My 15g Nano

[MaxP]

Hello everyone, This is my 15 gallon nano reef. I previously had a 50g aqueon tank setup for 5 months in my old house which had some small frags and my clownfish. I wasn’t pleased with the tank because it looked so empty and I couldn’t afford the cost to keep stocking it. I moved about 4 months ago and decided to buy 15g nano cube during the move. This tank is much easier to fill up. Its been a lot more successful aswell, which I believe is due to being able to change out a higher percentage of water out easier. I use tropic marin reef salt and do 3-5 gallon water changes 1-2 times a week. I hardly test my water, I don’t dose my tank or use a skimmer. My coral growth is slow but sure so far, however, my torch corals tissue started to deteriorate (seen in picture) about a week ago.

Specs/water parameters:
Light:
Kessil tuna blue a160we
(torch sits in about 50 par for 11.5 hours)
(tallest point on the rockscape is around 105)
Temperature:
varies from 77.5-78.4
Salinity:
1.025
ph:
8.1
alk:
7.8
ca:
434

I can’t check the rest of the important parameters yet because i ran out of tests but will get more soon

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank is looking good so far!

 

[chases]

Hello everyone, This is my 15 gallon nano reef. I previously had a 50g aqueon tank setup for 5 months in my old house which had some small frags and my clownfish. I wasn’t pleased with the tank because it looked so empty and I couldn’t afford the cost to keep stocking it. I moved about 4 months ago and decided to buy 15g nano cube during the move. This tank is much easier to fill up. Its been a lot more successful aswell, which I believe is due to being able to change out a higher percentage of water out easier. I use tropic marin reef salt and do 3-5 gallon water changes 1-2 times a week. I hardly test my water, I don’t dose my tank or use a skimmer. My coral growth is slow but sure so far, however, my torch corals tissue started to deteriorate (seen in picture) about a week ago.

Specs/water parameters:
Light:
Kessil tuna blue a160we
(torch sits in about 50 par for 11.5 hours)
(tallest point on the rockscape is around 105)
Temperature:
varies from 77.5-78.4
Salinity:
1.025
ph:
8.1
alk:
7.8
ca:
434

I can’t check the rest of the important parameters yet because i ran out of tests but will get more soon

I’m new to this and this is what I was looking to do what equipment did you get and what tank did you buy I’m looking at the fuision 15 gallon but don’t know wether it’s right or not?

 

[lx_Reef]

Nice Tank , Any Reason You Do 2 WC A Week ?

 

[kevgib67]

We would really like to know your magnesium, nitrate and phosphate. Magnesium is important for lps. With out knowing levels I would guess you have very low nutrients because of such large export. Corals need nitrates and phosphates and with out them you are starving them. Cut back on amount and frequency of water changes. Get the mentioned test kits and come back and let us know the levels.

 

[MaxP]

I’m new to this and this is what I was looking to do what equipment did you get and what tank did you buy I’m looking at the fuision 15 gallon but don’t know wether it’s right or not?

Hi, I bought a 15 gallon jbj all in one tank because it was on sale at the time. I wouldn't worry about the brand too much when it comes to these small tanks. how ever, i felt like the pump that came with my tank was too strong so i got a smaller one. My favorite pieces of equipment I have is my rodi unit and salt mix so i always can make water, my Ink Bird’s ITC-306a heater controller is nice because i noticed my heater was either making my tank water too hot or too cold depending on the temperature in my house, My tunzee nano auto top off so my salinity stays in check, and this past month i got a bubble magus mini q protein which took some adjusting but works perfectly now.

Are you planning on making a reef tank or fish only tank?

 

[MaxP]

Nice Tank , Any Reason You Do 2 WC A Week ?

I just have fun working on my tank and i dont like seeing alot of algea in the tank. I dont have any dosing pumps yet so it helps keep my calcium and mag stable

 

[MaxP]

We would really like to know your magnesium, nitrate and phosphate. Magnesium is important for lps. With out knowing levels I would guess you have very low nutrients because of such large export. Corals need nitrates and phosphates and with out them you are starving them. Cut back on amount and frequency of water changes. Get the mentioned test kits and come back and let us know the levels.

Yeah I believe thats why my all my lps is slow growing. My torch is the only one thats losing tissue. What test kits do you think are the most accurate for those perameters?

 

[kevgib67]

I think the consensus is Hana but I use Salifert for all of mine.

 

[MaxP]

I think the consensus is Hana but I use Salifert for all of mine.

Ok I will message back when I get them. Im going to be ordering a neptune dose aswell. what do you recommend to use to replenish cal and mag?

 

[kevgib67]

It will depend on the levels, you may only have to do water changes until the salt mix brings them up. See what levels the salt mixes to. Kalkwasser will increase calcium and there are many magnesium supplements.

 

[MaxP]

It will depend on the levels, you may only have to do water changes until the salt mix brings them up. See what levels the salt mixes to. Kalkwasser will increase calcium and there are many magnesium supplements.

Ok the tests are being shipped to me now

 

[MaxP]

It will depend on the levels, you may only have to do water changes until the salt mix brings them up. See what levels the salt mixes to. Kalkwasser will increase calcium and there are many magnesium supplements.

Hey I tested my water last night and this morning and both times my perameters were Cal: 365 Mag: 1125 Nitrate: 0 phosphate: 0

 

[kevgib67]

Hey I tested my water last night and this morning and both times my perameters were Cal: 365 Mag: 1125 Nitrate: 0 phosphate: 0

Mix up a fresh batch of salt water and test it and see what your salt mixes to. Could be a bad batch or it settled and you need to mix it up. If the new salt mixes to what the box states it should we would need to reevaluate. You do not want nitrates and phosphates 0. Start feeding heavier. What test kits do you use. Maybe take a sample to your lfs to rule out user error.

 

[MaxP]

Im thinking of doing daily small

Mix up a fresh batch of salt water and test it and see what your salt mixes to. Could be a bad batch or it settled and you need to mix it up. If the new salt mixes to what the box states it should we would need to reevaluate. You do not want nitrates and phosphates 0. Start feeding heavier. What test kits do you use. Maybe take a sample to your lfs to rule out user error.

I meant that those were the parameters of my tank. Ill test my salt now though

 

[MaxP]

Mix up a fresh batch of salt water and test it and see what your salt mixes to. Could be a bad batch or it settled and you need to mix it up. If the new salt mixes to what the box states it should we would need to reevaluate. You do not want nitrates and phosphates 0. Start feeding heavier. What test kits do you use. Maybe take a sample to your lfs to rule out user error.

My salt mix tested out to cal: 400 and mag: 1200. I use tropic marin pro reef salt so i thought both of those were supposed to be a bit higher.

 

[MaxP]

My bucket of salt water has been sitting for a few days though so maybe some of the elements precipitated out? i will try again with a brand new batch soon

 

[kevgib67]

Sometimes when the salt sits in a warehouse the salt settles. Mix it up. Also compare the results of your tank water and the new water with your LFS testing it.

 

[MaxP]

Sometimes when the salt sits in a warehouse the salt settles. Mix it up. Also compare the results of your tank water and the new water with your LFS testing it.

I think I might not be using my salifert test kit correctly because i got the same measurements with a fresh batch. I think i’m not letting the solution turn blue enough possibly. I ordered another batch of salt just to be sure though. so I will wait and see the results when that arrives

 

[MaxP]

I got a new tiny six line wrasse yesterday. He is only about an inch long. Im feeding him brine shrimp but was wondering if there is anything else i should feed him. I know these get a little big for a 15g tank but i plan on upgrading to a large reef tank within a few months.