Native's SR Pro 2 IM 80 AIO Paradise

[TheNative192]

Hello everyone & welcome to my Nano Redsea Desktop build!

New tank on the way! Innovative Marine SR Pro 2 Ordered! (1/22/2026)

Posts about new Tank Start in the middle of Page 5!

Tank is ready to rock (02/05/2026)

Old Post Info talking about Cube tank:

My goal with this build was to house a couple fish and focus on mostly soft corals eventually getting to the point of adding LPS and maybe some day SPS. I am kind of skipping a bit as I have had the tank set up for a bit although I have pictures from many of the initial steps!

Equipment:
Redsea Desktop Skimmer
Redsea Gravity ATO
Redsea Pump 950GPH
Redsea Filter Sock
Kraken Lid
AI Prime HD light
Some type of Heater from LFS

Initial Parameters after cycling were
PH 7.8
Temp 77.7
Salinity 1.025
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0-0.25 (using API test kits)
Calcium: 400
Alkalinity: 9/10
Magnesium no idea I still need a test for it (lol)

WARNING: DO NOT BUY CORALIFE BIOCUBE MARINE SALT AS IT HAS AMMONIA IN IT. From just adding it into my tank I noticed it was coming in close to 0.5 PPM Ammonia mixed with RODI water from my LFS. I did test the RODI water as well and low and behold it was the Salt. I ended up getting Purple Instant Ocean to not run into this issue again hopefully!

My initial plans for stocking include

Fish:
Clownfish Pair (from other tank but not paired up likely yet)
Names: Frank: Orange and white, Charles: Snowflake Clown)

Wishlist:
Royal Gramma

Corals:
GSP on the Back Wall
Xenia and GSP on an Island in front
Lots of different Zoas
A Duncan coral
A Torch of some kind!

***Current Member List
Larry the Longnose Hawkfish
Charles the Black Snowflake Clownfish
Frank the Mocha Storm Clownfish &
Sandy the Diamond Sand Sifting Goby
Spot the baby Royal Gramma
Wiggles the Six Line wrasse

***Current Coral List
GSP on Back Wall
Pulsing Xenia
Armageddon Zoas
Utter chaos zoas
Hurricane Zoas
Sunny D Zoas
Bam Bam Zoas
Bob Marley Zoas
Firecracker Zoas
Twizzler Zoas
Gatorade Zoas
Rainbow Trolls Zoas
Salted Agave Zoas
Candy Apple Green Zoas
Miami Vice Zoas Moved to my other tank
WWC Golden Gods Zoas Moved to my other tank
AOI Zoas Moved to my other tank
King Midas Zoas Melted away I think
Red People Eaters Palys
JF Captain Jerk Palys
Orange Ricordea Mushroom It was tiny when I got it and just disappeared.
Hairy Mushroom Moved to my other tank
Kryptonite Trumpet or Candy Cane Coral I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(
TSA Earth Shaker Favia I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(
TSA Inferno Favia I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(
Midnight Princess Favia I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(
Green Duncan Coral
Midnight Duncan I removed it since it was not healthy.
Assorted Hammer
Supernova Branching Hammer I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(
Cotton Candy Torch (I think lol) I Think it got Brown Jelly Disease :(

AND SO WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY!
We jump to figuring out the scape for the tank. I ended up at my LFS and they have these really cool purple live rocks in water that I was able to put together. At Home I used some epoxy to put the rocks together and secure them. Luckily it was also a dark redish purple color so it is not too bad looking when compared to the rock!

As for the tank setup I actually was heading out of town for my birthday and I kind of quickly put it together so I could get water in the tank and add some Seed (bacteria starter) and Dr Tims Ammonia. I ended up dosing the tank to 1.5-2PPM Ammonia, added a top of Bacteria starter and let it start to go!

At the start I had a wavemaker and heater in order to create a current but in the end it just created sand tornados so I eventually took it out! I ended up adding a Skimmer and the pump runs really well so for the initial corals I wanted I felt the flow was sufficient!

 

[TheNative192]

Figuring out the Skimmer was a bit difficult as the tanks instruction manual did not have how to put it together or how to line it up in the tank! The desktop version sells the skimmer separately but as I was able to get a good deal on Facebook Marketplace for a AI 16HD light I ended up not getting the Max version! Also my LFS only sold the Max version with the stand which I did not want to pay a crazy amount for!

One Issue I ran into with the Skimmer is it was not originally set on the ledge in the back of the Redsea Desktop and Max versions of the tank so as such it was making a lot of noise! Luckily I figured this out and shifted the Skimmer as close as it could go to the left which made the noise absolutely go away!

And we have bubbles!!!! I have adjusted it a lot as well to have more of a dry skim although I am still learning!

 

[TheNative192]

And so the first mini disaster strikes!

I get a really good deal on a fantastic looking coral and it has Aptasia on it. I am rather sad and I try to superglue the Aptasia but in the end it does not really work as how I intended it too!

