20 Gallon Reef: From Freshwater to Saltwater

[rapurcell85]

Thanks! I already started documenting (I have good memory but short hahaha)

This is the new one (48G): CLICK
And here is the cube I am learning on and test (also my future QT): CLICK, I was also posting some bits for the new one there. Generally speaking an experiment on ocean water.

Did not want to spam your thread with my threads

Not a problem at all! I like to see other builds. Here is with and without orange filter (fritz orange glasses) with whites up. Looks better in person in my opinion.
With:

Without:

 

[MikeCRK]

nice one, thanks! what is your salinity and alkalinity? you keep the green algae nicely under control

 

[rapurcell85]

nice one, thanks! what is your salinity and alkalinity? you keep the green algae nicely under control

35 ppt salinity. 8.5 alkalinity. 8.0 pH. Lots of snails and a couple of hermits in the crew.

 

[rapurcell85]

Updated Full Tank Shot. Got 6 new corals from Cherry Corals. They came in big and healthy! Also got 2 mini cucumbers to help keep the sand clean, and they threw in a third! So far, definitely recommend them.
Blues:

Orange filter:

All new frags below are with an orange filter.
Frogspawn amd gold hammer:

Snowflake pipe organ (really liking this one!):

Gorgonian and Acans (new one on sand):

Rhodactis mushroom:

 

[rapurcell85]

Here's a few shots from tonight. Think I lost the Candy Canes that have been struggling. I've also noticed the Duncan is a bit more retracted than normal, and a couple of the newer frags aren't happy. I think they were under too much light. I've moved them down to see if they will recover.

 

[rapurcell85]

Update:

Got more corals. This time from @AquaSD . My first foray into SPS with a digitata and a birds nest. Also my first try with a couple of button scolys, and giving candy canes another shot now that I have things a bit more stable. Added a rainbow clove, Duncan, Rhodactis, Micro Lord, Blasto, and 2 chalices. And they threw in a Cyphastrea. Big thanks to them for a great selection!
I've also been running RowaPhos. Between that and the skimmer, I've gotten phosphates and nitrates much better under control. I am also dosing 2 mL per day of All for Reef, as my Ca, Mg, and Alk had been dropping, even with weekly water changes. Everything is much more stable and happy now!

 

[rapurcell85]

Oh, and I just glued everything, so they are all angry and closed up. Too excited to wait to share. I'll grab more pics soon when everyone is happy.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Update:

Got more corals. This time from @AquaSD . My first foray into SPS with a digitata and a birds nest. Also my first try with a couple of button scolys, and giving candy canes another shot now that I have things a bit more stable. Added a rainbow clove, Duncan, Rhodactis, Micro Lord, Blasto, and 2 chalices. And they threw in a Cyphastrea. Big thanks to them for a great selection!
I've also been running RowaPhos. Between that and the skimmer, I've gotten phosphates and nitrates much better under control. I am also dosing 2 mL per day of All for Reef, as my Ca, Mg, and Alk had been dropping, even with weekly water changes. Everything is much more stable and happy now!

Loving all the new corals you got! Any personal favorites?

 

[rapurcell85]

Loving all the new corals you got! Any personal favorites?

I'm a huge fan of the new hammer, its the green stem with purple tips. Also the Gamora Rhodactis (i think this was the name, the green one).

 

[rapurcell85]

Updated pictures. Other than moving a few of the mushrooms around today, nothing has changed. Everyone is settling in nicely other than the clove polyp. Thinking I may need to move it as he hasn't opened in a few days that I've seen. Any advice for him is welcome!

 

[rapurcell85]

Tabk has been doing ok. I've been fighting keeping nutrients stable and at target. All For Reef has really been helping with that now that I've dialed it in. The SPS has not been doing great, think I've lost the birdsnest. I also passed off one of the micro lord frags when moving the rock around. Hoping it recovers.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tabk has been doing ok. I've been fighting keeping nutrients stable and at target. All For Reef has really been helping with that now that I've dialed it in. The SPS has not been doing great, think I've lost the birdsnest. I also passed off one of the micro lord frags when moving the rock around. Hoping it recovers.

Best of luck with the sps!

 

[rapurcell85]

Updates. Things going fairly well. Most corals doing great. A few could be doing better.

 

[rapurcell85]

Updated lighting schedule, added a few Viana and list a few. Think i had Mg drop too low, so stayed adding that. Also adjusted All For Reef dosing to maintain Ca and Alk which had dropped.