Nano_reefer10 IM20

[nano_reefer10]

I'd like to present my IM20 mixed reef. The tank was started in December 2018 but rock was not added until May of 2019.  Starting this thread to document its progress. Will get some updated pictures soon since this FTS was from early April and changes/additions have been done since then. 

 

Hardware/Additives 

 

 

April 1st 2020

[nano_reefer10]

 

 

 

[nano_reefer10]

These are currently the only two additives I use on this tank. Have had a lot of success over the last 6 months with them. Finding a balance between great acro coloration and keeping zoas and mushrooms happy has been a challenge to say the least. Will most likely be adding lanthanum to the mix soon. 

 

[nano_reefer10]

Sent in an ICP analysis a couple weeks ago after realizing that the last replacement reagent I purchased for my Alk Hanna checker was most likely from a bad lot. At first I suspected the unit needed to be calibrated, so I purchased the Hanna calibration solution. Sure enough, it was spot on. According to ICP my alkalinity was sitting at 11dKH, while the Hanna checker was giving me a reading of 6.5dKH. The ICP reading was nearly identical on to my Salifert kit. Unfortunately, I had let it get higher prior to realizing the reagent was bad. Only a few things seemed any worse for wear, but I imagine my alkalinity was up to 14dKH at some point. As someone who has been doing this a long time and favors redundancy, this was an error and a huge oversight on my part. I should have recognized the issue earlier when the reagent was far different than the last one I used; albeit the last time I tested was weeks prior. Everything else is pretty much in check except my nitrates are far lower than I had hoped (0.02 mg/L) with the reverse being true for my phosphates (0.12 mg/L). I guess this is just the trials and tribulations of having a nano tank. After $70 just to confirm where my alkalinity is sitting, I'm happy to have the peace of mind. Instead of lanthanum I'm going to start using GFO again to preserve my alkalinity. Since I use All-for-Reef and don't want to dose a second alkalinity product, I'd like to prevent creating an imbalance.

 

 

 

[mitten_reef]

Those are some nice looking acros. 😲

[nano_reefer10]

1 minute ago, mitten_reef said:

Those are some nice looking acros. 😲

Thanks! I have a frag of the milli, the other two colonies are in the tank and have been sending out a lot of new branches recently. Especially with the adition of AB+. I told myself I was only going to stick to LPS & softies with this build...That didn't happen 😂

[Elizabeth94]

Lots of corals in that tank! If I had a nano set up right now I would definitely try the all for reef. Heard good things about it!

[nano_reefer10]

1 minute ago, Elizabeth94 said:

Lots of corals in that tank! If I had a nano set up right now I would definitely try the all for reef. Heard good things about it!

It's been amazing for me. However, as the tank grows, it'll also be expensive. Right now I can get by with the smaller bottle once a month, but that's going to change soon. 

[Reefkid88]

That green smooth skinned/deepwater acro looks amazing. 

[Elizabeth94]

57 minutes ago, nano_reefer10 said:

It's been amazing for me. However, as the tank grows, it'll also be expensive. Right now I can get by with the smaller bottle once a month, but that's going to change soon. 

Good point. I thought there was a dosage limit per gal too. 

[nano_reefer10]

29 minutes ago, Reefkid88 said:

That green smooth skinned/deepwater acro looks amazing. 

Thank you! 

[nano_reefer10]

16 minutes ago, Elizabeth94 said:

Good point. I thought there was a dosage limit per gal too. 

Yes, also a good point. 25mL/26 gallons. I can't see ever having to dose that much but if I did I'd probably just try out a small Ca2+ reactor. 

[nano_reefer10]

The only cyphastrea in my tank, Skittles Bomb. Hoping it spreads over the bottom of the tank quickly

 

 

 

[nano_reefer10]

I could watch this guy all day. 

 

[nano_reefer10]

My hope for the left side of the overhang is to be filled with Licksplitters and Gonzos. Beach Bum and CrazyT are finally starting to grow over the frag plugs and plate out.  They didn't do anything for the first year but finally seeing some good growth. 

 

 

 

[nano_reefer10]

Berghia stock finally replenished. Had to age some breeders and upgrade the system. Fortunately these guys help pay for most of my maintenance costs. 

[nano_reefer10]

[nano_reefer10]

New pick up! Finally sourced the real deal. 

 

[Christopher Marks]

I love this aquascape @nano_reefer10, very unique. Do you have any more full tank shots or profile views to show off the depth of it all?

 

This coral collection is delightful!

[Keewie]

Great pictures, those colors are really popping. Those Berghia are awesome. They not only look cool, but that coolness is increased by like 10x because they eat aiptasia.

[nano_reefer10]

2 hours ago, Keewie said:

Great pictures, those colors are really popping. Those Berghia are awesome. They not only look cool, but that coolness is increased by like 10x because they eat aiptasia.

Right? What's not to love? I'm always trying to bring awareness to how great they work. I've see a huge trend recently of people restarting tanks and killing off their liverock for issues that are usually 100% able to be eradicated naturally. 

[nano_reefer10]

4 hours ago, Christopher Marks said:

I love this aquascape @nano_reefer10, very unique. Do you have any more full tank shots or profile views to show off the depth of it all?

 

This coral collection is delightful!

Wow, what an honor. Thank you for taking an interest in my tank. I find it difficult to grasp the actual depth of the tank between the bright red coralline on the bottom and density of the corals. I'm also currently moving some stuff around so it's quite cluttered. I would add sand, but there is simply too much flow (I have a Gyre sitting behind the structure blowing directly across the bottom of the tank). There are only two rock structures. The main structure runs a 45° angle from back right corner to front left and sits about 4” off the bottom of the tank at the overhang. The other is the small rock which houses my torch garden. Here are a couple more pictures showing the tank. A side view along the front and back, an attempt to show the monti cap slowly growing through an opening between the two structures, and a messy new FTS. Hopefully I can purchase a DSLR soon and get some better pictures.