My 21 Gallon Reef Aquarium

[Cdavis66]

Hey all here is my build forum.

My Hardware:

• 21G Tank 23.6' x 13.7' x 14.9''
• EHEIM Jager 75W Heater
• Hygger Wave Maker DC 1600gph
• Hipargero 100W LED light
• ZooMed Nano 30 Cannister Filter
• Fzone ATO
• Lily cannister skimmer
• Inkbird ITC-306T + Aquarium Probe
• MiniQ Nano Internal Protein Skimmer

Hardscape:

• Natures ocean base rock (20 LBS Did not use all)
• Carib Sea Fiji Sand (20LBS)

Corals:

• Duncan (10-18-23)
• Pink Tip Purple Torch Aussie (10-18-23)
• Zoa Frag (11-4-23)
• Forest Fire Rhodactus (11-4-23)
• GSP (12-14-23)
• Highlighter Frogspawn (12-14-23)
• Rainbow Button Scoly (12-14-23)
• Japanese Toadstool Leather (12-14-23)
• JF Purple People Eater Favia (12-14-23)
• Discosoma red mushroom (1-19-24)
• Pink Acan (2/1/24)
• Kenya Tree (2/13/24)
• Yellow/Green Acan (3/24/24)
• Hell Fire Torch (3/24/24)
• Neon Candy Cane (3/24/24)

Livestock:

• Yellowtail Damsel (10-18-23)
• 2 Trochus Snails (11-1-23)
• 3 Nassarius Snails (11-1-23)
• 2 Red Leg Hermit Crabs (11-1-23)
• 1 Blue Leg Hermit Crab (11-1-23)
• 2 Blue Leg Hermit Crab (11-29-23)
• 3 Red Leg Hermit Crabs (11-29-23)
• 9 assorted snails (1/6/24)
• 2 Mocha Ocellaris Clowns (1/6/24)
• Blood Red Fire Shrimp (2/1/24)

Acclimating start date (since last addition)

1. Tank Start: 9/28/23
2. 11/2/23 - 12/14/23
3. 12/14/23 - 1/6/24
4. 1/6/24 - 2/1/24
5. 2/1/24 - 2/13/24
6. 2/13/24 - 3/24/24
7. 3/24/24 - Present

Algae Bloom After Diatoms
1st Main Coral Addition (4pcs)
Second Coral Addition (5pcs)

First Tank Photo After Cycle: November 2, 2023


Latest Tank Photo:

 

[TX_REEF]

off to a lovely start!

 

[Tcook]

Nice. I would downgrade that heater to a 50 watt unless ambient temp is in the 60’s. If the 200 gets stuck on it will boil that tank in no time.

 

[Cdavis66]

Nice. I would downgrade that heater to a 50 watt unless ambient temp is in the 60’s. If the 200 gets stuck on it will boil that tank in no time.

I do have an extra 50w heater for water changes. During the winter the ambient temp is 68-69 degrees. I could try using a 75w heater. Any recommendations? Also on a controller, I've heard a lot about inkbirds.

 

[kevgib67]

Very nice, keep it up!

 

[Tcook]

I do have an extra 50w heater for water changes. During the winter the ambient temp is 68-69 degrees. I could try using a 75w heater. Any recommendations? Also on a controller, I've heard a lot about inkbirds.

75 may work well. If you are not using an Apex then Inkbird may be the way to go. I haven’t used one myself.

 

[lil sumpin]

Welcome aboard! Good to see a fellow noob here in the salty depths lol. Your scape looks very cool. It’s gonna be a heck of a ride so sit back and watch it flourish!

Bout the heater stuff, currently running a 50watt in my 14g cube and thinking of bumping up to 100watt, got a gut feeling nyc’s in for a rough winter this time around. I was looking at the innovative marine helio ptc heater. 100watts might be a bit much for my water volume but it has a controller so I don’t think I’ll have to worry too much. I’ve also heard a lotta good stuff about and am considering inkbird, the itc 308s is a sick controller for the price.

 

[Cdavis66]

Welcome aboard! Good to see a fellow noob here in the salty depths lol. Your scape looks very cool. It’s gonna be a heck of a ride so sit back and watch it flourish!

Bout the heater stuff, currently running a 50watt in my 14g cube and thinking of bumping up to 100watt, got a gut feeling nyc’s in for a rough winter this time around. I was looking at the innovative marine helio ptc heater. 100watts might be a bit much for my water volume but it has a controller so I don’t think I’ll have to worry too much. I’ve also heard a lotta good stuff about and am considering inkbird, the itc 308s is a sickass controller for the price.

Thank you! Yeah I have an inkbird on the way and will test out a 75w heater. I'll give you all an update on how it goes.

 

[lil sumpin]

How's the canister filter working out for you? I've seen folks concern bout clean up, maintenance and canisters being a 'nitrate trap' or something along the lines of that. And there's folks who have been running their systems for years, no sump or skimmer, just canister. I guess they seem a bit dated considering everything nowadays is AIO, automated, wifi connected.. etc but hey if it's not broke, why fix?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hey all here is my build forum.

