2024-2025 Pocket Burning Frag Build!

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Due to the generosity of @Corals.com, as well as the all of the votes from our amazing community members on here, (thanks guys!) I was one of the finalists of the Halloween costume contest!

I have to be honest, the gift card is burning a hole in my pocket.... I'm going to curate my 15 gallon, and I'm going to set up a growout/frag tank! (maybe 2...)

Early next year (2026) I have the ability to acquire either: 50/65 gallon waterbox, or 90/100 gallon that needs resealing, so there is a future plan. Moving in with the GF and she has several Freshwater tanks... May use the 90 as a room divide... I'll have to fight for it to be salt :)

Frag tank 1 plans!
- 1 X 30 Gallon Tank - 12X15X36 - GFs dad had it lying around...
- 2 X AI Prime 16
- 1 X HOB FILTER TBD - ANY THOUGHTS????? Fluval? Tidal?
- 2 X Voyager Nano
- 1 X 75 Ehiem (or maybe 2 25s I have a few)
- 1 X Amazon bargain ATO
- 1 x dosing setup, Kamoer (probably AFR but investigating getting into balling)

Corals I'm planning on:
- Favias
- Leptoseris
- Chalices
- As well as transferring from my 15 gallon

Frag tank 2, this one is going to be only for the mushrooms I have in my 15 gallon and giving them their own home.
- 1 x 10 Gallon
- 1 x Reefbreeders Pico LED
- 1 x Fluval 30
- 1 x 25 Ehiem
- 1 x Amazon bargain ATO
- A bunch of rubble!

No fish for either of them.
Reef crystals salt.

Now here are some questions for those still reading...
I am going to try two types of livestock I haven't tried before..... An Acro and a Bubble Tip Anemone
I think with proper placement, the Acro will be ok in the 30. I'm curious about thoughts on the BTA. If I put it in an acrylic acclimation box in the 30 gallon, do you think it would be ok? I know I would need to feed the BTA but I want to keep the tank as clean as possible... OR would it do ok in the mushroom tank, not sure if the Reefbreeders light would be powerful enough....I also do not NEED the BTA so if people say it's a bad idea I am fine with that judgement :)

Open to all suggestions :) THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THOSE THAT VOTED FOR ME!!!

20241209_000859.jpg
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Update 1!
Got the tank cleaned up.
Primes BARELY fit in the rim...
Glad I'm able to use all the egg rate I had lying around...
Not sure about the filter... might try it for a bit and make sure it does what it needs to but that may be upgraded.
The ATO doesn't fit on the rim... so I'm going to see if I have an old reefbreeders laying around...

Mushroom tank I'm actually going to bust out my old biocube! It's been sitting unused for over a year now and will give me more water volume to use.
 

Attachments

  • 20241209_225313.jpg
    20241209_225313.jpg
    174.3 KB · Views: 23
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Found a collection of Reef Breeder ATOs I had lying around! was able to hobble together two sets for the tanks...
Currently filling it to CONFIRM it will hold water (RO/DI, using it as a good final rinse too.... then going to get myself my christmas gift and order my corals!!!!

Biocube needs an even more detailed cleaning... but I have enough space for my incoming mushrooms elsewhere....
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Order Placed!!!! I'm not one for super expensive corals... The most I've ever spent on an individual one is around $40... This win has allowed me to get some corals I wouldn't get otherwise and are part of my dream line up! Tried to stick to aquaculture, both for keeping as well as conservation of the hobby.

The few I'm most excited about: (I'm excited about them all, these are the pricier ones I wouldn't be able to get otherwise)
Multidimensional Favia
Blown Glass Rhodactis
KO Burning Passion Favia
Dragon Slayer Acro (I've never tried a true Acro)
And The RAJA RAMPAGE CHALICE! (I've been looking for one of these, so this is awesome)

Corals 1.PNG
Corals 2.PNG
Corals 3.PNG
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Sorry for the blues... Tank on the left is going to be for shroomies, tank on right will be everything else...

Going to put some dry rock pieces in the left, both have salt and ready to go, Reefbreeder Pico light on left, 2 AI Primes on left.

Going to grow things out until I get my larger tank... turns out the 90/100 gallon the GFs dad has has a leak at the top... trying to explain to him the whole panel should be resealed, not just the top....
20241214_152514.jpg
 

mjszos

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 7, 2021
Messages
865
Reaction score
2,732
Location
Chicago, IL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Looking forward to following along here!

Regarding a HOB - I’ve been quite pleased with the Seachem Tidal. I went oversized on my holding tank, but it is nice and easy to clean. The trickling noise of water drives my wife crazy, but I find it quite soothing.

