43 gal AIO Upgrade

[GMIKEG]

Good Morning All, I'm new to the forums and the hobby. Little back story - I had a 20 gal fresh water tank when i was a child - never had any luck with fish mostly due to the fact we didn't have as much as information as we do these days about everything. Fish would last a month then capute. I remember shutting down the tank i was 13 years old - sad day. Fast forward 2024 I was looking for a new hobby to start and i said lets tackle salt water reef aquarium. I started with a 7 Gal all-in-one that was given to me already cycled and read to go. I had two clown fish a clean up crew and i started purchasing corals. Two months later moved up to a 15 Gal AIO added a little more sand and live rock from established clean tank - Went very smooth even skipped the blooms. Another two months go by im ready to get the tank i want to keep for a while 43 Gal AIO Peninsula. Much more rock was needed and sand - And yes i definitely broke the cycle. I was dosing stability to get the good bacteria back while acclimating the lights of course. Cloudy tank went clean within a week. Finally super happy with the outcome. See pictures i've attached.

Im always learning in the hobby and i had a few questions if you guys can chime in would be much appreciated.

These are some specs:

43gal AIO
Salt using Instant ocean Reef Crystals & RODI Water
2x AI Prime Lights 10" above surface - Pennywise Deadlight 71% Preset

Chamber 1 - Filter Floss Caddy - Changing Filter floss every 3 days
- Acitvated Carbon Bag - I change out every 2 months
Chamber 2 - 6x Live Hotel Blocks from Reef Casa
- 150w Ehiem Heater & 50w Heater (2 heater for redundancy)
Chamber 3 - AI Axis 40 - Running Currently at 55%

Inside the tank - 30lbs of live rock
- AI Nero 3 - Runing 35% Random from 2pm-12am - 7% Constant 12am-2pm
- Siccie Voyager Nano 1000 point at the surface for surface aggitation

Live stock - 2x Clown Fish, 1 blue hippo tank, 1 sand sifting goby, 1 red star fish
Clean up crew - 5x Nassarius Snails, 5x Trochus Snails, 5x Mexican Turbo Snails, 3x Blue legged Hermit crabs
Coral - 4x hammers, 1 frog spawn, 5x acans, 1 blastamusa, 2x green star polops, 2x torches, 1 duncan, 2 mushrooms, 1 favia, 1 leather & a few types of zoas

Questions

1. Should I be running the return pump at a high percentage for more flow?
2. Placement of the nero 3 wavemaker, I have it on the opposite side of the Filtration - Where Exactly should i be placing ? higher to surface lower to the sandbed
3. Do I need a protein skimmer? Some say yes some say no - if i do get one should it be more or small then the recommended gallons per hour?
4. UV sterlizers - Been doing some research there are many benefits - I've noticed you need to keep the flow at a certain gph or there will be less effect - will that slow down filtration in the tank?
5. The tank I have have intakes at the top and bottom of chamber #1 - I've notice if i block the bottom intake grates I get a better skim - if i should, how would i adhere a piece of plexi glass or plastic cover underwater?
6. Water changes on a bigger tank - Im use to doing once a week 10-15% - Can I do a 20% every two weeks now with success?
7. All for reef dosing - what are your thoughts?

Thats all for now im sure there always be more questions - Thanks in advance for your help and advice happy reefing

 

[Tahoe61]

Good Morning All, I'm new to the forums and the hobby. Little back story - I had a 20 gal fresh water tank when i was a child - never had any luck with fish mostly due to the fact we didn't have as much as information as we do these days about everything. Fish would last a month then capute. I remember shutting down the tank i was 13 years old - sad day. Fast forward 2024 I was looking for a new hobby to start and i said lets tackle salt water reef aquarium. I started with a 7 Gal all-in-one that was given to me already cycled and read to go. I had two clown fish a clean up crew and i started purchasing corals. Two months later moved up to a 15 Gal AIO added a little more sand and live rock from established clean tank - Went very smooth even skipped the blooms. Another two months go by im ready to get the tank i want to keep for a while 43 Gal AIO Peninsula. Much more rock was needed and sand - And yes i definitely broke the cycle. I was dosing stability to get the good bacteria back while acclimating the lights of course. Cloudy tank went clean within a week. Finally super happy with the outcome. See pictures i've attached.

Im always learning in the hobby and i had a few questions if you guys can chime in would be much appreciated.

