20 Nuvo Fusion Peaceful Philippine Inspired Reef

[Musing.Dog]

I have plans for beginning a 20 gallon nuvo fusion in my bedroom. I am on a budget but not willing to forego aesthetics too much or cut corners just to save pennies.

I begin with a little nightstand courtesy of my local Goodwill. It has some water damage in the left corner but I figure it will probably be under the tank or an ATO reservoir or something.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/dlvolanty/Nightstand1_zps3dfxpfkr.jpg

For lighting I am considering Marineland Reef LED Strip Light (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28569) or Current USA Orbit Marine LED Saltwater Reef Lighting System (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27873) in the 18" to 24" size. What else is out there up to about $150 preferably lower? I'd like to give LEDs a try. I like the look of pendant lights better but I am unable to hang any fixtures.

I plan to include mostly zoanthids but would like the ability to keep some less demanding LPS. I would also like to include limited amounts of attractive macros such as gracilaria.

I am not going to call this a biotope or anything, but I'm going to try to loosely base my stocking plans off what animals may live on a Philippine mixed reef somewhere.

My tentative stocking list:

2x Purple Firefish
1x Randall's Prawn Goby
1x Randall's Pistol Shrimp
A little CUC

The long term plan some years ahead is to expand this tank into a bigger Red Sea setup. But until then, I believe this project will be fun.

[Miles_Glasser]

Don't get a pistol shrimp and goby, they'll kick sand all over your rocks and coral, which will harm the coral and sandy rocks are incredibly ugly

[Musing.Dog]

@Miles_Glasser

I don't mind some sand on the rocks, or blowing sand off the corals once a day if need be. I find their digging interesting. I haven't seen much of other people complaining about them. I'm going to go with a heavier sand also, no sugar-fine sand.

[aznflyfisherman]

I would get the reefbreeder nano wifi or if you can find a use ai prime might give you enough spread.

[Rallos]

You could get a kessil or an AI prime with the gooseneck to attach to the side of the tank and that should be pretty good for lighting. I kept a shrimp/goby pair in an IM 10 with really fine sand and I didn't have any problems with corals getting covered. Granted I waited until they had found a burrow location that they liked before placing any corals on the sand and I made sure to keep them away from the opening of the burrow.

[Musing.Dog]

@ aznflyfisherman
Thanks, I am looking at the Reef Breeder Nano Light Plus, is this the one you mentioned? It looks like a great fixture. I was hoping for cheaper but I think the budget could be stretched a little for it.

@Rallos
Thank you for the input on the goby and shrimp. I will do the same with coral placement. I read the Kessil doesn't get good spread (and they are very expensive). I like the idea of a sunrise/sunset cycle but either of these lights + a controller will likely cost too much.

[Rallos]

@ aznflyfisherman
Thanks, I am looking at the Reef Breeder Nano Light Plus, is this the one you mentioned? It looks like a great fixture. I was hoping for cheaper but I think the budget could be stretched a little for it.

@Rallos
Thank you for the input on the goby and shrimp. I will do the same with coral placement. I read the Kessil doesn't get good spread (and they are very expensive). I like the idea of a sunrise/sunset cycle but either of these lights + a controller will likely cost too much.

If you get an AI prime (would be great I think), you don't need any extra controller. You program it with your smartphone over wifi. Reef lighting is expensive no matter how you slice it but it's one of the most important aspects of your tank. Light source can make or break good coral growth and color.

[aznflyfisherman]

Yes thats the one, cost less then the ai prime n has wifi n you dont need to buy anything else to run it.

[Musing.Dog]

Excellent, I'm heavily leaning toward the Reef Breeders nano light.
Also, tank and dry rock are on their way; it should be cycling this week.

[aznflyfisherman]

Make sure its the one that has wifi n you can control each channel. They have the basic one as well but you cant control the channels. I guess its call the nano-light plus now.

https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/nano-lite/

[Miles_Glasser]

@Miles_Glasser



I don't mind some sand on the rocks, or blowing sand off the corals once a day if need be. I find their digging interesting. I haven't seen much of other people complaining about them. I'm going to go with a heavier sand also, no sugar-fine sand.



Oh ok. That'll be fine then @musing.dog

[aznflyfisherman]

I am thinking about taking down my 29g n 6g biocube n getting the nuvo 20 as well, let me know how you like it n post pictures please. Thanks.

