After waiting what feels like forever and doing absolutely no research I dove heads first into reefing. I'm just over three weeks in and today for the first time I have felt enough of a relief to enjoy the tank. I understand this moment may be fleeting but I welcome the journey this hobby will take me in years to come. I have taken a approach which may bite me in the butt, but only time will tell =D Here is my Aqueon 40B mixed reef named "The Shaolin Temple".
Gear Consists of:
(1) Aqueon 40B Tank
(1) Fluval Aqua Clear Power Filter 50 Gallon HOB
(2) Aqueon 100w Adjustable Heater
(1) Digital Thermometer
(1) Fluval Sea Circulation Pump
(1) Reef Octopus 1000 HOB
(1) XP Aqua Sumpless ATO (On the way)
(??lbs) CaribSea Life Rock
(8lbs) LFS Live Rock
(1) AI Prime 16 HD
(25lbs) CarribSea Live Sand
(1) Cyber Power APC (Keep fan going for a few minutes while I panic)
The goal of the tank was to be compact and able to be moved and setup within reason in the future without compromising too much on water clarity and quality. Most of the gear I bought was heavily discounted online or purchased used on craigslist. The initial plan was to use the HOB and circulation pump to keep the water clear, but then I found a used 1000HOB and jumped on it quick. I don't mind the back of the tank looking all mad scientist like, I just want the corals and future fish to be happy within my means. I run a 100w heater on both ends of tank to keep water stable during these NY winters.
The current plan is to grow the small coral stock I have (listed below) and introduce fish after a 76 day fallow which begins today. After which I will eventually add another light (around 6 months) and continue growing the tank.
Corals Consist of:
(2) Green Star Polyps
(1) Acid Torch
(1) Unnamed Zoa (Not Sure)
(1) Pulsing Xenia
(1) Birds Nest
Here are the notes and hiccups so far
Week 1: Dosed Biospira and Microbacter 7
Week 2: Tank cycled by modern convention means (zero ammonia) and added three nasarius snails and two clowns which showed brook within hours, removed fish & setup QT. Added torch, star polyps and zoa.
Week 3: Added protein skimmer, adjusted lights to acclimate David Saxby's prime settings over a month (lowered max % wayy down about 60% max on blue for scale during peek. Most likely will have to adjust light in the future as I learn more about these coral and there demands. Added Birds Nest. (end of week nitrites zero for the first time, for those interested)
Week 4: Added two cleaner shrimp as last members before 76 day fallow begins. Have spent most of this week so far reading humble fish posts on fish disease and prevention. Also have read a bunch on fish that serve a purpose that tolerate cleaner shrimp.
While this tank may seem rushed and may bite me in the butt I was very interested in bottle bacs and their use in modern reefing. As of now all my coral are thriving and look great, but only time will tell as the tank matures. I have ran a 10 hour light cycle since coral were added to the tank and everything is looking great but diatoms are just beginning to show, maybe there won't be a battle I've done roughly a 50% water change the last three weeks but I amm going to wait and see what happens with diatoms/algae. most likely will continue to do largish water changes until fish are added and tank matures, maybe 30/40%. The only piece of gear I was thinking of adding would be a UV sterilizer if things ever got crazy but I don't believe there is anything more this tank truly needs.
While all this was going on I decided I wanted another science project. I saw a gorgeous baby wrasse at petco (I know) and bought him, the two pieces of live rock in his tank a 10g starter kit, price matched + coupons was $60 all together out the door. I through some old sand I had feed a bit in a 5 gallon bucket I had left over in with the two pieces of live rock and the tank cycled immediately processing ammonia and nitrite entirely. Threw in some snails (not sure tbh what kind, I'm going back to LFS tomorrow to find out LOL) and a conch (also gotta figure out what kind, he is so cool though dude OMG his poops are so big). A toad stool was thrusted upon me as well and having no idea how the hell him and the torch get along I threw him in with the wrasse. I ordered a extremely cheap LED (i'm talking $20 cheep) not even sure if its rated for corals and DIY'd the starter kit lid to prevent the wrasse from escaping. Crazy part is the toad stool is actually improving dramatically from how came to me. Everyone is happy as hell in there as of now and I'm learning so much that I can carry forward with my DT.