These are some specs:

43gal AIO
Salt using Instant ocean Reef Crystals & RODI Water
2x AI Prime Lights 10" above surface - Pennywise Deadlight 71% Preset

Chamber 1 - Filter Floss Caddy - Changing Filter floss every 3 days
- Acitvated Carbon Bag - I change out every 2 months
Chamber 2 - 6x Live Hotel Blocks from Reef Casa
- 150w Ehiem Heater & 50w Heater (2 heater for redundancy)
Chamber 3 - AI Axis 40 - Running Currently at 55%

Inside the tank - 30lbs of live rock
- AI Nero 3 - Runing 35% Random from 2pm-12am - 7% Constant 12am-2pm
- Siccie Voyager Nano 1000 point at the surface for surface aggitation

Live stock - 2x Clown Fish, 1 blue hippo tank, 1 sand sifting goby, 1 red star fish
Clean up crew - 5x Nassarius Snails, 5x Trochus Snails, 5x Mexican Turbo Snails, 3x Blue legged Hermit crabs
Coral - 4x hammers, 1 frog spawn, 5x acans, 1 blastamusa, 2x green star polops, 2x torches, 1 duncan, 2 mushrooms, 1 favia, 1 leather & a few types of zoas

Questions

1. Should I be running the return pump at a high percentage for more flow?
2. Placement of the nero 3 wavemaker, I have it on the opposite side of the Filtration - Where Exactly should i be placing ? higher to surface lower to the sandbed
3. Do I need a protein skimmer? Some say yes some say no - if i do get one should it be more or small then the recommended gallons per hour?
4. UV sterlizers - Been doing some research there are many benefits - I've noticed you need to keep the flow at a certain gph or there will be less effect - will that slow down filtration in the tank?
5. The tank I have have intakes at the top and bottom of chamber #1 - I've notice if i block the bottom intake grates I get a better skim - if i should, how would i adhere a piece of plexi glass or plastic cover underwater?
6. Water changes on a bigger tank - Im use to doing once a week 10-15% - Can I do a 20% every two weeks now with success?
7. All for reef dosing - what are your thoughts?

Thats all for now im sure there always be more questions - Thanks in advance for your help and advice happy reefing

Welcome.

The tank looks great.

I would run the AI Nero at 35% at night as well. Placement mid tank.

You don't absolutely need a skimmer, but it is recommended. You are going to have to figure out what skimmer is going to fit in the back compartments, that will be the determining factor.

You're going to have to figure out which brand of UV fits your tank. Right now getting a UV should be at the bottom of your to do list. Look at getting an ATO first.

I wouldn't block any intake to filtration. Have you tried lowering the water level? I need to look at tank brand to figure out specifically what you're referring to though. What brand of tank?

I would do 10% water changes every 2 weeks.

If you're going to dose you need to test first. I like AFR very much, but you need to figure out your tanks utilization first.

That Hippo Tang might be an issue. It's my advice to avoid Tangs in any smaller tanks, even if you plan to upgrade.

Again Welcome. :)

 

[kevgib67]

^This, skimmers at the very least help keep your water oxygenated. Welcome to R2R!

 

[GMIKEG]

Welcome.

The tank looks great.

I would run the AI Nero at 35% at night as well. Placement mid tank.

You don't absolutely need a skimmer, but it is recommended. You are going to have to figure out what skimmer is going to fit in the back compartments, that will be the determining factor.

You're going to have to figure out which brand of UV fits your tank. Right now getting a UV should be at the bottom of your to do list. Look at getting an ATO first.

I wouldn't block any intake to filtration. Have you tried lowering the water level? I need to look at tank brand to figure out specifically what you're referring to though. What brand of tank?

I would do 10% water changes every 2 weeks.

If you're going to dose you need to test first. I like AFR very much, but you need to figure out your tanks utilization first.

That Hippo Tang might be an issue. It's my advice to avoid Tangs in any smaller tanks, even if you plan to upgrade.

Again Welcome. :)

Hey Tahoe61,

Thanks for the reply,

I ended up cranking up the Nero 3 at night to 25% see how it goes.

Any Skimmer Recommendations? Bubble Magnus or a Tunze - Again does it matter if i get one for a 20 or 30 gal tank even though i have a 43 gal tank? Its not heavily stocked

ATO currently i have it setup via switch plug - I add everyday when i go see the tank manually. I've heard some horror stories with Auto Top Offs.

Ill save the UV for last then.