[Musing.Dog]

I actually saw the 20 next to a 25g lagoon today and have changed my mind. I love the dimensions of the lagoon so much more; the extra depth adds so much to the look. The nuvo 20 looks like a 10 gallon tank next to it and its depth will only allow a linear aquascape at best compared to the lagoon.

I will post pictures for sure when I get the 25 lagoon. I have to modify my stand to accommodate it. I think you should see the 20 nuvo in person, if you haven't already, before you settle on it, the display volume/space is a little cramped.

[murphreef]

Nice!

Agreed I just picked up the Lagoon tank today myself. Wife called me and it is sitting at home waiting for me. I finally decided to get back into the tank game again. Took about 3 years off but saw the 25g lagoon online and thought it would be fun to mess with some SPS again.

Looking fwd to your build.

I will be posting mine within the next week or 2 :bounce3:

[Musing.Dog]

Thanks! I'm a little annoyed because I actually bought the 20 online and it arrived today. I came home to the package knowing I have to send it right back and wait for the refund and all that. I was very ready to start this project but the 25 will be so much better.

Speaking of complications, my stand is 2.5" short also. I have to bolt a new top to my stand to support that extra depth. I'll be staining my new wood top and making that change this week sometime. I'll definitely post pics.

I had a tank a few years ago as well but I graduated from college, moved to another state and back between then and all kinds of other stuff. I'm not that stable but I have quite the itch. I might move again in the next year (not across state lines) but I think this size tank won't be too cumbersome to move eventually.

[murphreef]

^ yea i was considering the 20 for a minute but my last tank was a custom 75g cube and before that had a 180 filled with sps.

I missed having a tank just not all the hassles haha. I always liked the thought of an AIO set up. I hated the sump and all the junk it collected on my old tanks so this should be fun, clean and simple.

Sucks about the stand but you will get it figured out! I still need to find something to use as a stand myself. I will look around this week.

I opened my tank box today and realistically it is more of a 15 gallon tank than a 25 gallon but that is fine i am glad it isnt physically 25 gallons worth of display. Ive had my fill of large tanks.

I also received my AI Prime HD light with mounting kit, my Ghost protein skimmer, my live sand, media holders and smart micro ATO unit which I am really impressed with the super small size. I was so use to my ugly JBJ ATO and this is a nice clean super small unit.

Looking fwd to seeing you get your 25

[twitchy]

I am also about to set up a lagoon 25 sometime this week or so, but I am still looking for a light. Torn between an AI prime and the reefbreeders nano light. If either of you get your light in I'd love to hear what you think of the spread on this tank.
I picked up an Ikea base cabinet (24x24x30h) as my stand, it came out to 75$ for everything, and I even got a second door to use as a matching top. You could always look into that if you cant get a top bolted on to your current stand.

Good luck 👍

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[Schweet_One]

I recently setup the IM lagoon 25 myself and couldn't be happier with it. I left the top open and have a single A160we Kessil clamped to the back. The kessil gets decent coverage overall but does have some shading in the back areas due to my rockwork. I believe having 2 kessils would be overkill.. I plan on seeing how the coral responds to the current light before deciding if another kessil will be needed as one seems to do the job

[Musing.Dog]

I went by world wide Corals today because I noticed they had the lagoon 25. I was intending to buy to avoid more shipping time. I asked about their equipment return policy and got, "What do you have a problem with?", to which I replied "Nothing, I haven't bought anything yet". He replied, "Well, we don't accept returns on equipment. Why do you need to know then? What are you going to try to return?". After that I got a sour taste in my mouth and informed him that I asked because most stores do have a return policy of some kind but I'll happily take my business elsewhere.
Wow. I had no intention of returning a 25 lagoon, had I bought it, as I know exactly what I want now but after that negative, accusatory tone and lack of interest in informing me about something as simple as a return policy, I will probably never buy anything from WWC. Unfortunate, they are 10 minutes from my work.

[aznflyfisherman]

Im starting not to like my coralife biocube 29g lol.. my wife gonna kill me if i switch to a nuvo 20 or 25...lol..plus i just got the biocube last summer.

[Musing.Dog]

Maybe you can find a nuvo 20 used to make it cheaper? I saw a couple on Craigslist around me but I opted for a shiny, new one.
Or you could rework your biocube into a different theme/ new scape for a different take on it.

