I set up a 33g Red Sea MAX NANO G2 XL about 30 days ago. I used real uncured Australian live rock, but there wasn't too much die-off and the cycle completed on day 18 with the addition of bottled bacteria each day. I did a few large water changes and the nutrients are now low. I have one fish, one shrimp, and I feed a small amount of frozen mysis and sinking pellets daily. Two more small fish are arriving on Friday. The fish, GSP, and the shrimp seem to be thriving. I picked up a Montipora palawanensis yesterday, and so far, so good.
This is my third reef tank and I think I understand the requirements to keep Acropora alive, but I want to see if there's anything I'm missing or if there's any new technology I should think about getting I'm missing before getting a few frags.
Here's a pic:
This is my third reef tank and I think I understand the requirements to keep Acropora alive, but I want to see if there's anything I'm missing or if there's any new technology I should think about getting I'm missing before getting a few frags.
- Salinity 1.025
- pH 8.2
- Alkalinity 9.3 dKH (down from 9.6 yesterday).
- Calcium 441 ppm
- Magnesium 1205 ppm
- Ammonia 0 ppm
- Nitrite 0 ppm
- Nitrate 3.5 ppm
- Phosphate: 0.10 ppm
- Should I upgrade the ReefLED50 light that came with the tank? The tank is roughly 20" x 20" x 20". If so, which light should I upgrade to? I've read that the Radion XR15 might be better since it's a more powerful light with better spread. Or is it overkill for a 33g tank?
- Since I'd be getting frags, not colonies, would the Alk and calcium uptake initially be high enough to have to dose with 2 part or similar, with weekly 15% water changes? What about with 30%?
- Should I set up a full testing + dosing system for full 24/7 Alk+Calcium+Magnesium control like Hydros or Neptune before attempting to keep Acropora? I have Hanna checkers that I used to get these measurements, but I don't see myself testing any of these params besides Alk on a daily basis since it takes a long time. I can test the other params weekly.
- Is a pH monitoring and control system recommended? Since I'm in an apartment, I'm worried about pH dropping when we have guests over.
Here's a pic: