RS Nano G2 Max XL

[ReefnBeans]

I've officially made the leap into saltwater!


About a year ago I got into the aquarium hobby and built a 75g freshwater tank in my office. It's been a great learning experience and the tank is doing really well. Recently a buddy of mine (and his dad) showed me their saltwater setups and, well… that was all it took. I got pulled straight down the reef tank rabbit hole.


So I just started cycling a Red Sea Max Nano G2 XL and I'm really excited about the build.


This is going to be a slow burn because I have a couple vacations coming up — one week in March and another week at the beginning of May. Because of that, my plan is to let the tank really marinate and stabilize for a while before adding livestock, probably aiming for mid-May for my first fish.


One thing I've been researching a lot is cleanup crews. From what I've been reading, it seems like once I start seeing the typical early algae blooms, I could introduce a small basic cleanup crew to help manage that while the tank continues to mature. My thinking is that doing this before my trips might allow the tank to run mostly on autopilot while I'm away without needing to constantly monitor chemistry.


For those of you with more experience — does that sound like a reasonable approach? Or would you recommend waiting longer before introducing a cleanup crew?


Feel free to share opinions, suggestions, or lessons learned. I’ll keep everyone posted as the build progresses and share pictures along the way.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Chriscz]

Great to hear your plan. I also have a RS Nano max G2, however the peninsula version (26gal). Im just a couple of months ahead of you having started my tank in January. I'm not super experienced (been out of the hobby for a number of years), so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. The other resources on this site definitely know what they are talking about (even if you get conflicting advice sometimes).
You plan to go slow is great, especially if you will be away from the tank for vacations in the early phases. Take a look at my build thread and you will see what can happen if you are gone during a critical periods. I was on a trip to Hawaii and came back to an explosion of green hair algae that I had to get under control. I asked here on R2R how best to take care of it and got great advice that worked. All is well now and adding more CUC was a key component of the solution (along with taking each rock out and scrubbing it). Anyway, if I had been around the tank, I think I would have been able to react more quickly and stop the problem before it got too bad.

I like what you have done with your aquascape (mine is very similar). One thing to think about is whether or not you want to add some rock islands to create some areas of separation from your main rock feature. For some of the faster more aggressive growing additions (zoanthids, green star polyps, xenia), I have heard it can be easier to make sure they don't take over the entire main rock feature.

Regarding the ATO. I didn't like the stock gravity ATO so ordered the ATO+ from RedSea and it works great. I also added the Nanomat to avoid having to constantly clean out the sock, especially when away. My tank is at my office, so when I am gone I am relying on co-workers to watch the tank. The less they have to do, the better.
Getting the nanomat and the ATO+ to work together was a bit finicky, but I think I have it figured out now. The ATO+ system itself is straight forward to set up. The ReefBeat app that controls the light also controls the ATO+ and allows you to remotely monitor water level and temperature.

One lesson learned with the ATO+ is to avoid putting you heater temp sensor near the ATO+ water flow outlet into the tank. The cooler ATO water kept tripping an error on my heater due to rapid temperature change error. The ATO water is 72 (room temp) and the tank is 78, so the sensor thinks it was pulled out of the tank when it is hit with the cooler water and shuts the heater down. I just had to reposition the heater sensor, so it is a little further from the ATO outlet.

If you get both the nanomat and the ATO+ let me know and I can tell you what ended up working for me to get that dialed in.

I went with dry Marco rock and Carib sea live sand for most of the rock and sand. I then added some more live sand and live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater (their Sand and Rox box ). The box had essentially 3 small live rocks and some live sand. The live rocks had some great hitchhikers and so far I havent seen any pests.

For tests, I started with the API tests and am gradually switching to Red Sea tests which seem to have better sensitivity and are easier to interpret the color values.

Wish you the best of luck and keep posting how your tank progresses

 

[ReefnBeans]

Current tank status:

- End of cycle (ammonia ~0.25, nitrite just under 0.25)
- No livestock yet
- Goal: stable, high-end nano reef (softies → LPS → some SPS like stylophora)
- Priority: long-term stability over speed

Main areas of conflicting advice:

1. Fish First vs CUC/Coral First

- Some recommend adding fish first to generate nutrients, then adding cleanup crew once algae appears
- Others recommend waiting, adding a cleanup crew first, then soft corals, then fish later

Concern:
In a nano tank, does fish-first create unnecessary risk (nutrient spikes, algae), or is it beneficial for establishing the system?

