rfman81 Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Its been a long time since I have really contributed on here. I have never posted my past tank which was a 5.5 pico reef that I had for almost 2 years. Since that time life moved on with kids, moving, other hobbies, and now its good be back. I wanted to have a tank at home but with smaller children in the home and going away a lot for work I did not want to have my wife caring for it. I also learned from my past experience I wanted to auto top off. Pico's require a lot of toping off and having it done automatically is sooooo much better. Back to the tank, I started thinking about how to implement this plan. I discovered by accident that I have 3 fellow reefers that are in my office. This encouraged me to do an office tank as they said they would definitely help when I am out traveling for work. Also I can focus on maintenance more as it is just part of my day. I jumped at the chance. As I was planning this tank, I knew I wanted the following. 1. 1 large piece of rock to give somewhat of bonsai look 2. 1 Fish 3. A natural looking reef ( I think we all sorta say this) So the below is what I came up with. Tank - Cadlights 8 Gallon Mini Heater - Neo Therm 50 W ATO - Tunze Nano Pump - Just the return for now have a MP-10 if more flow is needed. Filtration is basically filter floss and about 10 or so lbs of live rock in display and the back section and some chemi pure elite Sand - 6 lbs Bahama oolite Modifcations I have done. Removed the sponge filter and replaced with some filter floss. I may build or buy a media basket for it back there but so far the filter floss is staying in place just with having the heater in there. Back setup Chamber 1 Heater Filter Floss Chamber 2 ATO Bag of Chemi Pure Extra Live Rock Temp Probe Chamber 3 Return Pump Here is the tank just setup Below is aquascape I went with. I had to place a rock directly in front of the return as the flow was making that corner have no sand. It still blows it bare but is not as bad. To wrap it up I started this tank about 1 1/2 months ago. Cycle was complete in about 3 1/2 weeks. Current Livestock 1 Green Zoanthid Colony GSP 1 Tiny Hermit Crab (Like 1/4 inch tops) I may get rid of him as he gets bigger as my last tank I had a murderous hermit that dropped onto snails ninja style and took them out. 2 Nassarius Snails 1 Cerith Snail Current Unwanted Livestock 1 Crab that hitchhiked on rock that I need to catch, no idea what kind it is ?? Zoanthid eating nudibranch (Killed about 6 or 7 by manual removal and fresh water dipping.) Before I get grief I want to preface this next livestock purchase with the only reason for it is because of the nudis. I wanted to take a more natural approach to destroying this annoying pest. 1 6 line wrasse (About 1 1/4 inch) This will be going to a co workers tank as soon as I am nudi free. It has already started picking at the zoanthids so I am hoping it murders those nudis so I can move the six line to the bigger tank and get a more appropriate fish for a tank this size. Future Stocking plans Ricordia Garden Acans Dragons Breath Macro Possible Clownfish or smaller fish Trying out a fish eye lens. Thats about it, hope you enjoy. I will be updating with a FTS within the week. Thanks rfman Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 So I am wanting some dragons breath macro, anyone have a good place to get some? Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 congrats! i'm cycling mine right now but i already have a few soft corals in it. they seem very happy! i upgraded to this tank from a 3 gallon pico. i've not added a heater--i def didn't need one in my pico and the lights are on for maybe 6-7 hours so it does warm the water. wondering if i should add one? i'm in southern cali so it never gets that cold. and the coral seem happy. will be following. i've started my own build thread too a while back. good luck and have fun! sorry about the nudibranch. they look so cool whenever i see them--didn't realize they could be a pest. Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 i have chaeto from my 3g pico i'd like to move to the middle chamber of this 8g. but i was googling and found this website that sells macroalgae. i've not used them, but fyi: http://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/plants-macroalgae Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 congrats! i'm cycling mine right now but i already have a few soft corals in it. they seem very happy! i upgraded to this tank from a 3 gallon pico. i've not added a heater--i def didn't need one in my pico and the lights are on for maybe 6-7 hours so it does warm the water. wondering if i should add one? i'm in southern cali so it never gets that cold. and the coral seem happy. will be following. i've started my own build thread too a while back. good luck and have fun! sorry about the nudibranch. they look so cool whenever i see them--didn't realize they could be a pest. I will be following your thread. I see you got the older version, you do loose about 4 inches of space on the display with the version I got. Its unfortunate but we will see how it pans out. I would add a heater. You never know what can happen so it is good just to keep it steady. The light does not put out much heat and sits a good 4 inches or so off the top so I do not think they will keep it warm. i have chaeto from my 3g pico i'd like to move to the middle chamber of this 8g. but i was googling and found this website that sells macroalgae. i've not used them, but fyi: http://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/plants-macroalgae Unfortunately they do not carry dragons breath, (Halymenia). I will keep looking. Link to comment
Mike Savage Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Keep us updated, I'm anxious to see how this progresses. I thought I saw photos yesterday but today I can't see them. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Will do, strange as I see them right now.. but I couldn't see them on my ipad. Does anyone have any advice for flickr posting... It was working, not sure whats up now. Link to comment
