New to the hobby and forum! Starting my first nano reef aquarium

[TwiTch18]

Howdy! I'm here to share my new experience with the saltwater aquarium hobby

I got involved with freshwater aquariums a while back and recently made my transition to saltwater.
Currently using a 13.5 Fluval Evo to get familiar with saltwater without having a huge commitment. I think eventually I'd like to upgrade to a 40 Gal long. But this small project gives me the chance to acquire some of the necessary equipment. So far I added a better return pump, wave maker, 25K LED marine light, ATO and extra bio-media. Mixing with Aquaforrest salt and monitoring KH/PH/Nitrates pretty regularly.. What do you think?

So far the tank is 2 months old and cleanup crew was added a few weeks after setup (Dosed with Aquaforrest live bacteria to speed up cycle). The diatom bloom was significant but the 3 Astraea snails and 3 Halloween hermits are doing a great cleanup job, they all seem very happy. This pervious weekend my girlfriend and I couldn't wait any longer and bought our first two corals. After no immediate adverse effects in the water we bought 3 more the next day.. I know.. my patience went out the window xD Ideally would have added fish before but we go on vacation for two weeks in may.. I figured corals should be alright while we're gone, am I correct? Hopefully the ATO and cleanup crew helps with that..

Anyways, I'm having a blast so far and can't wait to add some fish! Any input, advice or information is appreciated! THANKS!

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Howdy! I'm here to share my new experience with the saltwater aquarium hobby

I got involved with freshwater aquariums a while back and recently made my transition to saltwater.
Currently using a 13.5 Fluval Evo to get familiar with saltwater without having a huge commitment. I think eventually I'd like to upgrade to a 40 Gal long. But this small project gives me the chance to acquire some of the necessary equipment. So far I added a better return pump, wave maker, 25K LED marine light, ATO and extra bio-media. Mixing with Aquaforrest salt and monitoring KH/PH/Nitrates pretty regularly.. What do you think?

So far the tank is 2 months old and cleanup crew was added a few weeks after setup (Dosed with Aquaforrest live bacteria to speed up cycle). The diatom bloom was significant but the 3 Astraea snails and 3 Halloween hermits are doing a great cleanup job, they all seem very happy. This pervious weekend my girlfriend and I couldn't wait any longer and bought our first two corals. After no immediate adverse effects in the water we bought 3 more the next day.. I know.. my patience went out the window xD Ideally would have added fish before but we go on vacation for two weeks in may.. I figured corals should be alright while we're gone, am I correct? Hopefully the ATO and cleanup crew helps with that..

Anyways, I'm having a blast so far and can't wait to add some fish! Any input, advice or information is appreciated! THANKS!

Welcome! Glad you joined. Sounds like you already know patience is magic in this hobby, and water testing to maintain stable water parameters are key to healthy corals. FOWLR is more forgiving than reef tanks like you (and I) have.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This might help you find people local to you:

Global Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[TwiTch18]

Welcome! Glad you joined. Sounds like you already know patience is magic in this hobby, and water testing to maintain stable water parameters are key to healthy corals. FOWLR is more forgiving than reef tanks like you (and I) have.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This might help you find people local to you:

Global Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks! that's a great idea, I'll check that out tonight

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[rmorris_14]

Love the evo!!!
@Sharkbait19 has a lot of knowledge about the evo and is now upgrading to a 40 gal breeder. Glad to have you here. Are you planning to stock any fish in it?

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board!!

 

[TwiTch18]

Love the evo!!!
@Sharkbait19 has a lot of knowledge about the evo and is now upgrading to a 40 gal breeder. Glad to have you here. Are you planning to stock any fish in it?

Thanks! I'll definitely check @Sharkbait19's page out! Once I'm back from vaca I'd like to add 2 Ocellaris clownfish and eventually a mandarin goby... However my local store also has some beautiful blue devil damselfish..

​

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

Great looking start!

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Thanks! I'll definitely check @Sharkbait19's page out! Once I'm back from vaca I'd like to add 2 Ocellaris clownfish and eventually a mandarin goby... However my local store also has some beautiful blue devil damselfish..

​

This is a useful link for mandarin goby. Sadly so many starve. I culture pods so I can feed my tank equivalent bottle of pods a day to keep my mandarin happy (and all the fish that are not supposed to be eating my mandarin's food).

Thanks PaulB- Mandarin feeder

Just completed my Mandarin feeder after PaulB design. My Mandarin is currently fat and happy but wanna make sure she stays that way..I owe it to her after killing a couple 20 years ago when I first started this hobby and not having a clue for there needs. They have always been one of my favorite...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[TwiTch18]

This is a useful link for mandarin goby. Sadly so many starve. I culture pods so I can feed my tank equivalent bottle of pods a day to keep my mandarin happy (and all the fish that are not supposed to be eating my mandarin's food).

Thanks PaulB- Mandarin feeder

Just completed my Mandarin feeder after PaulB design. My Mandarin is currently fat and happy but wanna make sure she stays that way..I owe it to her after killing a couple 20 years ago when I first started this hobby and not having a clue for there needs. They have always been one of my favorite...

www.reef2reef.com

Yes, I've heard that's the number one issue.. Lucky I believe my LFS has them on frozen mysis shrimp but I'll certainly be careful and use the link you suggested Thanks!

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Welcome to the forum!
Looks like you’ve got a nice mix of corals already! I’d move the gsp and clove polyps both to their own rock away from the main structure - they grow fast and can become a nuisance fast.
Personally I’d wait in a mandarin until you have the 40, you will be spending a lot of money trying to feed it in such a small tank. Instead I’d look into a shrimpgoby + pistol shrimp pair to occupy the sandbed. The dynamic is really fun to watch (or individual behaviors if they don’t pair like mine did ).
Coral and inverts will be fine alone, though tossing some food every few days wouldn’t hurt (if you have someone to take care of it while you are out).
I suggest quarantining all new fish - disease is a big problem and nobody wants to fallow their reef for many weeks.

 

[otzhorse]

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[jsker]

Hello and welcome to R2R!!

Great looking aqua scape.

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome. Glad you are here.

 

[TwiTch18]

Welcome to the forum!
Looks like you’ve got a nice mix of corals already! I’d move the gsp and clove polyps both to their own rock away from the main structure - they grow fast and can become a nuisance fast.
Personally I’d wait in a mandarin until you have the 40, you will be spending a lot of money trying to feed it in such a small tank. Instead I’d look into a shrimpgoby + pistol shrimp pair to occupy the sandbed. The dynamic is really fun to watch (or individual behaviors if they don’t pair like mine did ).
Coral and inverts will be fine alone, though tossing some food every few days wouldn’t hurt (if you have someone to take care of it while you are out).
I suggest quarantining all new fish - disease is a big problem and nobody wants to fallow their reef for many weeks.

That's all great info!! I'll see if I can find a new spot for the cloves and GSP tonight, I just got my reef glue so that'll help big time over trying to stick the frags into rocks ha...

And yeah, the mandarin makes me nervous so that might end up being the plan.. I'd feel terrible starving such a beautiful creature.

Is there a particular type of coral food I should look into and maybe a regular feeding schedule?

Thanks!