Eshopps Deskmate Build

[Haggisman14]

What’s up guys! First post on the R2R forums and just wanted to include pictures of my newest purchase. Eshopps deskmate marina. I recently started adding corals. If you have any questions ask away

Welcome, and enjoy! Mine's coming up on it's 3 year anniversary!

 

[ernestogui86]

Welcome, and enjoy! Mine's coming up on it's 3 year anniversary!

Woah that’s awsome I don’t know many people with the marina, any pics?

 

[ernestogui86]

Hey what’s going on guys I’m having trouble with my torch coral not opening up, I can provide some vids and pics, got my water tested and all tested good besides phosphates being a little high so a water change was done. Any other tips?

 

[Haggisman14]

I don't have the Marina....just the Classic...

You can check out my build thread here:

Nano Build - Comeback Tour - Haggisman14's Eshopps Deskmate Build

So it's been a little over 3 years since I sold off and parted out my 29 Gallon Biocube, and man do I miss the hobby! As much as I want to get a big 50+ gallon tank, that's currently not in the cards. Somehow the little Eshopps Deskmate came into one of my feeds, and it looks like an...

www.reef2reef.com

Enjoy!

 

[tmcjilton]

Coming up on 9 months with this 4.8g Eshopps Deskmate and I haven’t done a whole lot other than a few gear upgrades, some coral frags, and a small CUC.

My snowflake clownfish is doing well and is still the only fish. He’s turned out to be just like any other clown I’ve owned — a complete ******* — attacking anything that goes into the display including my fingers. I’d love to get a small goby but don’t currently have a lid and am a little worried about bioload and space in a 4.8g.

I started with a mushroom and GSP. The mushroom didn’t like where I placed it, detached itself, and reattached just below the original spot. The GSP is glued to its own small rock to prevent it from spreading. It was growing well but recently developed some type of algae film that prevented it from opening. After letting it go for a bit, I intervened and gently removed most of it with a soft toothbrush. It’s now starting to reopen and looks like it’s heading in the right direction.

On a recent trip to WWC I couldn’t help myself and picked up a couple zoas, an acro , and a few other small frags. Everything seems to be doing well except the zoas. One frag opens but the heads are tiny. The other hasn’t fully opened yet but is starting to peek. They seemed to have the same algae film issue as the GSP, so I gave them the same gentle cleaning. The partially open one returned to its same small heads, and the other is slowly improving. Both zoas are in the bottom third of the tank.

The acro is placed in the upper third directly under the light with one return nozzle aimed at it for moderate direct flow.

I may have made a mistake when adding the latest frags because I forgot to back down my light intensity. I’m running a Kessil A80 Tuna Blue and recently added the Spectral Controller X. I’ve set a 14-day acclimation starting at 30% of my main program. Main schedule runs about 11 hours with a 3-hour peak at 70% intensity and 22% color. I don’t have access to a PAR meter, so any A80 TB input would be appreciated.

CUC currently consists of:

• 1 cerith
• 1 trochus
• 1 nassarius

I may add another trochus.

Gear upgrades so far:

• Tunze Osmolator Nano ATO (fits perfectly in the return chamber and works great)
• Dual random flow generator (did reduce flow noticeably)
• Kraken Reef filter cup with a small amount of floss
• Kessil Spectral Controller X

I have one RFG nozzle aimed at the acro and the other slightly upward toward center to create some surface ripple. I ordered an IM MightyJet Mini (found one for $30) and plan to run it very low to increase overall flow. Filter socks were clogging too quickly to be practical in this small system.

I recently had some brown algae on the sand, likely diatoms after stirring the sand and blowing off rocks before a water change. It looks better this morning, but we’ll see how it progresses as the photoperiod ramps.

Maintenance:

• Weekly ~15% water changes
• Currently feeding a small amount of frozen daily

Parameters:

• Alk: 8 dKH
• NO3: 0–2 ppm (Red Sea)
• Phosphate: not currently testing (waiting on Hannah)
• Other parameters not currently being tested (waiting on Hannah)

I suspect nutrients may be bottomed out and contributing to the zoas staying small. I’ve slightly increased feeding to try to bring nitrate up a bit. I’m considering extending the time between water changes slightly but don’t want to cause a big swing in such a small volume.

Any advice or input is appreciated. I’ll try to post some photos soon.

Thanks for reading!