Current State of the Tank:
1. Bouncing back after loss of crocea clam and coming back from business trip to tank that hadn't been dosed with AFR--rainbow favia looks like it's on its way out and red monti digitata following close behind.
2. Palys are so overgrown that they are impeding flow, and I've begun to take action--will be removing the rock to take out as much as I can in a separate container.
3. RFAs have resettled so that they are no longer being stung by the octospawn and torch. Seem happier.
4. PO4 spiked to ~0.5ppm after clam died, but is now back to 0.1-0.25ppm range. NO3 about 1ppm and needs a boost to stay between 2-5ppm.
5. Got my first frag rack, a magnetic one and have 4 zoas/palys sitting in the rack waiting for space.
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original post with updates:
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I technically haven't started this tank yet, but I do have a large square box waiting to go under the Christmas tree (I know this because a large square box arrived, and my wife also agreed that we should inspect it for defects). I know. What am I doing? I still haven't placed my first coral in my Fluval Evo tank! Alas, I am turning 40 and not into cars, but this is looking like a hobby that could provide a lot of satisfaction andnot-too-bad
So, here's my plan at least:
Display: IM Nuvo Fusion 10 gallon
Rock:Leftover CaribSea LifeRock from the first tank; Tampa Bay Saltwater premium nano rock
Sand:CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink (I was thinking Hawaiian black, but reading too many concerning comments about iron or other elements leaching); Tampa Bay Saltwater live sand
Lighting:provisionally, Fluval Sea Marine Nano Bluetooth, depending on how much I like the Fluval Marine 3.0 going on my Fluval Evo 13.5g--I may spring for a better light, though, including options like the Noopsyche or AI Prime to open up coral possibilities--I particularly want one that is programmable; AI Prime 16 HD
Heater:something economical that fits--any ideas? In SoCal, we don't have problems with it being too cold, so I don't expect it to be running full-stop. Will be connected to an Inkbird with a USB fan for the cooling; Aqueon 100w 78F preset
Return Pump: the Mightjet that comes with the tank is rated over 300 gph, so I think this will do unless it is horrible. Is it horrible?
Powerhead: likely none to save space if the return is strong enough--will also get a VCA RFG for the return. Is more flow needed in a 10g for coral up to monti sticks?
Filter Media: ditching the sock and little media basket, going to buy an Intank Chamber 1 and Chamber 2--the fit is just too good. Will put floss on top of Ch1, Chemi-Blue/Purigen in middle, and some rubble on the bottom. I am testing a Ch2 refugium with Chaeto in my Fluval Evo 13.5g, so if that goes well will do the same for the middle chamber of this one. If not, then more rubble.
Top-off: $15 bottle-on-top, can't beat that, especially for an office desktop. Pending, I have to see how this tank does with the water line, because my Fluval EVO 13.5g chamber water lines are not stable. The bottle ATO is working JUST fine. Will easily keep the waterline over the weekend.
Dosing: Oh boy, this is next on my learning curve, along with what additional parameters need testing for LPS and easy SPS.Water changes and possibly NeoNitrate/NeoPhos if levels need to be brought up.Turns out water changes are not enough to keep up the ALK, so I'm now dosing 2-3mL of All-4-Reef Mon through Fri and adding 6mL to the top-off water bottle for the weekend. Water changes on hold until I stabilize NO3 and PO4.
Water: LFS has a good deal per gallon at 1.026 (it is Red Sea Coral Pro: ~10.9 ALK, ~430 Ca, ~1290 Mg, pH 7.8). Purchased RODI buddy and will start making my own water. Can't tolerate inconsistencies in LFS water.
Skimmer: None--will do at least weekly water changes; In fact, the way I have it currently set up, I will just change a couple of quarts every weekday and do a 10% on Friday and Monday. 5 minutes, max.
Livestock: Invert-themed + a bright tailspot blenny: 1 colorful rock flower anemone, several sexy shrimp, 1 pom-pom crab, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 nassarius, 2 dwarf trochus, multiple varied ceriths, 1-2 blue leg hermits, and a money cowrie if I can get one. Or perhaps wow the office with a blue mandarin?? Two fish + shimp + crab + CUC seems like a lot for a 10g tank. What do you think?
