Zilla's bookshelf 6 Gallon Build

[Zilla]

Cycling, DC pumps and custom wave controller, lighting under construction.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What are your future plans with the tank?

 

[Zilla]

Gumbies, Not sure yet going to a PNW Marine Society meeting this weekend, will see if I can pick up a couple of frags to try out. But definitely a fish and a shrimp to start.
My main goal is to keep it simple doing close to 100% water change a week.

 

[Zilla]

1 month later -

Medium Sized Hermit crab died causing bacteria bloom followed by algae bloom.
Purchased internal sponge filter and added one teaspoon GAC. This helped with the algae leaching biologicals and dyes into the water.
Used a toothbrush to remove some of the algae. Then cleaned sponge filter and changed carbon.

Although some of the rock was dry in came from live rock at some point and it started oozing out detritus and probably nitrates and phosphate.
(DO NOT DO THIS) Bought some API algae killer and added it to tank (1/2 than recommended). Killed a couple of my corals and had little affect on algae. Although I read some positive online reviews - Don't believe them.
Did several medium water changes.
Picked up some more snails and a decorator sea urchin.
Started feeding corals with phytoplankton about a drop a day.

I added another pump to the center of tank to increase surface agitation.
Made a reflector for light. At the moment I have 30 watts Royal Blue - 10 Watts UV 400nm - 2 watts 7000k for looks.

Current regime - Change a gallon of water every couple of days and clean out detritus. Clean Sponge filter. Scrub one rock of algae with tooth brush before cleaning sponge filter.
Algae growth has slowed.

Pictures where taken with all lights on and microscope of some algae and critters