45 Gallon Shallow Reef Build

[CBonito]

I have gracilaria, caulerpa prolifera and lettuce in there. The latter two I know grow really fast. The former, not sure but it looks cool. I have an 18 watt reef breeders grow light that I bought on sale for like 40something bucks. lol. It's enough for the small shallow compartment. You don't want to put too much algae to start with. It will grow in as the tank supports and in the interim you'll just have to bite the bullet and manually pull it out of the tank. I bought these cool long stailess tweezers and they're alright. A smaller ball of something is going to have a lot more nutrient to draw from than a huge compartment full of it where there might not be enough. It has to form its own equilibrium. But the cool thing is once it does, it will adapt.

I haven't tested for nitrate or phosphate this week. I used to obsess over it, but I see no reason to obsess over it unless I'm seeing problems. So no, I don't even know. And the thing is, it doesnt matter too much right now because I have no corals to worry about and the fish are getting fat and happy and through all of this the tank is aging which is what I want.

I have 9 fish right now, so a nutrient supply is not a problem and I have some macroalgae growing on my rock in my display as well, and it does grow now, so I guess there is enough "fuel". I'm just going to pull it every few days and throw it in the refugium. Eventually, the system is supporting the same amount of algae, but will only support it in the refugium and not as much in the tank once it's able to start bringing nutrients down. And you just cut out and chuck it as needed.If you have too much, the stuff on top blocks out all the light and the stuff beneath dies too.

It's just a game of patience. Right now, I already have lots of pods in there that I didn't stock, a slowly rotating current where I can see little things swimming around and suspended organic matter. It's getting good aerated water and the surface through the whole refugium is skimming itself so there is no gunk up top. I am using miracle mud as a substrate. If that's a factor, I don't know.

I think a lot of times in the past if I got some algae in my tank, I would kind of panic and do 10 things I thought would change it, and screw up everything...not this time. Let it ride brother!!! lol

 

[CBonito]

Know what though, I am going to change the aquascape on the right side of the tank and I think one of the rocks is going to get smashed up and thrown in the refugium. I'm not impressed with the flow through the rocks on that side, so I'm gonna fix it now.

 

[CBonito]

Ok, so I don't know who did it, but someone killed one of my chromis.
His eye was half bit out. And it must have just happened before I looked because the flame hawk was chasing him after he started flopping around. Maybe it was him. I can't prove it.

 

[CBonito]

I am purchasing a Reef Kinetics Reefbot Lab. This is going to be a HUGE burden lifted off my shoulders as I hate testing, but I still want to know what's going on. LOL I just don't feel in this day and age that we should be spending so much time doing that when the tech is there to do it for us. Plus we add variables to every test whether we admit it, like it or not.

This thing is like not only super accurate, but consistent. It's not cheaply made with junk parts. It looks like the interface is great and can integrate your Apex.

All That I have to figure out is how I am going to make my test results become a dosing scheme.
I guess the future aim is to make the reefbot directly talk to a doser, but there are ways this can be achieved now. I don't mind this part...I just wanted something to do my testing dirty work for me.

So there's that. Hopefully I can get my hands on it by christmas.
Pretty excited to be getting what is a truly top notch piece of gear. This is like the Porsche of testers so far.

 

[CBonito]

Man, I thought I saw a bunch of aiptasia in my refugium, but it's not. It's these little tube worms. They're already starting to grow everywhere in there. There are lots of pods in there too now. So that's definitely doing well.

I am starting to get some brown film on my sand and I am fighting a bit with maroalgae. Whatever I pull, I throw in the refugium so hopefully it takes hold.

I am going to add another 20 trochus snails since the 20 already added are not enough. I almost want to give them caffeine to see if they move faster. hahaha They do a good job, but they're still kinda slow and you get those dumb ones that do nothing but sit on the glass. I have been moving them onto the rock whenever they do that. I am starting to get green algae on my glass in those tiny little polka dots, so I think after getting some of these other things under control we'll be ready to start adding some corals. I'm going to start with some LPS around the bottom and then go with SPS. Still just being patient.

