Hello Reef Beginner

[Avgwarhawk]

Wading into the big blue ocean 15 gallons at at time. My wife and I started a Hello Reef 15 gallon 6 days ago. We are following the instructional videos that are short and sweet. Six days ago we started the cycling process(20 FEB). Fishless, Dr. Tim's and fish food pellets. I tested Monday 23 FEB. Not much activity. PH 8, ammonia .025, nitrate/nitrite 0. Two days later, 25 FEB test shows the cycling has started!! Ammonia up to 2 from .025. Nitrate up to 10 from 0. PH 8.0. Holding steady. Nitrite 0. I was truly wondering if simply putting a pinch(or a bit more) of fish food as the kit(Matthew/Hello Reef) instructed to do would work. I have read up on the dead shrimp method. Using a hardy fish to start the cycle. Using Dr. Tim's and fish food(or ammonia drops). Time will tell if the tank will cycle in 8 days as the video that covers Dr. Tim's process will ring true. I'm betting 10 days. We'll see.

 

[get-salty]

Howdy.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Avgwarhawk]

I would not believe it if I did not do the tests myself. The test indicates the tank is completing a cycle. PH 8.0 steady. Ammonia .50(down from 2 yesterday). Nitrate 0.0(down from 10 yesterday). In case anyone is wondering I use the API test kit that many say sucks. Specifically in the reading for ammonia. Many recommend Hanna that cost a kidney, arm and leg if one goes for the entire set. Or they suggest Salifert. My Salifert ammonia test kit arrived today. I compared the API ammonia test and Salifert. Both read .50. My understanding that below .025 API is not the greatest.

Anyway, Hello Reef videos (Matthew)said the tank should be ready in 8 days. Friday 27 FEB will be day 7. Nitrate has bottomed out. Ammonia is well on its way down. Salinity steady at 1.025. Temp 77.

Test again tomorrow!

No signs of the ugly phase.....yet.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Today we added CUC, 2 coral and fish. Azure Damsel, 2 clowns and a spotted Hawk. Zoe coral and a leather coral. dang hermit thought it would be great to eat some of the Zoe. We got algae wafers for the hermits until algae grows a bit. When also added a fire shrimp. Spiney urchin. Everyone is happy. All ate. The fire shrimp came out of nowhere for the algae wafer. Ran off with it. The leather coral seems very content. Opened up in about an hour. So far it's going well.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

The fish are exhibiting what appears to be normal behavior after lights out. The damsel found a very nice peaceful cave to hide and sleep. Both clowns headed to the surface and found a lower flow sleeping spot. The fire shrimp is out and about. Hermits are moving about. Nature finds a way.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

All have survived the night. That was my only worry. I had plenty of freshwater aquariums when I was a kid. Sometimes a tetra or two would not survive the first night. I did not know much about water chemistry back then. The Zoanthid will hopefully recover from the grazing the hermit crab decided to do. I will be testing the water again today for any changes with the addition of stock.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Tested the water. Everything in spec but alkalinity. It is low. I will look to increase it. Probably use baking soda. The calcium readings are good. I'm super pleased the toadstool is looking great. I have coral food in the way.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Thrilled this coral appears happy.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

This morning 3/2/26 I did my usual head count to ensure all made it through day 2 in the new tank. Everyone is present and accounted for. All are doing well with exception of one clownfish. I have 2 clowns. One was swimming near the surface and obviously there for food. Very active and following me. The other was on the sand, upright and NOT breathing heavy. Just kind of chilling. Now, this was 0600 and the light is out. The light comes on at 0900. The clown did not appear stressed but possibly sleeping(it is a very low flow corner of the tank. I would not think this was unusual but yesterday mornings(around 0800) head count both clowns were out and about swimming. As this morning progressed to 0700 the clown remained in the corner, on the sand and not breathing heavy. However, the lights in the room were on. The other clown swimming. I have a Azure damsel. This fish came out of its cave it likes to sleep in. However, the clown on the sand remained just as it as when I looked at it this morning at 0600. Hopefully just a new tank syndrome for this one.

I understand there will be loss of some fish/coral/invertebrates for whatever reason but it sucks all the same when one goes. Hope this critter will be ok.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

The clown is ok. Just sleeping in a odd place and not acting like it was the previous day Once the light turned on it became active and ate.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Our spotted Hawk had to go. Got super aggressive with a Goby. Be leary of the hawk. It's going to do what they do. Anyway, our aquarium is peaceful now. Everyone getting along. Two clowns, a Goby, royal gamma, azure Damsel. Fire shrimp and emerald crab. Hermits. Spiney Urchin.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Aquarium update. Our corals are growing and or simply appear happy. Our Fiji Yellow Toadstool is definitely showing signs of growth. The Vargas Cespitularia is looking good. The Zoanthid that the hermit ate a bit of is springing back. Cherry Slush Chalice is about the same. I started dosing Brightwell A/B Reef Coral(calcium, magnesium, etc). The fish are all happy and healthy. We are changing out the circulation pump for an adjustable Hygger Mini. The pump with the kit is just to much flow right now. There is no real low or medium flow spot in the tank. All areas are high flow. It may be good later as all grow.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Things that go on when the light is out. I read the green trumpet coral will open and extend its filtering appendages to feed. I checked mine after lights out. Sure enough, it was feeding. Prior to this I witnessed my cherry Slush Chalice pooping. My Vargas appears to be struggling. I moved it to a different spot. Coral are curious creatures.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Today I found the fire shrimp molted. Guess this means he is happy and healthy. I also found the Urchin likes to sit in the stream of the circulation pump. I moved the urchin away from the pump as the water played on top of it. It moved back into the stream and it's sitting there now.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Added a Orange Ricordea coral. Curious coral. No frag plug on the bottom. Place in the substrate and let it to it's thing.

This Cherry Slush Chalice is growing! It has grown to the edge of the frag plug and enveloping it! Thrilled it is doing well!

Algae has started to form in numbers. It was time for a snail or two. This Margarita Snail is a rockstar when it comes to cleaning up! The right side top of the rock is cleaned. This was last night. This morning the rock was picked clean!

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Your tank is looking amzing! and that Orange Ricordea coral colours look great, keep the good work going

 

[jerrysol22]

I just got one of these tanks too! Loving it. I’m considering getting the Hanna Test Kit, but not sure which one is worth getting. I added the coral frags and clown fish about 4 days ago. So far everyone looks happy.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

I just got one of these tanks too! Loving it. I’m considering getting the Hanna Test Kit, but not sure which one is worth getting. I added the coral frags and clown fish about 4 days ago. So far everyone looks happy.

Great kit for getting into SW. Your tank looks great!