JBJ RL-20 Build, Started 30 Mar 2021

[Mashbox]

Hey everyone!

My names Ryan and I just
Just wanted to take a minute and start a build thread for my new nano reef. This is my second tank, after a 7 year break. I Kept up with research just didn't have a tank. Just trying to learn my lessons from my previous tank as well as learn from fellow reefers.
Trying to keep this tank nice and simple, water changes only, no dosing, no skimmer. At least for right now.
Thanks for checking it out.
All photos are from my phone with no filter. Am going to get a gel filter for more accurate colors soon.

Set up on 30 March 2021

Equipment:
JBJ RL-20 tank w/ stock return pump
Custom stand my Dad built for me
AI Prime 16HD w/custom schedule
Nero 3 powerhead
IceCap ATO
JBJ Titanium Heater Controller w/ 150W heater
InTank media basket
DIY mesh lid

Livestock:
Around 15lbs of rock including 5lbs of live rock
x2 Fancy Ocellaris Clownfish
Royal Gramma
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
(CUC)--> Strawberry Conch, x2 Trochus snails, scarlet leg hermit crab,

Coral:
Kryptonite Candy Cane
Purple Tipped Frammer
Duncan
Blue Hornet Zoas
GSP
Jack-o-Lantern Lepto

 

[prdubois]

Looks good!

 

[kzenoni]

Very nice!

 

[Mashbox]

Some more color accurate pics using the Flipper FlipKick.

 

[Mashbox]

New coral - Jack-o-Lantern Lepto

 

[Mashbox]

Candy cane feeders coming out for the night.

 

[dsong04]

We have very similar setups! Great work!

 

[Mashbox]

We have very similar setups! Great work!

Thanks! How long has yours been running?

 

[Mashbox]

Mini Update: 11 May 2021
Started dosing Red Sea Foundations A/B/C to keep my Alk @ around 9-9.5, Calc @ 460 and Mag @ >1350. I'm still getting testing data in order to calculate my daily dosage, so I will report back on that in a few weeks. Prior to dosing, even with weekly 3g water changes, I could not get my Alk to stay above 7.5dKh. Calc and Mag were fine just my alkalinity was low. This is using Reef Crystals, which I tested my batch @12.2dKh. Already I've noticed my Duncan and my candy Cane opening way more, and growing much faster. Little buds starting sprouting off the Duncan like two days after I started dosing.

I also received my Hanna ULR Phosphate checker...finally! With the Salifert kits I was getting undetectable phos and Nitrate, or very low nitrates close to zero. My phosphate with the Hanna ended up being perfect @0.05ppm, but I was still unable to detect any nitrates. I upped my feedings, started feeding Reef Roids, and still, nothing. Because of this I have started to notice that my Blue Hornet zoas are almost completely closed, and I've also developed either a slight dino or cyano issue. Especially on the sand. My Nero3 is programmed to do a one hour full speed flush from 2-3am and this seems to be helping, but once the lights turn on there's stringy algae on the rocks and sand. I attribute this to nutrients being too close to 0ppm, particularly the nitrates. So yesterday I went to my LFS and picked up some Brightwell NeoNitro Nitrate supplement. Dosed 1.2ml yesterday which should raise my Nitrates from 0ppm to around 1ppm. Will test today and ensure it worked. My zoas are already opening up more in less than a day. I think because my bioload is so small my denitrification is super efficient regardless of feedings. That stuff is very potent so I'm going extremely slow with it.

 

[dsong04]

Thanks! How long has yours been running?

I've had it going since March! Those candy canes look amazing!

 

[Mashbox]

I've had it going since March! Those candy canes look amazing!

Thanks! Ya they are definitely liking my tank a lot. The polyps get HUGE during peak lighting and they're like glowing they're so bright.

 

[gambl0r]

I'm setting up a very similar tank now - JBJ RL 20, Ai Prime 16, inTank media basket. I upgraded my return pump and will try getting away with no powerhead (I'll end up with the Nero 3 if that doesn't work).

I'm just curious what are you putting in your media basket? And what does your Ai Prime lighting setup look like? (more interested in the color balance, not the schedule)

I've had a 40g breeder w/ sump for years, so this tank will be a move to something very different

 

[Mashbox]

I'm setting up a very similar tank now - JBJ RL 20, Ai Prime 16, inTank media basket. I upgraded my return pump and will try getting away with no powerhead (I'll end up with the Nero 3 if that doesn't work).

I'm just curious what are you putting in your media basket? And what does your Ai Prime lighting setup look like? (more interested in the color balance, not the schedule)

I've had a 40g breeder w/ sump for years, so this tank will be a move to something very different

So right now in my media basket I run either filter floss or blue bottom filter pad in the top, second chamber I run x4 5g Chemipure Blue packets, in the bottom chamber I run ceramic rings and rock rubble I smashed up with a hammer.

For the Prime, right now I'm running an all blue spectrum with UV, violet, blue, royal blue to max, green and red at like 3% during peak hours with an overall wattage of around 35. I usually run like around 18% cool white for 3 hours a day, but since this small dino outbreak I've totally eliminated white light. I've also raised my tank temp to 82°.

 

[Mashbox]

So right now in my media basket I run either filter floss or blue bottom filter pad in the top, second chamber I run x4 5g Chemipure Blue packets, in the bottom chamber I run ceramic rings and rock rubble I smashed up with a hammer.

For the Prime, right now I'm running an all blue spectrum with UV, violet, blue, royal blue to max, green and red at like 3% during peak hours with an overall wattage of around 35. I usually run like around 18% cool white for 3 hours a day, but since this small dino outbreak I've totally eliminated white light. I've also raised my tank temp to 82°.

Current Lighting Schedule.

 

[Mashbox]

Tank is almost at 6 months and doing GREAT! Corals are all super healthy as well as the fish. My Royal Gramma has gotten nice and fat. Been cooking that lepto for a good while, and brought it back from the brink of death. Now it's one of the most amazing looking corals I've ever seen, the color on it is nuts. It's like a bright hot pink with yellow-orange eyes.

Since all the "easy" corals were doing so well I thought I would try some easier SPS. Picked up a nice frag of my all time favorite coral, Bubblegum Digitata, and the guy threw in 2 free SPS frags.

No skimmer, no dosing, just weekly 10% water changes and weekly testing. Very low maintenance.

 

[ks2509]

Lookin good

 

[Mashbox]

Picked up a few new corals at the Rochester Frag Fest this past weekend. Utter Chaos zoas, a nice Ricordea, and the best find was this frag of JF Beach Bum Monti that I got for $20! Had to get it.