Here are a few pics, will post more as everything progresses. DT (Shaolin Temple), Second Tank (Don't have anything cool yet) and the QT (homer bucket lets me change water much more frequently to help the clowns fight brook)
Gear Consists of:
(1) Aqueon 40B Tank
(1) Fluval Aqua Clear Power Filter 50 Gallon HOB
(2) Aqueon 100w Adjustable Heater
(1) Digital Thermometer
(1) Fluval Sea Circulation Pump
(1) Reef Octopus 1000 HOB
(1) XP Aqua Sumpless ATO (On the way)
(??lbs) CaribSea Life Rock
(8lbs) LFS Live Rock
(1) AI Prime 16 HD
(25lbs) CarribSea Live Sand
(1) Cyber Power APC (Keep fan going for a few minutes while I panic)
The goal of the tank was to be compact and able to be moved and setup within reason in the future without compromising too much on water clarity and quality. Most of the gear I bought was heavily discounted online or purchased used on craigslist. The initial plan was to use the HOB and circulation pump to keep the water clear, but then I found a used 1000HOB and jumped on it quick. I don't mind the back of the tank looking all mad scientist like, I just want the corals and future fish to be happy within my means. I run a 100w heater on both ends of tank to keep water stable during these NY winters.
The current plan is to grow the small coral stock I have (listed below) and introduce fish after a 76 day fallow which begins today. After which I will eventually add another light (around 6 months) and continue growing the tank.
Corals Consist of:
(2) Green Star Polyps
(1) Acid Torch
(1) Unnamed Zoa (Not Sure)
(1) Pulsing Xenia
(1) Birds Nest
Here are the notes and hiccups so far
Week 1: Dosed Biospira and Microbacter 7
Week 2: Tank cycled by modern convention means (zero ammonia) and added three nasarius snails and two clowns which showed brook within hours, removed fish & setup QT. Added torch, star polyps and zoa.
Week 3: Added protein skimmer, adjusted lights to acclimate David Saxby's prime settings over a month (lowered max % wayy down about 60% max on blue for scale during peek. Most likely will have to adjust light in the future as I learn more about these coral and there demands. Added Birds Nest. (end of week nitrites zero for the first time, for those interested)
Week 4: Added two cleaner shrimp as last members before 76 day fallow begins. Have spent most of this week so far reading humble fish posts on fish disease and prevention. Also have read a bunch on fish that serve a purpose that tolerate cleaner shrimp.
While this tank may seem rushed and may bite me in the butt I was very interested in bottle bacs and their use in modern reefing. As of now all my coral are thriving and look great, but only time will tell as the tank matures. I have ran a 10 hour light cycle since coral were added to the tank and everything is looking great but diatoms are just beginning to show, maybe there won't be a battle I've done roughly a 50% water change the last three weeks but I amm going to wait and see what happens with diatoms/algae. most likely will continue to do largish water changes until fish are added and tank matures, maybe 30/40%. The only piece of gear I was thinking of adding would be a UV sterilizer if things ever got crazy but I don't believe there is anything more this tank truly needs.
While all this was going on I decided I wanted another science project. I saw a gorgeous baby wrasse at petco (I know) and bought him, the two pieces of live rock in his tank a 10g starter kit, price matched + coupons was $60 all together out the door. I through some old sand I had feed a bit in a 5 gallon bucket I had left over in with the two pieces of live rock and the tank cycled immediately processing ammonia and nitrite entirely. Threw in some snails (not sure tbh what kind, I'm going back to LFS tomorrow to find out LOL) and a conch (also gotta figure out what kind, he is so cool though dude OMG his poops are so big). A toad stool was thrusted upon me as well and having no idea how the hell him and the torch get along I threw him in with the wrasse. I ordered a extremely cheap LED (i'm talking $20 cheep) not even sure if its rated for corals and DIY'd the starter kit lid to prevent the wrasse from escaping. Crazy part is the toad stool is actually improving dramatically from how came to me. Everyone is happy as hell in there as of now and I'm learning so much that I can carry forward with my DT.
Here are a few pics, will post more as everything progresses. DT (Shaolin Temple), Second Tank (Don't have anything cool yet) and the QT (homer bucket lets me change water much more frequently to help the clowns fight brook)
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