Lone Star Reef 50GAL

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

While not exactly a new build, my tank is newer being only 6 months old or so. I would like to watch my progress and am hoping to use this as a tool to learn from and reference along the way.

Tank: 50GAL Glass from Planet Aquarium
Sump: Eshopps Oceana Class RS-100 Sump utilizing a single filter sick (approximately 18 GAL)
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Classic 110INT
Return pump: AI Axis 90
PH- Vortech MP 40 x1
Lights: AI Hydra 32 x1
Salt: Tropic Marin Pro Reef

Utilizing biocube and a batch of Siporax glass media in the sump+ running a small amount of ROX charcoal in a mini BRS reactor. I started with some "live" dry and wet rock that I suspect were cultured for a few weeks. Dosed some Fritz Turbostart and off she went. I started off with crushed coral substrate and am currently in the process of transitioning over to some basic medium grain Carib Sea live sand. Slow process.

Current parameters:
Salinity: 1.026
Alk: 7.7
Calcium: 434
Mag: 1245
Nitrate: 12.3
Phos: 0.06
I am currently dosing 10mL/d of Tropic Marin All for Reef solution daily. A few months ago I switched from using Red Sea Salt, and my alk took a hit which was averaging in the mid 8s. Currently trending up as I am adjusting my dosing procedures.
My tank hovers around 77F all day round. I currently do 20-30% water change every 7-10 days. Nitrates were averaging around 20-25 in the early days of the tank, since i've increased the volume of my water changes those have dropped around 50%. I currently feed a mixture of New Life Spectrum Marine formula pellets, and Hikari Seaweed extreme pellets, and give these once daily in the AM. I feed 1/4-1/2 a block of Hikari spirulina mysis shrimp in the evening daily. Occasionally I will give some algae wafers or small bits of Nori for my tang. Once or twice a week I will feed my corals; I alternate between Red Sea AB+ and Polyplabs reef roids powder.

Fish:
Pair of bonded clowns
1 Purple tang
1 banded/dragon goby- poor guy jumped the tank two weeks ago

Corals:
1 green Bubble coral Plerogyra Sinuosa
1 Acan Acanthastrea Hillae
1 Torch coral Euphyllia Glabrescens
1 "Valentine's day Massacre Zoa" Zoanthus sp
1 Cauliflower coral Pocillopora
1 weird green thing that I have yet to identify, but he's cool.

Invertabrates
Nassarius Snail x4
Tiger Conch x2

Will add some photos later.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

do you have room in the sump for possible fuge, this could help with the nitrates

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

do you have room in the sump for possible fuge, this could help with the nitrates

I've thought about it, but I really don't have the space. Considered the thought of a hang on, but I really wouldn't know where to start and i'm not sure how beneficial that would be.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

if the Cato gets going its very beneficial, so would cleaning your sock everyday. Clean that sock every other day or look into a fleece roller.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Your nutrients are not too high, but you only have 3 fish in your tank with small CUC . I would figure that the nutrients would be lower. The coral should be using up a lot of the nutrients, maybe its the socks or over feeding

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

Some more recent photos

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

Your nutrients are not too high, but you only have 3 fish in your tank with small CUC . I would figure that the nutrients would be lower. The coral should be using up a lot of the nutrients, maybe its the socks or over feeding

I was over feeding for a while. I reduced my nighttime feeding to half a block of frozen food down from a whole one. These days, even a little less. My nitrates are trending lower all the time so I’m sure that’s the reason. Especially with the loss of my goby who was picking off the bottom.

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

My parameters over the past few months. The chart is a little busy.