[twitchy]

Who knows, have you talked to her? I have a 40B and jokingly brought it up and she liked how clean the lagoon looked. I couldn't believe I got the green light

+1 on Craigslist I've seen a few fusions up there as well

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[aznflyfisherman]

The problem is i have a 6g, 110g n the 29g biocube. Lol maybe i can sell the biocube n then get a brand new 20g nuvo or the 25g lagoon.

[Musing.Dog]

Well, my tank, ATO, and heater arrived today but at around 7pm. I can't start on the stand until tomorrow but I think it will be cycling within the next day.

The tank is very nice. Super clear glass and nice clean silicone. I love the dimensions and can't wait to start arranging my rocks. The pump looks a little cheap but it all depends on how loud it is. I'm setting this tank up next to my bed so if it's loud at all I'll be replacing it with a Sicce 1.5 I think.

[twitchy]

Well, my tank, ATO, and heater arrived today but at around 7pm. I can't start on the stand until tomorrow but I think it will be cycling within the next day.

The tank is very nice. Super clear glass and nice clean silicone. I love the dimensions and can't wait to start arranging my rocks. The pump looks a little cheap but it all depends on how loud it is. I'm setting this tank up next to my bed so if it's loud at all I'll be replacing it with a Sicce 1.5 I think.
What did you end up deciding to do to fix the stand?

[Musing.Dog]

I have a piece of 3/4" plywood that's going to be cut into a little table top, stained and attached over the existing top. This plan has been okayed by my grandfather who has extensive building experience. Only annoying part is that I'm pretty sure the stain I bought isn't a perfect match but it'll do.

Also going to cut a little access hole in the back of the nightstand so I can thread my ATO cords/tubing through there.

[murphreef]

Well, my tank, ATO, and heater arrived today but at around 7pm. I can't start on the stand until tomorrow but I think it will be cycling within the next day.

The tank is very nice. Super clear glass and nice clean silicone. I love the dimensions and can't wait to start arranging my rocks. The pump looks a little cheap but it all depends on how loud it is. I'm setting this tank up next to my bed so if it's loud at all I'll be replacing it with a Sicce 1.5 I think.

You will be replacing the pump. It hums pretty good, luckily for me mine is downstairs in my living room so it does not bother me one bit.

I set mine up over this weekend. Love the little tank and the simplicity of my set up. The new equipment these days is so compact and clean looking, my wife couldn't be happier lol she remembers my old tanks that had big bulky lights and equipment but now everything is so stealth.

Especially my AI Prime HD light so simple so clean and so cool to use with all the functions :bounce3:

[murphreef]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/murph145/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/murph145/media/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg.html)

quick pic after set up, water is clear now.

[twitchy]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/murph145/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/murph145/media/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg.html)

quick pic after set up, water is clear now.
Looking good, how do you like the spread with the prime?

[murphreef]

^ spread is great, a little bit of disco ball effect under very turbulent water but nothing too bad. I keep the power heads pointing away from the surface too much now.

The usability and interface of this product from my lap top is pretty cool. I like that it is so sleek and minimal looking.

But to answer your question it covers the tank perfectly without shadowing

[evokid511]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/murph145/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/murph145/media/20170429_203443_zpspdzea1rj.jpg.html)

quick pic after set up, water is clear now.

how is your tank doing with a single prime over it??? ive been looking into the 20 fusion but was worried my single prime wouldnt be enough length coverage?

[evokid511]

did not realize you had basically just andered that question haha

[Musing.Dog]

An error was made in measuring at some point which delayed the stand for a few days but it's finally going.

Here's the top stained and ready.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/dlvolanty/staintop_zpsa7rcpigs.jpg

Two small, wooden bars were added to the bottom to line up with the top of the old night stand for easy glueing. This stained plywood top was affixed using a high-strength epoxy. The stain is a little darker than the original stand but it came out nice anyway.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/dlvolanty/empty25_zps6c0rbeqe.jpg

Here it is empty, very pretty. I stained the little wooden alignment bars too so they don't stick out. I apologize for the reflections. The lighting in that room is really bad.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/dlvolanty/filledcloudy25_zpsk7rktjhp.jpg

Added the 15 lbs dry rock, 20 lbs fiji pink sand and water from the LFS. Little cloudy right now. Off to the left is the GFCI I purchased for this project, I have never used one before but I got a nasty shock from a submersible pump a few years ago and that changed my mind.