My Hardware:

• 21G Tank 23.6' x 13.7' x 14.9''
• 200W Heater
• Hygger Wave Maker DC 1600gph
• Hipargero 100W LED light
• Zoomed Nano 30 Cannister Filter
• Fzone ATO
• Lily cannister skimmer

Hardscape:

• Natures ocean base rock
• Carib Sea Fiji Sand

Corals:

• Duncan
• Torch

Livestock:

• Yellowtail Damsel
• 5 Trochus Snails
• 3 Nassarius Snails
• 2 Red Leg Hermit Crabs
• 1 Blue Leg Hermit Crab

Great looking tank!

 

[Cdavis66]

How's the canister filter working out for you? I've seen folks concern bout clean up, maintenance and canisters being a 'nitrate trap' or something along the lines of that. And there's folks who have been running their systems for years, no sump or skimmer, just canister. I guess they seem a bit dated considering everything nowadays is AIO, automated, wifi connected.. etc but hey if it's not broke, why fix?

The filter has been working fine I run 2 coarse sponges, filter media, carbon, and filter floss. I cleaned the filter last night and I will test levels again today and see how the tank reacted to cleaning it. Previously I have not had many nitrates after my water change 2 weeks ago (less than 5 ppm not and was at 40ppm nearing end of cycle before water change) but will find out later and give an update.

 

[Cdavis66]

Update picture.

 

[lil sumpin]

Looking A1! I'm gonna follow your model and slowly add corals one by one following a long break so I can stabilize some parameters.. I just realized the hard way, slow and steady is the way to go (4 frag's gone in 2 week span)

 

[Cdavis66]

Looking A1! I'm gonna follow your model and slowly add corals one by one following a long break so I can stabilize some parameters.. I just realized the hard way, slow and steady is the way to go (4 frag's gone in 2 week span)

Thank you! Also that’s not good. My tank seems to be very stable so far I’m am going to do another water change this week and see how it goes.
Have you been testing your water often? Did you find out what went wrong with your first go around?

 

[lil sumpin]

Thank you! Also that’s not good. My tank seems to be very stable so far I’m am going to do another water change this week and see how it goes.
Have you been testing your water often? Did you find out what went wrong with your first go around?

I believe I lost those frags due to an alkalinity swing that took place over the course of about 3 weeks. Magnesium was also quite low. Currently parameters are better and everything seems to be calm.

How’s your system coming along? Planning on any new additions soon? I have a 20g that I’m planning to set up as QT in a few weeks. Other than that, I’ve been eyeballing this goniopora that a local reefer is putting up for sale

 

[Cdavis66]

I believe I lost those frags due to an alkalinity swing that took place over the course of about 3 weeks. Magnesium was also quite low. Currently parameters are better and everything seems to be calm.

How’s your system coming along? Planning on any new additions soon? I have a 20g that I’m planning to set up as QT in a few weeks. Other than that, I’ve been eyeballing this goniopora that a local reefer is putting up for sale

Oh I see! I got a few corals from top shelf aquatics from their black Friday sales. They should be here mid December. I've also been looking at clown fish but have not found any I really want yet. I was gone for 5 days during Thanksgiving and came back to a lot of green algae but am hoping to get it all back in check shortly. all of the parameters seemed fine so I am just thinking it is another part of cycling the tank. I also want to get some macro algae at some point for more filtering and for low PH (mine is 7.8-7.9).

 

[lil sumpin]

Yep! Don't be too fazed, especially if your parameters are all in check. The algae will take hold and slowly but surely phase out. That's what I'm observing in my system at the moment. About the pH, I've found that leaving a couple windows open, just by a smidge, helps to keep it above 8. Other than that the macros will certainly help with it as well as compete other algae for nutrients. What kind are you considering?

 

[Cdavis66]

Not sure which ones yet I have to decide what other clean up crew member(s) I would introduce to keep the algae from over growing. Also I can't really crack a window it 20 degrees out lol. Just a crack makes my room low 60s and I'm not thinking the heaters I run would be able to heat 15+ degrees.

Furthermore, I have slowly learned that most of the algae's taking over the tank go away with time. Also I had what I believe was Dinos for a few weeks and got those to go away with a black out and dosing nitrate, phosphate and also adding copepods. I have been learning so much lately about reefing. I am sticking with this tank for a while though to make sure I can successfully do it. Maybe next year I'll get a new tank during black Friday!

Peep new additions 12-14-23:
Going to see if I can do a GSP back wall.

 

[Cdavis66]

Last Thursday I added in my new corals. They all seem to be doing well right now. Tank is still stable and currently riding out the nuisance algae which is green film, diatoms, and possibly the start of coralline. Here are some pictures. I also attached a video of my scoly eating.

 

[lil sumpin]

Sick colors!