kalristo Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Hey all, I came back to salt water reefing after 4 years. New objective: AUTOMATION. Trying to keep my hands out of the tank as much as possible except for cleaning. That means once live rock is set, its set. I really wanted to run an auto top off this time and to figure out a refill schedule so that less time is spent tinkering with the tank. This time I also wanted to create the aquascape to resemble a beach with the transition from shallow to deep live sand. For the rockscape I 'm going for the side of a cliff look and wanted to show the bare bones on the bottom of the rock so that whatever I put into the tank can swim between the open spaces. Since this is a true journal I will also document how much $$ is spent. RIP my wallet. [TANK] +Innovative Marine 20 Gallon NUVO Fusion Tank [LIGHTING] +Aqua Illumination Prime HD LED Light Fixture [SKIMMER] +Innovative Marine AUQA Gadget Ghost Protein Skimmer [AUTO TOP OFF] +Innovative Marine HyrdroFill Ti Auto Top Off ATO Controller +Innovative Marine HydroFill Ti ATO Return Pump +Innovative Marine HydroFill Ti Universal Auto Top Off ATO Return Bracket +Innovative Marine AUQA Gadget HydroFill Ti Auto Top Off ATO Reservoir [HEATING] +Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm Aquarium Heater w/ LED Display [ROCK & SAND] +CaribSea Arag-Alive 20-Pound Fiji Pink Sand +15-20lbs of live rock [LIVESTOCK] 2 - Green Clown Goby - 2 MISSING 1 - WARTY FROGFISH NAMED AMBUSH 1 - Tailspot blenny (future AMBUSH dinner *update* DEAD 1 - ORA Maxima Clam [INVERTS] 2 - Nassarius snails 2 - Margarita snails 2 - turbo snails - 1 MISSING 1 - Cleaner shrimp 1 - Emerald crab[CORALS] 1 - Monti Cap - DEAD 3 - Headed Frog Spawn - 2 HEADS DEAD 1 - Dendro 2 - Sun Coral - 1 HEAD DEAD 5 - Acan various types 1 - Duncan - 2 NEW HEADS 1 - Rose Bubble Anenome DEAD 3 - ZOA various types 1 - Gold Cloves 1 - Pink Cloves 1 - Cloves 1 - Pom Pom Xenia 1 - Hitchhiker mushroom 3 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Welcome back @kalristo, I like your new project! Hands-off with automation is an admirable goal. What sort of coral and inverts are you planning to keep? 1 Quote Link to comment
Cintax Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I just purchased the same tank so I'll be watching with interest. I like the idea of the beach transition as well. 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 On 2/9/2018 at 8:28 AM, Christopher Marks said: Welcome back @kalristo, I like your new project! Hands-off with automation is an admirable goal. What sort of coral and inverts are you planning to keep? Thanks! I really like nassarius snails. I just introduced 2 nassarius snails, 2 margarita snails, and 2 turbo snails today! On 2/9/2018 at 8:35 AM, Cintax said: I just purchased the same tank so I'll be watching with interest. I like the idea of the beach transition as well. Awesome! Have you set up your tank yet? 1 Quote Link to comment
Cintax Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 I am replacing my 30 gallon so it's going to be a bit of a juggle. The IM20 is undergoing a leak test currently. I'm planning to start the cycle process tomorrow-ish. I'm using new sand and new rocks in this build. 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 So many micro bubbles. I wonder what it could be from? Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 On 2/17/2018 at 11:10 PM, kalristo said: So many micro bubbles. I wonder what it could be from? Check out the back chambers with a flashlight, you should be able to find the source. You may need to strategically place some filter floss somewhere to catch them, or adjust your water level. 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 On 2/19/2018 at 7:21 PM, Christopher Marks said: Check out the back chambers with a flashlight, you should be able to find the source. You may need to strategically place some filter floss somewhere to catch them, or adjust your water level. I think it was the ghost skimmer I have. The micro bubbles are all gone after turning it off.. Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Just picked up 3 corals from Barrier Reef in Renton, WA. 9.99 each and it was a buy 2 get one free ? anyone happen to know which zoas and spa these are? 3 Quote Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Nice corals, I can't wait to see this tank grow 1 Quote Link to comment
mystersyster Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Barrier reef has some pretty good deals. I didn't get to take advantage of the sale as I'm still setting up my tank after a move 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 17 hours ago, mystersyster said: Barrier reef has some pretty good deals. I didn't get to take advantage of the sale as I'm still setting up my tank after a move I didn’t even know that they were doing the sale, I just happened to be in the area! Just found out they do .50 per gallon for salt water on Wednesday so I’m going to make it a ritual to go Wednesday’s! 21 hours ago, k4ndyk1ng said: Nice corals, I can't wait to see this tank grow Thanks! I’m trying my best not to ever put my hands into the tank aside from adding corals 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 23, 2018 Author Share Posted February 23, 2018 Got a better shot of this coral ? 2 1 Quote Link to comment
Muffin Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Looks like a type of psammacorra 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 Finally starting to see small micro bacteria forming on the glass. I think it’s from the pink Fiji sand. IIRC these are beneficial to the salt water tank right? Also just topped off 5 gallons into my auto top off reservoir. Now to see how long it takes for 5 gallons to evaporate and see what my rate of filling the 5 gallon reservoir is! Also so just got this turkey baster from Amazon to blow off the debris on my live rock and spot feed future Acans Quote Link to comment
Cintax Posted February 27, 2018 Share Posted February 27, 2018 I use a turkey baster as well. As an aside, next time you need one, you can usually get them at the dollar store. That's where I buy mine from anyways. Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted April 29, 2018 Author Share Posted April 29, 2018 Just bought two green clown gobys for 9.99 each! :) currently acclimating. Is there a such thing as acclimating for too long? Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted June 21, 2018 Author Share Posted June 21, 2018 My two clown gobs have no disappeared. I have since added a cleaner shrimp, rose bubble anenome, hammer coral, two headed dendros, and a bunch of acans! 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 Update to this tank! i just went on a 10 day trip to Korea and the auto top off only used up 2.5/5 gallons! Sooo convenient! 5 Quote Link to comment
Aquademiksreef Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Parabéns!!! muito boa sua evolução! 1 Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 I like the idea of shallow to deeper sand and also the cliff rocks. You are getting a nice variety of coral as well. Did the green clown gobies ever show up? 1 Quote Link to comment
banasophia Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Beautiful corals, I especially love your two varieties of cloves! 💙 1 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 Brought some new babies home today 2 Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 On 11/1/2018 at 4:06 AM, vlangel said: I like the idea of shallow to deeper sand and also the cliff rocks. You are getting a nice variety of coral as well. Did the green clown gobies ever show up? Unfortunately no. I have my suspicions that the cleaner shrimp killed them but hard to say since I haven’t seen their corpse. Hopefully they make a comeback one day. Quote Link to comment
kalristo Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 On 11/1/2018 at 7:49 AM, banasophia said: Beautiful corals, I especially love your two varieties of cloves! 💙 Thanks! I have 3 varieties. I’ve been warned that they are territorial and grow fast which could compromise my acans breathing space but honestly I think I’m going to let nature take its course and let everything grow as they please. 1 Quote Link to comment
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