 

[BASEDREEFER]

Here you can get a good picture of the water movement and the effect i am going for.
The light is really strong and looks excellent.

I mocked the rock around a bit to get some more negative space and work better with the water flow.

This is going to be a great SPS display. I can already see what I am going to do in my mind.

I love the whole vibe. I think it will stay this way unless someone's got a better idea...

what brand of branching rock is this love the look

 

[CBonito]

what brand of branching rock is this love the look

I'm not sure. I bought it straight out of my LFS live rock tank.
it's got all kinds of blue sponge on it here and there and lots of other things I keep discovering.

Looks like caribsea life rock to me, but I could be wrong.

 

[JoJosReef]

Diatoms in the sand? Maybe get apair of strawberry/tuger conches. They will vacuum up your diatoms in no time. Much better than trochus for the sand bed!

 

[CBonito]

Diatoms in the sand? Maybe get apair of strawberry/tuger conches. They will vacuum up your diatoms in no time. Much better than trochus for the sand bed!

Yeah, it's like cinnamon dust in areas on the sand. No strands of anything. No "density" to it really.

I have the trochus for my rocks and because they're survivors with wrasses and flame hawks so that is true. Once they're on something, they are almost wrasse proof but they do nothing for the sand really.
I have basically nothing for cleaning sand since the tank started. Just the powerheads. And I am going to add another for across the back. That's where I am seeing it.

But thinking about this...and why I'm seeing it...it always seems to pop up with low nutrients...
I am running an RO Elite 150 skimmer all day long on half the rated water volume.
I have a refugium with algae competing with the tank. Maybe the refugium could have waited longer...

I'm guessing the little sand issue is telling me that maybe I should run that skimmer part of the day for now, then monitor. they're low now...Like some Euphyllia! I keep seeing all the new ones people have and man... ;) But also they'll add some more nutrient. Maybe I need to add some stuff now. From what I'm seeing, most add stuff the first week. I'm going on a month. I added a bunch of stuff the first day in my 90. it went through uglies, but never hurt anything.

I used to use DT's Phytoplankton if you remember them. That was because half of it was live and half usually dead. LOL It provided food and nutrients in my previous system. The Phytoplankton I am feeding my refugium now is from Algae Barn. That stuff stays alive a long time! So it's not adding nutrient either...

Maybe I should "dose" another fish too. :D

 

[JoJosReef]

Yeah, it's like cinnamon dust in areas on the sand. No strands of anything. No "density" to it really.

I have the trochus for my rocks and because they're survivors with wrasses and flame hawks so that is true. Once they're on something, they are almost wrasse proof but they do nothing for the sand really.
I have basically nothing for cleaning sand since the tank started. Just the powerheads. And I am going to add another for across the back. That's where I am seeing it.

But thinking about this...and why I'm seeing it...it always seems to pop up with low nutrients...
I am running an RO Elite 150 skimmer all day long on half the rated water volume.
I have a refugium with algae competing with the tank. Maybe the refugium could have waited longer...

I'm guessing the little sand issue is telling me that maybe I should run that skimmer part of the day for now, then monitor. they're low now...Like some Euphyllia! I keep seeing all the new ones people have and man... ;) But also they'll add some more nutrient. Maybe I need to add some stuff now. From what I'm seeing, most add stuff the first week. I'm going on a month. I added a bunch of stuff the first day in my 90. it went through uglies, but never hurt anything.

I used to use DT's Phytoplankton if you remember them. That was because half of it was live and half usually dead. LOL It provided food and nutrients in my previous system. The Phytoplankton I am feeding my refugium now is from Algae Barn. That stuff stays alive a long time! So it's not adding nutrient either...