Coral: Still learning, but hoping to break into LPS in a big way with this tank with Euphylia, Duncan, blasto and micromussas, candy-canes, maybe elegance, flowerpot or alveopora, birdsnest and monti sticks (I like caps, but worried about shadowing in small tank). Knowing and keeping track of parameters beyond ammonium, nitrite and nitrate worries me, but still plenty of time to learn.
Stocking plan (as of1/10/2022; 1/15/2022--realizing the space limitations now):
*optional
-See what hitchhikers arrive with the TBS rock
-1x2x Peppermint shrimp (with TBS package, sent an extra one too!) (given away to local reefer)
- 5x astrea snails (with TBS package)
- 1x tailspot blenny
- 1x exquisite firefish
-3+ (2x removed due to coral-eating behavior)
- 1x spotted Porcelain anemone crab
- 1x green Porcelain crab
-1x red procelain crab (RIP)
- 1x Pompom crab (no pompoms
)
- 2x Emerald crabs (to combat bubble algae, added May 2022)
- 1xSkunk or fire cleaner shrimp*
- 10x dwarf cerith snails
-5x trochus snails; plenty with the Astreas
- 1x Nassarius vibex
-1x strawberry conch; sadly, not enough space for the conch
- Assorted snails (e.g.bumble bee RIP, money cowrie RIP, 2x limpets RIP)
- Red display macroalgae(e.g. dragon's breath, flat branch gracilaria, etc); likely only one piece
-Blue hypnea (RIP)
- Green display macroalgae (mermaid's fan (RIP), shaving brush,Pencil cap (RIP), codium)
- 3+ rock flower anemones
-1x trachy (RIP)
- 1x golden octospawn
- 1xPink
- 1x crocea clam
-1x Duncan
-1x branching gsp (not enough space)
-Monti cap
-Birdsnest (stylo, RIP)
- Zoas
- Potato chip coral
- Rainbow favia
- Golden plume gorgonian
1. Bouncing back after loss of crocea clam and coming back from business trip to tank that hadn't been dosed with AFR--rainbow favia looks like it's on its way out and red monti digitata following close behind.
2. Palys are so overgrown that they are impeding flow, and I've begun to take action--will be removing the rock to take out as much as I can in a separate container.
3. RFAs have resettled so that they are no longer being stung by the octospawn and torch. Seem happier.
4. PO4 spiked to ~0.5ppm after clam died, but is now back to 0.1-0.25ppm range. NO3 about 1ppm and needs a boost to stay between 2-5ppm.
5. Got my first frag rack, a magnetic one and have 4 zoas/palys sitting in the rack waiting for space.
***********************
original post with updates:
***********************
I technically haven't started this tank yet, but I do have a large square box waiting to go under the Christmas tree (I know this because a large square box arrived, and my wife also agreed that we should inspect it for defects). I know. What am I doing? I still haven't placed my first coral in my Fluval Evo tank! Alas, I am turning 40 and not into cars, but this is looking like a hobby that could provide a lot of satisfaction and
So, here's my plan at least:
Display: IM Nuvo Fusion 10 gallon
Rock:
Sand:
Lighting:
Heater:
Return Pump
Filter Media
Top-off
Dosing
Water
Skimmer: None--will do at least weekly water changes; In fact, the way I have it currently set up, I will just change a couple of quarts every weekday and do a 10% on Friday and Monday. 5 minutes, max.
Stocking plan (as of
*optional
-
-
- 5x astrea snails (with TBS package)
- 1x tailspot blenny
- 1x exquisite firefish
-
- 1x spotted Porcelain anemone crab
- 1x green Porcelain crab
-
- 1x Pompom crab (no pompoms
)- 2x Emerald crabs (to combat bubble algae, added May 2022)
- 1x
- 10x dwarf cerith snails
-
- 1x Nassarius vibex
-
- Assorted snails (e.g.
- Red display macroalgae
-
- Green display macroalgae (
- 3+ rock flower anemones
-
- 1x golden octospawn
- 1x
- 1x crocea clam
-
-
-
-
- Zoas
- Potato chip coral
- Rainbow favia
- Golden plume gorgonian
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