Office tank adventure

[Chriscz]

I’m getting back in the hobby. My last tank was a 15 gal about 10 years ago also in my office. I (and my office colleagues) enjoyed it for several years, with many successes and challenges. Eventually, due to those challenges and some neglect and mistakes on my part, the tank went downhill. I called it my eutrophic reef. I told folks, See what happens if you have too many nutrients in a reef system……. after a while of this it was time to take it down.

Fast forward to last year. A new guy in the office asked me if it would be okay for him to set up a small fish tank. I told him my story and cautions but encouraged him to do it. I said the company would even pay for the tank and all the supplies if he handled the care and maintenance. He set up a small fresh water tank that is doing pretty well and looks good (most of the time). People enjoy looking at it and trying to find some of the smaller critters etc. it has live plants……. But it’s not a reef.

So it got me thinking about setting up a tank again. I started looking online at what the options are, and man the hobby has come a long way, how amazing.

I ended up choosing a Red Sea Nano Max Peninsula (please spare me all the RS hate).
For me the easy integration of the nanomat and ATO+ components were key.

I initially got the tank late December and then hit my first challenge. I somehow ended up with the G1 version of the tank versus the G2 and of course the G1 isn’t compatible with the nano mat (unless you break a piece out and 3d print some parts and pray it all still works). I worked things out with the LFS (they were great) and my G2 and stand arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s my setup list:
-RS Nano Max Peninsula G2
-Innovative Marine 100watt Helio PTC smart heater
-RS ReefLED G2 60 light
-RS Nano mat
-RS ATO+ system
-Vortech MP10mQD power head (1year used from r2r member)
-kraken lid
-RO/DI system Max Water 6 Stage 100 GPD

-CaribSea Arag-alive reef sand 20#
-Marco Rocks Coralline rock 20#
-Tampa Bay Saltwater Box of Rox(3#) and Sand (7#)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been setting the system up…… more posts to come.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Glad you are back to some enjoyable diversion. Post some photos when you are able.

 

[Chriscz]

Building the stand and setting the tank up in the office

 

[Chriscz]

My aquascape attempt

 

[BW208]

Going to be cool! I too have been out of the hobby for years and have recently been toying with the idea of getting back in with a nano setup. Definitely following along.

 

[Chriscz]

Rocks in the tank

 

[Chriscz]

I installed a RODI system under the office sink and set up the tank
Also started the cycle with Fritz Zyme 9 and some ammonia.
Here are some more pictures

 

[JumboShrimp]

If you haven't filled that tank yet, you might want to think about pulling it about 3" from the wall. Splash/salt creep on your walls will inevitably happen as close as it is currently, and never underestimate the value of at least being done fingers back there to pull wires, turn a lighting mount screw, etc. Best wishes-- looks good!

 

[Chriscz]

Great advice that I should have followed. Alas too late. Tank is full and it’s pretty tight back there. I can get at the wires and can undo the lighting screw with a short driver. I’ll likely put something on the wall to catch the splashes.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[eye_dr_reef]

Nice and clean setup. Always enjoy following builds like this.

 

[Chriscz]

Here are some more pics of the progress.

 

[Chriscz]

So I haven’t posted any updates over the last days. Im in Hawaii on vacation. Just went diving the other day and really enjoyed being in the massive Pacific aquarium. As I was looking at all the interesting corals, inverts, and fish it reminded me of how excited I am about my tank and how enjoyable it will be to observe the life in the small aquarium.

I gotta remember to pick up some gifts for my office colleagues who are tending to my tank while I’m gone. Maybe some chocolates or Kona coffee or some local honey.

 

[Chriscz]

Well after 2 weeks away I’m headed back to Seattle tomorrow. My tank which was just recently started, and is in my office,was under the care of some colleagues.
I’m not sure what to expect when I get back. I have a camera set up so I have even able see the tank (a bit), my ATO system has been keeping me up to date with temp and refill volume, and I have had some messages/questions from my colleagues.
The camera is showing quite a bit of thin algae on the glass and I can see the snail trails showing they are working hard.
But what concerns me most is a picture I got from my colleague from above and it appears to show a fair bit of green hair algae on some of the rocks.
I hope it’s just a short ugly phase and that I can get everything in control.
I will update when I get back, do some testing of parameters and we’ll see what’s next……..

 

[Chriscz]

Ok well I’m back in Seattle, sure isn’t Hawaii weather. For work I spent the day out on the water on a boat with rain, high winds, and some cold water. Talk about a reintroduction, literally a wet slap in the face.
Here is one of my co-workers enjoying the ride




This afternoon I made it back to the office to check out my tank. Two weeks is a long time for a new tank to go minimally supervised……

 

[Chriscz]

Ok so I spent the last bit cleaning things up and it is looking a bit better.






My clown fish, shrimp, and CUC seem happy enough. And my GSP and Pom Pom Xenia also look healthy





But quite a bit of algae growing on the rocks




I’ve tested water parameters and everything is a zero (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate). I would have thought nitrates and phosphate may have been elevated.

 

[Chriscz]

My Kraken lid arrived!






I was loosing about 3 cups (-700ml) of water per day to evaporation.

Now back to battling all the green growth.

 

[Chriscz]

Cleaning up the tank wasn’t as bad as I feared and everything is looking pretty good for now.
I scrubbed the rock, did a water change, and added CUC (thanks for the advice from Red_Beard and others!).
Before



After





When I went to the LFS I could help but pick up some more than just additional CUC.
I added a second clown



And a Singularia leather

 

[Chriscz]

Next update on the tank. While out on vacation I returned to a battle with GHA. After getting the good advice from this site, I cleaned the rock, did a partial water change, and beefed up the CUC. Everything was looking pretty good and has been stable.
I have been regularly testing parameters and the numbers look good with ammonia and nitrite at 0, however my nitrate and phosphate are also at zero (likely consumed by the GHA). Its been about 1.5 weeks since the big clean and they have not risen.
I also tested Alkalinity 2 days ago and then made a rookie mistake. Alkalinity was low at about 6.4 dKH. I didn't check the pH.
I then decided to add some Seachem Reef Buffer (essentially sodium carbonate) to try to raise the Alkalinity, it says it will do so on the bottle. Well then I read a little more and remembered from chemistry classes the relationships between alkalinity and pH. I tested pH and it was >8.5......uh-oh

I quickly read more from @Randy Holmes-Farley on the site and I think determined what was going on.

About 2 weeks ago I added a lid from Kraken Reef which included the evaporation cover over the mesh. One of the key causes of high pH is lack of good aeration. So instead of adding more chemicals, I tried removing the evaporation cover and adding an airstone to the AIO rear sump. Checked pH and alkalinity the next day and voila pH down to 8.2 and alkalinity up to 8.1dKH. My initial high pH values were also likely partially due to the timing of my testing near the end of the day versus my more recent morning test showing good values.

Ill keep track of how things progress and read a bit more before I act next time.
Once again saved by Reef 2 Reef and all the knowledge!

 

[Chriscz]

Quick update, the tank is doing well and I added some more to it.

Thanks