Dipping my toes back in with an 8 gallon

[Shaina Carey]

After my 3.5 gallon failed, and my parents dying in 2021, I decided to dip my toes into saltwater again. This 8 gallon has been empty for 2 years, so I thought it would be perfect for a nano reef tank. Bought sand and an ammonia test kit today. Rest of the stuff is coming tomorrow and Thursday. Using an HOB I had for my 5.5 gallon betta tank.

 

[KrisReef]

Welcome back. You need to get some booties to keep the tank clean from your feet, but I don't know who makes those? I use these for my arms.

Good luck with the new set-up!

 

[Shaina Carey]

Welcome back. You need to get some booties to keep the tank clean from your feet, but I don't know who makes those? I use these for my arms.

Good luck with the new set-up!

Thank you. I am really excited about it

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you. I am really excited about it

I could tell, and I thing it will be a fun tiny tank. Not to discourage you, but please don't put a school of fishes in that tiny tank. I just posted the same idea on another thread, so I am not picking on you. A coral or corals can be kept safely (they don't swim much) but most reef fishes really don't belong in a small tank, imo.

Especially not just one tiny tang, unless you are going to upgrade around July 2024.

 

[Shaina Carey]

I could tell, and I thing it will be a fun tiny tank. Not to discourage you, but please don't put a school of fishes in that tiny tank. I just posted the same idea on another thread, so I am not picking on you. A coral or corals can be kept safely (they don't swim much) but most reef fishes really don't belong in a small tank, imo.

Especially not just one tiny tang, unless you are going to upgrade around July 2024.

Going to be a mainly coral tank with a CUC and maybe a goby.

I could tell, and I thing it will be a fun tiny tank. Not to discourage you, but please don't put a school of fishes in that tiny tank. I just posted the same idea on another thread, so I am not picking on you. A coral or corals can be kept safely (they don't swim much) but most reef fishes really don't belong in a small tank, imo.

Especially not just one tiny tang, unless you are going to upgrade around July 2024.

Thinking about a nice coral tank with a CUC and maybe a small goby. I am planning on cycling my 29 gallon and 10 gallon for freshwater tanks so I have fish to watch.

 

[Devisissy]

I currently have a 3 gallon set up and it's a chore. I had a five gallon fluval years and years ago that was a bit easier. So my three gallon has mangroves an aquaclear 50 with the propeller switched out with the aquaclear 20 for filtration. I use bio balls, carbon, soft and course sponge and filter floss around the intake. The filter floss and gets changed daily. Lighting is a kessil. Every day I mist mangroves, pull floss and return with clean. I take a Dixie cup size full of water and replace with new salt water. Every day before I even have my coffee. Once a week I do a 50% water change and change all sponges. All that's in there currently is a few sand sitting snails, a yellow montipora, and a dying hammer that I am trying to save and some dying acros I am trying to save. My big tank crashed and these corals I've been really working on. Normally it's just some Marco algae and a few hermits. But I moved all my macro while I try my best to save these dying coral. I use bright wells restore and trace every two days and brightwells iodine ONE DROP every other day. When it was just macro I dosed 2hr aquarist fertilizer twice a week. A heater controller is a must. Everything happens fast with these things. So if you like fiddling with crap then an 8 gallon is right up your alley.

 

[kevgib67]

Sorry about your parents. Some rock flower anemones that host sexy shrimp would look nice. Maybe 4-5 sexy shrimp.

 

[Shaina Carey]

I currently have a 3 gallon set up and it's a chore. I had a five gallon fluval years and years ago that was a bit easier. So my three gallon has mangroves an aquaclear 50 with the propeller switched out with the aquaclear 20 for filtration. I use bio balls, carbon, soft and course sponge and filter floss around the intake. The filter floss and gets changed daily. Lighting is a kessil. Every day I mist mangroves, pull floss and return with clean. I take a Dixie cup size full of water and replace with new salt water. Every day before I even have my coffee. Once a week I do a 50% water change and change all sponges. All that's in there currently is a few sand sitting snails, a yellow montipora, and a dying hammer that I am trying to save and some dying acros I am trying to save. My big tank crashed and these corals I've been really working on. Normally it's just some Marco algae and a few hermits. But I moved all my macro while I try my best to save these dying coral. I use bright wells restore and trace every two days and brightwells iodine ONE DROP every other day. When it was just macro I dosed 2hr aquarist fertilizer twice a week. A heater controller is a must. Everything happens fast with these things. So if you like fiddling with crap then an 8 gallon is right up your alley.

Lol. I'm up for the challenge

 

[Shaina Carey]

Sorry about your parents. Some rock flower anemones that host sexy shrimp would look nice. Maybe 4-5 sexy shrimp.

I just looked them up. They are adorable little anemones. Might have to ask my LFS next time I go about them

 

[kevgib67]

Check out the sexy shrimp. They are small and look like they are always dancing. Best kept in 3 or more.

 

[Shaina Carey]

All done for tonight. Was able to find my refractometer and the salinity is I think the reading is 1.024 which I am happy about.

 

[Shaina Carey]

I know the hard scape is not pretty. The LFS didn't have a lot of choices when it came to the variety they were carrying.

 

[Shaina Carey]

Got a new light. It is a nicrew marine light. I am excited

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Nice looking light!

 

[Shaina Carey]

Nice looking light!

Thank you. It is a Nicrew marine light that you can program to have a sunup to sunset function on it. Paid $16.99 for it.

 

[Shaina Carey]

Just checked the ammonia and Nitrite. I also checked my salinity with both a hydrometer and then my refractometer. I got 8 ppm for ammonia and 0.25 ppm Nitrite. Salinity is at 35 PPT with both. It is on its way

 

[Shaina Carey]

Added more dried live rock.

 

[Shaina Carey]

Ugh, I hate waiting for tanks to cycle. At least I am getting readings in all three categories. I know, it still is going to be about a month.

 

[Shaina Carey]

Yuck. It is in the ugly brown phase now.

 

[Shaina Carey]

The view from my bed.