Mel's 22g Cadlights Build

[melmel]

Wanted to try a reef Ima newb and only have exp with planted tanks. Got a great deal from a fellow nano reefer Dr Pete. Here goes....

 

Finally cycled after a month if not more.

 

Equipment:

-Cadlights 22 gallon/ stand

-AI Vega Blue with controller/Bent conduit stand

-MP10

-Sicce 1.5 return

-Bubble Magus Nacqq

-Tunze 3152 ATO w 2.5 gal res

 

Substrate:

- Tropic Eden Reeflakes 1.5"

-about 20+ lbs dry rock

 

Fish:

2 small Cardinals

2 Purple Firefish

 

Inverts: (Will get more currently no algae...)

5 hermits

3 ceriths

1 Astera snail

 

Corals: Tbd( Prob Lps, Zoas, Softies and hopefully a Clam)

 

A few questions:

 

1- I think the Sicce return is a bit much its rated at 357gph and i turned flow down to smallest but still looks a bit much(see in last few pics), btw the MP10 settings are up to 30-40% reef crest only.

Should I get a Y splitter for the loc line, Poke holes in the hose to the return, or trade to Sicce 1.0?

 

2-The cardinals are wild caught and dont seem to eat my pellets(ocean nutrition) at the store they seem to eat pellets. They do however eat the frozen brine i gave them, will this suffice even though its annoying to feed frozen?

 

Btw pics off Iphone so wont be great.....

[melmel]

Hers some more:

[Tamberav]

Brine has poor nutritional value, feed them mysis. Fish are best to be on a variety of foods, I have ova, mysis, cyclop-eez, pellets, rods, ect. in my freezer.

 

Nice scape!

[Ecospire]

I'm with Tamberav, nice scape. Did you get your rock from BRS?

[melmel]

Thanks, got it locally from a guy who had some left over; some of it was bought from BRS and some of it is Pukani.

 

Fixed the return flow by pointing it into the rock to dissipate the flow, very happy now lol

 

 

BTW do you guys think I should do a DIY upflow algae scrubber or its not really needed?