Reason for the bottom intake closing, I want all water to run through the filter floss & carbon before entering my second chamber- I find that if i don't it passes through and recycles back into the tank without filtration - im assuming a design flaw of the tank its a YiDing

You recommended a 10% Biweekly - is that enough for replenishing nutrients ?

This Saturday would mark first two weeks without water change i will test all parameters and see what the levels are.


Thanks again for the insight.

 

[Tahoe61]

Hey Tahoe61,

Thanks for the reply,

I ended up cranking up the Nero 3 at night to 25% see how it goes.

Any Skimmer Recommendations? Bubble Magnus or a Tunze - Again does it matter if i get one for a 20 or 30 gal tank even though i have a 43 gal tank? Its not heavily stocked

ATO currently i have it setup via switch plug - I add everyday when i go see the tank manually. I've heard some horror stories with Auto Top Offs.

Ill save the UV for last then.

Reason for the bottom intake closing, I want all water to run through the filter floss & carbon before entering my second chamber- I find that if i don't it passes through and recycles back into the tank without filtration - im assuming a design flaw of the tank its a YiDing

You recommended a 10% Biweekly - is that enough for replenishing nutrients ?

This Saturday would mark first two weeks without water change i will test all parameters and see what the levels are.


Thanks again for the insight.

I am favorable to Tunze. Their products are well made and a last along time. I had a couple Tunze Doc skimmers and they usually fit quite a well in AIO systems.

Can you place a sock filtration device in the over flow?

 

[GMIKEG]

I cannot i have a Filter floss caddy I made and cut my own squares that i replace every 2-3 days

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Good Morning All, I'm new to the forums and the hobby. Little back story - I had a 20 gal fresh water tank when i was a child - never had any luck with fish mostly due to the fact we didn't have as much as information as we do these days about everything. Fish would last a month then capute. I remember shutting down the tank i was 13 years old - sad day. Fast forward 2024 I was looking for a new hobby to start and i said lets tackle salt water reef aquarium. I started with a 7 Gal all-in-one that was given to me already cycled and read to go. I had two clown fish a clean up crew and i started purchasing corals. Two months later moved up to a 15 Gal AIO added a little more sand and live rock from established clean tank - Went very smooth even skipped the blooms. Another two months go by im ready to get the tank i want to keep for a while 43 Gal AIO Peninsula. Much more rock was needed and sand - And yes i definitely broke the cycle. I was dosing stability to get the good bacteria back while acclimating the lights of course. Cloudy tank went clean within a week. Finally super happy with the outcome. See pictures i've attached.

Im always learning in the hobby and i had a few questions if you guys can chime in would be much appreciated.

These are some specs:

43gal AIO
Salt using Instant ocean Reef Crystals & RODI Water
2x AI Prime Lights 10" above surface - Pennywise Deadlight 71% Preset

Chamber 1 - Filter Floss Caddy - Changing Filter floss every 3 days
- Acitvated Carbon Bag - I change out every 2 months
Chamber 2 - 6x Live Hotel Blocks from Reef Casa
- 150w Ehiem Heater & 50w Heater (2 heater for redundancy)
Chamber 3 - AI Axis 40 - Running Currently at 55%

Inside the tank - 30lbs of live rock
- AI Nero 3 - Runing 35% Random from 2pm-12am - 7% Constant 12am-2pm
- Siccie Voyager Nano 1000 point at the surface for surface aggitation

Live stock - 2x Clown Fish, 1 blue hippo tank, 1 sand sifting goby, 1 red star fish
Clean up crew - 5x Nassarius Snails, 5x Trochus Snails, 5x Mexican Turbo Snails, 3x Blue legged Hermit crabs
Coral - 4x hammers, 1 frog spawn, 5x acans, 1 blastamusa, 2x green star polops, 2x torches, 1 duncan, 2 mushrooms, 1 favia, 1 leather & a few types of zoas

Questions

1. Should I be running the return pump at a high percentage for more flow?
2. Placement of the nero 3 wavemaker, I have it on the opposite side of the Filtration - Where Exactly should i be placing ? higher to surface lower to the sandbed
3. Do I need a protein skimmer? Some say yes some say no - if i do get one should it be more or small then the recommended gallons per hour?
4. UV sterlizers - Been doing some research there are many benefits - I've noticed you need to keep the flow at a certain gph or there will be less effect - will that slow down filtration in the tank?
5. The tank I have have intakes at the top and bottom of chamber #1 - I've notice if i block the bottom intake grates I get a better skim - if i should, how would i adhere a piece of plexi glass or plastic cover underwater?
6. Water changes on a bigger tank - Im use to doing once a week 10-15% - Can I do a 20% every two weeks now with success?
7. All for reef dosing - what are your thoughts?

