Fluval Flex 15g build Thread

[ramona]

I used the same aquamaxx reef welder epoxy glue to hold the rocks, I didn't like the look of bubblegum, besides the fact that there was some kind of black fuzzy algae or mold growing at the junction between LR and the epoxy in shaded areas, easy to scrub with a tooth brush and suction with the turkey buster, but still bothering me; so I took the scape apart and removed most of the welder. It created a very strong bond. I have a small 9 gallon tank with only LR for last 2 month.

I also follow Nano sapiens strategy. I love his tank; using his ATO technique, it does work.

 

[Jason boles]

Thanks for the reply!!

I am hoping that the reefwelders will eventually get covered by coral or coraline algae. I did enjoy using it! I may just be lazy, but dont have the tools to cut an acrylic block, and the water bottle nozzles would be submersed as opposed to sitting above. ATO should be here Tuesday!!

 

[Jason boles]

@ramona , no build thread?

 

[Jason boles]

BTA moves to right where I didn’t want it! Lol. It’s just so cute though.

Cyphaestra is so Purdy in person.

Does brightening lights for pics stress out my coral??

 

[ramona]

Not yet, I still try to get a hand on maintenance, testing, stability, and so on; also try to figure out how to post pictures from my samsung; just yesterday I set up my kessil controller and I wonder if is too little or too much light. To be honest, I don't know what i'm doing, will see.

 

[Jason boles]

Ha! I have felt the same way on things!! Get it going and you can make adjustments as you move. I am loving the prime, I was able to download a highly used schedule and let it ride. SO far my corals are loving it. I am shaky on the stability thing too. From what I have learned, add fish last. Like once all the corals get in and get going well, then add fish. From what I understand it helps your water params not fluctuate as fast, and once its full of corals and matured a little more, its more able to handle fish bioload / feeding.

I am going to try and make it a year before fish... which means I should get some in 3 to 4 more months! LOL

 

[ramona]

I hear you, I'll try to follow same plan, coral first, hope next week.

 

[Jason boles]

What could I place on the the upper ledge? I imagine something encrusting down the sides a bit, and maybe something else that can branch up ( maybe after it matures a lot more I’ll try an acro?)

Suggestions??

 

[ramona]

Would a RBTA survive on the upper ledge?

 

[Jason boles]

I didn’t think they would like that much light / flow. I think, and could be wrong, they like moderate light and flow. My current one is hanging out under my ledge with just a few tips hanging out into the light.

 

[Jason boles]

Well the photos were supposed to be last.... universe....

Acan garden

Mushroom rock

Monti cap ledge!

Water change Wednesday!!!

I went a little crazy buying frags off eBay... has to make use of that shipping charge!!

I have added an ATO and am starting to pay close attention to my alkalinity.

So far everything is doing great. Only thing that is stressed is the encrusting Montipora that was like a blue green at the LFS... I’m sure it will bounce back at some point.

I’m still terrified to change my lights too much to take pics. I turned off the royal blues for these though...

 

[Jason boles]

Oh! The anemone is hiding. He moved to the back of the rockwork

 

[NY_Caveman]

Well the photos were supposed to be last.... universe....

Acan garden

Mushroom rock

Monti cap ledge!

Water change Wednesday!!!

I went a little crazy buying frags off eBay... has to make use of that shipping charge!!

I have added an ATO and am starting to pay close attention to my alkalinity.

So far everything is doing great. Only thing that is stressed is the encrusting Montipora that was like a blue green at the LFS... I’m sure it will bounce back at some point.

I’m still terrified to change my lights too much to take pics. I turned off the royal blues for these though...

That is quite a haul! I have done the same though when I consider shipping charges.

 

[Jason boles]

Thanks Caveman!

I knew I wasn’t alone. I may be out of room for a while though...

 

[Jason boles]

Something exciting is happening!!

First I got a eflux wave pump controller and system. I got the 650 one, but the pump said 1050 on the back... so not sure.

I have to say that the flow doesn’t seem as extreme as I thought it would in my small tank. I have it cranked all the way up on the wave function.

On to the fun part!! Looks like my Calcium, Alklinity and magnesium are dropping!! Which means the corals are iptaking it.

I’m excited but also nervous as I have no clue what to do. I rarely get much love here when I have a question so I’m going to post my question on the reef chemistry forum.

