my first reef aquarium (55g)

[dan987]

Hello. My name is Daniel. I'm new to saltwater and reef2reef. I've been using this website a lot while I've been starting my new aquarium. I'm impressed with how nice and knowledgeable everyone is. I'm excited to become part of this hobby and R2R family.

I'm in college right now, so my budget for this tank is non-existent. I'm starting slow, but it only took one trip to my LFS to get me addicted to the reef life.

So this is where I am now:
55g standard aquarium
2x emperor 400 hob filters
Maxi-jet 1200 for polishing and current
2nd-hand (from LFS) 36" t5 lighting
1" live sand and 10 lb live rock

1 standard clown
1 snowflake clown
1 tiny zoa frag (maybe. I really don't know.)

Did this on my cell, so I hope it works.
Better pictures to follow.

 

[Mike J.]

Welcome to Reef2Reef. I presume you're going to add a lot more rock? Check on a HOB Skimmer and replace one of the power filters with it. I used a Corallife 65 on a 55 gallon for nine years. You'll want another power head too. How did you start your nitrogen cycle?

 

[dan987]

Dead shrimp started the cycle. Brown algae everywhere! Less brown and more green now. Still near zero ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Monitoring closely. I know I need better flow and a skimmer and more rock. But this is my budget for now. The rest will have to come slowly.

Forgot to mention the 2 snails and 2 crabs. I forget what kind. And a tiny starfish hitchhiker.

 

[Tahoe61]

Welcome. :wave: Nice size for a 1st tank.

 

[dan987]

I ran across the tank on craigslist. Spent a while cleaning it. It's big, but not pretty up close.

Here are some better pictures:

 

[dan987]

Found a baby fan worm today!

I know it's almost impossible to see. It's about 1cm in diameter. And this is the best my phone could do at 4x zoom.
I'm just happy to see life in my tank.

 

[Mike J.]

New tanks are always very exciting. When you order 200 pounds of imported live rock it can get exciting enough for nightmares.

 

[dan987]

Good, bad, and ugly update:

Good:
The clowns are great. I think the snowflake is going to be dominant. It seems to be in charge and its already slightly larger. Its probably too soon to be sure.

 

[domination2580th]

I would go emerald but that is just me....it's what I have

 

[dan987]

Here are the best pictures my phone can manage.
I really want a lettuce sea slug, but that's probably a bad idea. Should I let it grow and order a sea slug, or pull it out and get an emerald crab?

 

[dan987]

That long piece is about 5" and it appeared within 24 hours...
The amount of algae doubles every day...
And ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates all are zero.

 

[heathd.hd]

What are u using for test kits? I never get anything on my api kits after the tank cycled pretty much worthless.

 

[domination2580th]

I use api test kits when I add something new that makes a big difference in water parameters it reads fine but for the most part it reads fantastic

 

[dan987]

Well then I probably shouldn't say I have the api test kits...
Circled the fan worm in red.

 

[domination2580th]

I'd look more into the fans..they could be benneficial and I can't see the worm

 

[heathd.hd]

The api kits just don't test low ranges that we are trying to keep out tanks at. With a tank that has no real filtration your going to need to do alot of water changes and look into carbon dosing to help manage your nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Chris-tico]

try to make water changes everyweek!!

and as soon as you can buy more rock.!

but you have a really nice tanks! love the clowns!

 

[heathd.hd]

How reliable is your source of Rodi water?

 

[dan987]

The lighting makes the tests look slightly more orange than they are. Again, cell phone camera sucks.
All of the tests read zero (lowest bar)

 

[domination2580th]

That's interesting