Anna's IM 40L AIO Adventure

[tharbin]

This is what my current setup is. I was just wondering if it was worth it to put in that empty spot

My filter floss is in this on the left and the skimmer next to it:

Then I have my intank media basket on the right side

and so I don't necessarily need to add a Fuge basket. That empty spot can just stay empty

Cause I'm not really sure exactly what the purpose of copepods and a refugium is except for filtration and copepods eat diatoms and fish eat them. Is that basically the gest of those two things?

If it were my tank I would probably leave that slot empty for now and add a refugium or chaeto reactor (similar to an enclosed refugium) later if you need it. The main purpose of either is a natural way to export some nitrate and phosphate. Additionally, if you run its light on a reverse schedule with your tank, it may slightly raise your base pH.

Adding copepods is almost always worthwhile. They eat diatoms but they also eat some other micro-algae. In general a healthy pod community will help to keep your tank cleaner. They of course are also a potential food source for other live stock in your tank. I would not add them however until the tank is somewhat established. Adding them right away can help reduce 'the uglies' but most of them will starve and die. Once the tank is established, they will find plenty of food sources.

 

[JoJosReef]

This is what my current setup is. I was just wondering if it was worth it to put in that empty spot

My filter floss is in this on the left and the skimmer next to it:

Then I have my intank media basket on the right side

and so I don't necessarily need to add a Fuge basket. That empty spot can just stay empty

Cause I'm not really sure exactly what the purpose of copepods and a refugium is except for filtration and copepods eat diatoms and fish eat them. Is that basically the gest of those two things?

Similar to what my setup was, except I had a UV in place of the skimmer (just for dinos if they show up). In that empty slot I just had my heaters and some extra rubble, but if I were to do it again, I would put that Santa Monica algae scrubber in. I think they work better than a small amount if chaeto in a refugium--I think (note "think") that the macroalgae puts in more work when it grows into a larger mass, which you don't have space for in that chamber, whereas the algae scrubbers work right off the bat.

 

[Anna K]

This is what my current setup is. I was just wondering if it was worth it to put in that empty spot

My filter floss is in this on the left and the skimmer next to it:

Then I have my intank media basket on the right side

and so I don't necessarily need to add a Fuge basket. That empty spot can just stay empty

Cause I'm not really sure exactly what the purpose of copepods and a refugium is except for filtration and copepods eat diatoms and fish eat them. Is that basically the gest of those two things?

Similar to what my setup was, except I had a UV in place of the skimmer (just for dinos if they show up). In that empty slot I just had my heaters and some extra rubble, but if I were to do it again, I would put that Santa Monica algae scrubber in. I think they work better than a small amount if chaeto in a refugium--I think (note "think") that the macroalgae puts in more work when it grows into a larger mass, which you don't have space for in that chamber, whereas the algae scrubbers work right off the bat.

I do have my heater in the return sump and I do have a uv light I was going to put in the return as well, but only when something happened.

I had asked around if you could leave the uv running all the time and the census seemed to be you could, but it'd kill your good and bad bacteria.

 

[JoJosReef]

I do have my heater in the return sump and I do have a uv light I was going to put in the return as well, but only when something happened.

I had asked around if you could leave the uv running all the time and the census seemed to be you could, but it'd kill your good and bad bacteria.

I only turn mine on when I have dinos, specifically ostreopsis or prorocentrum dinos, since it doesn't work well on amphidinium dinos.

Importantly, take the UV out and clean it when not in use. If you don't, spirobids, vermetids or just fan worms can build their tubes in the pump and break the pump impeller, which is what happened to mine.

I wouldn't worry too much about pods right now. They may naturally populate as you add coral, but once your tank is humming along you can add a bottle to the back and they will grow there and migrate into the display.

They are good to have. Part of the semi-natural biome we create. Circle of life and all that.

 

[Anna K]

Just learned that your ATO is supposed to be filled with fresh water. Not once have I seen that ever mentioned. Am I just dumb? Did I not get the same memo as everyone else. Time to go siphon out the ATO I just finally got put together :upside-down-face:

 

[tharbin]

Just learned that your ATO is supposed to be filled with fresh water. Not once have I seen that ever mentioned. Am I just dumb? Did I not get the same memo as everyone else. Time to go siphon out the ATO I just finally got put together :upside-down-face:

Good thing you caught that. Yes, the ATO is fresh water only. When water evaporates only the water evaporates the salt stays in the tank.

