DeskMatey 4.8

[SwabbieDeckmate]

This build really started about a year ago. I'm in an apartment now so there are restrictions to what i was going to be able to do, which they mentioned was because i was on the third floor, very understandable haha. My limit was set, 20 gallons. I have about a year of experience in saltwater prior to this. i understand the cost of entering into the hobby and just figured id put some feelers out if anyone was getting rid of some set ups. Boom, i get a hit Deskmate 4.8, mind you this guy didn't say that. He only mentions he has a 15 gallon AIO. I was really interested in an AIO already so i was excited. I show up and i wasn't going to turn it down because the tank was free, i had to pay 60$? for the light i believe so far so good.
While getting back into the hobby i have had made adjustments as well with being in the apt so water sourcing is different atm distilled water by the gallon or driving to the fish store and grabbing water there. So after picking up the essentials just to get started and mind you im keeping this a little more budget friendly and with getting back into i want to make sure this is sustainable before going to crazy. because i will do it. lol Ive found some smaller ground around this tank and alot more information on nanos in general and really just wanted to get somewhere to log what i do how it has worked for me or how it hasn't worked for me. Im still very green to Saltwater aquariums so hopefully this will also somewhat document the progress and advancement over the years. i will eventually upload pictures of progress pictures hopefully chronologically. I've had a couple different fish unfortunately i have attemped to add one more fish twice now and just have not been successful. Im thinking that its just not going to happen in a five gallon. understandable.
I've not had great success with coral side of things either. i first introduced zoanthids and have seen them kinda just stretch out and the look okay but not doing great, a duncan coral that has not come out in awhile.
I just made the leap into the tank, i bought a Kessil Spectral X controller to actually have consistent lighting. upgraded the pump to the mighty jet mini running to the Dual VCA RFG nozzles I'm Going to start doing more frequent water changes at this point as up until now it really has been minimal.

 

[lapin]

Nice

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I always love seeing what people can do with these desk mates! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Welcome to R2R !!! Nice and simple setup. Apartments sometimes has their requirements and regulations for pets and also for fish tank. Happy Reefing..

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

I always love seeing what people can do with these desk mates! Thanks for sharing!

I tell you what I have always been indecisive and being in this hobby I want to do it all this restricts me to almost allow me to really be more precise with decisions and livestock and space for coral. It’s been so much fun doing this. I’ve wanted to get a bigger tank but cant let go of this.

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

Welcome to R2R !!! Nice and simple setup. Apartments sometimes has their requirements and regulations for pets and also for fish tank. Happy Reefing..

Yeah it’s probably a good thing because I’m that person that would push it to the absolute limit with space if I was limited to one tank I’ve already ventured in researching other tank critters

 

[Shinji Ayanami]

Well what I would recommend is getting really personal with your coral. The bulk of mines came from tidal gardens. And looking at their page. And the info sheets. I try to match that with where I will put the coral. Do you test ? I would recommend at least alk. Something may be off with your water. In my tanks at least I like to use the Euphyllia coral as Canary's. Seeing your hammer that tight tells me it's water and possibly light. But with high light they reach out but not a lot (more then shown) and with lower light they really fan out for me.

Here's a run down of mines. I use a sccie 1.0 with dual vfg, a old xr15 g4 using wwc mixed tank at 30%, I modified the back so that the return chamber is a refuge (started with a ball of chaeto now it's stuffed full). This refuge as a hyguur underwater light that runs 24/7. The main chamber holds LR and my heater(ran on inkbird). Switched the sock for a cup that uses floss.

My flow is rather high. But creates a whirlpool that dies of as it comes back to the nozzles.
It's been up for about 3 or 4 months and I have at least 40 corals and a emerald.

Alk is a steady 8 to 9
I don't test cal or mag anymore but with a steady alk they should be good.

I'm very pro heavy in heavy out.

I dose ab plus and AFR

I feed every Sunday and Wednesday

Reef roid, tdo, and various plankton

Change floss every 2 days or it messes with ato. plus you still have bad water recirculating unless you change it frequently


I just recently started kalkwasser via ato and like to so far.


Here are some pics and ask me any questions..

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

Well what I would recommend is getting really personal with your coral. The bulk of mines came from tidal gardens. And looking at their page. And the info sheets. I try to match that with where I will put the coral. Do you test ? I would recommend at least alk. Something may be off with your water. In my tanks at least I like to use the Euphyllia coral as Canary's. Seeing your hammer that tight tells me it's water and possibly light. But with high light they reach out but not a lot (more then shown) and with lower light they really fan out for me.

Here's a run down of mines. I use a sccie 1.0 with dual vfg, a old xr15 g4 using wwc mixed tank at 30%, I modified the back so that the return chamber is a refuge (started with a ball of chaeto now it's stuffed full). This refuge as a hyguur underwater light that runs 24/7. The main chamber holds LR and my heater(ran on inkbird). Switched the sock for a cup that uses floss.

My flow is rather high. But creates a whirlpool that dies of as it comes back to the nozzles.
It's been up for about 3 or 4 months and I have at least 40 corals and a emerald.

Alk is a steady 8 to 9
I don't test cal or mag anymore but with a steady alk they should be good.

I'm very pro heavy in heavy out.

I dose ab plus and AFR

I feed every Sunday and Wednesday

Reef roid, tdo, and various plankton

Change floss every 2 days or it messes with ato. plus you still have bad water recirculating unless you change it frequently


I just recently started kalkwasser via ato and like to so far.


Here are some pics and ask me any questions..

Thank you so much for posting in on this I will definitely be reaching out I was just wondering if anyone had done a Refuge in the back of the tank and if so if it had been successful. I might make an attempt at this in the near future so I appreciate that! Awesome tank man looks phenomenal.

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

So now that consistency is provided I’ve noticed progress with my Duncan and zoas in the week, I added the hammer a week ago and it’s been consistently open and seems happy. Moving forward can anyone help with a list of coral that will give life to my tank, maybe have a little different placements I’m not super familiar and visiting my local fish store I feel like I’m put in a box. I tell them what I have and immediately they told me no hammers, no torch, tried offering a Xenia and a Kenya. I was so confused.

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

My weekends

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

Well I said I was done until a long talk with a man at the local fish store and decided dosing was going to be the next step in order to achieve the coral volume I would like to have. While shopping around decided that an ATO is probably another good choice to keep water parameters as consistent as possible. I ordered the Tunze thinking it was the one was the led sensor but one with a float showed up. Tunze 3152 going to look more into this but any feedback back or experience with this would be great I’ve avoided this because I’m worried about 5 gallons of water on the floor

 

[Bigfishie]

Did you make any mods to the mighty jet for it to fit?

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

Did you make any mods to the mighty jet for it to fit?

Yes I had to cut the intake off which created some issues with flow so I did some custom rubber fittings inside the return to try to restrict water flow because even at the lowest setting it’s a lot of flow. I also have dual return nozzles

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We need updated photos of the tank!

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

We need updated photos of the tank!

I feel honored lol I can take photos tonight when I get home today!

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

We need updated photos of the tank!

 

[SwabbieDeckmate]

I got home today and just sat beside my little oasis for far too long