New 20g Reef

[campfireevan]

Just set up a new 20g reef tank, let me know what you guys think.

-20 lbsCarib-Sea Bimini Pink Sand
-20lbs Dry Rock
-Fluval C3 HOB (stock filter w/ 156g bag of ChemiPure blue)
-Finnex HOB refugium (MarinePure balls, chaeto, rubble, 7w OxyLED grow light on reverse photo period)
-Cobalt 15w heater
-Hydor 240gph powerhead

*still waiting for tank to cycle before getting a light, if anyone has suggestions for growing softies and LPS please share.

water perimeters (API master test kit)
-salinity is 35ppt (refractometer)
- slight ammonia spike at about .10-.15 ppm after 40hrs, ghost fed yesterday at about 3pm
-Nitrite and Nitrate still at about zero
-pH is at about 8.0

 

[Ludders]

Have you fixed the aquascape with adhesive?

 

[campfireevan]

Have you fixed the aquascape with adhesive?

No, the rocks are just placed in the tank. Most of them are interlocked with each other so they're pretty stable without much wiggle room.

 

[Ludders]

In this case, may I suggest a bit of a re shuffle of your aquascape.

It might be better to remove and create outside the tank and bond it together in sections, so it doesn't get disturbed when performing maintenance or by larger CUC members.

You seem to have a good selection of rock there already, so I would try to maybe add some height at one end and a couple of caves.

Hope this comes across as constructive.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

The over-coverage of your fuge light is going to cause algae to grow in your display tank, I would recommend moving it close to the HOB fuge and chaeto and try to prevent any light from it reaching the inside of your display tank.

 

[campfireevan]

In this case, may I suggest a bit of a re shuffle of your aquascape.

It might be better to remove and create outside the tank and bond it together in sections, so it doesn't get disturbed when performing maintenance or by larger CUC members.

You seem to have a good selection of rock there already, so I would try to maybe add some height at one end and a couple of caves.

Hope this comes across as constructive.

Thank you, I will for sure give that a try. Instead of taking all the rock out would you recommend using a putty that can be used underwater?

 

[campfireevan]

The over-coverage of your fuge light is going to cause algae to grow in your display tank, I would recommend moving it close to the HOB fuge and chaeto and try to prevent any light from it reaching the inside of your display tank.

I am currently working on purchasing a smaller LED strip that can be wrapped around the HOB refugium since it's all clear plastic. In the mean time, the top of the tank has been covered in tin foil to block light from entering the tank. Thanks.