This leaves only one option! It is time for a cleanup crew!

 

[TheNative192]

Alright as I am worried about the Aptasia I definitely want to get some peppermint shrimp! I also am starting to get some Algae and diatoms on my sand so I decide on adding:

2 medium/small Turbo Snails
3 Bumblee bee snails
2 Emerald Crabs
3 Blue Legged Hermit Crabs
2 Peppermint shrimp

I did slowly add these guys overtime as well and of course drip acclimated them but that was my goal to get over the next week or so!

Also for cuteness sake here is one guy who climbed on to my glass scraper lol!

 

[TheNative192]

As for the first main additions to the tank coral wise we have:

Pulsing Xenia! One of my favorites for the constant activity it provides to the tank!

A good size frag of GSP for the back wall of my tank!

Two types of Zoas that I do not know the name of! They looked better in my LFS lights although they are finally starting to color up now (lol)

and of course! My bam bam zoas which hopefully the peppermint shrimp will blast that Atasia

 

[TheNative192]

And as I would like to be able to check out my tank at work I ended up buying a Blink Camera from Amazon and they are absolutely awful! It is extremely blurry, my fish look like blurs and the rock looks like a ball of mush.

I end up reading up on what other people have used and apparently Wyze cameras are much better. I was definitely skeptical but low and behold they actually do look amazing! The light is very blue although I can actually make out the rock and blue and by turning off the lights in my room it actually looks 10x better.

 

[CoastieCorals]

Nice tank! Following along!

 

[TheNative192]

As for the next set of additions, I found another local hobbyist who has a lot of extra corals for sale very reasonable priced (different from the guy I got the Zoas from LOL and I get this huge zoa colony that are a nice bright green with an orange center! I also noticed a small hitchhiker. I assumed it was a bristleworm and so I ended up leaving him in the tank although if that was a mistake and he is something bad definitely let me know!

I also picked up some Candy Cane/Trumpet corals I did move their location a bit lower as I felt they may be getting a bit too much light but I will show an update on that soon!

My next addition was a piece of Duncan coral! One of my favorites so far and another LPS (wish me luck)

I also added a Hairy Mushroom on a rock and a couple other types of Zoas. Not sure what type but they are a much lighter yellowish orange which is a nice contrast to the Bam Bam Zoas I have!

 

[TheNative192]

As for an updated build of the tank currently! I ended up moving a couple things around to where I think they should be based on many different people's recommendations and I am really starting to enjoy how everything is looking! I was lucky enough to get some discounted corals from Top Shelf and have a couple on the way so I will definitely update you on when they arrive. I do have a couple more pieces of live rock in my Fluval Evo 5 tank that is sitting very empty at the moment other than sand, a baby hairy mushroom, & 4 pieces of live rock although I plan to move the tank to my office once I can find a stand to sit it on! Also that one snail has been cleaning the front glass of my tank for over a week now and he really likes to clean that front glass! I guess I cant complain as it is always clean LOL!

 

[MoeStachio]

Well done! Keep us posted!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! I have a 20g RedSea tank as well and love mine!

 

[TheNative192]

And I am excited to say I got a new tank mate for my two clownfish Frank and Charles. As I brought back the one crazy coral eating peppermint shrimp I got (lol) (I still kept the other who does not mess with them.) I saw a fish I have seen online but have not seen in my local fish store.

I was excited since I had thought about adding him to my tank someday but I was not sure when or if they would get him in my LFS and I decided to go ahead and buy the fishy!

Clean up crew beware! (Although I hear he is more tame than his other aggressive cousins)....



The Longnose Hawkfish! (Ignore the microbubbles the water level was too high messing with the skimmer lol)

Here he is under the blue light which really pops with all the corals!

He seems to already be settling in and maybe I should have waited till I have the lid (arriving Thursday) although I really felt he would be an awesome addition and stay tuned as another fish might enter the fray later this week! (parameters allowing LOL)

Here he is giving me the stink eye for having the audacity of looking at him through the glass! (he/she who knows haha)

 

[CoastieCorals]

And I am excited to say I got a new tank mate for my two clownfish Frank and Charles. As I brought back the one crazy coral eating peppermint shrimp I got (lol) (I still kept the other who does not mess with them.) I saw a fish I have seen online but have not seen in my local fish store.

I was excited since I had thought about adding him to my tank someday but I was not sure when or if they would get him in my LFS and I decided to go ahead and buy the fishy!

Clean up crew beware! (Although I hear he is more tame than his other aggressive cousins)....



The Longnose Hawkfish! (Ignore the microbubbles the water level was too high messing with the skimmer lol)

Here he is under the blue light which really pops with all the corals!

He seems to already be settling in and maybe I should have waited till I have the lid (arriving Thursday) although I really felt he would be an awesome addition and stay tuned as another fish might enter the fray later this week! (parameters allowing LOL)

Here he is giving me the stink eye for having the audacity of looking at him through the glass! (he/she who knows haha)

Beautiful fish!