Maybe I should "dose" another fish too. :D

I wouldn't worry so much about the sand. With any amount of silicates diatoms are going to show up no matter what. Conches LOVE diatoms, though. Ceriths too, but I think the wrasses mess with the ceriths much more.

 

[CBonito]

I wouldn't worry so much about the sand. With any amount of silicates diatoms are going to show up no matter what. Conches LOVE diatoms, though. Ceriths too, but I think the wrasses mess with the ceriths much more.

I knew I was making a sacrifice...but oh well. I like wrasses.
Overall though, the tank is progressing. I mean, I'm seeing all kinds of stuff in my refugium now, the fish are healthy, water clarity is great.

I need to quit being a cheapskate and check my PAR too. I have my lights turned up a little less than half-way.

What are you doing for a photoperiod?

 

[JoJosReef]

I knew I was making a sacrifice...but oh well. I like wrasses.
Overall though, the tank is progressing. I mean, I'm seeing all kinds of stuff in my refugium now, the fish are healthy, water clarity is great.

I need to quit being a cheapskate and check my PAR too. I have my lights turned up a little less than half-way.

What are you doing for a photoperiod?

I haven't had such a bad experience with snails and my Halichoeres and Leopard. Except for nerites. I think they are too easy to pick off, especially the smaller virgin nerites. Ceriths I find on their backs a lot, but seem to be fine when I turn them over. Trochus and Astraeas, nothing bothers them. Money cowries, seen them right next to the wrasses and go unnoticed. Conches no problems. Dwarf ceriths I think are getting annihilated, but then again I usually throw in a whole handful at a time.

Here's my light schedule on the Noop minis

Getting 300-350 par on the top of the rocks at peak and 200ish +/- on sand at peaks with par dropping off at the edges and corners. Just how I want it.

 

[CBonito]

I haven't had such a bad experience with snails and my Halichoeres and Leopard. Except for nerites. I think they are too easy to pick off, especially the smaller virgin nerites. Ceriths I find on their backs a lot, but seem to be fine when I turn them over. Trochus and Astraeas, nothing bothers them. Money cowries, seen them right next to the wrasses and go unnoticed. Conches no problems. Dwarf ceriths I think are getting annihilated, but then again I usually throw in a whole handful at a time.

Here's my light schedule on the Noop minis

Getting 300-350 par on the top of the rocks at peak and 200ish +/- on sand at peaks with par dropping off at the edges and corners. Just how I want it.

Yeah, I'm thinking my PAR is also pretty high. The water is only like 10" deep in reality and I have a360Xs with 55* reflectors. But it's the SPS light intensity I wanted! I need to take measurements to know for sure. I'll get that PARwise. I hear that's a decent one.

 

[JoJosReef]

Yeah, I'm thinking my PAR is also pretty high. The water is only like 10" deep in reality and I have a360Xs with 55* reflectors. But it's the SPS light intensity I wanted! I need to take measurements to know for sure. I'll get that PARwise. I hear that's a decent one.

That's what I have. Works great. I read an analysis that the measurements from it were more closely aligned with expectations for SPS than others, meaning it said X par which was the desired level and the SPS were doing better than the same par measured on other instruments. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[CBonito]

That's what I have. Works great. I read an analysis that the measurements from it were more closely aligned with expectations for SPS than others, meaning it said X par which was the desired level and the SPS were doing better than the same par measured on other instruments. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I also like that it gives you a spectrograph to show for your 300 bucks too. I'll just buy it and keep it. It's another tool.

I'm looking forward to Reefbot Lab too...I'm having a problem getting my payment to go through right now, but it will get sorted on monday. Banks really P me off.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

For some reason I wasn't getting notifications of new posts on this thread. But, between last night and this morning, I am all up to speed! Tank is looking great! I dig how you set up the refugium too! I need too look into the mud...gonna run a fug on my new 60 cube, and I have heard of the mud, but don't know much about it.

