My HelloReef 15gal - Alberta

[CDage79]

This is me starting my build thread :-).

I decided to get back into saltwater after a lengthy hiatus and wow has the technology changed. Everything used to be diy and now you can buy it all. I’m liking the simplicity.

First off I picked a nano to keep costs down and for ease of transport when the dreaded transfers happen. I also like that it will keep me in check because of the limited real estate.

I chose the HelloReef 15gal AIO because it came with everything needed to get up and running and it’s great for the kids to be able to watch the videos and do the set up with me.

At this stage I’m running with everything included the kit as is:
Sicce Micra Plus Return Pump
12” AquaIllumination Blade LED Light
Sicce Nano Circulation Pump
50W Sicce preset Heater
Bulk Reef Supply Stick-on Thermometer
Filter Sock
Ceramic Biological Media & Activated Carbon
Filter Sponges
CaribSea LifeRock & Live Sand
Bulk Reef Supply Refractometer
Dr. Tim's Live Nitrifying Bacteria
Aquaforest Reef Salt


Added an fZone ATO from Amazon with 2 gallon reservoir. I figure I’ll need to fill it weekly.
I will be adding a lid. I am hoping for this one once I find someone who can 3d print it for me. https://makerworld.com/en/models/1282347-aquarium-tank-cover-for-hello-reef-15gal-aquarium
Am not sure I’ll need a protein skimmer since I’ll probably end up doing weekly water changes.
Over the next few months am hoping to stock the following:
CUC(hermits, tuxedo urchin, zombie snails, trochus snails. Emerald crab)
Yasha goby and candy cane pistol
2 clowns and their anemone home …maybe. The kids really really want it.
Some leathers like:
Assorted Zoa’s or mushrooms….undecided
Green Kenya Tree

Current stage pics

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! You have an awesome-looking aquascape!

 

[Seansea]

Nice start. I would drop a peice of live rock in there just to seed some bacteria, corraline and such. If worried about pests you will get them eventually any way from a snail shell or frag plug or whatever. But with just dead rock the ugly phase will be lo g and drive u to madness

 

[CDage79]

Nice start. I would drop a peice of live rock in there just to seed some bacteria, corraline and such. If worried about pests you will get them eventually any way from a snail shell or frag plug or whatever. But with just dead rock the ugly phase will be lo g and drive u to madness

Thanks! The kit uses Carib Sea liverock, live sand and a bottle of dr Tims one and done fed with fish food to cycle. I’m curious to see how this method works. So far 2 days in and my ammonia is still 0 but starting to get that smell so I know something is happening

 

[CDage79]

Day 5: added 2 little Hermits and a gorgeous firefish goby.

 

[CDage79]

Added some more critters this weekend. The toadstool is always very happy to see me . My mother was kind enough to point out its resemblance to a certain male appendage . Bad news is it turns out Dart the Firefish had Ich. So now he’s in the hospital and I am letting the tank go fallow for 8 weeks. . Lesson learned. Always Quarantine, even if it’s the first fish.

 

[CDage79]

Update: I lost the Firefish to stress from the Ich medication a few days ago. I’ve decided I’m going to manage Ich via immunity since I don’t plan to put any Ich sensitive fish in my tank. I ran my big tank years ago without ever quarantining my fish and while the occasional white spots showed up on my powder blue, I never lost a fish to it. I know it’s not the “right way” but I feel like it’s the best way for me as I feel the stress of the medication is more cruel.

Current status is all parameters stable, doing roughly 20% water changes weekly.

Added some Trochus snails, skunk cleaner shrimp and a pair of emo memos (love the wigglies). Set up some GSP on a magnet on the back wall, plan is to have it grow up the wall, started my zoa garden, and added a Duncan for movement.

The BubbleMagus MiniQ skimmer, is proving to be a pain to get a drier skim. Hoping once it’s broken in it will settle.

Waiting for some hair algae so I can add in my final inhabitants. A tailspot Blenny and keeping an eye out for a Yasha goby and candy cane shrimp.

My Hyger HG951 arrives today so I can remove the current circulation eyesore. All that’s left after that is to watch it grow :-)

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Am I reading this correctly? You started adding CUC and a fish 12 days after starting the tank(adding Dr. Tim's)? I ask because I'm starting a Hello Reef. At day 5 after adding the Dr. Tim's.

 

[CDage79]

Am I reading this correctly? You started adding CUC and a fish 12 days after starting the tank(adding Dr. Tim's)? I ask because I'm starting a Hello Reef. At day 5 after adding the Dr. Tim's.

Yes, that is correct. I started gradually adding the inhabitants after about 2 weeks. I monitored water parameters closely and while the ammonia did go up a bit once the fish was added, it was back down to 0 within a few days.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Added some more critters this weekend. The toadstool is always very happy to see me . My mother was kind enough to point out its resemblance to a certain male appendage . Bad news is it turns out Dart the Firefish had Ich. So now he’s in the hospital and I am letting the tank go fallow for 8 weeks. . Lesson learned. Always Quarantine, even if it’s the first fish.