 

[TheNative192]

I will be taking name recommendations! :D as I am bad at naming fishes lol

 

[Anna K]

Your clowns are so freaking cool looking, and I love their names (even though you're gonna have to change the bigger one to a girls name because soon Frank or Charles is gonna become a Franny or Christy) hahaha!

How are you liking your Duncan? Has it be doing well in your tank? I also saw your wish list had a royal gramma on it, I picked mine up from Dr. Reef and it's been a cute little fish to watch. Definitely shy and digs, but fun. I'd recommend getting one from him (if you ever want one you don't have to QT).

 

[TheNative192]

Your clowns are so freaking cool looking, and I love their names (even though you're gonna have to change the bigger one to a girls name because soon Frank or Charles is gonna become a Franny or Christy) hahaha!

How are you liking your Duncan? Has it be doing well in your tank? I also saw your wish list had a royal gramma on it, I picked mine up from Dr. Reef and it's been a cute little fish to watch. Definitely shy and digs, but fun. I'd recommend getting one from him (if you ever want one you don't have to QT).

Hahaha! I know I am honestly not sure which will become which but they already are swimming together all the time and even at night they swim one right on top of the other. They are still young so I know it probably will be a couple months at least until they are truly paired but who knows! I like those names too haha

So the Duncan is still new but it is awesome! I love to feed it as seeing its tentacles grab its food and pull it in is amazing. I actually got it from a local reefer who I purchased the large green Zoas from and he ended up giving me the candy cane/trumpet and the Duncan and a Paly zoa for a really good deal!

I actually ordered a Gramma from my LFS so that should come in a month or a couple weeks. I know they can be semi-aggressive so I wanted to introduce him last.

I also purchased another guy who I am going to likely pickup today as my Kracken lid arrives today (getting here early yay!) and I was afraid of introducing any new fish that could cause some jumping lol.

I’ll make sure to take pictures of him in the bag on the way home. All of the fish I introduced to the tank are apart of the same system so I have not quarantined any but I will likely do QT with the Gramma since he is being ordered and not already in their system. I do have a 5 gallon fluval evo 5 which I know is way too tiny long term but I may use that as my QT tank for the gramma.

Do you think that tank would be too tiny? Right now it just has some very tiny corals which are doing just bad because of a previous issue.

My LFS is pretty pricey but they tend to take very good care of their fish I think as well.

 

[Anna K]

Do you think that tank would be too tiny? Right now it just has some very tiny corals which are doing just bad because of a previous issue.

I don't think it would be too tiny since it's temporary. But I do know you'll want to add a rock or two to give him some caves or places to burrow and hide in. I had no idea they could be considered 'semi-aggressive'. Mines just a big baby who gets spooked by his shadow ha-ha. Hopefully though, someone more knowledgeable about the gallon size, can chime in and give their opinion. @tbrown @tharbin perhaps?

 

[TheNative192]

It would just be for QT. I may risk it and introduce him into the tank directly though or better yet I may even ask/let him QT in my LFS tanks for a week as I know they have quarantine tanks.

There is live rock and sand in my EVO 5 and some caves and crevices and for my Desktop there are actually a bunch of little caves on the sides of the main rock structure. When I had to remove the one rogue peppermint shrimp he made sure to remind me just have many little caves and crevices there were lolol!

 

[tbrown]

DON'T FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE!!!


I don't QT my fish. If they're healthy when I buy them, I float the bag, drip for a half an hour or so, and plop them in the tank.

5 gallon tank for a Gramma should work temporarily with enough rocks to hide for comfort level. I mean, considering Petco (probably not the epitome of consideration but still) uses 5 gallons or less to house a Gramma, Diamond Goby, and 3 or 4 Clowns....

If the Gramma is smallish and you want to keep him separated from the rest of the tank temporarily, but make sure it's temporary.

 

[TheNative192]

DON'T FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE!!!


I don't QT my fish. If they're healthy when I buy them, I float the bag, drip for a half an hour or so, and plop them in the tank.

5 gallon tank for a Gramma should work temporarily with enough rocks to hide for comfort level. I mean, considering Petco (probably not the epitome of consideration but still) uses 5 gallons or less to house a Gramma, Diamond Goby, and 3 or 4 Clowns....

If the Gramma is smallish and you want to keep him separated from the rest of the tank temporarily, but make sure it's temporary.

I may just have him QT for some time at the fish store and then pick him up.

I had an issue in the Evo 5 where when I had gone out of town for 4 days I had someone feed the tank. I had pre-portioned food shot glasses lol and (just for one day so I wasn’t four days without food) had a two minute instruction guide (I also have Freshwater tanks) and of course he thought the bottle of prime was the flake food on the other side of the room under my freshwater with a completely different name and so he ended up putting a ton of food. Luckily nothing died and I was planning on moving the clowns to the tank I have them in today but yeah worried there is some residual nasty stuff in the filter etc. This is after I cleaned it lol the only casualty amazingly was the small green star polyp frag. lol