dcNano Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Hey All-- Just got back into reefing and wanted to share my journey with you and get feedback as well. Background: setup my first saltwater tank many years ago and had a good run but I was impulsive, did a lot of guess work, and made a lot of assumptions about the health of my tank. Obviously, that led to many issues and I wasn't getting the results I had hoped for. After taking a 3 year break, I now want to get back into the hobby and do things a little more by the book (taking things slowly, testing parameters, etc). Anyways, onto the tank: Going with the barebottom thing now.. Current FTS: [reserved area for later] Equipment: Tank: IM Nuvo Fusion 30L Stand: Ikea Besta stand Lighting: 2x Radion Gen2 w/hanging kit Return pump: Cobalt 1200 (300gph) Circulation: 2x Vortech MP10 Heater: Fluval ATO: JBJ w/Aqualifter pumps Individually switched outlets RODI w/inline TDS meter & Bulk Reef Supply filters LR/Substrate: 12lb CaribSea Life Rock (dry rock) 1 Quart CaribSea Life Rock frag zone rubble Bare Bottom Filtration: 2x IM Media Baskets Top: Filter Floss Middle: Seachem Matrix Bottom: empty for now Livestock Snowflake Clownfish (regular) Snowflake Clownfish (black ice) Helfrichi Firefish Clean Up Crew: 3x Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab Corals: Not ready 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 WEEK 5: Todays FTS: Diatoms are here: More shots of diatoms on the backwall... 2 baby clowns I picked out of the community tank at House of Tropicals Will be using this to quarantine down the road.. IM Fusion 10 New API test kit to follow the cycle.. will be using better quality ones for Alk/Ca/Mg down the road 2 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 Just did my water test... PH looked to be between 7.8 - 8 Ammonia looks to be 0.25 ppm and 0.50 ppm Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 I'm just about 1 month in and still no nitrates, only ammonia... should i dose another type of bacteria? Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 11, 2019 Author Share Posted June 11, 2019 Just picked up and dosed some Seachem Stability to try to get this cycle moving along Quote Link to comment
colinadam Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 That tank is amazing, very cool design and great rockwork. You better update this a lot 😉 I used Bio-Spira for the cycle, it seemed to do a good job for me. Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 colinadam--Thank you! I will definitely be updating everyone here as the tank progresses as well as looking for feedback/thoughts to help me make the right choices. Nano-reef has helped me tremendously in the past and I continue to learn more everyday from reading about how others are approaching their setups. As far as my bio-spira, I saw a bacteria bloom from it but my guess is that my bio load was just too small to feed the bacteria, and I was removing anything caught by the filter floss every 3-4 days so that was taking away from the bacteria as well I will be continuing to feed fish as usual but I think I this time I will be leaving the filter floss for longer, I will update when both ammonia & nitrite to hit 0ppm Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 15, 2019 Author Share Posted June 15, 2019 WEEK 6: I think my cycle is ready! 5-10ppm nitrates! 2 Quote Link to comment
colinadam Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Any plans for a screen top of some sort? Does the manufacturer offer a solution or would you have to rig something yourself? I have always had enclosed hoods, don't want any carpet surfers haha 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 19 hours ago, colinadam said: Any plans for a screen top of some sort? Does the manufacturer offer a solution or would you have to rig something yourself? I have always had enclosed hoods, don't want any carpet surfers haha I'm glad you asked! I bought a DIY screen kit from Home Depot and used 1/4 netting from BulkReefSupply and made tops for both my main display and quarantine tank. I made the tops the same dimensions as the tank so that it can sit right on top, and I can slide it back when I want access. The original top that came with the tank had a very wide frame which was blocking a lot of light, I love how this frame kit is super low profile. The frame is aluminum which makes it super light and sturdy. I may put silicone over the areas I cut so it doesn't oxidize. Tank is a little cloudy again after dosing Seachem Stability bacteria I also got my quarantine tank going a couple days ago. For this one I will be doing a fishless cycle with ammonia dosing. I'm using a mechanics stool I got from Costco so that it is mobile. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted June 17, 2019 Share Posted June 17, 2019 Welcome back @dcNano! That might be the first nano reef on wheels I've ever seen! 😄 What kinds of livestock are you planning to keep in your new reef tank? Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 5 minutes ago, Christopher Marks said: Welcome back @dcNano! That might be the first nano reef on wheels I've ever seen! 😄 What kinds of livestock are you planning to keep in your new reef tank? Thanks for the welcome @Christopher Marks! It's good to be back in the hobby and nano-reef is where I learned to setup my first reef. The wheels on my quarantine are great so far. It helps me access cables behind my main tank and also makes it a lot easier to work on the quarantine as well. Plans for the reef tank: Most likely a mixed reef with a lot of softies and LPS, 5-6 peaceful nano fish (3 inch or smaller) and small inverts. I am trying to keep everything as simple as possible so it doesn't become a chore and makes it easier for me to maintain and enjoy. Going barebottom with filter floss + biomedia + chemipure in the media basket and chaeto in the refugium to help keep phosphates/nitrates in check. No skimmer or reactors, planning to do bi-weekly water changes and use Kalk in the auto top off to maintain alk+calcium between water changes. I will also be trying to quarantine everything to keep hitch hikers out, I am still having nightmares from my last run that had a Vermetid snail outbreak 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 19, 2019 Author Share Posted June 19, 2019 Just added a 2" Helfrichi Firefish today.. so far it's eating Hikari Marine S pellets and likes to hang out in the open. I was worried the clowns would bully it but so far so good. 2 Quote Link to comment
