C14 20g Long Build (Now 40B)

[CivicS14]

After years of large builds and the possibility of moving, I have downsized and sold my 187 and started my first ever nano build. I have a lot of experience with acros and torches, but this build will be pretty restrictive as far as corals go, so we'll see where it takes me.

I have so much equipment over the years so I'm going to try to utilize as much as I can, so some of the equipment may be comically overkill.

I picked up a 20L from Petco 50% sale, drilled it and put eshopps eclipse M overlfow. I had bought a used red sea stand that came with sump a while back, so I'll be utilizing that even though it doesn't exactly fit, but it gives me a ledge to work on.

I am using a Reef Octo Varios 4 on the lowest setting, 2x Euroquatics A1p for lighting on very low setting, and debating whether or not to utilize a skimmer since water changes would probably do the trick just fine.

I did buy a Jebao SLW-5 to go on the opposite end.

Here is the current build progress.

Plumbed and filled with water

Lights added

 

[CivicS14]

Here is some eye candy of my previous tanks.

Most recently CDA 187G Mixed Reef

Red Sea P500

 

[CivicS14]

Next step is organizing all the annoying plugs and power bricks. I am going to see if I can put a small cabinet next to the tank, but the way the wall is angled, I'm not sure. Also, I need to figure the ATO situation on this tank. The ATO tank that comes with Red Sea set ups are tiny!!

 

[CivicS14]

Moved all the controllers and power blocks to a small cabinet on the left. Test fit my old Vertex calcium reactor and it fits... yes overkill. Right now, I have the co2 tank behind a trashcan, but most likely move it inside the cabinet as well

 

[CivicS14]

I don't like how I can see the plumbing behind the tank, so I ordered a frosted glass background to hide it.

Also, ordered some of those adhesive zip tie mounts to try to get things organized a bit more cause its a mess.

 

[CivicS14]

Added the frosted glass background. Looks good. Hides the wall plate behind the tank and the plumbing. Not bad for $5. I am still trying to figure out where to mount my UV. I found keeping a UV online helped reduced the amount of time I have to scrape the glass.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Added the frosted glass background. Looks good. Hides the wall plate behind the tank and the plumbing. Not bad for $5. I am still trying to figure out where to mount my UV. I found keeping a UV online helped reduced the amount of time I have to scrape the glass.

That glass background looks great! Where did you get it from?

 

[CivicS14]

That glass background looks great! Where did you get it from?

$5 on amazon: https://a.co/d/j9paqRA

Cut to fit. It's a static cling. I think they recommend using water and soap to apply, I applied it dry to see how it looks, I might redo it and try with the water & soap method since there is a lot of bubbles how it currently sits. You can't tell looking directly at it tho.

 

[CivicS14]

15W UV and skimmer installed. Sloppy but it works.

 

[kevgib67]

Looks great, following!

 

[CivicS14]

Since all the calcium reactor media is from my 187 that I just shut down, I assume the bacteria will transfer over as well and limit my "cycle". I also bought some instant cycle by Fluval as well. So, I'm going to run by the LFS this weekend and look for a goby for my first fish in this build.

 

[CivicS14]

Made a cover for the new purple firefish goby I just put in. I only had white window frame on hand. Not sure if Home Depot or Lowes have black. Oh well, it works.

 

[CivicS14]

And he’s out and about eating this morning. Going to try getting him to eat dry vs frozen this next week.

 

[CivicS14]

Here is the plumbing work. I was going to buy some type of white tape to cover the ugly purple pvc primer but decided not worth my time. Its functional and I’m already use to it.

 

[CivicS14]

This is why its important to replace your sediment filter often. 5 micron is my first stage, followed by 1 micron.

I run 2x 5 micron carbon, 2x 1 micron carbon, then DI. Replace the carbon filters annually.

 

[CivicS14]

I ended up getting 2 more fish. I know, its crazy, I just started, but this isn't my first go around at establishing a tank. I did get all the fish on TDO pellets, so that's a step in the right direction.

I have a friend that's going to give me a few softies in a few weeks. I ended up moving the rocks around a bit and decided to go with a 2 island style aqua scape.

 

[CivicS14]

Went to Mexico for a week. Pretty cool. We found a ton of emerald crabs that I wish I could ship back with me lol. I connected my ATO tank to my water station from upstairs to be gravity fed. Also, I set up a water alarm and wyze cam to alert on audible in case something happened. I do have a friend who lives less than 5 min away.

Everything went fine!

 

[CivicS14]

A friend gave me several zoas and I picked up some gonis and felt like my lights just weren't giving it the pop they deserve. So, I ordered 2 Orphek OR4 Uv/Violet bars and dang they are fast at shipping.

I have had orphek bars before, but these OR4s with the built in wifi/bluetooth for programming and ramping up and down is just great. Connected right away and easy to program. I just absolutely love them. I know most people don't need the supplement bar lighting to ramp up, but until you have it, you just don't realize you need it.

I wasn't sure how to mount it so as a temporary fix I did a mount using two paint sticks wrapped in black electrical tape slapped across my current lighting and then doubled sided tape the bars to prevent it from sliding off. Not sure if I'll change it now cause it just works, lol.

You can say its a bit extreme on a 20g long. I set it at 50% max during the day cause it was way too bright on such a shallow tank. Boy does the zoas pop now. Love it.

 

[CivicS14]

Really liking this zoa and quite impressed with this iphone 16e, especially considering its like the bottom of the barrel iphone with a single lens.

 

[CivicS14]

I did my initial parameter test and didn’t look good. Alk 6.7, Nitrates 18.3, and Phosphates .67. Turned on the kalk reactor, put some gfo online, and setting up my versa for some vodka dosing. In the meantime, I did a 25% water change.
Here are a few gonis I picked up.