Honestly, the stock pump isn't very loud. My window unit air conditioner is much louder than the tank even when I'm standing right next to it.

I am using the Cobalt 100 watt Neo-Therm which feels like a very nice heater. The water temp was something like 76 when I put the heater in; I set it to 78 F.

I also set up the Smart ATO Micro. I like the looks of it so far. I haven't turned it on yet as the LFS water is measuring 1.023 with a just-calibrated refractometer. I have a little hole drilled in the back of the stand so that my ATO lines and tube and come into the bottom drawer where I have a tupperware container from Walmart. That'll be my reservoir. That's my cheap refractometer in there. It's very easy to read though.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/dlvolanty/reservoir_zpsqqpusbxa.jpg

I'm not done aquascaping at this point, I'll probably break up one of those rocks and add some live rock tomorrow.

[twitchy]

Looking good, the extra top makes the moulding stand out 👍
how large is that ato container?

[Musing.Dog]

I believe the ATO container is ~3/4 gal. The packaging said something like 100 oz or 114 oz. Might need a bigger one.

[Musing.Dog]

I let the tank evaporate to 1.025 and started the ato. It's working perfectly so far.
also added some live rock. I have some kind of alive bivalve though on one. Feel bad for him.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170511/1b70483f43d1fff1237abf4d8bf27f1b.jpg

Last night I noticed a small defect in the glass. Almost like when the edges were rounded off they got a little too vigorous. I don't think it's a chip as it isn't sharp.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170511/5af143bbd4dcbe7697d0de9b25e63fa2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170511/7dc618239de735e59fc0dea760db2d27.jpg

[twitchy]

Are both of your corners like that or just one? Just checked and mine doesn't look like that, but I agree that it doesn't look like a chip

[Musing.Dog]

Just one corner. I think it's just the reality of mass produced products.

[Gueeto]

Great looking tank looking forward to see it grow

[Musing.Dog]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170515/27a4f905c1210548ca53c0e2fd42196e.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170515/288969588c5daf42740d296a2c834477.jpg

Tank has cleared up considerably. I saw a little brittle star, an amphipod, and a tiny bristleworm so far.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170515/70a4421568a7cf37525b38715c6740d5.jpg

And this giant mussel. I don't expect him to live but I placed him so he can open and not move my rock. He closes every time I open the stand drawers.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170515/0aca3f6e3d8b827c904de00b64d42953.jpg

Upgraded that little Tupperware to a ~3 gal sterilite container as this tank is using up to 1 gal a day of RO.

[Musing.Dog]

Well, lots more copepods in the tank. Haven't seen that little worm. Mussel is still alive.
Got some basic free API tests done today, 0 ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, ph between 7.8 and 8.0 apparently.
This is a little surprising since I put a square inch of salmon in the tank several days ago. I imagine the ammonia could have been consumed but where did the nitrites or nitrates go?

[Musing.Dog]

Been testing the parameters and feeding the tank little pinches of tiny pellets. Still see no ammonia, nitrites or nitrates.
Added 5 banded trochus, which appear to be doing well. And a dwarf zebra hermit/ left handed hermit. I asked for some extra shells for the hermit and threw those in after acclimating the hermit and snails.
Been seeing my hermit in two different shells all day, then found a crab moult. Turns out one of those extra shells was occupied and I actually have two hermits. The accidental hermit is pale, banded claws, blueish eyestalks and blue legs with red bands at the joints? Not sure what kind he is yet; he's very shy. If it's a blueleg, I'll probably take him back to a store of something.

[twitchy]

Been testing the parameters and feeding the tank little pinches of tiny pellets. Still see no ammonia, nitrites or nitrates.
Added 5 banded trochus, which appear to be doing well. And a dwarf zebra hermit/ left handed hermit. I asked for some extra shells for the hermit and threw those in after acclimating the hermit and snails.
Been seeing my hermit in two different shells all day, then found a crab moult. Turns out one of those extra shells was occupied and I actually have two hermits. The accidental hermit is pale, banded claws, blueish eyestalks and blue legs with red bands at the joints? Not sure what kind he is yet; he's very shy. If it's a blueleg, I'll probably take him back to a store of something.
Sounds like a blue leg to me, did you have a bad experience with them in the past? Blue legs are the only hermit I've never had a problem with... Maybe I've just been lucky

[Musing.Dog]

Sounds like a blue leg to me, did you have a bad experience with them in the past? Blue legs are the only hermit I've never had a problem with... Maybe I've just been lucky



Oh no, I just wanted to keep the tank indo-pacific.

