The Tale of the Tiny Tank (Fluval Spec III)

[DKaiser1189]

I’ve been doing aquariums since I was 16 but I e never tried salt. That all changes with my converted Fluval Spec III. Set it up to start cycling 1/7/19. This will be an LPS and softy dominates tank with a small CUC and maybe a small fish. Specs below.

Caribsea Aragalive Special Grade reef substrate

Hydor 180 gph pump to replace the stock Fluval

InTank media basket

Fluval sea nano Bluetooth led light ( I love it)

Cobalt neotherm heater

Phosguard and chemipure blue with floss in the back chamber.

 

[James M]

Following along
Planning to add a ATO ?

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Nice tank! Following

 

[DKaiser1189]

Following along
Planning to add a ATO ?

Currently no. I’m home every morning and for now should be able to top off whenever needed.

 

[DKaiser1189]

Cycling has started. Went from 0 across the board from ammonia, nitrite and nitrate noticeable ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. PH is 7.9 by my estimate based on the test and SG is 1.026. I’m going to bring that down to 1.024 as a happy median between 1.023 and 1.025.

 

[DKaiser1189]

Even higher ammonia, nitrites and nitrates today so we re plugging along. Siphoned out prob a few cups of water and replaced with fresh which dropped me to 1.022. This salinity things tricky at first! Hopefully it gets easier or I’m buying the 5 gallon jug of seawater from the LFS [emoji38]

 

[DKaiser1189]

Love this tiny tank as a reef. So frickin slick.

 

[DKaiser1189]

Ammonia and nitrite down slightly, nitrate and Ph up. Things are happening.

 

[DKaiser1189]

Levels the same from yesterday. Noticed my temp wasn’t increasing to what the neotherm heater was set to so I added an extra small circ pump to the pump chamber to mix the water around the heater. Problem solved!

 

[DKaiser1189]

The stock Fluval pump acting as a mixer in the pump chamber. This should cut down detritus build up too.

Helps for sure! I wasn’t getting above 76 before the pump.

 

[NS Mike D]

i was looking at the spec III for my beta, but I love the look of your set up. keep the updates coming

 

[DKaiser1189]

Got my SG to 1.023 but still want 1.025.

Ammonia is up, nitrate and nitrite the same. Ph around 7.9 but has flexed bw 7.8 and 8.1. Bacteria must be building since the byproducts are present. Waiting patiently.

 

[DKaiser1189]

My daughter saw some unnamed all pink zoas at the pet store the other day and said she wanted them. They were pretty sick looking so they ll likely be one of my first additions when my water chemistry is good to go. She s two and keeps asking when we can go get more things for her “coral weef “.

 

[reef-rc]

My daughter saw some unnamed all pink zoas at the pet store the other day and said she wanted them. They were pretty sick looking so they ll likely be one of my first additions when my water chemistry is good to go. She s two and keeps asking when we can go get more things for her “coral weef “.

yeah...most girls like pink. probably would match most of her stuff [emoji6]. I have two older girls of my own and at this point they just seem.... whatever unless it's something totally new they have not seen [emoji16].

 

[DKaiser1189]

Should be good to go. Ten days into the cycle I’m showing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, 7.8-7.9 ph and 1.026 SG. Looks like it’s time to go snag some of those zoas and softies and get it going.

 

[McFly]

What did you use to start your cycle? You may want to 'ghost feed' for a week to ensure everything stays stable. Zoa's usually like a little nitrate and phosphate in the water.

Following along, I have a Spec III in my closet that's very thirsty for some salt water...

 

[DKaiser1189]

What did you use to start your cycle? You may want to 'ghost feed' for a week to ensure everything stays stable. Zoa's usually like a little nitrate and phosphate in the water.

Following along, I have a Spec III in my closet that's very thirsty for some salt water...

I dumped a whole bottle of biospira start in on day 2 and then ghost fed some shrimp pellets. It spiked hard after that then has gradually gone down in the past week or so. The spec looks great as a tiny reef. I love mine and I’m sure I’ll love it more with some livestock in it.

 

[dbjonesjr]

Wish I could get my tanks to cycle this quick. Normally takes closer to a month. Neat project and following along. Good luck!

 

[DKaiser1189]

And I have a reef master test kit so I’ll have to check my alk, phos, levels etc.

 

[DKaiser1189]

First corals are in. A small (and cheap) frag of toxic green stunner and a green hairy mushroom.

also what looks like maybe a manjano on the bottom of a rock