Ratvan Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Oh yes, I would like to thank @Christopher Marks for another contest, it is a superb way of marking the first complete year since I joined the forum. Thank you sir, even if you were a coupe weeks late. 😁 So I guess I should hurry up on my Pico Build. Tank: Fluval Spec 3 AIO (2.6G) Light: Kessil A80 on Spectral Controller Heater: 15w Betta Preset Pump: 105GPH Chinese pond pump 🔥Hot stuff🔥 Theme (2020.02.14): - This time around I have a clear theme in mind and want to stick to it as much as possible. I really like the idea of having a single Genus tank and for the purposes of this contest I have decided to go with Montipora. Essentially I wanted a Genus where I could have a selection of colour and growth patterns that can capture the eye and drag it around the tank. I am also getting annoyed with two of my Gobies in the Red Sea Reefer 130D. They keep trying to spawn and getting everything eaten by everything else in the tank. So the first two points of this tank is to get it cycled and set up quickly and then SPS ready, I plan on adding Montipora in one, maybe two different additions, depending on bonuses at work etc. I plan on doing this so that I have a full 9-10 months where I can concentrate on growth and see whether my two self imposed limits make this difficult or not. Updated Theme: (2020.05.04):- So Corona virus stopped this tank in it's third month, had to restart and considering a direction Aquascape is pretty clear, Rockwall, cliff whatever you want to call it. Small. Island in the middle as well. Going bare bottom with this one. Have already undertook a couple of mods to the tank, sealed bottom hole in filtration. Also filled in large amount of top weir. Waiting on the putty to dry before I can fill this, maybe as early as tomorrow. Livestock: Fish and Clean up Crew TBC - June 2020 Most likely FULL TANK SHOTS Set Up February March April May June July September October November December January February 15 2 Quote Link to comment
Frag Factory Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Another UK reefer, I never noticed! We are rare in these parts 😁 Tank looks great, looking forward to following it along. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
Picogoby Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 There are a few from the UK on here! 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 Not happy with rock island Need some Bunny Proofing before I put the KESSIL on the tank, so Asta 20 for photos 9 Quote Link to comment
Saltslinger Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Off to a great start! Especially considering the contest only started yesterday 😂 It is missing something, I'm thinking something to give the appearance of more depth IMO. Maybe a different shaped island or glue more rocks to the cliff divider? 1 Quote Link to comment
Smurf Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Can’t wait to follow your build! I hope you don’t mind if I linger. Best of luck! 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Saltslinger said: Off to a great start! Especially considering the contest only started yesterday 😂 It is missing something, I'm thinking something to give the appearance of more depth IMO. Maybe a different shaped island or glue more rocks to the cliff divider? I have a cunning plan for that 16 minutes ago, Smurf said: Can’t wait to follow your build! I hope you don’t mind if I linger. Best of luck! Cheers. Linger away Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 3, 2020 Author Share Posted February 3, 2020 Decided to see if I liked the sandbed look or not... Some rubble from the bottom of the back of the RSM to seed the rockwall. Going to see what other bits I have. Also want to see if I can get these out as well, need to locate their rock and see if it will fit. Not the b*stard Xenia, the redheaded goby 7 Quote Link to comment
Aqua Splendor Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Uh oh, look like a great start, I can see this tank going really far! 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 15 minutes ago, Aqua Splendor said: Uh oh, look like a great start, I can see this tank going really far! Thanks, fast start and everything else will be slow and hopefully patient this time around 2 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 Arrived home to find the DT very close to overspilling, so knocked a bit of putty from the weir and got the levels back. Going to have to watch that. 😅 Ok, I am terrible at testing so. Day 2 of 365 water parameters (shhhhh I missed day 1.) No arguing, this is written down. Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1 Nitrate 10 Phosphate 0.5 So failed on bare bottom and testing each day. Going well. 👍 3 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 5, 2020 Author Share Posted February 5, 2020 Water level is better, maybe a little low if anything. I'll watch it. I also hear a trickle which is annoying me. Urgh cords. Pond pump doing well, I pointed the duckbill (drilled out) at the centre of the front pane. It's keeping the sand and crushed coral back from the front glass and has some surface agitation which I like. Small loose macro frags thrown in as get Banded about and sent through the power heads in the RSM 😁 Feed my pretties FEEEED Two days in a row 😎 Ammonia. 0.25 (it's not but still green) Nitrites. 1 Nitrates. 5 3 Quote Link to comment
Smurf Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 Have you figured out a specific species? I think I am doing a carpet nem bottom.. I have a bunch of them at the local LFS and might tell him to hold them for me till I get everything settled. Are you using any mechanical filtration? If so, what are you using and how often are you replacing it? I am not reading any visible ammonia in my tank right now after adding a good amount of live rock + a cup of live sand from an established reef. I am trying to take an old school approach. Medium sand bend and a lot of live rock. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 5, 2020 Author Share Posted February 5, 2020 5 minutes ago, Smurf said: Have you figured out a specific species? I think I am doing a carpet nem bottom.. I have a bunch of them at the local LFS and might tell him to hold them for me till I get everything settled. Are you using any mechanical filtration? If so, what are you using and how often are you replacing it? I am not reading any visible ammonia in my tank right now after adding a good amount of live rock + a cup of live sand from an established reef. I am trying to take an old school approach. Medium sand bend and a lot of live rock. I think I have, well at least down to two species. Micromussa Lowdenhowis (Acan) or Chalice corals. Thinking Acans to start and maybe add a high end Chalice on a central island when everything has stabalised and growing. Running floss pads at the moment. Replaced it once the water had settled after adding sand and crushed coral, will check it again tomorrow. The Pico I replaced weekly in the end so probably the same. Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Ok, so i have been looking for an app that I can use to track this tank, stumbled across this the other day and have been trying it out Will get a weeks work of Data nd start posting up more details, currently free on IOS 2 Quote Link to comment
SaltyGallon Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 I like the rubble on the bottom mate, adds some nice depth 😎 great idea! 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 9 minutes ago, Azur said: I like the rubble on the bottom mate, adds some nice depth 😎 great idea! Thanks, yeah it'll do for now. Still playing with an island for the middle. Got the top I like now just needs some height for it - basically a table for one "High End" coral Have decided on stocking list now and am trying to purchase my first couple of frags 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Ammonia. Present Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5.0 Bung in a few more macros. Bit more rock, made a macro island Random top down shot, blue octodes wouldn't play and got stuck on eggcrate, so be it 8 1 Quote Link to comment
Smurf Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 Coming along great! Wish I could get some better lighting. I have a kessil a350w tuna blue, I am afraid it is overkill. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 3 minutes ago, Smurf said: Coming along great! Wish I could get some better lighting. I have a kessil a350w tuna blue, I am afraid it is overkill. I can't actually get the Kessil set up how I want with the gooseneck on the tank, it overspill by a long way. Looking into external mounting behind the tank, although at that point I may as well DIY a stand. But that's not a January job in the UK with no garage. I got that light on the main reef, love it. 1 Quote Link to comment
Smurf Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 The macros in your tank should help eat up excess nutrients that those algae’s need. I think you’ll see slow growth. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted February 7, 2020 Author Share Posted February 7, 2020 3 minutes ago, Smurf said: The macros in your tank should help eat up excess nutrients that those algae’s need. I think you’ll see slow growth. Xenia. Aiptasia X to the rescue 🔥 1 Quote Link to comment
ef4life Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 rock wall looks good. 1 Quote Link to comment
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