ZachP's 20 gallon build

[ZachP]

Hello everyone! New to the forum but not new to aquariums. Figured I would start an account since I'm always creeping from google searches anyway lol. This will be a build thread for my Nuvo Fusion 20 gallon reef tank. It's still cycling but let me know what you think!

Equipment:
-Skyye lights (want to upgrade before too long)
-vortech mp10
-IM ghost protein skimmer
-Still need an ATO

Misc:
-InTank media baskets
-spinstream return nozzle
-10 pounds live rock
-5ish pounds dry rock
-20 pounds live sand

 

[HowardJ02]

Looks good, bud!! What are you planning for stock?

 

[ZachP]

The plan so far is
-a clown
-a goby/pistol shrimp combo (leaning towards high fin banded goby)
-and probably one more fish but still undecided on what

 

[ZachP]

Tested my water tonight and ammonia has dropped to zero but nitrites are still very high. Do you guys think I should use something to bring ammonia back up or just leave it?

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 1+ (that's all my test kit reads
Nitrates: 50+ (also as high as my test kit goes

 

[helen ann]

How many days into your cycle?

 

[ZachP]

How many days into your cycle?

Today is the 6th day since I filled it up. I also never dosed ammonia, just got die off from the live rock. Ammonia was at a pretty stead 2ppm until last night then today it is 0ppm

 

[ZachP]

Tested again today

Ammonia: 0.2
Nitrites: 0.5
Nitrates: 50+ (this is the darkest I've ever seen it)

So ammonia has come back a little bit and nitrites have finally started to drop. I think I will wait until ammonia and nitrites are both 0 then I'll dose some ammonia and make sure they both go back to 0 within 24 hours. If so I'll do my water change to drop nitrates and watch it for a couple days to make sure everything is still good.
What do you guys think about doing an almost 100% water change at the end of the cycle? Since I have no fish or corals in there I figured as long as I have the water pre heated and ready to change quick it should be ok.

 

[ZachP]

Also I need an ATO. Is tunze or anybody else doing any cyber Monday deals on ATOs?

 

[ZachP]

Well one of the mounts for the Skyye lights that the tank came with broke today

Looks like it's just lightly glued together without even being sanded or anything. Kind of disappointed. If I didn't have the screen top on the tank the light would have fallen right in. I'll probably sand it down and glue it back together with 2 part epoxy

 

[ZachP]

Well I don't have much to update until this thing is done cycling. But I've been looking into fish, let me know what you think of my list
- (1) oscellaris clown
- (1) zebra barred dartfish
- (1) banded high fin goby with a pistol shrimp

Then I also found out about the redfin waspfish. Anybody have experience with these? It seems like they do good in smaller tanks and reefs. So I'm thinking I'll do the dartfish first, then the clown, then wait a while and see if I can even find one of these for sale and if I can't I'll do the goby/pistol shrimp instead. I've been looking into these waspfish and I've fallen in love. These guys seem awesome

 

[Paul87]

That waspfish is venomous and will eat inverts as well as small fish. Besides that I don't know much about them and your stock list seems good. Definitely wouldn't want to come in contact with the spines on the waspfish though. Looking forward to the progress on the tank. If your still looking for an ATO, I recommend the AutoAqua Smart ATO. I love mine. Super simple and haven't had a single problem with it yet (even with factory pump).

 

[ZachP]

That waspfish is venomous and will eat inverts as well as small fish. Besides that I don't know much about them and your stock list seems good. Definitely wouldn't want to come in contact with the spines on the waspfish though. Looking forward to the progress on the tank. If your still looking for an ATO, I recommend the AutoAqua Smart ATO. I love mine. Super simple and haven't had a single problem with it yet (even with factory pump).

Everything I looked up said they do fine in a smaller reef as they are very docile. Said they can eat smaller inverts but they have to be pretty tiny to fit in it's mouth but I'm not sure. That's if I can even find one for sale, apparently they aren't very common. So I'm trying to decide between smart ATO and tunze nano. Tunze is cheaper but I've had one burn up on my before so idk. Maybe I will go with the smart ATO, thanks for the info!

 

[buxton.nc]

I also have an IM20 tank, very pleased with it. I went with the Tunze 3155 ATO - works well. Adding the ATO really reduces the amount of touch time I have to spend with the tank on a daily basis.

 

[ZachP]

I also have an IM20 tank, very pleased with it. I went with the Tunze 3155 ATO - works well. Adding the ATO really reduces the amount of touch time I have to spend with the tank on a daily basis.

So what is the difference between the tunze 3155 and the 3152 nano?

 

[buxton.nc]

The 3155 "utilizes an electronic eye sensor to monitor water levels and a backup float switch sensor".
The 3152 does not have the electronic eye sensor. It only has the float switch sensor to monitor water levels.

I went with the 3155 because of the redundancy (peace of mind) that there is another sensor available in case something happens to the eye sensor.

 

[buxton.nc]

The 3155 "utilizes an electronic eye sensor to monitor water levels and a backup float switch sensor".
The 3152 does not have the electronic eye sensor. It only has the float switch sensor to monitor water levels.

I went with the 3155 because of the redundancy (peace of mind) that there is another sensor available in case something happens to the eye sensor.

 

[buxton.nc]

Sorry about the multiple replies. Something happened to my trackpad on my computer.

 

[ZachP]

Oh ok that makes more sense. Thank you

 

[ZachP]

What about the hydrofill ATO? My lfs has one and said they could get me a deal on it so that would be the cheapest option

 

[buxton.nc]

I do not have any experience with that one. Perhaps some other forum members can chime in on that particular ATO. Bulk Reef Supply's website has a great deal of information to help with your research also.