[twitchy]

Oh no, I just wanted to keep the tank indo-pacific.
Oh makes sense, when do you think you will begin stocking other than CUC?

[Musing.Dog]

Starting next month probably. Need to buy a lid before the fire fish.
I'm still not sure which goby /shrimp pair I want.
Also strongly considering a swales baslett. Two would be even nicer but I don't want to mess with trying to sex them.


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[twitchy]

Starting next month probably. Need to buy a lid before the fire fish.
I'm still not sure which goby /shrimp pair I want.
Also strongly considering a swales baslett. Two would be even nicer but I don't want to mess with trying to sex them.


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I have a wheelers shrimp goby and I think a Randall's pistol shrimp, the goby is a very bright almost metallic red

[Musing.Dog]

Added 5 nassarius snails. I find them very amusing.
A small mussel on the live rock is dead. I think it's time for a water change.


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[Musing.Dog]

Just found what I think is a tiny pistol shrimp on a filter sock.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170603/c6f9ed23c37a7b8c835cc12e548ea32b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170603/0f8d1df75847168e53781a42de51a100.jpg

I thought I heard some tiny popping sounds. The tank is otherwise pretty quiet and next to my bed. Amazing how something so tiny could be loud. It's only about 1/2".

[twitchy]

Are you going to keep the shrimp? I like my little guy, but I could definitely see that clicking getting old if I had it next to my bed

[Musing.Dog]

Are you going to keep the shrimp? I like my little guy, but I could definitely see that clicking getting old if I had it next to my bed



Yeah, I put him back in the sump partition under the filter sock where I found him. He's still clicking every once in a while, it doesn't bother me.
I found the shadows of copepods on my ceiling to be more strange. The smart ato led attracts them and throws shadows of copepods darting everywhere.

[Musing.Dog]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170611/c4dc407d88ad2a960e57b48c628e030a.jpg

Here's a somewhat cloudy update. PE mysis causes this cloudiness after I feed and I don't have a skimmer. Also getting a protein film on top of the water even though I have some of the flow directed up.

I plan to upgrade the return pump first, then get a skimmer if it doesn't improve.

A lot of the hitchhiker bivalves are still alive, the large one included. One medium one died, didn't see any spikes in testing.

Got my reefbreeder light and it's pretty attractive, imo. Still playing with the colors a little. This is their "natural sunlight" program from the website with the red and green LEDs disabled in the app.

So far, I started with 1 gallon weekly water change but moved to 2g weekly after the fish. I'm going to increase to 2g twice weekly soon after I buy a bucket. My water is in jugs too small to use a pump in right now.

I have stocked it with a pair of orange fire fish and a pygmy wrasse. LFS sold it as a white banded wrasse but I. Relieve it to be Tanaka's pygmy wrasse. The fire fish are fat and sociable.
The Pygmy wrasse is reclusive but very pretty. He's busy decimating the pods but he also comes out for mysis bits.

The wrasse started off washed out brown but is a deep ruby now. All three are fat. I'm starting to see more of the wrasse; sometimes I find it looking at its own reflection and/or hunting copepods. It also hovers near the firefish and sometimes shares their rock.

[Zoahoarder]

Tank is looking great. Do you strain your mysis shrimp before added it to the tank? I bought a cheap lil coffee filter for a kergui and thaw the shrimp, rinse and then add it to the tank.

How are you liking the reef breeder led. I just picked up a lagoon and the reef breeder nano light touch for a good price. Just need to figure out a stand and some equipment pieces I want to run with it.

[Musing.Dog]

I rinse the mysis but maybe I need to do a better job?

Yes, I like the light a lot. I can change each of the six colors independently by the percentage. I like the ability to simulate a sunrise and sunset for just $130. I bought a reconditioned unit; looks brand new. For the wifi version, the app has spelling errors and isn't really intuitive but it works. I didn't have an issue connecting to the the light.
I'm going to like it more when I verify that it grows coral well. I don't think there will be an issue though.


