New endeavor

Bayareareefer18 · Feb 25, 2021

Hi everyone. I have not been on in quite some time but definitely remain a dedicated part of the hobby. Have had a lot going on so have been Mia but would really like to document and share my latest endeavor.

I want to just give a quick background before diving in so bare with me.

I started as a first timer in 2018 with a 75G mixed reef. I fell in love with the hobby from the start and had good success. Tank did quite well with LPS from the start then BTAs then eventually some easy SPS. It was a great a fun journey hut I have decided to break down my 75 due to some things I will have going on around the house. Essentially the tank is in the way and for now don't want to move it around. I have rehomed most of my fish and coral.

Now on to the new tank...
I really fell in love with the BTAs and had great success with them from the start. I decided I wanted to downsize to an anemone tank.

I found a great deal on a brand new JBJ 45 flat panel AIO. Went with caribsea special grade live sand and Marco Rock. Sticking with tropic Marin pro salt. I decided to light it with a hydra 32. Using a Nero 3 for flow. Stock returns pumps with RFGs with the drop down adapters. Exhanched one of the stock socks with an intank media basket. Will do the second as well. Media basket running brigthwell no3 cubes, 2 po4 cubes, carbon and floss. Apex gear will be moved over in near future. I am almost 5 weeks in so want to get this started and up to date before I am too far behind.

I cycled the tank with MB XLM start. Have been extremely happy with all brightwell products. With the XLM tank was cycled in two weeks.

Bayareareefer18 · Feb 25, 2021

I know the general recommendation is 6-9 months for nems. Given that I had such success in my previous tank and have a good feel their needs I felt comfortable with moving them over from the start. Especially because the other tank is coming down. I was was nervous on how difficult it would be to move the nems. I have read so many methods and various degrees of difficulty and some disaster. I decided to go with the massage the foot method. Worked very well to eventually get all 7 nems transfered. I started with the two easiest to reach. I moved the first two after cycled completion.

Bayareareefer18 · Feb 25, 2021

After the first two proved to be happy I moved the third.

Bayareareefer18 · Feb 27, 2021

Over a couple weeks I slowly moved over all of the nems. 7 in total. 2 different strains. I moved my pair of Maroons over. A week later I moved over my starry blenny. I wasn't sure of compatibility of a blenny in a nem tank but this particular one seems to have a free pass from the clowns. They actually allow him to nestle up at the bases of the larger nems which is surprising as they don't want my hand near them. He also seems to be unbothered by the nems as well.

I rehomed most of my coral but decided to move over a few euphyllia. Just couldn't part with them. They are temporarily placed until I find the right spot.

Bayareareefer18 · Feb 27, 2021

Ugly phase really has not been bad as this is week 5. Turning on the light right away for the nems I expected more. I definitely get a good covering of film algae on the glass but not so much on the rocks.

After the cycle I have a Nitrate reading of 20 and po4 of .12. When the cycle completed I did a 50% WC. Currently my tests read NO3 and PO4 at 0 which I assume is due to the algae utilizing these nutrients. If they were true 0 I wouldn't expect to see any algae. Have a small amount of hair algae at week 5 but not terrible. Added CUC a few days ago.

Bayareareefer18 · Mar 7, 2021

At 6weeks now things are still going well. Far less film algae on the glass. Some hair algae on rocks but nothing too crazy. Livestock is happy. Finally showing some Nitrate and phosphate readings. Performed another 5G WC.