First saltwater voyage starting with HelloReef

[TheReefAbides]

Diatom stage has been progressing, I couldn’t help but want to see what they look like up close. Picked up a cheap AM150 microscope off Amazon. I find this highly fascinating

 

[TheReefAbides]

Little update, tank seems to be progressing well. most parameters have started to stabilize. Had a small spike in phosphate from .2 to .3ppm. I have a scheduled water change tomorrow. So I will see if the reduced feedings have had a impact this week. I feel no need to try to use binders yet unless its starts to run away.

The diatoms seem to be fading away finally but replaced with a small amount of brown algae.

Hopefully soon I can feel comfortable enough to go shopping for a Nem. Still reading a lot of mixed reviews of them. My thought that if this is a nem only tank I should have no issues other than nems being nems


Current stock list:

Mocha Storm Clown
Storm Clown
2x peppermint shrimp
2x cernith snails
2x blue legged hermits
Galaxy Pods from Algae barn
(dosed phyto 3-4ml every other day until phyto was expired)

Feeding a mix of foods but keeping it random.

BRS pellets
Hikari small sinking algae pellets
Frozen Brine Shrimp
TDO chroma boost pellets from reef nutrition

Lights

10:30am sunrise
8:30pm sunset
set to 80% intensity of template provided by Helloreef
Lunar Mode is active as well.

Ramps to peak at around 2:30pm, 20% RY 28% B and 80% CW

 

[Acan!]

maybe try to add some pods in there?

 

[TheReefAbides]

maybe try to add some pods in there?

I added galaxy pods on 5/15, and dosed phyto every other day 3/4mls until the expiration date on the jar. Haven’t decided if I’m going to order more phyto. I imagine with what’s in the tank they should be able to self sustain by now.

 

[TheReefAbides]

Did a 2 gal wc tonight and a quick scrub with a toothbrush brush on the power head and what I could reach on the back wall.

 

[ravila101]

Does the sicce wavemaker let out a buzzing sound for you?

 

[TheReefAbides]

Does the sicce wavemaker let out a buzzing sound for you?

Either that or it’s the return pump. I noticed tonight depending on how the lid sits it resonates worse in some places.

 

[TheReefAbides]

Did my weekly 15% water change also decided to clean out the AIO chamber. The sponge in the bottom was absolutely horrible, filled with detritus, gave it a good squeeze in the W/C bucket and put back into place.
Cleaned 75% of the film algae of the back glass. Noticed some possible Coralline growth. ( purpleish spots that did not wipe away).
While cleaning out the filter roller chamber I found my missing shrimp. thought he was just hiding per usual during his molt. His body was trapped and torn in half. RIP

Also noticed some pinkish spot dime size to less than dime size forming on the sand bed. (really hoping this isn't cyano starting which prompted the deeper clean even though it was due) I read somewhere that high amounts of dissolved organics can potentially cause cyano. Close monitoring will be in effect.

Going to watch this progression for another week or so to make sure. I was finally getting to the point where I was thinking we have been establishing long enough for our first anemone. We will see.