Here’s the deal. I have dreams and aspirations of having a beautifully full mixed reef tank in my office. My office reef tank has been up and running for close to a year now. I’ve been really slow at introducing new fish and coral for 2 reasons: (1) Because of finances (geez this hobby is expensive) and (2) I wasn’t sure how much maintenance I would be able to handle inside my daily workflow. At this point, I’ve been slowly collecting corals and refining my setup, and here’s what I currently have (I’ll attach a few photos below).
40 Breeder with a DIY Fiji Cube All-In-One filtration setup. I’m running a simple media floss (changed daily or every other day), BRS carbon, Marine Pure, and rubble rock in the first chamber. My heater and Aquatic Life Nano Skimmer in the second chamber. My third chamber houses my return pump, Tunze Osmolator setup, and pump/return for a media reactor (running AquaLife Phosphate Remover) housed in the stand below. I perform weekly 5-gallon water changes, and I’m super meticulous about having a clean tank. No sump (obviously) or refugium. All of this has allowed me to maintain ultra-low nutrients.
However, the ultra-low nutrients are beginning to affect some of my coral’s coloration. Recently I’ve noticed my Favities, Challice, and Montis turning slightly pale. Even some of my zoas have been mad lately. I’m also seeing a bit of cyano beginning to collect on my sand bed (I have increased flow to remedy this). I have a massive haul from WWC on the way from their Tax Refund Sale, and I want to make a few adjustments to ensure their success.
Current Tank Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Phosphates: 0.02
Alk: 8.7
Cal: 450
Mag: 1320
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: ~77 degrees
I dose BRS 2 Part, Brightwell Coral Amino, and carbon dose 5 ml of vinegar (which I probably should halt for now). I also feed LRS Reef Frenzy and BRS Reef Chili.
Today I dialed back my skimmer to try and increase my nutrients a bit. I’m considering beginning to dose nitrates, but before I do that, I’m actually thinking about increasing my bioload by adding a few more fish.
Current livestock:
2 Clowns and Nem
1 Yellow Watchman Gody and 1 Pistol Shrimp
1 Splendid Dottyback
2 Blue Chromis (two others jumped out of the tank a year ago)
Standard Cleanup - Various snails and (1) Emerald Crab
So what would you do? Would you begin dosing nutrients or add new fish? What livestock would you recommend (I want color and activity)? Tang alternatives? Any and all recommendations welcome!
40 Breeder with a DIY Fiji Cube All-In-One filtration setup. I’m running a simple media floss (changed daily or every other day), BRS carbon, Marine Pure, and rubble rock in the first chamber. My heater and Aquatic Life Nano Skimmer in the second chamber. My third chamber houses my return pump, Tunze Osmolator setup, and pump/return for a media reactor (running AquaLife Phosphate Remover) housed in the stand below. I perform weekly 5-gallon water changes, and I’m super meticulous about having a clean tank. No sump (obviously) or refugium. All of this has allowed me to maintain ultra-low nutrients.
However, the ultra-low nutrients are beginning to affect some of my coral’s coloration. Recently I’ve noticed my Favities, Challice, and Montis turning slightly pale. Even some of my zoas have been mad lately. I’m also seeing a bit of cyano beginning to collect on my sand bed (I have increased flow to remedy this). I have a massive haul from WWC on the way from their Tax Refund Sale, and I want to make a few adjustments to ensure their success.
Current Tank Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Phosphates: 0.02
Alk: 8.7
Cal: 450
Mag: 1320
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: ~77 degrees
I dose BRS 2 Part, Brightwell Coral Amino, and carbon dose 5 ml of vinegar (which I probably should halt for now). I also feed LRS Reef Frenzy and BRS Reef Chili.
Today I dialed back my skimmer to try and increase my nutrients a bit. I’m considering beginning to dose nitrates, but before I do that, I’m actually thinking about increasing my bioload by adding a few more fish.
Current livestock:
2 Clowns and Nem
1 Yellow Watchman Gody and 1 Pistol Shrimp
1 Splendid Dottyback
2 Blue Chromis (two others jumped out of the tank a year ago)
Standard Cleanup - Various snails and (1) Emerald Crab
So what would you do? Would you begin dosing nutrients or add new fish? What livestock would you recommend (I want color and activity)? Tang alternatives? Any and all recommendations welcome!
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