Nuvo 20 SPS Dominated Nano Reef Tank - My First Attempt at Reefing

[sotoreef]

 

[sotoreef]

Introduce 2 ppm ammonia on the first day of cycle. After 9 days later, the ammonia and nitrite finally reached 0. Nitrate is higher than 25 ppm. Cycled faster than I expected. I can already see some diatoms on the glass and sand. Expecting more in upcoming weeks. Did 70% water change.

 

[Nebunu]

Thats good news bro. Time to slowly add some nice stuff and get that reef feeling.

 

[sotoreef]

Thats good news bro. Time to slowly add some nice stuff and get that reef feeling.

Yesza, honestly cannot wait for my corals to be delivered

 

[sotoreef]

Got my hand on this 2 electric blue hermit crabs. Looking so pretty. Acclimated them and finally can see some movement inside the tank.

On the other notes, diatoms still ongoing, just cleaned the glass few days ago and it started forming again. And there is some hair algae here and there, but not much. I am expecting the diatoms but not hair algae, not sure if this is normal. Maybe coming from the rocks or hermits. Idk. Gonna enjoy the process though. I am sure these 2 little buddies will take care of it.

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Got my hand on this 2 electric blue hermit crabs. Looking so pretty. Acclimated them and finally can see some movement inside the tank.

On the other notes, diatoms still ongoing, just cleaned the glass few days ago and it started forming again. And there is some hair algae here and there, but not much. I am expecting the diatoms but not hair algae, not sure if this is normal. Maybe coming from the rocks or hermits. Idk. Gonna enjoy the process though. I am sure these 2 little buddies will take care of it.

Very pretty! I have found the best way to get rid of hair algae is to pinch it off with the siphon during a water change, as it will get taken out of the tank instead of just getting spread around.

 

[Nebunu]

When I started my nano sistem a few years ago, with live rocks, I went throw all phases in 3 weeks, green, brown and hair algae. Hair algae went so crazy I had to take all rocks out and brush them clean out. After that no trace of algae.

Congrats on the hermits, looking good.

 

[sotoreef]

Very pretty! I have found the best way to get rid of hair algae is to pinch it off with the siphon during a water change, as it will get taken out of the tank instead of just getting spread around.

It is indeed very pretty. I too try to manually remove the hair algae whenever available.

When I started my nano sistem a few years ago, with live rocks, I went throw all phases in 3 weeks, green, brown and hair algae. Hair algae went so crazy I had to take all rocks out and brush them clean out. After that no trace of algae.

Congrats on the hermits, looking good.

Thanks. The hermits are gorgeous. Now that you mention it, I also have green algae all over the rocks.

 

[sotoreef]

Finally, the corals are here. Super duper impressed with the packaging; stored in styrofoam icebox, triple plastic, and comes with ice pack. Considering Malaysia weather is hot, the corals came in pretty cool temperature even after 2 days shipped. Thumbs up to Kimmy from reef.com Malaysia.

Here are some of the photos of the coral packaging:

 

[sotoreef]

After temperature acclimated the corals, I dipped the corals using Koral MD from Brightwell for 15 mins. Then with fresh saltwater for another 15 mins.

Honestly, I choose Koral MD because I got huge discount for it. That's really the main reason I choose Koral MD haha! If not because of the discount, maybe I will go with Coral Revive / Coral RX as these are the top 2 coral dips from what I read online.

 

[sotoreef]

I have removed the frag plug as I don't like the looks of the frag plug in my tank. Since there is no SPS encrusting, it should be okay.

Anyway, wonder how other people glue their corals? It sounds so easy but its actually not. I have more glue on my hand than on the corals hahaha

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

I have removed the frag plug as I don't like the looks of the frag plug in my tank. Since there is no SPS encrusting, it should be okay.

Anyway, wonder how other people glue their corals? It sounds so easy but its actually not. I have more glue on my hand than on the corals hahaha

I simply dab the bases with some super glue, it does always get all over my hands though!

 

[Sod Buster]

Glue on the base of coral, small ball of waterweld epoxy stuck to that glue quickly keeping the round form, then blob of glue on bottom of epoxy ball and quickly smash it into a hole in your rock. Wait a few seconds & wipe the epoxy bulges out into rockwork with your finger. Gets rid of the glue bubbles also.