 

[Gaoweihd]

Thanks for sharing your journey so far. I wonder if you find it challenging to keep the acrylic panel clean from algae? Why did you choose acrylic vs glass given the tank is not very big? I’m also planning an acrylic tank.

 

[CBonito]

Thanks for sharing your journey so far. I wonder if you find it challenging to keep the acrylic panel clean from algae? Why did you choose acrylic vs glass given the tank is not very big? I’m also planning an acrylic tank.

It's my opinion that acrylic is a better material than glass. Now bear in mind, there are problems with acrylic tanks, but usually it's because they are underbuilt. I wanted a rimless tank with no risk of the typical rimles glass problems, like seams letting go. Mine is 3/4" thick and is doing really well. There is a very minimal bow in the front panel that is more than fine and of no real detriment to anything. So I have the whole open top of the tank to work. No braces or obstructions. I love it. I highly recommend overbuilding. Go as thick as you can afford. It doesn't affect the view...Acrylic is more clear than glass.

Acrylic is a great insulator so keeping your water temperature is a lot easier. You can repair it, buff it to remove any scratches and cleaning it is really no problem. I have novus products here for any of that stuff. I use Mister Clean Brand Magic Erasers on the panels. They don't scratch anything and they are highly effective at removing any algae. I only have to clean the panels maybe once a week and even then it's not much at all. The outside of the tank I just wipe down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth and it looks great.

Because it's overbuilt for it's size, I have no worries in the back of my head that anything bad will ever happen.
It's not really possible with such a shallow depth.

The only thing you dont want to do is use a scraper near the sand line. I push the sand away and use the magic eraser and no problems.

 

[CBonito]

For some reason I wasn't getting notifications of new posts on this thread. But, between last night and this morning, I am all up to speed! Tank is looking great! I dig how you set up the refugium too! I need too look into the mud...gonna run a fug on my new 60 cube, and I have heard of the mud, but don't know much about it.

I haven't been here in a few weeks because I went through the uglies like I knew I would and I just did other things and let it ride. I am proud of myself for not jumping the gun and just letting the tank do its thing. It was the smart thing to do.

My rock was like an algae farm man, It was covered in all kinds of caulerpa. I let it ride for a few weeks until there was a lot of it, and I just sat there one day and pulled it all off with these awesome long tweezers and chucked it. Since my refugium is getting pretty dense with algae, it doesn't grow back in the tank anywhere NEAR as fast, so that's working out awesome. I pulled the small remnants of algae off my rock today and it was all weakened or dead so it came right off. I just needed to increase flow. I had a small hair algae bloom, but that was short lived.
The main stuff was the caulerpa. But it was remarkably easy to remove by just letting it grow.

I did nothing to kill it other than manual removal and overpowering it with the refugium. My refugium light runs all the time the tank lights are off with an hour of overlap on each end with the tank lights. It works and helps keep the tank stable. Again, patience wins. I highly recommend just letting the tank do what it's going to do which was a couple months for my system, and go from there. If I put corals in the tank right away, It would have been disastrous for them. Now I know I'm good.

I have not done a single water change yet. I have not used any carbon or chemical media. The water clarity is very good. Skimmer isnt really pulling anything dark because I only have like 6 fish and it's setup correctly. It's more like green water. 3 of my 6 original chromis kicked the bucket. It's to be expected. they are fragile. My flame hawk killed one, another stuck himself to my overflow and another one I never found. I took my jumpguard lid off the tank because I freaking hate it. More of a pain than its worth. My melanurus wrasse is turning into a fatty. His colors are starting to look really nice. My midas Blenny is an idiot, but healthy otherwise. The flame hawk is doing awesome too. No bullying going on in the tank at all. I am going to add more fish in the future.