Cheers and looking forward to the future upgrades!
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for the advice! I think I am leaning towards a seachem so this basically makes it a definite. Thanks again!
 

mjszos

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 7, 2021
Messages
865
Reaction score
2,732
Location
Chicago, IL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for the advice! I think I am leaning towards a seachem so this basically makes it a definite. Thanks again!

I see you're a Midwest reefer by your badge - if you happen to be located in the Chicagoland area and aren't in a hurry, I can just give you mine. Once the new tank arrives and the 40 breeder the HOB is currently on, I won't have a need for it anymore. It's a Tidal 55Gal. Tank should be drained at the latest by mid January, but likely much sooner.
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm out in Schaumburg actually! I would be indebted to you! More than happy to trade some gear, corals or cash for it. I'll shoot you a message :D
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It's here! A sweet little note and I even lucked out and got a cool hat!!!
Acclimated the coral and things are sitting in the tank! Once things open up a little more I'll nab some shots.
Everything looks super healthy and arrived in great condition, the foam frag floaters are something I haven't seen before!
 

Attachments

  • 20241218_100934.jpg
    20241218_100934.jpg
    147.5 KB · Views: 18
  • 20241218_100710.jpg
    20241218_100710.jpg
    151.6 KB · Views: 18
  • 20241218_111540.jpg
    20241218_111540.jpg
    327.5 KB · Views: 17
  • 20241218_100647.jpg
    20241218_100647.jpg
    171.4 KB · Views: 18
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Everything seems fairly happy!
May disregard the 30 gallon biocube and keep everything in one. Only concern would be dirty water for the mushrooms, while having some stylo etc on the other side of the tank... but I guess that would just be a mixed reef wouldn't it!
 

AlyciaMarie

Where's my anemone?
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2024
Messages
2,328
Reaction score
5,917
Location
NW Georgia, USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Everything seems fairly happy!
May disregard the 30 gallon biocube and keep everything in one. Only concern would be dirty water for the mushrooms, while having some stylo etc on the other side of the tank... but I guess that would just be a mixed reef wouldn't it!
Awesome! Following along on this one.

I can't wait to see some updated pictures of how everything is doing!
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok! Updated pictures to come tomorrow.
Most corals are thriving. New polyp growth, full extension, the works. A FEW errors on my part...
The burning passion started showing it's skeleton.... switched him to my DT he has perked right up!
Currently having an issue with my dragon slayer.... its encrusting! So it's growing... but its browning... so I need to check nutrients and maybe increase lights.... its running an ai prime 16 right above it.... I have an extra reef breeders I can throw next to it... but any thoughts on if it would be enough light?!?!
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Well.... i skipped the pictures... for now... things were looking... unhappy.
Nutrients bottomed out. So dosing to get things stable. Then going to work on a feeding regimen.
An hour or two after final dose of neonitro, neophos, and some bicarb to get levels up to minimum, things started opening up. Going to test parameters after work and see what I need to keep dosing
 
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oof. Ok... so the tank was bottoming out on nitrates and phosphates. Trying to find a dosing balance.
looking into a few mollies for some nutrients beyond dosing. Need some cuc too...
So in order to ensure survival of my little buddies. I moved them into my display.
Everything seems super happy!
Ive kept my other frags (cuts from current things in my display) as a litmus test.
In the end I've only lost one coral. My dragon slayer. It was my attempt at a more difficult sps. It sucks, but I was willing to give one a try. No sps for me! (Not too concerned, my stylos are pretty happy!)
Images attached are of the display. Going to update that build thread too.
 

Attachments

  • 20250121_223350.jpg
    20250121_223350.jpg
    208 KB · Views: 11
  • 20250121_223340.jpg
    20250121_223340.jpg
    226.1 KB · Views: 12
  • 20250121_223245.jpg
    20250121_223245.jpg
    241.7 KB · Views: 7
OP
OP
JTP424

JTP424

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Messages
1,238
Reaction score
1,467
Location
US
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
IT SURVIVED!
I thought the dragon slayer was a goner...
Added him to the top of my waterbox... he was pretty colorless but I figured I'd let him try...
he lost a lot of flesh, but this morning, after about 2 weeks, he's regained some polyp color!!!!
I know he's still not in the best shape... but he's trying!
20250131_114833.jpg
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

DOES ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HELP YOU CARE FOR THE TANK?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 17 20.7%
  • No.

    Votes: 51 62.2%
  • They try, but they're not much help...

    Votes: 14 17.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top