Mike Savage Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Oh, I can see them again! Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 love it. yes, i had asked for the older version when i did a return. so my set up is different, the pumphead is on the other side. i also bought a cheapo hydro rotator/deflector that blows the sand around a bit, but not to the extent that it does now. i've current got my frogspawn just stuck in the sand. there are no rock holes it can easily go into and i've so far failed at my attempt to epoxy. hope the sand thing is okay. yours looks great!!! Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 Updated my first post to include some more info. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Weekly FTS update Not much has changed. Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 looking great! mine looks overcrowded like hong kong compared to yours. ha! aiiiiii! but i'm looking forward to stocking with fish in a week or two maybe. i need to have a moratorium on coral buying. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 looking great! mine looks overcrowded like hong kong compared to yours. ha! aiiiiii! but i'm looking forward to stocking with fish in a week or two maybe. i need to have a moratorium on coral buying. Yeah, I have had the temptation to buy a bunch of stuff but I am taking it slow. After introducing the Zoa with the nudis I didn't want to add anything for about a month. Funny you mention HK, thats the picture in my avatar. Victoria harbour. I go about twice a year there. Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Yeah, I have had the temptation to buy a bunch of stuff but I am taking it slow. After introducing the Zoa with the nudis I didn't want to add anything for about a month. Funny you mention HK, thats the picture in my avatar. Victoria harbour. I go about twice a year there. you know what i mean when i say HK is crowded then. ha! do you go for work? VH is beautiful. love HK--it's been too long for me. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 you know what i mean when i say HK is crowded then. ha! do you go for work? VH is beautiful. love HK--it's been too long for me. I go for work. Its nice for the time I am there, but I am not sure I could live there. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 So update, I have placed an order with Reef Cleaners as my LFSs don't seem to have any cerith snails. Should be here Friday so yay for new goodies. Need to get the blanance in order on the brown algea. Also I think the Zoa eating nudis are gone. I have not seen one in 3 weeks since my initial war, and addtion of the Six line. The six line will be leaving this week, my favorite fish but I will be replacing it with a Naked Clown Fish one of my other favorite morphs. Link to comment
Mike Savage Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Now is the time to really watch for the nudis. When I had them I wouldn't see any for a few weeks then all of a sudden I would see 3 or 4. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Now is the time to really watch for the nudis. When I had them I wouldn't see any for a few weeks then all of a sudden I would see 3 or 4. Good point, maybe I will wait another week or two to make sure the six line is taking them out. Link to comment
cindyp Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 oooh! i saw a 6 line at a LFS and loved it. and it was teeny. but apparently, they need more tank space than we can offer. i hope your temp one eats the nudi pests soon. so i picked up a fungia plate coral today. (i know, i have a problem. ha!) and the guy recommended one of his fave fish for me to get: fire prawn goby. apparently, they are only 1 inch big? i also saw a green clown goby online. very cute!! also admired his mandarin goby. but i'm not ready for that kind of headache with feedings. Link to comment
ClaireRenee Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Your tank is looking awesome, I love the clean look. Good luck with those nudis. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 oooh! i saw a 6 line at a LFS and loved it. and it was teeny. but apparently, they need more tank space than we can offer. i hope your temp one eats the nudi pests soon. so i picked up a fungia plate coral today. (i know, i have a problem. ha!) and the guy recommended one of his fave fish for me to get: fire prawn goby. apparently, they are only 1 inch big? i also saw a green clown goby online. very cute!! also admired his mandarin goby. but i'm not ready for that kind of headache with feedings. Yeah six line really is to small, but hey I bought him small and he is leaving in a week Your tank is looking awesome, I love the clean look. Good luck with those nudis. Thanks , I am still planning on what next Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 So update today. Reef Cleaners packaging showed up. Seriously a TON of snails. Reef Cleaners rock. I gave a bunch of snails away to a friends office tank and another co-reefer who took some. Also the ellsuvie crab has been spoted!! I tried to catch him with a shot glass but the sixline just kept eating all the food. But he was visibile today. Sorry for the crappy phone shot but I grabbed my phone quick and took the shot. Any thoughts on what it could be? [/url] Link to comment
reefernanoman Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Weekly FTS update Not much has changed. What kind of magnet cleaner is that? It looks cool. Is that a nimble magnet cleaner by any chance? Great looking tank. Link to comment
rfman81 Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 What kind of magnet cleaner is that? It looks cool. Is that a nimble magnet cleaner by any chance? Great looking tank. It's a nimble nano. I like it but at times have to fish it out as it does not float. Link to comment
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