tinytides 17g Japanese Style Nano

[tinytidesnano]

Definitely not reef safe

 

[tinytidesnano]

So I tested last night and ammonia is at 0.015 PPM
I was this years old when I learned that I was actually testing for the significantly less toxic ammonium and not converting to ammonia so the 0.015PPM should be the correct at around 8.01 pH and approximately 79°

 

[tinytidesnano]

To continue yesterday, I did the largest water change. I’ve done at approximately 25%. I really zoned in and making sure salinity was correct.

This morning, I did another small water change and broke down the canister again initially, I didn’t like the way the cancer was collecting Detritus, but I realized that the design is actually great as the detritus settles in the center compartment so all I need to do was suck that out and clean the water from the Center chamber, which is great

I also inspected and tested the heater to make sure it was working properly .

I’m going to test all parameters before I leave the house again today if everything seems settled ammonia is still sub 0.015PPM and nitrates aren’t completely out of control I may add my first fish and a couple small inverts today.

 

[tinytidesnano]

So far so good...

 

[tinytidesnano]

Ammonia is as close to dead zero
Nitrite is still sitting at around 2 PPM
DKH is a little high at 13
PH is between 8.3 and 8.4 via tropic Marin
It reads it 8.01 on my Hanna
As long as it’s between these numbers, I’m happy for right now
Temp is 79.1
I may wait to show nitrite coming down before I add a fish or inverts- while these numbers are not harmful. the idea is that while I’m not reading ammonia, there still is some sort of ammonia present be showing nitrite.

 

[tinytidesnano]

Good morning

 

[tinytidesnano]

Hello friend

 

[tinytidesnano]

Welcome you dirty, dirty diatoms to my back glass today- let the ugly phase commence

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/chromista/diatoms/diatommm.html

 

[tinytidesnano]

4 new inhabitants-
Trochus Snail
Cerith Snail
Electric Blue Hermit
Orange Skunk Clown
Happy reefing!

 

[tinytidesnano]

In order to avoid chemicals inadvertently entering the tank, I’ve switched to baking soda for deodorizing the carpets and I’ve creating a routine for “tenting” the tank.
Ahhhh the “little” things for a “little” box of water

 

[tinytidesnano]

I picked up these great glass containers to use for water changes. I don’t have a lot of space in my home, so they integrate well into my kitchen. This little nook doubles as my water making station. I can mix, heat, and aerate the exact 2 gallons for my Friday water changes- the routine I’ve settled on. Happy reefing!

 

[tinytidesnano]

Added some MarinePure Gems to the third chamber of the canister. I decided to soak them in Fritz 9 first. Then I slowly mixed in some tank water and added them.

2 gallons water change and canister cleaning performed

Nitrites were tested last night and again this morning. They’ve been trending down, but they’re still present @ .15ppm

I was hoping to add some Ricordea F. and Yuma this weekend; but it looks like I need to wait.

Fish and inverts are doing great- and the rockwork is really coming alive with some vibrant pink and purple coralline and some rich red and green macro algae.

 

[tinytidesnano]

Blizzard!

 

[tinytidesnano]

Bam- and just like that my fish stocking is complete!

 

[tinytidesnano]

Ruby Red Dragonet

 

[tinytidesnano]

Photo Op!

 

[tinytidesnano]

Let’s rock! Neon green algae- the precursor to additional coralline algae’s- all signs of a healthy, cycled reef.

 

[Onyxia]

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize the Minox needed an additional controller. -Beautiful and powerful little light

It needs a controller? Is that to change the spectrum?

 

[tinytidesnano]

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize the Minox needed an additional controller. -Beautiful and powerful little light

It needs a controller? Is that to change the spectrum?

Correct- and day/night cycles. Fun, but not necessary.

 

[tinytidesnano]

Update!

So the tank is going through some growing pains as is typical with a new tank. The ugly stage is in full effect.

I cleaned out some hair algae, and slowly through water changes and adding media along with carbon and some phosguard- and of course expanding the clean up crew- I’m slowly battling it back.

Things are settling in and all the corals have been doing great. I removed what I believed to be some hitchhiker Valonia, and I also nuked a hitchhiker Aiptasia on one of the plugs.

I’ve been limiting the lighting schedule to help slow down the algae.

I had a very prolific stage of cloudy water from either an algae bloom or a bacterial bloom. That has been handled.

I also seeded the tank with approximately 12 different species of pods. The pod population is incredibly robust.

Unfortunately, all the fish have been lost.

The ruby red dragonet committed suicide by diving into the power head.

The pink skunk and springer damsel died from velvet.

I plan on keeping the tank fallow for approximately 8 weeks while the clean up crew works away- more soon!