Just now seeing this! Those are some good additions to your tank!

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Yes, that is correct. I started gradually adding the inhabitants after about 2 weeks. I monitored water parameters closely and while the ammonia did go up a bit once the fish was added, it was back down to 0 within a few days.

Thank you for the reply! I'm at day 5 after adding Dr. Tim's and food pellets as recommended by Matthew. His video states 8 days it should be ready. It leaves me scratching my head. Seems quick to me but what do I know? I'm a beginner! I did test the water Monday. Nitrate/Nitrite at 0. Ammonia at .25. Salinity 1.025. Temp 77. I'm checking the water parameters today. We are hoping to add CUC this weekend if the tests are were they need to be. Thank again for the reply.

 

[CDage79]

The wait is sooo long lol. But I recommend waiting until you start to see some readings on your nitrite before adding anyone. My nitrites were at .8 when I did. And start off small on your CUC, there is not much food for them at this stage. Here is a current state picture Everyone is just waking up

Thank you for the reply! I'm at day 5 after adding Dr. Tim's and food pellets as recommended by Matthew. His video states 8 days it should be ready. It leaves me scratching my head. Seems quick to me but what do I know? I'm a beginner! I did test the water Monday. Nitrate/Nitrite at 0. Ammonia at .25. Salinity 1.025. Temp 77. I'm checking the water parameters today. We are hoping to add CUC this weekend if the tests are were they need to be. Thank again for the reply.

 

[CDage79]

I painted the glass on my stand to better hide the storage area I am super happy with the end result

 

[Avgwarhawk]

The wait is sooo long lol. But I recommend waiting until you start to see some readings on your nitrite before adding anyone. My nitrites were at .8 when I did. And start off small on your CUC, there is not much food for them at this stage. Here is a current state picture Everyone is just waking up

Gotcha. I'm at day 5 after dropping Dr. Tim's and fish pellets. I will see what the reading are today. Also, in Matthew's video he says to get algae wafers and shrimp pellets to feed the CUC until the tank is generating enough food for the CUC. I have some on the way. This is my wife's tank. She wanted a saltwater tank for some time. I'm trying to impress upon her to take it slow and one step at a time. She want's clown, shrimp and flowing anemone like yesterday!

Your tank looks great!

 

[CDage79]

Gotcha. I'm at day 5 after dropping Dr. Tim's and fish pellets. I will see what the reading are today. Also, in Matthew's video he says to get algae wafers and shrimp pellets to feed the CUC until the tank is generating enough food for the CUC. I have some on the way. This is my wife's tank. She wanted a saltwater tank for some time. I'm trying to impress upon her to take it slow and one step at a time. She want's clown, shrimp and flowing anemone like yesterday!

Your tank looks great!

Yes. I did the algae wafer for the hermits as well and they jumped on them as soon as they got added. Fun to watch. I know the video says to add the anemone at like week 8 or something crazy like that. Speaking from prior experience, I would not add an anemone until at least 6 months to ensure you’ve got all of your parameters stable. They are very prickly about water parameter changes and they’ll walk around the tank possibly get sucked into the circulation pump… I was surprised they didn’t include an anemone guard in the kit. The waiting is hard but you’ll get there.

 

[Avgwarhawk]

Yes. I did the algae wafer for the hermits as well and they jumped on them as soon as they got added. Fun to watch. I know the video says to add the anemone at like week 8 or something crazy like that. Speaking from prior experience, I would not add an anemone until at least 6 months to ensure you’ve got all of your parameters stable. They are very prickly about water parameter changes and they’ll walk around the tank possibly get sucked into the circulation pump… I was surprised they didn’t include an anemone guard in the kit. The waiting is hard but you’ll get there.

That is the crazy part. I see videos and threads with contradictory information. I watched a video of a fish store setting up a SW tank at the shop. Dumped in saltwater, live sand and a chunk of live rock. Then they dumped in a clown fish. Said it was good to go! Then another video of a 4 week old tank and the guy was stuffing in anemone. There was 2 clowns in the tank. There just is not any standard way of introducing various animals. Well, taking it slow for now!

 

[CDage79]

Added a 3D printed lid today. I ordered it off Amazon for $50 and I love it. My AI blade went for a swim so had to order a new one. Scored a whole bunch of frags from a fellow off marketplace when we traded urchins (the Halloween was too aggressive an eater for this little tank so no we have a small blue tuxedo) The kids added a couple of chromis and a flame tail Blenny who is always hiding and here we are!

 

[IceNein]

That is the crazy part. I see videos and threads with contradictory information. I watched a video of a fish store setting up a SW tank at the shop. Dumped in saltwater, live sand and a chunk of live rock. Then they dumped in a clown fish. Said it was good to go! Then another video of a 4 week old tank and the guy was stuffing in anemone. There was 2 clowns in the tank. There just is not any standard way of introducing various animals. Well, taking it slow for now!

If you have actual live rock, like either rock from the ocean, or rock from an established system, then you can add a small bioload almost immediately.