Thats all for now im sure there always be more questions - Thanks in advance for your help and advice happy reefing

Your tank looks great! Following along!

 

[GMIKEG]

Happy New Years !

Tank update

Additions
- Protein Skimmer - Sicce 150
- RedSea Smart ATO
- Yellow mimic tang
- Banggai Cardinalfish

Observations

Only thing I've been noticing - hammers at the top center are retracting not full bloom, also 3 dead turbo snails not sure why

My parameters
Salinity - 1.026
PH - 8.4
Phosphate - 0.33 (after adding phosguard on day 3 - 0.26)
Nitrate - 13.3
Alkinity - 9.45
Magnesium - 1650
Calcium - 440

Questions
- The protein skimmer is creating micro bubbles in my tank is this for the break inn period?
- Im not exactly sure what the sweet spot is for the protein skimmer any insight will be appreciated
- Do you keep your skimmers on 24/7?
- Diatoms im seeing growth on my sand bed - I understand its part of the process of a new tank will apex pods help out?
- I'm seeing micro bubbles on rock almost stringy micro bubbles? Anything i should be worried about?
Here is an update picture

 

[TheWB]

Happy New Years !

Tank update

Additions
- Protein Skimmer - Sicce 150
- RedSea Smart ATO
- Yellow mimic tang
- Banggai Cardinalfish

Observations

Only thing I've been noticing - hammers at the top center are retracting not full bloom, also 3 dead turbo snails not sure why

My parameters
Salinity - 1.026
PH - 8.4
Phosphate - 0.33 (after adding phosguard on day 3 - 0.26)
Nitrate - 13.3
Alkinity - 9.45
Magnesium - 1650
Calcium - 440

Questions
- The protein skimmer is creating micro bubbles in my tank is this for the break inn period?
- Im not exactly sure what the sweet spot is for the protein skimmer any insight will be appreciated
- Do you keep your skimmers on 24/7?
- Diatoms im seeing growth on my sand bed - I understand its part of the process of a new tank will apex pods help out?
- I'm seeing micro bubbles on rock almost stringy micro bubbles? Anything i should be worried about?
Here is an update picture

Your tank looks great. I really like the scape and once the corals grow in I think it will look fantastic.

Couple of observations based on what you have posted.

Two Tangs, even juvenile ones, in less than 40 gallons of water is not a good idea for two reasons.
One is that they are fast growers and just need more swimming room than what you have available which can lead to aggression. It also doesn't look like there are many places for them to hide and sleep, like caves, etc. The Blue Tang can reach a length of 12", not sure where the Mimic Tang maxes out at. Do you have a plan for when they outgrow the tank which will be fairly soon?

Two is that they eat a lot and create a lot of waste. They can be a massive bio load all by themselves and your PO4 already is higher than what most people would be aiming for. I kept a Tomini Tang, probably the smallest Tang there is, in a tank slightly larger than yours for a while and it added a massive amount of nutrients between feeding it and the waste it created. If you are going to keep both of them, which I am not recommending, then you'll need to keep a close eye on your parameters. Weekly water changes in addition to running the protein skimmer 24/7 will be necessary. I would also second the advice above to keep the Nero running at the higher speed all the time, don't turn it down so far at night.

I also noticed that your Mag seems pretty high compared to Alk and Cal. Are you supplementing it? What test kit did you use? I don't know that it's necessarily bad that it's that high, but it's the highest Mag number I've ever seen posted. Most salt mixes up about 300 less than what you're showing.

I hope you find this helpful. I'm not a tank guru or anything so take my advice for what it's worth and do your own research. These were just a couple of things that jumped out while I was reading your thread. Good luck with your tank.

 

[GMIKEG]

Update

Skimmer is now running 24/7 - Nero3 is running 35% at night time

Need to replace the Phosguard pouch i have in the media basket currently 7 days old

See attached parameters

Observation

Im currently battling some diatoms - im assuming the ugly phase ?
Sand bed is browning - the goby cant keep up - may have a dead spot not sure

Phosphate seems high - does it ever regulate on its own or am i forever using phosguard?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

 

[GMIKEG]

Hello guys here’s an Update

Currently battling hair and the lettuce algae
See attached.

Any advice will be much appreciated

Parameters see attached