 

[sotoreef]

Glue on the base of coral, small ball of waterweld epoxy stuck to that glue quickly keeping the round form, then blob of glue on bottom of epoxy ball and quickly smash it into a hole in your rock. Wait a few seconds & wipe the epoxy bulges out into rockwork with your finger. Gets rid of the glue bubbles also.

I like the idea. Will try it. Tried to use superglue only but its hard to fix the coral on the rocks.

 

[sotoreef]

Corals are all in placed. Hoping all of them to go well

Tried the method as @Sod Buster suggested. It holds really well. Unfortunately the epoxy is too bulky for my liking (amateur reefer huh!). I used DD epoxy aquascape. Love the color though!

All the pics will be updated on the front page of the build thread

Corals:
Green Monticap
Forest Fire Digitata
Pink Birdnest
Chilli Pepper Monticap
Red Monticap
Bali Shortcake Acro
Purple Monticap (sadly broken into 2 pieces while I tried to remove the frag plug)

Full Tank Shot

 

[CrimsonTide]

Corals are all in placed. Hoping all of them to go well

Tried the method as @Sod Buster suggested. It holds really well. Unfortunately the epoxy is too bulky for my liking (amateur reefer huh!). I used DD epoxy aquascape. Love the color though!

All the pics will be updated on the front page of the build thread

Corals:
Green Monticap
Forest Fire Digitata
Pink Birdnest
Chilli Pepper Monticap
Red Monticap
Bali Shortcake Acro
Purple Monticap (sadly broken into 2 pieces while I tried to remove the frag plug)

Full Tank Shot

A broken monticap just means you now have 2 monticaps! Usually they are fine. I like the new corals.

 

[CrimsonTide]

I have removed the frag plug as I don't like the looks of the frag plug in my tank. Since there is no SPS encrusting, it should be okay.

Anyway, wonder how other people glue their corals? It sounds so easy but its actually not. I have more glue on my hand than on the corals hahaha

I wear gloves when I glue anything so I am not peeling it off for a day or two. I have long gloves that go up past my elbow that have glue on them. You can use regular blue latex or nitrile gloves though. I try not to put my hand in my tank anymore without the long gloves on.

 

[sotoreef]

A broken monticap just means you now have 2 monticaps! Usually they are fine. I like the new corals.

Haha just lil bit sad because of the size became much smaller. I wonder how long does it takes for easy sps to have significant growth. Most posts on the FTS progression shows over 1 year mark for SPS to shows explosive growth.

I wear gloves when I glue anything so I am not peeling it off for a day or two. I have long gloves that go up past my elbow that have glue on them. You can use regular blue latex or nitrile gloves though. I try not to put my hand in my tank anymore without the long gloves on.

I think I need to wear glove in the future when gluing corals, hate peeling of the glue on my hands. Me too try not to put my hand in the tank, and leave alone all the livestock in the tank. Let them do their own things.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Haha just lil bit sad because of the size became much smaller. I wonder how long does it takes for easy sps to have significant growth. Most posts on the FTS progression shows over 1 year mark for SPS to shows explosive growth.


I think I need to wear glove in the future when gluing corals, hate peeling of the glue on my hands. Me too try not to put my hand in the tank, and leave alone all the livestock in the tank. Let them do their own things.

I smoke cigarettes. I know its a terrible habit but even if 8 wash my hands I don't trust that the cigarettes aren't in my skin. So that is main reason I use the really long gloves. But I cannot stand the glue on my hands either.

Monti Caps usually grow fairly fast in the right conditions. Theres someone near me who has to break off an inch or two a month off his green caps bc they grow so fast a shade other corals.

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Corals are all in placed. Hoping all of them to go well

Tried the method as @Sod Buster suggested. It holds really well. Unfortunately the epoxy is too bulky for my liking (amateur reefer huh!). I used DD epoxy aquascape. Love the color though!

All the pics will be updated on the front page of the build thread

Corals:
Green Monticap
Forest Fire Digitata
Pink Birdnest
Chilli Pepper Monticap
Red Monticap
Bali Shortcake Acro
Purple Monticap (sadly broken into 2 pieces while I tried to remove the frag plug)

Full Tank Shot

Looking nice!