Hello Reef Beginner

[TheNanoReefer1015]

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.

For the money I’m getting this one. https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/h...wD5kXYWUcWcU5K0n6IS-ETYyuz3PJbI0aAggnEALw_wcB

 

[TheNanoReefer1015]

Many say the smaller tanks can be hard to keep. Water parameters swing quickly, etc. This appears to be true but correcting it does not take much. Water changes on large tanks must be a bear.

For now I use 2-5 gallon buckets I have them ea marked in gallons I use a small submersible pump, I pump the tank water out into the one empty bucket & pump the premixed water back in the tank from the other premixed. It’s easy & clean no mess! I can only image the monthly W/C cost on a large setup & dosing. I’m sticking with the Aqua Forest reef salt that came with the kit through Chewy.com I may use the Aqua Forest 3 in 1 additives but I bought the All-for-reef. But I haven’t dosed yet ans I only have one anemone & waiting to get my Hanna Checker. But I’m sure as I add more corals & stuff there will be more demands for additives.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

For now I use 2-5 gallon buckets I have them ea marked in gallons I use a small submersible pump, I pump the tank water out into the one empty bucket & pump the premixed water back in the tank from the other premixed. It’s easy & clean no mess! I can only image the monthly W/C cost on a large setup & dosing. I’m sticking with the Aqua Forest reef salt that came with the kit through Chewy.com I may use the Aqua Forest 3 in 1 additives but I bought the All-for-reef. But I haven’t dosed yet ans I only have one anemone & waiting to get my Hanna Checker. But I’m sure as I add more corals & stuff there will be more demands for additives.

I do the same with buckets and pumps. Prepping the water with salt and warming with a heater takes very little time. My RO/DI is fast. I run 80 PSI water through it. Just on the edge of blowing it up from water pressure. Gulp. I make 5 gallons in about an hour. I use Reef-roids. I use Brightwell products for calcium/magnesium/Biofuel code A and B. As little as these tanks need I will not need to buy any for a very long time. I'm hoping it will become it's own little biosphere and not require much. At least that is the goal. And yes, those folks with 100 gallon reefs are dedicated! I see some videos of 55 gallon trashcans full of water and on casters!

 

[Avgwarhawk]

My Fire Shrimp(Jacques) has been very shy and protective of a cave under the arch stone since being put in the aquarium. Today he finally is coming out a bit and showing himself. Being a new set up I do target feed him jumbo shrimp(cannibal!)

 

[Avgwarhawk]

The we have my Emerald Crab. Mr. Crabs as it were. Monday I found what appeared to be a dead Mr. Crabs. I pulled the dead critter from the sand and buried his little body outside. Not but 2 hours later I see....Mr. Crabs picking at the rocks. What the.... Mr. Crabs had molted. He has a new shiny shell and hairy legs! Cool critter and I enjoy watching him quietly pick at the rocks. Glad he did not die.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Mr Crabs is truly emerald.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

I have added copepods to the aquarium. One for the micro algae forming on the glass like crazy. Second, the watchman goby apparently likes copepods. I hope these little critter populate. I will feed them phytoplankton.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Spotted the copepods in the biological sump of the AIO. I feed them there. I have not see them in the main tank. Oh well, at least they are somewhere doing some good.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Watching the Olive snail and it's habits, it only surfaces when hungry and smelling mysis. It stayed under the sand for 5 days(since last feeding). It smelled mysis shrimp at today's feeding and surfaced . I fed it 2 large pieces of jumbo shrimp. It submerged to eat. It does not appear to have conducted any night hunting. All of my hermits and snails are present and accounted for. Curious aquarium inhabitant. Beautiful shell!

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Yesterday I added a Duncan Coral. First coral I have gotten mail ordered. It arrived overnight a bit banged up. It was mounted in a specially made cup to help with transport damage free. Upon opening the box I found the Duncan free of the cup, in the corner of the bag and closed up. I guess fragile live animal written on the box means nothing. Anyway, I gave it a dip, acclimated for a bit and placed in the tank. It's color looks good. Still closed up as of this morning. I hope the little fella will do ok after a trip like that!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Yesterday I added a Duncan Coral. First coral I have gotten mail ordered. It arrived overnight a bit banged up. It was mounted in a specially made cup to help with transport damage free. Upon opening the box I found the Duncan free of the cup, in the corner of the bag and closed up. I guess fragile live animal written on the box means nothing. Anyway, I gave it a dip, acclimated for a bit and placed in the tank. It's color looks good. Still closed up as of this morning. I hope the little fella will do ok after a trip like that!

Duncans are pretty resilient, so it should pull through!

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Duncans are pretty resilient, so it should pull through!

That is what I'm reading. It looked about the same this morning.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

The Duncan coral bailed out. All of my other corals are thriving. This Duncan was mailed overnight. Probably stressed to death as it was not handled well by the carrier. Completely out of the protective cup and jambed in the corner of the bag. I'm not attempting mail ordered again.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Since the Duncan bailed for reasons unknown(more than likely getting beaten up in shipping) I decided on a Green Star Polyp. I read it could do well in a toilet with table salt so there's that. I picked up the specimen at the LFS. Dipped and placed on a single rock to keep it contained. Within 2 hours each polyp started to open. Of course a hermit needed to investigate and the result was the polyps retracting. Anyway, rechecked every water parameter. Nothing of note that would cause a problem. Hopefully today each will fully open and be happy.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

I like my urchin but sometimes this rearranging of coral gets old. Guess it wanted a spring hat.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Freak unintentional accident today. My Royal Gramma was in its cave last night. My Urchin decided it wanted the cave as well. The Royal Gramma was trapped by the Urchin spines and eventually died. Trying to remove the Urchin to get the Royal Gramma out so it would not fester and drive up nitrates. As a result the Urchin died as well. Sad day at the reef.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Coming along nicely

 

[Avgwarhawk]

This guy has molted twice in a 4 week period. He is about 2 inches now! Eats algae like crazy.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

I decided I needed to post this issue with my GSP. I purchased a frag and glued to a rock. When doing so a smaller frag broke off. I decided to clue it to the same rock. It was after all alive all be it just a small very small frag. The GSP opened quickly and was doing well. After 2 weeks the larger part of the frag closed. The smaller frag stayed open. This went on for 2 days. Researching the issue many said to get any algae or brownish dusty crap off of it. It may be a light issue. Reposition it. Well, I don't think lighting was the issue. The smaller frag opened daily. It is only 1 inch away from the larger closed frag. I used a turkey baster to blow off the coral. There was a lot of brown dusty algae. I left for the day. No joy. Still closed. I then used a soft paint brush and cleaned it. The coral was exposed more and I noted the dark purple flesh which is what I note when I first put it in the tank. It was no free of build up. I spun the rock with frag 180 as it is suggested to move it in the tank. Being the small frag was doing ok I did believe transporting it to a completely new spot was warranted. I left it for the night clean and spun in position. This morning(light still out) I see several polyps now open! I don't know if the combo of cleaning and moving a bit helped or simply one or the other. Whatever the case, it is now opening again with either the cleaning and moving. Possibly both. Here it was after the cleaning. Small frag happy. Big frag not so much.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Looks like cleaning and moving a bit helped