UNS 90 LA AIO #NewReefer

[SaltyGirlMom]

Hi! I am new to saltwater aquariums (experienced at freshwater) and just recently set up a UNS 90 LA 21 gallon AIO. I’m hoping to learn from this nano tank and in a year set up a larger one. Any advice/comments welcome!

A few details:
Used live rock from LFS.
Caribsea Fiji Pink sand.
Aquatop Submersible Glass 100 watt heater in middle chamber.

P.S. My live rock is set up in a heart shape because I have two young daughters who help me care for and learn about these wonderful underwater creatures!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Some beginner corals I always recommend to people are zoas, mushrooms, candy canes, toadstools, and Duncans. These are all reasonably easy to keep and relatively hardy corals to have in your tank.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Some beginner corals I always recommend to people are zoas, mushrooms, candy canes, toadstools, and Duncans. These are all reasonably easy to keep and relatively hardy corals to have in your tank.

Great - thanks!

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

I was really hoping my to get some feedback on my first tank! I don’t think my vid posted correctly so I’ll try it again.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Vids not posting. Will add a pic.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Added a GSP, plate, leather, two hammers, three zoas, two gonios, two cloves, two anemones (one Sherman rose), a candy cane, a Xenia, and a favia. :)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Added a GSP, plate, leather, two hammers, three zoas, two gonios, two cloves, two anemones (one Sherman rose), a candy cane, a Xenia, and a favia. :)

Those are some great corals to add to your tank! Do you have photos of them?

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Yes! I posted a vid earlier today but the first one I posted on the thread took days to work I think so maybe that’s the case here. Here are pics:

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

 

[SixlineRyan]

Ran across your thread while doing some research on these tanks. I really dig the aquascape and corals so far!

That being said, you're probably going to want to do some more research / solicit some feedback from more experienced folks, but your overall bioload seems massive for a tank this small. You also are going to have some issues with your current stock list.

Is your Mandarin Goby eating pellets / frozen foods? These fish eat almost exclusively copepods (thousands a day) and a tank of this size is not going to sustain a population of them. If it's not eating other foods you can guarantee that it's going to starve to death fairly soon.

Damsels can get aggressive. I'm not sure about this specific species, but with this high of a bioload I can't imagine that it's not going to kill off the more peaceful inhabitants in short order.

Speaking of Damsels, clownfish are Damsels as well. They're also going to get more territorial / aggressive as they get bigger. Having a mated pair of clowns is fairly common, but I've never heard of anyone keeping four (definitely not in a tank this small). They are also almost assuredly to kill of not only more peaceful fish, but also two of the 4.

The Carpenter Wrasse (along with almost all other wrasse) should be housed in a much bigger tank. Most wrasse require a minimum of around 50 gallons to provide an adequate environment.

The same is also true of the Lawnmower Blenny (although not 50 gallons). Aside from space you also have two crabs that are going to be competing with the Blenny for food in the tank. Given the size you're probably not going to have enough food to support all three of these long term.

If it was me, I would Keep the Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinalfish, two Clowns, Fire Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star, two Emerald Crabs and several snails and hermit crabs.

I would rehome / see if your LFS will give you credit for the Carpenter Wrasse, Mandarin Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, & Electric Blue Damsel.

Hopefully, I'm not coming across as helpful and not bossy or rude. Don't have to take what I'm saying as gospel, but as a rule of thumb I'm more right than wrong if that makes sense. Just want to save a few animals lives / spare you and your daughter some heartache when these fish inevitably start dying as things get larger.

Still a rad tank!

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Ran across your thread while doing some research on these tanks. I really dig the aquascape and corals so far!

That being said, you're probably going to want to do some more research / solicit some feedback from more experienced folks, but your overall bioload seems massive for a tank this small. You also are going to have some issues with your current stock list.

Is your Mandarin Goby eating pellets / frozen foods? These fish eat almost exclusively copepods (thousands a day) and a tank of this size is not going to sustain a population of them. If it's not eating other foods you can guarantee that it's going to starve to death fairly soon.

Damsels can get aggressive. I'm not sure about this specific species, but with this high of a bioload I can't imagine that it's not going to kill off the more peaceful inhabitants in short order.

Speaking of Damsels, clownfish are Damsels as well. They're also going to get more territorial / aggressive as they get bigger. Having a mated pair of clowns is fairly common, but I've never heard of anyone keeping four (definitely not in a tank this small). They are also almost assuredly to kill of not only more peaceful fish, but also two of the 4.

The Carpenter Wrasse (along with almost all other wrasse) should be housed in a much bigger tank. Most wrasse require a minimum of around 50 gallons to provide an adequate environment.

