offered to help me closely troubleshoot any issues that may arise. I plan on doing a 10% to 20% every week. For the rockscape I purposely put flat pieces at the base to give me more rooms for corals. They are also the LR to seed the tank. I plan on letting go it cycle for a month before I plan on adding livestock. I also put one small piece in the corner for GSP. Stocking to come: 1 Clownfish, 1 Tailspot Blenny, 1 something else? Any ideas? 1 anemone Coral wise: Frogspawns, Torches, Zoas, GSP Anything else that haves alot of movement in the tank. So far I've had it cycling for 5 days. I get the remainder of my equipment this coming Tuesday so I'm pretty excited for that. This is my first reef tank and I kinda wish I would of went with the Nuvo 20 but I'm happy with the 10 for my bedroom and if I can actually make it succeed then I'll be able to start a 20 as well and feel confident. Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Oh I also have a Intank media basket running floss and chemi Quote Link to comment
SURVEYMAN46123 Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 You've got a good start. Just be patient and it will turn out great! Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 So I'm about 6 days in. Ammonia 1.2 Nitrites undetected Nitrates 10ish Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Also rearranged my arch. I cannot wait for my Kessil Tuesday! Quote Link to comment
morecoffee Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 20 hours ago, dcknipe said: My LFS is reef dedicated and the owner is a marine biologist Would you share the name and location of your lfs? Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Reef escape in Jonesboro, AR Quote Link to comment
morecoffee Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Thanks. I'll have to check them out if I am out that way. Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 So after realizing that my Bahama oolite is to fine I decide today to drain my tank and put in some indo-pacific substrate. I love it compared to what I had. So now that my cycle is likely extended another week it gives me more time to deal with all this Christmas shopping. Oh and I got my kessil a80 in today. When it clears up I'll take a pic. Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Here's the new sand. Tank still clearing up. I love this sanddddd 1 Quote Link to comment
TatorTaco Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 On 12/18/2017 at 8:01 AM, morecoffee said: Thanks. I'll have to check them out if I am out that way. I checked out their picture album to see their corals. Couldn't see anything that listed prices though. :-( Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 He normally has 50+ frags. I asked about a half dollar sized hammer and torch and they were 45 a piece Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 So I got all my equipment in today minus my tunze ato and scraper. Debating on adding a hydor nano for extra flow.... I hope the sicce .5 and spin stream is enough. I also added a pinch of rods food since I stopped my cycle to change my sand. 1 Quote Link to comment
dferrari13 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Looking good Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 So I've got all my equipment now. Everything is rocking and rolling. My cycle is finally showing ammonia going down and nitrite going up so hopefully it will start kicking ass soon. I raised my temp to 82 as well to promote bacteria and started my light cycle. I'm about 13 days in as of now. My ph is 7.8-8.0 right now but I'm sure when I start doing water changes that should correct itself. Now that my Tunze is installed im maintainig a constant 1.026 salinity. Oh and I broke down and added a hydor nano for alittle extra flow. I've settled on on my livestock....darwin clown if I can get one, orchid dottyback, and a tailspot blenny. AND MY WIFE HATES MY REEF CORNER. haha she hates clutter Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 These stackable 5gallons are amazing Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Well Sunday was the magic day. No traceable ammonia or nitrites. Nitrates are between 10-20. Did my first water change 2 gallons. Plopped in my chemi pure blue and purigen. Going to the Lfs tomorrow for a small clean up crew and possible fish. I may just add the CUC and wait a week for this fish. Quote Link to comment
TatorTaco Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 Heck yeah! Congrats! Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 27, 2017 Author Share Posted December 27, 2017 Well so I went to the Lfs and got a CUC. They are ordering me a tailspot blenny which I will have next week. Buttttt they had this beautiful hammer for $45 and I had to scoop him up. Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 27, 2017 Author Share Posted December 27, 2017 They had a giant frogspawn last week for 45 but he was gone already. He was a gold /green color. I'll wait a few more weeks and have them order me a torch. Pretty stoked. Btw I made a new mistake a few days ago and didn't rinse my chemi pure which clouded my tank for half a day. All my Params are perfect so let hope this guy does good. Running my kessil on 50/50 on color and intensity Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 So everything is still chugging alot and everything is perfect at the moment. If anyone is wondering why I have a clown and a Condy right now...... well........ To make a long story short someone gifted it to me and I couldn't return it. So after freaking out I contacted my lfs and plan on trading him in for a frag. Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 Picked up a 4 headed frogspawn today. I drove white knuckled for two hours getting him home. 1 Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 So my tank has been over run by a thousand of these guys. Surveyman filled me in apparently they are copeapods Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted January 1, 2018 Author Share Posted January 1, 2018 Holy crap this frogspawn has sprouts all over 1 Quote Link to comment
hedgeclipper2 Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Looks nice! We have the exact same ATO set up lol! I got mine at Walmart, you? Quote Link to comment
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