ScoobyElla's 56g Saltwater Tank

[ScoobyElla]

What's up guys. I started out young as an aquarium fanatic and by the time I went to College I was running (2) 30 gallon and (1) 55 gallon freshwater tanks. Since I went to college I gave up on the hobby and after graduating , 3 years ago, I always wanted to get back into it however I wanted to go the Saltwater route. Here is my build so far, I started the tank on September 19th, 2020 and here is where I am at with everything.

The Build - 9/19/2020
Tank: Seapora 56 Gallon XH
Stand: Built In Wall Alcove
Sand: 60lbs CaribSea Reef Sand
Rock: 40lbs of CaribSea LifeRock Dry Live Rock - (Added a 3lb rock with GSP's on it in March 2021)
Lighting: 22"-34" Fluval 3.0 Marine LED
Heater: Eheim Jager 150w Heater
Filter: Aqueon Quietflow 75
Salt: Red Sea Fish Pharm Coral Pro Salt

Items Added After Initial Build - I will keep a running equipment list
10/14/2020 - Power Head - Aquatop MaxFlow MCP-5 Circ. Pump - Broken in June 2021 so Replaced with (2) Jebao Wave Makers SOW-4. One located on the RIght Glass Pane (Back Top Right Corner) to run Flow along the back of the tank and then hit the 2nd Wave Maker which is on the Left Pane which flows water to hit the front center pane.

Fish - (Date Added) - Food Is Mysis Shrimp Feed 1 frozen cube a day
(2) Ocellaris Clownfish (9/25/2020) - Names are Mumbo and Jumbo
(1) Yellow Watchman Goby (10/14/2020) - Name is Yellow Man
10/17/2020 - Had our first casualty, I woke up this morning to find Mumbo sucked against the filter. Mumbo was acting weird yesterday, just staying in the back of the tank and it looked like he was struggling to swim but Clowns can be weird so I found nothing too odd about it. Unfortunately he did not make it. RIP Mumbo. Purchased another Clown to pair with Jumbo.

Since October 2020 I now (August 2021) have in the tank:
(1) Banded Shrimp - Paired with Yellow Man almost immediately. He was purchased without a Claw so we call him Clawless
(1) Cleaner Shrimp - Shrimpy (Creative I know right)
(1) Coral Beauty - Bluey

Clean Up Crew
Muliple Snails and Small Hermit Crabs
Reef Safe Large Red Legged Hermit
Reef Safe Large Blue Legged Hermit
Serpant Sea Star
Emerald Crab
Fighting Conch

Lighting Schedule

General Tank Updates
First Diatom Bloom on 10/7/2020 - Adjusted Lighting Schedule on 10/12/2020

****Any Suggestions/Tips/Tricks/Things To Keep In Mind - Please send them my way!!!!!*****

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Cool! Following!

 

[ScoobyElla]

It has been 11 Months since I first set up the tank and got it wet!
FTP

I am kinda at a crossroads here on what to do with the tank. I have not seen much growth from my Corals, and am very frustrated.

I have 2 Zoa's that are in poor shape. They started going down hil about 2 weeks ago and now they are barely hanging on.
War Coral - was doing really good but now started to decay around the edges.
Chalice - Which is probably giving the best growth! And is very healthy IMO. I see other tanks and thier chalice grew much faster than mine.
GSP's which have not grown and was hoping they would bring more to the tank as I want it to grow everywhere
Hammer Corals - It was 3 heads for about 3 months and it has gone down to 2.

My most recent Tests (Saifert) which was last night before feeding was the following:
SG 1.026
Temp 78degrees
Ammonia - 0 - I dont test this usually but did when the corals were going down hill
Nitrates - 0 - I dont test this usually but did when the corals were going down hill
Nitrates - Less than 25ppm
PH - 8.1
Phosphate Less than .1
Alk - 7.7
Mag - 1350
Calcium - 250

I do a 15% Water Change Every 2 Weeks. I replace the HOB filters every 2 weeks at the same time. I run ChemPure every 3 months. I clean the HOB and Wave Makers every Month as well. I keep the front glass clean inside and outside and let the back and sides run wild.

Any other info needed should be in the post above.

 

[littlebigreef]

Came over from the zoa post. Your tank is 11 months old. You started with dry rock. Tank looks like you went through your ugly algae phase. Just eyeballing it tank doesn’t look to be in a bad place. I’d suggest 1) seeding it with some ceto and building up your micro fauna. You have some coralline algae growing in the back. B-ionic is an excellent and easy to use two-part, I’d suggest dosing that. Light I’m not familiar with but I don’t think you need to replace it. I’d say your tank is maturing on pace for something done with dry live rock and packaged sand. What are your goals with this tank?

 

[ScoobyElla]

Thank you! Can you post a link for where I can buy Ceto? and Okay I will look into B-Ionic.

My goals are just to add more corals (LPS and Softies) at this point and fill in the tank. Which was what I was/still hoping to do with my GSP's.

 

[ScoobyElla]

Came over from the zoa post. Your tank is 11 months old. You started with dry rock. Tank looks like you went through your ugly algae phase. Just eyeballing it tank doesn’t look to be in a bad place. I’d suggest 1) seeding it with some ceto and building up your micro fauna. You have some coralline algae growing in the back. B-ionic is an excellent and easy to use two-part, I’d suggest dosing that. Light I’m not familiar with but I don’t think you need to replace it. I’d say your tank is maturing on pace for something done with dry live rock and packaged sand. What are your goals with this tank?

Thank you! Can you post a link for where I can buy Ceto? and Okay I will look into B-Ionic.

My goals are just to add more corals (LPS and Softies) at this point and fill in the tank. Which was what I was/still hoping to do with my GSP's.

 

[littlebigreef]

Thank you! Can you post a link for where I can buy Ceto? and Okay I will look into B-Ionic.

My goals are just to add more corals (LPS and Softies) at this point and fill in the tank. Which was what I was/still hoping to do with my GSP's.

You can find Ceto at most local fish shops or you can ask around on the forum. You can also ask around on FB or local forums. Point is you need to introduce some micro fauna

Many different 2part products you can use. Bionic just happens to be my favorite.

Noticed you referenced a HOB filter. Are you running any sort of skimmer?

As for your goals the coral beauty might get in your way. Pygmy angels have a tendency to nip at softies and lps. It varies specimen to specimen and species to species. Have you noticed him picking on anything at this point?

 

[ScoobyElla]

You can find Ceto at most local fish shops or you can ask around on the forum. You can also ask around on FB or local forums. Point is you need to introduce some micro fauna

Many different 2part products you can use. Bionic just happens to be my favorite.

Noticed you referenced a HOB filter. Are you running any sort of skimmer?

As for your goals the coral beauty might get in your way. Pygmy angels have a tendency to nip at softies and lps. It varies specimen to specimen and species to species. Have you noticed him picking on anything at this point?

Yeah I think I will go buy B-Ionic today after work. That seems like the best option right now.

I have not started a skimmer. I’m trying to go as minimal as possible. I see other people run tanks with almost nothing! It’s crazy! I don’t mind doing upkeep.

the coral beauty has not been a problem at all, if I target feed he might come in and try to steal the food but as for picking on the coral itself, nothing.