I’ll copy and paste here as well.

 

[Jason boles]

So i can keep everything in one place!

so I’m super excited that I am finally seeing a drop in calcium, magnesium and alkalinity.
This is what I’m working with.

I have filled up my tank in the last couple of weeks with frags, and have been testing all nightly at 10, and all weekly.

I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt. Before yesterday my test read

Ca 425
Mg 1400
Alk 10.25

I do a 3/4 gallon water change twice weekly, Sunday and Wednesday. I turkey bast the rockwork and sandbed daily, turning all live sand. I also clean the rear chambers / pump monthly.

I water changed yesterday and only tested my alk which was 10.5, and today it was 9.8. Last night was at 1045 and tonight was at 10.

Ca 375
Alk 9.8
Mg 1300

So this is obviously a drop from the bucket mix.

That leads me to the fact that I just purchased an ato because I plan on dosing Kalk... I purchased bright wells Kalk +2 with my ATO and have not used it as of yet.

So should I just add a small amount to my ATO water and keep testing until my levels stabilize???

All help and advice is appreciated, and questions are welcomed.

 

[Jason boles]

.....

 

[Jason boles]

Not getting a lot of help in the other thread I started about my params, so I'm going to just start updating here, and at the very least have a history of what is happening and going on.

I did purchase a salifert test kit this morning along with some more RODI water to make more saltwater. My salinity was a little off yesterday at 1.024, so I did a small .75 gal water change that it brought it back up and has kept it there. I'm assuming the drop came from adding / getting my ATO setup.

I wasnt sure that I was getting accurate readings on my test kits. I am going to stop making changes and keep testing nightly to get a better idea of what is happening. Nothing really looks distressed in the tank. The only thing is an encrusting monti that turned doo doo brown when it was added 3-4 days ago has not colored up, it does have a little more color on it than originally, but slow going. The red one right next do it is doing amazing. Also the monti caps that I orginally got have lost a good amount of color as well.

I recently started feeding the tank, so I am sure it had very little nutrients in the tank. The caps seem to be coming back around as well. little more color today than few days ago.

Here are my tests....

9/27

Red Sea 10 PM
Ca - 375
DKH - 9.8
MG - 1300

9/28

Red Sea 6:15
SG 1.024
CA - 420
DKH - 9.8
MG - 1300

.75g water change

Red Sea 11:16
SG 1.026
CA - 380
DKH - 9.64
MG - 1460

9/29
Red Sea 8:20
SG 1.026
CA - 400
DKH - 9.2
MG - 1080

Salifert 10:30
CA - 410
DKH - 9.3
MG - 1185

Seems the two kits are pretty similar. I did find the salifert more user friendly.

Current questions:

Does testing time make a difference?

How do I use my Kalk +2 in my ATO to stabalize? or am I barking up the wrong tree and need to purchase something different?

I am going to continue nightly testing and posting... I'm sure this seems second nature to most, but its all new to me.

For Reference I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt mix.

CA - 450
DKH - 12.2
MG - 1340

 

[Jason boles]

Water change Sunday !! Cleaned the sand bed as well. As every day I turkey blasted everywhere.

Today’s test results...

Sg 1.026

Red Sea
Ca - 420
Alk - 9.8
Mg - 1280

Salifert
Ca - 400
Alk - 9.9
Mg - 1215

 

[Jason boles]

Well... water change Wednesday didn’t happen, so I handled it tonight! Here are some pics. I still haven’t figured out how to make the lights for pics.... I took one with the ramp down blues and others with high whites.

The green montis I purchased turned brown, but they still have a little green, so I’m gonna see what happens.

I also removed the Monti caps and put them in the light to color them up before returning them to the store. I realized I won’t have the room.

Thinking of getting a couple of sensors to put on the shadowed ledge.

Here are the most recent test results. Still unsure what to do about it. So far the corals look great. I refilled my ATO water. I did add the 3/4 tsp of Kalk +2 again.

Wednesday:
1030pm
1.026
Red Sea
CA 400
KH 9.5
Mg 1360

Salifert
CA 420
KH 10.7
Mg 1200

Thursday 10/4
8:50 pm
After water change
1.025
Red Sea
Ca 400
KH 10.2
Mg 1320

Salifert
CA 400
KH 10.2
Mg 1290