---

2. Cleanup Crew Timing & Size

- Some recommend adding a full cleanup crew early (10–15+ snails, crabs, etc.)
- Others recommend starting small (a few snails) and scaling up as algae appears

Concern:
Is it better to scale the CUC with available food, or start heavier to stay ahead of algae?

---

3. Coral vs Fish Timeline

- Some recommend adding fish early (shortly after cycle completes)
- Others recommend adding a couple hardy corals first, then introducing fish after the system stabilizes

Concern:
In a nano, does delaying fish actually improve stability, or just slow down the process?

---

Would appreciate input on which approach you’ve had the most success with in smaller systems and anything you’d adjust.

 

[Chriscz]

How is your tank coming along?

 

[ReefnBeans]

Hey!! It's going well. Here is a quick update..

Tank Status (Red Sea Nano G2 XL):

• Cycle: Complete
• Timeline: 6 weeks in
• Approach: Slow + controlled (trying to stay disciplined here)

---

Current Livestock:

• Pair of clownfish (just added)
• 2 Zoa frags
• Mushroom coral
• 2 Trochus snails

---

Parameters (latest):

• Nitrate: ~5.6 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.04 ppm
• pH: ~8.0
• Alkalinity: 6.9 dKH
• Temp: ~77–78°F

Trying to keep everything stable vs chasing numbers

---

Lighting (Red Sea LED – acclimation phase):

• Peak intensity: ~35%
• Spectrum: ~15K during peak
• Photoperiod: ~10 hrs total
• Ramp up/down: gradual
• Blue-heavy schedule, limiting whites

Holding this steady for now after adding fish before making next jump

---

Filtration / Setup:

• Skimmer: Just turned on (running dry/low)
• ReefMat: Not running yet
• Flow: Nero 3 on random (~30%)

---

What I’m Watching:

• How nutrients react to feeding (first fish in system)
• Zoa extension after move + dip
• Early signs of “ugly phase” kicking in

---

Game Plan:

• Let system stabilize for 5–7 days
• Then bump lighting slightly
• No major changes before a vacation in early May

---

Overall feeling really good about where it's at. Trying to play the long game and not rush anything.

Would love any feedback, especially around nutrient ranges at this stage and lighting progression.

 

[Chriscz]

What has been your plan for the tank during trips away?
I gave mine set up in my office and have coworkers feed. But the other day to day things languish. I come back to a tank that needs a little tlc.
I’m looking into an autofeeder.

 

[ReefnBeans]

I'm going to be gone for 10 days, and I actually picked up an automatic feeder from the local fish store. My buddy, who is a reefer as well and got me into this, is going to be checking on the tank every 3 days or so. My hope is that since I'm not adding any new livestock between now and then, the tank stabilizes and really dials in before I leave.

 

[ReefnBeans]

**UPDATE**

The tank is just over 3 months old now and I feel like it's entering a new phase.

Current livestock:

- Pair of Mocha Ocellaris Clowns
- Yellow Watchman Goby
- Turbo Snail
- Trochus Snails
- Nassarius Snails
- Hermit Crabs

Corals:

- Multiple Zoa Frags
- Blue Mojo Mushroom
- Additional Mushroom
- Duncan
- Torch
- Hammer
- Octospawn

Parameter Trends

Over the last month I've been focusing heavily on stability.

Alkalinity

- Started around 7.0 dKH after cycling
- Slowly brought up and stabilized
- Currently holding around 8.3 dKH

Nitrate

- Bottomed out around 3-4 ppm after vacation for 12 daya
- Increased feeding
- Currently stable around 11-13 ppm

Phosphate

- Has ranged from 0.00-0.05 ppm
- Recently testing 0.00-0.01 ppm on Hanna ULR
- This remains the biggest question mark in the system

Calcium

- Currently 480 ppm

Magnesium

- Currently 1480 ppm

Salinity

- Stable at 1.025-1.026

pH

- Typically 8.0-8.15

What I'm Seeing

The tank is giving me mixed signals when it comes to phosphate.

