I recently got an IM Peninsula 20 - which is basically a 20L that has compartments on one end for nano-type equipment. This tank will be sitting on my counter island in my living room. My vision is to have a reef tank with a few fish and trying to keep it as simple as possible - so no sumps or refuge tanks etc. I'll be starting with live rock and live sand and once that is cycled, introduce some hermit crabs and snails, then shortly after a shrimp or two. I still haven't fully decided on fish but I know I won't have more than 5 in there to keep the bioload reasonable.
Here's what I have or plan on getting - any thoughts are welcomed:
So yesterday, Sunday, I got my 19lb of live rock, 20lb of live sand and salt water and started my first saltwater tank cycle! I was planning on saltwater rinsing the sand but that thought went out the window as I was so excited putting everything together while aquascaping. You can see in the attached photos day 1 is super cloudy. I took some water levels and they are as follows (using Salifert kits): Ph 7.4; Ammonia 0; Nitrates 10. This is the best I can tell.. I think the test vials are too big and would like to find more narrow vials for better reading.
You’ll also find in the pics attached the very next day around noon.. the tank is looking really clear. I won’t be testing today, probably wait another day at least. I do have some photos of a couple of hitchhiker corals. Can anyone help me identify these??
Here's what I have or plan on getting - any thoughts are welcomed:
- IM Peninsula 20L tank
- Current Orbit Marine LED 24"-36" (hoping it'll be sufficient for my goals)
- InTank Media Basket w/ Chemi Puer Blue & Purigen & floss
- Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0 251 gph pump
- Current eFlux wave pump 1050 gph (main current pump)
- eShopps Protein Nano Skimmer (for later when bioload is higher)
- Mesh top (do not have yet.. considering making my own?)
- LED mount (not sure if I'll have space to mount with the skimmer.. waiting for parts to get in)
- Cobalt 75w
So yesterday, Sunday, I got my 19lb of live rock, 20lb of live sand and salt water and started my first saltwater tank cycle! I was planning on saltwater rinsing the sand but that thought went out the window as I was so excited putting everything together while aquascaping. You can see in the attached photos day 1 is super cloudy. I took some water levels and they are as follows (using Salifert kits): Ph 7.4; Ammonia 0; Nitrates 10. This is the best I can tell.. I think the test vials are too big and would like to find more narrow vials for better reading.
You’ll also find in the pics attached the very next day around noon.. the tank is looking really clear. I won’t be testing today, probably wait another day at least. I do have some photos of a couple of hitchhiker corals. Can anyone help me identify these??