QT as a mini display?

[Michael Hughes]

I'm a bit late to this thread. As mentioned above, this doesn't work for a fish QT. You can, however, make a coral/invert QT into a "mini display" of sorts.

 

[DmitryB]

Congrats! Depending on the sales bundle, the mat that came with yours might be the extremely thin one; adequate, but if you want a more generous cushion, their thicker cut to size is available. (Not as crucial on just the 15-gallon, as say a 150-gallon!) Please enjoy the tank, and keep photos coming.

Thank you! It's definitely not a thick mat, although as you say, for a 15 gallon this might be ok... One thing that's extremely impressive so far is how quiet it is. I do not hear it at all! Very impressive. I think the water flow is too low though (130 GPH).

 

[Mebbid]

I have a 10g tank that I set up to be an invert / coral quarantine. It works great, and it doesn't need a whole lot of attention. I already caught some vermetid snails on some coral before they got moved to the DT.

Really, for me it's a quarantine to prevent ich / velvet from coming into the tank and a way to observe for other stuff that may try to sneak in.

 

[jsanbor1]

I just unpacked the IM 15 to do a water test. (Cross your fingers everyone!) There's a leveling mat already attached to it.

Basically as things are going, this "QT" tank is just going to be a nano tank in my bedroom (2-3 small fishes, sand, rock) and I'll need something else for quarantine. Do people use 5 gallon buckets? Or now I'll need another - preferably acrylic so it's less fragile - 10 or so gallon for QT.

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What did you end up doing for a stand? Mine gets here today so I'm in the same boat!

 

[DmitryB]

What did you end up doing for a stand? Mine gets here today so I'm in the same boat!

So long story short, I am going to keep that 15 cube for quarantine after all... and ordered a 40 to set up in my bedroom as a secondary tank. I'm out of my mind. So I won't be needing a permanent stand for the 15. I did however order one before changing my mind and BRS already shipped it, so I'll need to do a return. It's this one.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/helloreef-15-gallon-aquarium-stand-helloreef.html

 

[jsanbor1]

That will work just fine. Just move the livestock out to the display before you use it as a QT. If you leave it there, it is not a QT.

Gulf live rock showed up today. Really happy with this. Hard to tell from the bucket pic but great color, lots of variety on there and passed the sniff test. :)

 

[jsanbor1]

Live rock and sand - In. When should I add a light?

 

[DmitryB]

The consensus seems to be wait for the light for a month or two...?

What happened to that rockscape you did?

 

[jsanbor1]

The consensus seems to be wait for the light for a month or two...?

What happened to that rockscape you did?

The scape is for the WB 150.4, and the big cat scape got broken down a bit last night. Latest version is below. I think it's better now based on the feedback but it feels off. Happy to hear some more, I have lots of time. :). Still no ship date on the bigger tank - they said it's 6 weeks out once it ships.

I'm starting to think the 15 is the seed tank for the 150 - just rock and CUC, and maybe one fish. I have some extra Marco to put in here and just watch for bad hitchhickers for a couple of months. Move all that to the 150 and then, maybe do it again. :)

 

[jsanbor1]

The consensus seems to be wait for the light for a month or two...?

What happened to that rockscape you did?

On when to add a light - is the answer different if you are using 100% live rock and sand?

 

[DmitryB]

On when to add a light - is the answer different if you are using 100% live rock and sand?

Here's the BRS video on the topic. They say 4 months! But they do not distinguish between live rock and the alternatives. And while I'm sure 4 months is great... is that long necessary? Maybe others will chime in!

They also say to add a couple of fish that eat algae before turning on the lights.

 

[jsanbor1]

Patience will be my struggle for sure.

Update on the 15 Nano AIO. ATO is in place - sitting at 1.025 (hydrometer). Live Gulf Rock (10lbs) and sand (10 lbs) have been in before anything else - 8 days. Light (AI Prime - Saxby setting (35% Acclimation)) has been in for 7 days. (4) mini frags have been in since day 6. .

Here is a pic from tonight.

The frags are a little ticked because I was messing with the lights and flow for the pic - but generally, they seem happy.

Nitrate and Ammonia have pretty much been at zero since first test at day 2.

I think this is zero or close? It's hard to tell really.




Here are the parameters I can track so far.

Cheers.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Nice progress. Let's see whether the Live Gulf Rock will significantly help you avoid the 'uglies.'

 

[DmitryB]

Patience will be my struggle for sure.

Update on the 15 Nano AIO. ATO is in place - sitting at 1.025 (hydrometer). Live Gulf Rock (10lbs) and sand (10 lbs) have been in before anything else - 8 days. Light (AI Prime - Saxby setting (35% Acclimation)) has been in for 7 days. (4) mini frags have been in since day 6. .

Here is a pic from tonight.

The frags are a little ticked because I was messing with the lights and flow for the pic - but generally, they seem happy.

Nitrate and Ammonia have pretty much been at zero since first test at day 2.

I think this is zero or close? It's hard to tell really.




Here are the parameters I can track so far.

Cheers.

I hadn't heard of this reefcmd. Gonna check that out! Glad there's an app of it as well.