Despite repeatedly testing 0.00-0.01 ppm:

- Film algae returns to the glass every 1-2 days
- Hair algae has been present but is slowly being beaten back by the cleanup crew
- Mushrooms are growing
- Zoas are showing growth
- Duncan is doing well

This makes me wonder if phosphate is simply being consumed as quickly as it becomes available rather than the system being truly phosphate limited.

The Turbo Snail has been an absolute machine and has cleaned up a significant amount of hair algae over the past couple weeks.

New Additions

Yesterday I added a torch, hammer, and an octospawn from a friend's established reef.

The torch and hammer opened within 24 hours and appear to be settling in extremely well.

The octospawn came with significant pre-existing tissue recession and exposed skeleton. It is definitely the rehab project of the tank right now. The encouraging part is that all heads still have tissue attached and I'm already seeing tentacle extension from every head. No signs of brown jelly so far.

Where I Think The Tank Is Going

My goal over the next month is to stop adding livestock and simply observe.

I'm especially interested in:

- Whether alkalinity consumption begins increasing with the addition of Euphyllia
- Whether phosphate naturally rises as the tank matures
- How the octospawn responds to a stable environment
- When coralline algae begins to really establish itself

At this point the tank feels like it's transitioning from the "new tank" phase into an early mixed reef. The focus is shifting from cycling and stabilization to understanding nutrient dynamics, coral behavior, and long-term growth trends.

I'd love to hear from those who have gone through this stage:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

**UPDATE**

The tank is just over 3 months old now and I feel like it's entering a new phase.

Current livestock:

- Pair of Mocha Ocellaris Clowns
- Yellow Watchman Goby
- Turbo Snail
- Trochus Snails
- Nassarius Snails
- Hermit Crabs

Corals:

- Multiple Zoa Frags
- Blue Mojo Mushroom
- Additional Mushroom
- Duncan
- Torch
- Hammer
- Octospawn

Parameter Trends

Over the last month I've been focusing heavily on stability.

Alkalinity

- Started around 7.0 dKH after cycling
- Slowly brought up and stabilized
- Currently holding around 8.3 dKH

Nitrate

- Bottomed out around 3-4 ppm after vacation for 12 daya
- Increased feeding
- Currently stable around 11-13 ppm

Phosphate

- Has ranged from 0.00-0.05 ppm
- Recently testing 0.00-0.01 ppm on Hanna ULR
- This remains the biggest question mark in the system

Calcium

- Currently 480 ppm

Magnesium

- Currently 1480 ppm

Salinity

- Stable at 1.025-1.026

pH

- Typically 8.0-8.15

What I'm Seeing

The tank is giving me mixed signals when it comes to phosphate.

Despite repeatedly testing 0.00-0.01 ppm:

- Film algae returns to the glass every 1-2 days
- Hair algae has been present but is slowly being beaten back by the cleanup crew
- Mushrooms are growing
- Zoas are showing growth
- Duncan is doing well

This makes me wonder if phosphate is simply being consumed as quickly as it becomes available rather than the system being truly phosphate limited.

The Turbo Snail has been an absolute machine and has cleaned up a significant amount of hair algae over the past couple weeks.

New Additions

Yesterday I added a torch, hammer, and an octospawn from a friend's established reef.

The torch and hammer opened within 24 hours and appear to be settling in extremely well.

The octospawn came with significant pre-existing tissue recession and exposed skeleton. It is definitely the rehab project of the tank right now. The encouraging part is that all heads still have tissue attached and I'm already seeing tentacle extension from every head. No signs of brown jelly so far.

Where I Think The Tank Is Going

My goal over the next month is to stop adding livestock and simply observe.

I'm especially interested in:

- Whether alkalinity consumption begins increasing with the addition of Euphyllia
- Whether phosphate naturally rises as the tank matures
- How the octospawn responds to a stable environment
- When coralline algae begins to really establish itself

At this point the tank feels like it's transitioning from the "new tank" phase into an early mixed reef. The focus is shifting from cycling and stabilization to understanding nutrient dynamics, coral behavior, and long-term growth trends.

I'd love to hear from those who have gone through this stage:

Awesome new coral additions!