 

[Anna K]

Figured I'd do an update.

Tested my parameters on Friday with my old testers:
- API Marine Saltwater Master Test Kit
- Hanna Alkalinity
- API Calcium
- Salinity Refractometer

vs what my new one Hanna Marine Masters would indicate

(this was before I knew ATO was supposed to be fresh water cause I topped that thing with salt lol)

Old testers:
Cal 420
Alk 8.3
Ph 7.4
Ammonia .5 - 1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

Marine Masters:
Cal 549
Alk 8.5
Ph 8
Ammonia 0.07
Nitrite 26
Magnesium 1675
Phosphate .90

I also want to note that I didn't understand the 'read time' and skipped so those were def not accurate lol

Then I did a 10% water change

Fed Steve

---

Been following along as well with the @SBB Corals sale going on this weekend and picked up the following! Super glad that they won't be shipping out until April, so my tank will be completely cycled by then!

My friend told me Acan Lords were easier to start off with and that I'd probably have a decent go with them. So, here I go!

 

[Anna K]

Wednesday update; got my Esty light shade order in Thanks @UNREEFER

 

[Anna K]

Did a video call last night with my saltwater mentor and learned that I had the back of the tank setup incorrectly as well. Apparently there's only supposed to be water about 1.5 to 2 inches above the return pump in the chamber. So I had not been correctly filtering this entire time. :upside-down-face:

Problem fixed.

Since it's Friday I'm doing my 10% water change and testing my parameters. I tested them yesterday and I'm apparently one step before Nitrite and then it will be cycled. Steve is doing well. I saw him poop. He's growing. So, I can't keep coral alive to safe my life, but I can keep a BTA alive. Go figure! :zany-face:

edit; also since this an AIO should I have posted my tank thread in the AIO section?? o_O

 

[Anna K]

 

[mjszos]

Coming along slowly but surely. Don’t sweat the ATO bit, we’ve all made silly mistakes.

If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me a DM!

 

[Anna K]

Coming along slowly but surely. Don’t sweat the ATO bit, we’ve all made silly mistakes.

If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me a DM!

Thank you!!

 

[Anna K]

I'm getting my first acan and a mystery beginner lps coral tomorrow from @TCK Corals and I'm excited!

Here's my first beautiful acan that I won in their auction!

 

[sevenx7]

Hmmm, that one light gives a good dispersion of light? I was going to move my XR15 over but decided to go with multiples, so i have either 3 a360x's, a Apex Sky or a A500x and 2 a360x's. Now I'm thinking maybe maybe just a smaller light like that Nicrew might be better but since I own these lights maybe I go that route..
Its looking great though!

 

[Anna K]

Hmmm, that one light gives a good dispersion of light?

So far, it's been doing great. I went with the Nicrew 200 because it had the spread of 36x36 and it aligned with my tank. I plan to either rent or buy a par meter here within the next week to double check everything, but I haven't had an issue with the light at all.

 

[748S911]

Awesome setup!

 

[Anna K]

Awesome setup!

Thank you so much!

 

[Anna K]

Update time! Woot woot!

Got in my two corals from @TCK Corals. I'll have to post a photo of my mystery one later tonight because I don't have a clue what it is The pink acan fell off it's frag plug, so I did my best to glue it back on. My best is not great since I also glued it to my finger. So.. that was fun!

I also got my order from @Reef By Steele for my Blended Pod Buffet and added that to the tank!

Received a text message about shipping out all my sale coral items from SBB, but I asked them to wait until the second week of April (2 weeks) so my tank would be fully cycled. Next Friday will be the one month mark.

Then Dr. Reef sent an email with my invoice for the fish I ordered back in February telling me they are now ready.

Oh, and to top it off, my lgd decided to eat my bottle of reef chili and a packet of mysis shrimp while I was washing my hands with Goop trying to get the glue off (note; goop does NOT work). She opened the door and snagged the two items. Sometimes I hate smart dogs.

 

[Anna K]

The mystery lps

@TCK Corals can ya help me out? :grinning-face-with-sweat:

 

[TCK Corals Verified Sponsor]

The mystery lps

@TCK Corals can ya help me out? :grinning-face-with-sweat:

This one is a juicy CC full Tilt Favia