Budget Beginnings

[FUNGI]

I thought it odd, but in the manual, it says the return nozzle must be above the waterline. I was guessing as to why.

I just downloaded and read the manual....maybe you misread/remember it differently.....

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Looks like a great start, I ran a 75 for years on a canister filter successfully and no skimmer, it was great. I just can't help but mention you may have a lot of salt creep with the bubbler going in the background like that which can fall into the tank and land on coral/fish causing issues when cleaning.

Thank you for the tip. Ill need to watch for that. I like the appearance of the bubble curtain. Before I even had CUC in the tank, I could watch it just bubble and be mesmerized!

 

[FUNGI]

may I also make another suggestion and that is to replace the return nozzle with a PVC elbow. Single output and you will get better/higher velocity out of the output, so no need for wavemakers.....

EDIT: Disregard. Only has a single return head.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I thought it odd, but in the manual, it says the return nozzle must be above the waterline. I was guessing as to why.

I just downloaded and read the manual....maybe you misread/remember it differently.....

Huh. I just did the same. No idea where that came from! Thank you.

 

[FUNGI]

Looks good...I can see how that bubble wand is appealing

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Fast forward a couple weeks. Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all near zero. Introduced some CUC. Here, a starfish hitches a ride on one of my Cerith snails.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I thought it odd, but in the manual, it says the return nozzle must be above the waterline. I was guessing as to why.

I just downloaded and read the manual....maybe you misread/remember it differently.....

Aha! Found it! Top of p. EN-4 of manual:
"• Ensure water level remains below output nozzle during setup."
Not sure if this is just a backsiphon precaution while the canister is open during setup, or a check during setup for all time henceforth. I guess it could be a precaution against curious life forms entering. Again, just throwin' stuff out there. But at least I can sleep tonight knowing that I didn’t make this up!

 

[FUNGI]

LOl...I see it now....
I believe its just for the initial set-up so you dont get water all over the floor.......

 

[X-37B]

After a few days, some hitchhikers began to emerge from the LFS wet rock. Nothing that I couldnt live without, and some I could *definitely* live without, such as Aiptasia and Vermetid.

I am okay with the tiny starfish and brittle stars.

As well as the couple of (unexciting) mushrooms.

Unless you want hundreds of asterina starfish you should remove it.
They can easily take over a tank in a short time.
Where there is one there is more.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

After a few days, some hitchhikers began to emerge from the LFS wet rock. Nothing that I couldnt live without, and some I could *definitely* live without, such as Aiptasia and Vermetid.

I am okay with the tiny starfish and brittle stars.

As well as the couple of (unexciting) mushrooms.

Unless you want hundreds of asterina starfish you should remove it.
They can easily take over a tank in a short time.
Where there is one there is more.

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess I'll be adding a Harlequin Shrimp.

 

[X-37B]

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess I'll be adding a Harlequin Shrimp.

Then you will need to feed it a chocolate chip star on a continuous basis or it will starve.
Chocolate chip stars are inexpensive but the Harliquin eats it aive. It will eat the legs first.
Just a note as some don't like to watch it.
I just pull the asterinas out when I see them.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Well, I have only seen two in the three months the tank has been wet. I guess I can start with that approach. That might be easier than catching the Harlequin to re-home him. Thanks.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

My first fish. I have always loved Banggai Cardinals.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

No measureable ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Looking pretty sterile, so added some more bio load: Six-line Wrasse and Neon Pseudochromis.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

First corals:
GSP

Toadstool Leather

and Kryptonite Caulastrea (in what universe do these look like candycanes?)

Fin fish at this point:
Banggai Cardinal (in what universe do these look like cardinals?)
Six-line Wrasse
Neon Pseudochromis

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I thought better of leaving the GSP on one of my foundation rocks (thanks, R2R!) I created a rubble pillar so now it needs to build a bridge or rappel down a cliff face to spread. It should be easier to maintain if it does either. I now call this point in my tank Broccoli Head.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Introduced my Yellow Clown Goby. I was worried about him going into my tank with an established Neon Dottyback and Six-line Wrasse. Totally unfounded. After a day or so of being harassed by ... my Banggai Cardinal (!) the diminutive Goby turned on the Cardinal and laid down the law. Now he goes where he wants to and is first in line for chow. He's not at all aggressive, but is super self-confident.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

A note to thread readers: the timetable for the addition of livestock is not the same as the time stamp of each posting. I am recreating the sequence, but the timeline of the postings is accelerated compared to what actually happened.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Against LFS and other advisement, I added two Goniopora frags, one light blue and one pink. Just. Can't. Help. Myself. Must. Have. Gonis.
Wish this noob luck.