First reef tank!

Socalnanomax

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 21, 2025
Messages
3
Reaction score
27
Location
Escondido, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all!,
I'm from San Diego and I've just finished setting up my red sea max nano g2 XL, 33 gallons, white stand. I started out with a goal to have an above average bioload, so with that in mind, I went ahead and upgraded to the Nanomat and ATO+, in the cabinet is a pax bellum n18 chaeto reactor, powered by a 475 gph DC pump underneath the skimmer. Down there as well is a poly P bioblock for my bacteria to host. I built a custom PVC manifold with 3 ball valves, the 475's output goes into this manifold, and the first ball valve is used for the pax. The other two ball valves are just spares for now, may add another media reactor in the future.😀 It's been a fun learning experience so far! I've got 10 corals, 2 leathers, some zoas, a monti, torch, hammer, mushroom, alveo. I'd like to add many more here in the near future, while also leaving room for things to grow out! As far as fish go, I've just got two small Ocellaris clowns who own the tank thus far, but that's also likely to change in the near future! I'd love to hear all your opinions, positive negative, whatever you got and I am looking forward to learning from other reefers! I'll add pictures soon!
 

revhtree

Owner Administrator
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
54,046
Reaction score
119,414
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D
welcome-home-logo-greeting-png.1484246
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
108,304
Reaction score
243,213
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
17   0   0

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
108,304
Reaction score
243,213
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
Hello all!,
I'm from San Diego and I've just finished setting up my red sea max nano g2 XL, 33 gallons, white stand. I started out with a goal to have an above average bioload, so with that in mind, I went ahead and upgraded to the Nanomat and ATO+, in the cabinet is a pax bellum n18 chaeto reactor, powered by a 475 gph DC pump underneath the skimmer. Down there as well is a poly P bioblock for my bacteria to host. I built a custom PVC manifold with 3 ball valves, the 475's output goes into this manifold, and the first ball valve is used for the pax. The other two ball valves are just spares for now, may add another media reactor in the future.😀 It's been a fun learning experience so far! I've got 10 corals, 2 leathers, some zoas, a monti, torch, hammer, mushroom, alveo. I'd like to add many more here in the near future, while also leaving room for things to grow out! As far as fish go, I've just got two small Ocellaris clowns who own the tank thus far, but that's also likely to change in the near future! I'd love to hear all your opinions, positive negative, whatever you got and I am looking forward to learning from other reefers! I'll add pictures soon!
 

Gumbies R Us

God, Bouldering, and Reefing
View Badges
Joined
Nov 10, 2022
Messages
29,504
Reaction score
52,138
Location
North Georgia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef!
 

EnterName

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 21, 2025
Messages
975
Reaction score
2,188
Location
Germany
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef!
If you have just set up the tank, the ugly phase will start in a few months and your corals might have a very bad time ahead of them. I would slow down a bit and get through this phase first, before stocking further.

There are ways to have corals at day one, but for a first tank this is quite an "advanced" or risky approach in my opinion. Just in case you haven't familiarized yourself with the ugly phase yet, I recommend reading a little bit about it, so you don't get scared when the sand turns brown and later on when green hair algae takes over the entire tank.

Enjoy the new hobby :)
 
OP
OP
S

Socalnanomax

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 21, 2025
Messages
3
Reaction score
27
Location
Escondido, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef!
If you have just set up the tank, the ugly phase will start in a few months and your corals might have a very bad time ahead of them. I would slow down a bit and get through this phase first, before stocking further.

There are ways to have corals at day one, but for a first tank this is quite an "advanced" or risky approach in my opinion. Just in case you haven't familiarized yourself with the ugly phase yet, I recommend reading a little bit about it, so you don't get scared when the sand turns brown and later on when green hair algae takes over the entire tank.

Enjoy the new hobby :)
Thank you! I am fully anticipating an ugly phase and if it happens I am prepped to try and deal with it. I'm being extraordinarily careful to avoid dropping my nutrients to zero, I know that with the pax at this stage that's a real risk. I added bottles of both pink and purple coralline algae spores to also try and prevent ugly algae breakouts. IF it does end up backfiring on me I'll be sure to take stock of lessons learned!
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

HOW DO YOU ADJUST YOUR CUC AS ALGAE DISAPPEARS?

  • Capture and re-home CUC

    Votes: 10 8.1%
  • Increase white light/hours in tank to spur algae growth to feed CUC

    Votes: 8 6.5%
  • Feed nori to support CUC

    Votes: 40 32.5%
  • Feed herbivore pellets to support CUC

    Votes: 44 35.8%
  • Allow attrition to balance CUC and algae

    Votes: 53 43.1%
  • Provide macro algae to feed CUC

    Votes: 9 7.3%
  • Introduce CUC predators

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 12 9.8%
Back
Top