colinadam Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Your tank inspired me to upgrade, just picked up a 30L this morning. Mine wont get wet until September so keep blazing the trail 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 @colinadam thats awesome! You'll love this tank, the volume and dimensions are really cool for a nano tank. What are your plans for lighting? Quote Link to comment
colinadam Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 I am going with 2 AI Prime HD for lighting. Bought the IM skimmer over the other options (lower profile), a Sicce 2.0 return pump, smart ATO and a KPS powerhead for additional flow. I actually bought the KPS for my 16g Biocube and it showed up Friday, right around when I was seriously thinking of pulling the trigger on this upgrade 😃 I love the rockwork options on this tank. I have always had cubes and it's tough to aquascape so I'm looking forward to this one. Besides the clowns and the helfrichi what are your plans for stocking? Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 @colinadam great choice on the AI Prime HD, I think two is perfect coverage for the IM 30L. I have one on my quarantine right next to my main display and I was able to tune the colors to match my Radions' coral radiance setting (I'll post up my settings once I get a par meter to set intensity correctly). Also, having a built in controller that can ramp the lights up and down automatically is priceless. For stocking ideas, I don't have anything set in stone yet but possibly a Tail Spot Blenny as they stay small and eat algae, or Neon/Yellowline goby. So far the clowns are calling dibs on the left side of the tank and the Helfrichi has taken space under a rock on the right side. I think something that perches on rock like a Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish or a free swimmer would be nice too. Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share Posted July 4, 2019 WEEK 8: Boring week 8 update: Added tons of rock rubble to my main display behind my larger rocks. Helfrichi Firefish is reclusive, only comes out for a few seconds then goes back under his rock and only comes out for food so he's not in any pictures.. also replaced one of my Mp-10's for noise, I have 2 dead silent ones and i'm very happy with them. Just continuing doing 2 week water changes, Nitrate before last water change was 10ppm with current livestock. No signs of algae, still some diatoms but mostly clear skies. Getting excited thinking about coral now. Quarantine tank is coming along on its cycle nicely.. I think we should be done soon. I've been following along and now I have all 3, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 WEEK 8 & 9 WEEK 8 Friday 6/28/2019 api master test Nitrate: 10ppm 6/30/2019 QUARANTINE Ammonia: 2ppm, Nitrite: 1ppm, Nitrate: 10 ppm 6/30/2019 QUARANTINE Ammonia: 2ppm 7/2/2019 main display 5 gallon water change 7/2/2019 QUARANTINE Ammonia: 1ppm 7/4/2019 WEEK 9 Friday 7/5/2019 QUARANTINE Ammonia: 1ppm, Nitrite: 5+ ppm, Nitrate: 40ppm 7/6/2019 QUARANTINE Dose 0.25ML ammonium for 1ppm raise 7/6/2019 api master test pH: 8.0 @ 4:30pm 7/8/2019 QUARANTINE Ammonia: 1ppm 7/8/2019 QUARANTINE Dose 0.25ML ammonium for 1ppm raise 7/8/2019 Continue following along my quarantine cycle. Looks like its no where near done and stuck trying to process nitrites. Modified my auto top off setup with some 1/4 bulkhead fittings & 1/4 acrylic rods to pull water up.. loving how clean it looks now Helfrichi Firefish seems to be getting more relaxed and is starting to hang outside his hiding spot more often now. Got a nice close up picture! 1 1 Quote Link to comment
colinadam Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Great picture of your Helfrichi 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted July 23, 2019 Author Share Posted July 23, 2019 WEEK 11: Another boring update while I let the tank run. My Clownfish are growing larger. Getting some small patches of algae on a single rock but it has not spread any further. Been feeding a good amount everyday and Nitrates are staying below 10ppm. The small patches of green algae made the Nitrates go from 10ppm to 5ppm. 3 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted August 13, 2019 Author Share Posted August 13, 2019 WEEK 14 the quarantine tank has finally finished cycling. woohoo!!!!! added 2 neon gobies into the quarantine (last ones from the LFS and they paired up!!) and made some frag racks as out of egg crate & pvc added 3 Scarlet Reef Hermit crabs to the main display to help clean up, they are doing a fantastic job. They are turning all the algae and detritus into hermit crab poop which i have been vacuuming up once every few days clownfish have been growing really fast, i think they've both grown 1/2 inch longer since i first got them and the pattern is changing as well main display: nitrates are staying at 0 even though i am feeding daily and there is no visible algae, I am not sure how the nitrates are being removed but I have tested multiple times, each time shaking the life out of API Nitrate bottle #2 and every time its 0, any ideas on what could be happening? i don't use chaeto, only filter floss and seachem matrix in the media basket, and live rock in the front got a PAR meter rental on order, i will be testing and adjusting both my lights this friday. 1 Quote Link to comment
dcNano Posted August 20, 2019 Author Share Posted August 20, 2019 switched light settings to SPS PHX14 1 Quote Link to comment
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