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[twitchy]

Tank is looking great. Do you strain your mysis shrimp before added it to the tank? I bought a cheap lil coffee filter for a kergui and thaw the shrimp, rinse and then add it to the tank.

How are you liking the reef breeder led. I just picked up a lagoon and the reef breeder nano light touch for a good price. Just need to figure out a stand and some equipment pieces I want to run with it.
Is there an advantage to straining the mysis? I've never done it, does it help with po4?

[Musing.Dog]

It might help to strain. I know the liquid makes my tank cloudy all day and adds to a protein film on the water surface. Can't be good. I don't have a liner though either.


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[Musing.Dog]

Not liner, skimmer, thanks autocorrect.
I'm finally starting to get algae. Little dot of cyano, and something sort of fluffy and brown. Took a bit to turkey baster it off.
Saw my Pygmy wrasse poop the other day, he's quite rotund now. I think he's growing. Also getting bolder.
My copepod population is reduced. My firefish spend all day specifically snatching them off the glass when they aren't biting particles in the water column.
I'm hoping to add some zoas or mushrooms soon.
Corraline is bleaching a little.
I apparently didn't end up with any bristleworms. Haven't seen any at all.


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[Zoahoarder]

Here's what I use to strain my mysis shrimp. Nothing to fancy think it was $5.

[Musing.Dog]

Oh man has the algae taken off, the uglies are starting. It's not that bad though really. Honestly, this began when I started to use tap water to rinse the frozen food. I stopped that and the algae has receded dramatically. I was most worried about what looked like dinoflagellates but the elimination of minute amounts of tap water and some manual removal has pretty much knocked it out. I have some cyano also. Some powerheads and a new return pump are on their way. I definitely have some coralline algae starting, green and pink so far.

[Musing.Dog]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170701/e6202db245c579080e6817290626f2ba.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170701/c458818404a26945aedf0770902a17d5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170701/ce977eea43e9c0ebcc64a46d145aa84b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170701/272545e0199a11bd452f6f4d89ad8761.jpg

Some frags I bought Memorial Day. The zoas usually are open more than that but most the small polyps don't open much yet. The paly appears to be getting greener?
I'm not sure what color that mushroom is going to end up being or what kind it is. Yuma? Rhodactis? I don't know much about mushrooms honestly.

[Musing.Dog]

Well, my firefish divorced this week. After this time of being inseparable, one bit the other and chases it.
I'm considering replacing them both with an exquisite firefish.


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[aznflyfisherman]

How is the reefbreeder light, growing and corals?

[Musing.Dog]

How is the reefbreeder light, growing and corals?


Everything is alive. Less zoas open everyday; I dipped them yesterday just in case. The mushroom looks the same as when I bought it. The palys are fatter and shorter but very similar to when I bought them.

I am running their LPS program without red and green, with all the channels cranked up a little - max 80%. I wouldn't pass judgement on the light though; I'm pretty much a coral newbie.
I just ordered test kits for Ca and Alk to test the water just in case. I know my pH is generally running low.

[Musing.Dog]

http://i.imgur.com/D8930vR.jpg

Not much changed here. The red macros are still growing; so is the hair algae on the sand. I am considering adding some chaeto or prolifera in the back portion or the sand to help with possible nutrients. Nitrates still read 0. The pH is consistently 7.8 also, little low.

[thaitopher]

http://i.imgur.com/D8930vR.jpg

Not much changed here. The red macros are still growing; so is the hair algae on the sand. I am considering adding some chaeto or prolifera in the back portion or the sand to help with possible nutrients. Nitrates still read 0. The pH is consistently 7.8 also, little low.You should invest in a lawn mower blenny, red legged hermit and scarlet hermit to remove that hair algae.

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[thaitopher]

http://i.imgur.com/D8930vR.jpg

Not much changed here. The red macros are still growing; so is the hair algae on the sand. I am considering adding some chaeto or prolifera in the back portion or the sand to help with possible nutrients. Nitrates still read 0. The pH is consistently 7.8 also, little low.Add caulerpa instead of chaeto if you plan on putting it in your display tank. Much prettier and it eats KO phosphates like crazy

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[Musing.Dog]

Add caulerpa instead of chaeto if you plan on putting it in your display tank. Much prettier and it eats KO phosphates like crazy

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I can put chaeto in the back but prolifera is attractive just a lot of pruning. Never had chaeto before.

