Before the pandemic in 2020 I tried nano reefs a couple of times and it never worked out for one reason or another. The itch never went away though, so now I am trying again one last time. If this goes as poorly as the others, I'll probably just sell the parts and go back to freshwater. I'm trying to keep this attempt as simple as possible to give myself better odds of success (I hope).
Tank: Innovative Marine Fusion 15.
Stand: Innovative Marine APS stand (my first mistake).
Lighting: Kessil A160we with Spectral X controller.
Pump: Stock for now, have a Sicce 1.0 on the way.
ATO: MT-Duetto2.
Filtration: none for the moment, I have an Intank media basket on the way where I'll put a small bag of MarinePure gems that are currently soaking in a bowl with saltwater and .25oz of Turbostart. Not sure I need anything else since there are no fish.
Heater: Neotherm 75w I had lying around.
Intended stocking: For now nothing, but a few zoas and maybe a toadstool leather in a couple weeks. In a few months I might get a tailspot blenny but this will be a fishless tank for awhile.
I got the tank yesterday, threw in about 10 pounds of Caribsea Ocean Direct sand and my rock. I bought an Aquarium Cycle Kit from AlgaeBarn and added .75 oz of Turbostart and a few drops of the Nitrocycle ammonia substitute. The directions called for 15ml of the Nitrocycle, but since I'm not adding fish in the foreseeable future I didn't see the need. Tested the water this morning and I'm already showing 0 ammonia and .25 nitrite, but the water is a bit on the cloudy side and smells less than pleasant. Hopefully the water and the smell will clear up soon. I went ahead and ordered some ecopods and phytoplankton from Algaebarn. They'll get here next week and I'll add the copepods and a few drops of phyto when the nitrite goes away.
Tank: Innovative Marine Fusion 15.
Stand: Innovative Marine APS stand (my first mistake).
Lighting: Kessil A160we with Spectral X controller.
Pump: Stock for now, have a Sicce 1.0 on the way.
ATO: MT-Duetto2.
Filtration: none for the moment, I have an Intank media basket on the way where I'll put a small bag of MarinePure gems that are currently soaking in a bowl with saltwater and .25oz of Turbostart. Not sure I need anything else since there are no fish.
Heater: Neotherm 75w I had lying around.
Intended stocking: For now nothing, but a few zoas and maybe a toadstool leather in a couple weeks. In a few months I might get a tailspot blenny but this will be a fishless tank for awhile.
I got the tank yesterday, threw in about 10 pounds of Caribsea Ocean Direct sand and my rock. I bought an Aquarium Cycle Kit from AlgaeBarn and added .75 oz of Turbostart and a few drops of the Nitrocycle ammonia substitute. The directions called for 15ml of the Nitrocycle, but since I'm not adding fish in the foreseeable future I didn't see the need. Tested the water this morning and I'm already showing 0 ammonia and .25 nitrite, but the water is a bit on the cloudy side and smells less than pleasant. Hopefully the water and the smell will clear up soon. I went ahead and ordered some ecopods and phytoplankton from Algaebarn. They'll get here next week and I'll add the copepods and a few drops of phyto when the nitrite goes away.