The same is also true of the Lawnmower Blenny (although not 50 gallons). Aside from space you also have two crabs that are going to be competing with the Blenny for food in the tank. Given the size you're probably not going to have enough food to support all three of these long term.

If it was me, I would Keep the Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinalfish, two Clowns, Fire Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star, two Emerald Crabs and several snails and hermit crabs.

I would rehome / see if your LFS will give you credit for the Carpenter Wrasse, Mandarin Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, & Electric Blue Damsel.

Hopefully, I'm not coming across as helpful and not bossy or rude. Don't have to take what I'm saying as gospel, but as a rule of thumb I'm more right than wrong if that makes sense. Just want to save a few animals lives / spare you and your daughter some heartache when these fish inevitably start dying as things get larger.

Still a rad tank!

Thanks for your thoughtful feedback!

My mandarin goby was eating a copepod population that had established itself beginning a month before, and it was doing well. I was surprised to read that you would keep only four fish in a 20g peninsula. Remember the footprint is different than a cube. 5-6 has worked well. There’s also several hiding spots under the live rock. I watch these fish like a hawk and will remove any if I see issues. I may have had one too many initially but all looked good with that setup otherwise. Until…I brought home ich from my LFS. The daughter of the owner even admitted that it was likely from the last fish I had bought from them, and unfortunately it ended up wiping out my tank. It was discouraging and I had to wait FOREVER for it to clear, but I learned a lot and set up a QT, and finally got some fish back in the DT. All is looking good again (with the exception of some minor algae issues) and I’ll update pics of it.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Update: wow, I’ve learned a lot in the past nine months! The tank is doing well and I added a Kraken lid (much better than the UNS glass lid!), a sicce wave pump, and even two more SW tanks (third tank a QT and not pictured). Looking to get a much larger system in the next month or two. Currently doing more research into this.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Details:
21g
Macro: Atomic Broccoli
Fish: Wyoming LF, Midnight Lightning, Firefish, Lantern Basselet, Spotted Dragonet, Flagtail Shrimp Goby
Shrimp: Jap Pistol Shrimp, Cleaner, Peppermint
Sea Stars: Sand Sifting, Banded Brittle Star
Snails & Hermits: Various
Crabs: Emerald
Scallops: Flame
Clams: Crocea
Urchin: Pincushion
Nems: Tube, Rock Flower, Seabae, Sherman Rose
Coral:
Soft: Green Star Polyp, Xenia, multiple Zoas, Clove Polyps, Mushrooms, Cespitularia
LPS: Duncan, Candy Canes, Acans, Chalice, Blasto, Favites, Frogspawn, Plating
SPS: Montipora, Stylopora, Red Anacropora

Notes:
*Dosing phyto every other day for filter feeders and pods
*I’ve been feeding the Mandarin pods (mostly Tig but 1x/Galaxy mix from Algae Barn) once per week because he’s looking a bit thin!


10g
Macro: Calerpa, Atomic Broccoli
Fish: Wild Gold Striped Maroon, Gold Spot Maroon, Flametail Blenny, PJ Cardinal, Bangaii Cardinalfish, Secretive Wrasse
Shrimp: Plume, Peppermint
Snails & Hermits: Various
Sea Stars: Red Linckia
Crabs: None
Urchins: Red Hair Tuxedo
Nems: Maxi Mini Carpet, 2 RBTA’s, 2 Nano Greens, Seabae
Coral:
Soft: Xenia, Weeping Willow Leather, Pink Nepthea, Clove Polyps
NPS: Carnation

Notes:
*Dosing phyto every other day for pods and NPS
*(For anyone curious, yes, I plan to move the Maroons into a larger tank in time. Right now they are both under 2”.)


Food:
Dry: New Life Spectrum Marine Fish pellets, Nori
Frozen: Mysis, Brine, Bloodworms & Rod’s Food Original Blend
Liquid: Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast, RN Phytofeast, Reef Energy AB+ Coral Nutrition

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

This morning’s pics:

 

[thebookshark]

Vids not posting. Will add a pic.

Fish: Royal Gramma, Carpenter Wrasse, Mandarin Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, Bangaii Cardinalfish, Electric Blue Damsel, two Clowns, Fire Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star, two Emerald Crabs and several snails and hermit crabs.

Wait hold on… you have ALL of those fish in a 21G? That’s a LOT of fish for such a small tank man. Is everyone getting along? What’re your nitrates & phosphates?

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

That was my first ever attempt at a salt water tank, so go easy :)

But yes, generally speaking I’ve found that I’m a bigger risk taker in reefing than others. I do a lot of research but also learn by trial and error.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Just 3D printed a grid and bins for my reef drawer. Looks way more organized now! (Also printed a pod hotel)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

This morning’s pics:

Everything is looking good in your tank!