I'm using all for reef for calcium as needed even though I still have no corals yet because other things are popping up out of nowhere that need it. I like it because dosing it has no instant effect on parameters in a smaller system. I love that because in a smaller tank, dosing can be a pain in the stability context. I think I'm around 80 or 90 gallons total. Today I found I have tube worms and small feather dusters on this fake live rock which wasnt the case when I got it. The more the merrier. Red Coralline seems to be the dominant one. I have yellow and blue sponge on the undersides of my rock. Sponges are always a good sign.

My natural parameters maintain a ph of over 8, and an alk of 8 and change so that's not bad.
I am going to run a hose to my window for fresh air to my skimmer intake to raise ph some more and if it hangs in a good spot I'll leave it.

I have plenty of flow. I have 2 nero 3s on the back and 1 Nero 5 on the right side blowing across the tank, plus RFGs on my returns. The nero 5 was a good buy. I SHOULD HAVE gotten those to begin with. But the 3s are great for mounting to the back.

My total system flow is around 500gph. I would say about 350-400 gph through the tank and 100-150 gph through the refugium. it's the third setting on a varios 6 pump.

I'm ready for corals now for sure. Going to start with some LPS, euphyllia and maybe lobophyllia see how they do and then I'm going to look for some nice thick branching stags. Green, blue, red, purple. I want there to be a lot of color. I don't know if I want things like zooanthids or mushrooms. I dont even know if they'll like this tank with all the flow. I know SPS will, but as they grow the flow will lessen, so we'll see what happens.

Last week I was PO'd because either my BRS Heater element or my Inkbird controller croaked. I havent messed with it to find out what.

Luckily I had a 500 watt element laying around. My apex is controlling that. The apex says it's 432 watts...

My whole system draws 5 amps with the lights on which is fine with me! lol

I may or may not do a water change soon. I'll think about it. LOL I have no indication that it's even necessary.

I still get a little dusting of red on the sand by the end of the photoperiod, but I dont even care about that. It'll sort itself out. Keeping snails in this tank is not easy with wrasses and a flame hawk. I think I have half of what I added. I am going to get a couple fighting conchs and maybe some type of sand eater fish to address that.

My refugium has some really decent sized pods in there. I dosed pods once at the beginning and now they're multiplying. There are different types too. I dont expect them to be visible in the tank with the fish, but they're in there I'm sure. I give the refugium a small shot of phytoplankton a couple times a week.

I plan to order a bit of rubble from tampa bay saltwater to establish some more "stuff" in there.

That's pretty much where it's at now. I'll post pics of corals when I get them. Right now I'm enjoying a tank that has no more algae. I feed frozen food every other day and pellets every day now. So far so good. I'll feed more when there is more to feed.

 

[Gaoweihd]

It's my opinion that acrylic is a better material than glass. Now bear in mind, there are problems with acrylic tanks, but usually it's because they are underbuilt. I wanted a rimless tank with no risk of the typical rimles glass problems, like seams letting go. Mine is 3/4" thick and is doing really well. There is a very minimal bow in the front panel that is more than fine and of no real detriment to anything. So I have the whole open top of the tank to work. No braces or obstructions. I love it. I highly recommend overbuilding. Go as thick as you can afford. It doesn't affect the view...Acrylic is more clear than glass.

Acrylic is a great insulator so keeping your water temperature is a lot easier. You can repair it, buff it to remove any scratches and cleaning it is really no problem. I have novus products here for any of that stuff. I use Mister Clean Brand Magic Erasers on the panels. They don't scratch anything and they are highly effective at removing any algae. I only have to clean the panels maybe once a week and even then it's not much at all. The outside of the tank I just wipe down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth and it looks great.

Because it's overbuilt for it's size, I have no worries in the back of my head that anything bad will ever happen.
It's not really possible with such a shallow depth.

The only thing you dont want to do is use a scraper near the sand line. I push the sand away and use the magic eraser and no problems.

thanks for sharing, I also ordered a tank from Advanced Acrylcis, waiting for it the delivery. To convenience myself to go with acrylics I decide to go bottomless, all my other glass tanks has sand and it's a pain to clean even with the glass.