Hey everyone!
I just started my very first reef tank (and salt water tank in general). I am not a newbie to the aquarium world however, I have been keeping freshwater fish for 10+ years. Currently I have 4 tanks up and running, 2 in my office (20g African cichlid mbuna tank, and 1 gallon betta tank), and two at home, ( 180 gallon African cichlid peacock/hap tank, and the new nano reef).
I live in a rural east Texas town so LFS is not an option for me unfortunately. My closest LFS is over an hour away. This mean lots of online ordering.
Here is a rundown on my new Salt Water aquarium.
2 months old and cycled fishless with dr Tim’s and ammonia.
16g BioCube
50 watt heater that I just had laying around (soon to be upgraded so give your recommendations on that please. It must fit in the rear compartment)
hygger 1600 dc wavemaker
Red Sea coral pro salt mix (with rodi from a local water store)
nature’s ocean live sand
nature’s ocean coral base dry rock
nothing special for filtration, 2 floss pads, a bag of ceramic rings, and a small bag of carbon.
livestock: 1missbarred clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 pistol shrimp (they are paired up it seems) 1 skunk cleaner.
coral: 1 hammer with 4 heads, 1 candy cane with many heads (still splitting more), 1 plate, 1 favia.
I do weekly water changes of 2.5 gallons and my last test reading was as follows.
nitrate 0
Nitrite0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8
Kh 180
Temp at night 77 day 79 (have not been able to keep it at 78, I think this is due to poor heater)
Please please please give any tips, pointers, things to watch for or change!!
I do research and I’m not scared to try any advise given!
happy reefing
I just started my very first reef tank (and salt water tank in general). I am not a newbie to the aquarium world however, I have been keeping freshwater fish for 10+ years. Currently I have 4 tanks up and running, 2 in my office (20g African cichlid mbuna tank, and 1 gallon betta tank), and two at home, ( 180 gallon African cichlid peacock/hap tank, and the new nano reef).
I live in a rural east Texas town so LFS is not an option for me unfortunately. My closest LFS is over an hour away. This mean lots of online ordering.
Here is a rundown on my new Salt Water aquarium.
2 months old and cycled fishless with dr Tim’s and ammonia.
16g BioCube
50 watt heater that I just had laying around (soon to be upgraded so give your recommendations on that please. It must fit in the rear compartment)
hygger 1600 dc wavemaker
Red Sea coral pro salt mix (with rodi from a local water store)
nature’s ocean live sand
nature’s ocean coral base dry rock
nothing special for filtration, 2 floss pads, a bag of ceramic rings, and a small bag of carbon.
livestock: 1missbarred clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 pistol shrimp (they are paired up it seems) 1 skunk cleaner.
coral: 1 hammer with 4 heads, 1 candy cane with many heads (still splitting more), 1 plate, 1 favia.
I do weekly water changes of 2.5 gallons and my last test reading was as follows.
nitrate 0
Nitrite0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8
Kh 180
Temp at night 77 day 79 (have not been able to keep it at 78, I think this is due to poor heater)
Please please please give any tips, pointers, things to watch for or change!!
I do research and I’m not scared to try any advise given!
happy reefing