Custom 21G Nano Newbie Tank

[jisyokputih]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and I'm also new to building a reef tank. I've done a lot of research since October and I think I have a good understanding of the basics. Due to space issue in my apartment, I've decided to build a nano reef tank despite the warnings about nano tank is not for beginners.

Tank Dimensions
60 x 30 x 45 cm (23.6 x 11.8 x 17.7 Inches) with 8mm Glass

Lighting
Kessil A360x Tuna Blue

Filtration
Vivaria Filter Mat
Bubble Magus QQ3 Skimmer
Maxspect Nano Tech ANAEROBIC Bio Block

Pump
SKIMZ QuietPRO 1.2 DC Controllable Water Pump 1200 L/ H

Sand
Caribsea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Live Sand - 10 kg (20 lbs)

Rock
Caribsea Liferock Shapes 20 lbs box ( only use 10 lbs)

Salt
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

Water Parameters
Salinity 35ppt
Temperature 26-27.5 C (78.8 - 81.5 F)

Pics

Started the nitrogen cycle on 27th Dec 2022 with Dr. Tim's one and only + Ammonium Chloride.

Day 1 : Add ammonium chloride + one and only
Day 2 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0
Day 3 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.1 (add ammonium chloride)
Day 4 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.2
Day 5 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.2
Day 6 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.4
Day 7 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.4
Day 8 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 1
Day 9 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 1

Plans
After the cycle is done, I would like to add Copepods, Rotifers, Tigriopus and Amphipods.
Fishes : A couple of picasso clownfish + sixline wrasse
Inverts : Hermit crab, Nassarius snail, starfish
Corals : Xenia, Green Star Polyp
Gold Torch, Hammer, frogspawn, goniopora
Acanthophyllia, Lobophyllia, Acanthastrea echinata, Blastomussa

Questions

1. What I don't understand is why does my ammonia level still 1.5 even after nitrite is present?
2. Is the light to far away from the tank? The distance from the light to the water is 20cm (8inch)
3. Do I still need wavemaker since my pump is 1200 L/h and my tank width is only 60cm?

Any tips or recommendations you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I'm really excited about this project, and I want to make sure I do it right from the start.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[nuxx]

Looking good.

Think the light will be OK, wouldn't be a bad idea to add a small powerhead to change up the direction of the flow.

 

[dstockwell]

Looks good.

Welcome to the Reef

 

[jisyokputih]

Looking good.

Think the light will be OK, wouldn't be a bad idea to add a small powerhead to change up the direction of the flow.

Thank you. Gonna add it after the cycle is done

Looks good.

Welcome to the Reef

thanks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank looks great so far, and welcome to reef2reef!!

 

[AydenLincoln]

What kind of starfish were you thinking? Micro brittles are a great option for a nano and can be added sooner rather than later. For other stars best to wait a few months at a minimum ideally longer after the cycle is done before adding them and making sure you can feed them their proper diet. They are sensitive and research should be done on the species you want.

 

[AyoItsRocco]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and I'm also new to building a reef tank. I've done a lot of research since October and I think I have a good understanding of the basics. Due to space issue in my apartment, I've decided to build a nano reef tank despite the warnings about nano tank is not for beginners.

Tank Dimensions
60 x 30 x 45 cm (23.6 x 11.8 x 17.7 Inches) with 8mm Glass

Lighting
Kessil A360x Tuna Blue

Filtration
Vivaria Filter Mat
Bubble Magus QQ3 Skimmer
Maxspect Nano Tech ANAEROBIC Bio Block

Pump
SKIMZ QuietPRO 1.2 DC Controllable Water Pump 1200 L/ H

Sand
Caribsea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Live Sand - 10 kg (20 lbs)

Rock
Caribsea Liferock Shapes 20 lbs box ( only use 10 lbs)

Salt
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

Water Parameters
Salinity 35ppt
Temperature 26-27.5 C (78.8 - 81.5 F)

Pics

Started the nitrogen cycle on 27th Dec 2022 with Dr. Tim's one and only + Ammonium Chloride.

Day 1 : Add ammonium chloride + one and only
Day 2 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0
Day 3 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.1 (add ammonium chloride)
Day 4 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.2
Day 5 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.2
Day 6 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.4
Day 7 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 0.4
Day 8 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 1
Day 9 : Ammonia 1.5, Nitrite 1

Plans
After the cycle is done, I would like to add Copepods, Rotifers, Tigriopus and Amphipods.
Fishes : A couple of picasso clownfish + sixline wrasse
Inverts : Hermit crab, Nassarius snail, starfish
Corals : Xenia, Green Star Polyp
Gold Torch, Hammer, frogspawn, goniopora
Acanthophyllia, Lobophyllia, Acanthastrea echinata, Blastomussa

Questions

1. What I don't understand is why does my ammonia level still 1.5 even after nitrite is present?
2. Is the light to far away from the tank? The distance from the light to the water is 20cm (8inch)
3. Do I still need wavemaker since my pump is 1200 L/h and my tank width is only 60cm?

Any tips or recommendations you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I'm really excited about this project, and I want to make sure I do it right from the start.

Thanks in advance for your help!

This look awesome, been thinking about a cube for awhile now, how is it going so far?

 

[Nano_Man]

Nice nano

 

[jisyokputih]

What kind of starfish were you thinking? Micro brittles are a great option for a nano and can be added sooner rather than later. For other stars best to wait a few months at a minimum ideally longer after the cycle is done before adding them and making sure you can feed them their proper diet. They are sensitive and research should be done on the species you want.

I don't know the name, but saw a little pink starfish at my LFS. They said it's not hard to care and it's not the sandshifting kind. But I'll do some more research before adding it to the tank. Thanks for the input

This look awesome, been thinking about a cube for awhile now, how is it going so far?

Just finished the cycle last week.
I have added 1 snowflake clownfish at day 32 then added another 1 at day 35.
Also added a green torch at day 35.

My clownfish don't want to explore the rocks and kept close to the glass. Also they sleep on my glass scraper

 

[AquaLogic]

Great looking setup. Where did you get your tank? What brand is it?

 

[kevgib67]

I would suggest a Hygger 1600 wave maker for your size tank. Quite and affordable.