[Musing.Dog]

Added some fish today; this maxes out my fish real estate. New additions are a Randall's goby and shrimp, rainford's goby, swales basslet and a blue coral banded shrimp.
The zoas responded positively to a 3G water change a few days ago even though the measurable nitrates are 0. I'll likely do another in a couple days. I'm going to do a 5 gal change and observe. The swales and rainford are hiding but here's the Randall's.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170727/6d95ad47913a2bb9b25db317ab322f57.jpg
He hasn't found the pistol shrimp yet but the shrimp is building a burrow.

[twitchy]

Those are some cool red macros, where'd you pick those up from?

[ca1ore]

Caulerpa is not a good idea IME. Once it gets a foot hold it can be extremely invasive and very tricky to remove completely.

[Musing.Dog]

Caulerpa is not a good idea IME. Once it gets a foot hold it can be extremely invasive and very tricky to remove completely.



I have heard that. I had the prolifera in a deep 66 a couple years ago and it pretty much stayed on the sand. I just cut it back every few weeks. My only concern is that it's a big, fast green wing algae and it may not look as nice in a nano.

[C_man7]

How's the light doing? Are you getting decent coral growth? Can't decide between this and the ai prime hd.

[dzheng]

Can't go wrong with the AI Prime! Digging the ability to control lighting via wifi.

[Musing.Dog]

How's the light doing? Are you getting decent coral growth? Can't decide between this and the ai prime hd.



In my tank I haven't had any growth yet that I can see. Turning the intensity up just bleached out my red macro a little; no coral changes.


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[Musing.Dog]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170807/74bb96c8f1961707e041ecd66a511b36.jpg

Those zoas are still doing badly. The palys and mushroom still look good though.
My rainford's goby was a little lean when I received him but I'm glad to say he's plump now. He spends most the day ripping up patches of hair algae and sifting sand.
The goby and pistol have not paired still.
I see the swales basslet a couple times a day. Most recently I have witnessed him snagging food out of the water column.
The blue cbs pretty much just hides all the time.
The firefish are no longer chasing each other but they aren't buddies either. They do hang out in the water column at the same time now though.

Did some testing due to the ragged zoas.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 (Still, never seen nitrate in this tank so far)
Kh 11
Ph 7.8
Ca 380

I dipped the zoas two weeks ago and found only amphipods.

[Musing.Dog]

The dinoflagellates are back today. I got my water tested with salifert tests.
2 ppm nitrate, which is the first I have seen any
And apparently undetectable phosphate.
This tank's almost / is overstocked and yet no nitrates. I have only been doing maybe 1 gal water changes a week. There's algae but this tank's only 3 months old I guess. Not any worse than other "uglies".https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170818/7de8bbe97a2f6974c687e54e9fc2b6dd.jpg

[Musing.Dog]

Both firefish jumped apparently on separate occasions. Found both of them dead, one dried today. Not sure how they made it through a less than 1/4" crack.


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[Bobbitworm13]

Dang that sucks.

[Musing.Dog]

Well. Swales basslet turned up mysteriously dead last week. Things seemed okay outside of the dinos.
Got a big nasty taste of Irma which left my tank powerless for almost three days besides a battery operated aerator. Now today the rainford goby doesn't look so hot.
The Randall's goby and shrimp paired up a while back; they moved their "house" during the hurricane but still doing well.
My blue coral banded shrimp is still alive also but very reclusive.
The possum wrasse is still fat and happy; seems impervious to whatever I'm doing wrong.
I did a 4 gal water change, vacuumed the sand and removed a lot of Dino/algae mix. Cut my photoperiod to 3 hrs at a lower intensity and rest actinics only. I also added a bag of chemipure elite and I might do a blackout soon if the Dino's don't let up.
Honestly, I have seen absolutely zero growth in the three frags I purchased months ago and the zoas are stretched out no matter what light intensity I set the light to. My hitchhiker macros bleach and lose mass at higher light levels though.
I know my tank is young but it's trying my patience. Good things come to those who wait? I hope so.


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[Bobbitworm13]

It's alright, my tank has been set up for over a year and I'm just now starting to fill in the tank with coral. Sorry about the swales, good thing do indeed come to those who wait

[Musing.Dog]

The rainfords also disappeared the day after I noticing it acting funny. My Randall's goby and shrimp are doing great. Possum wrasse is still fat and happy. Since the rainford's disappearance, the pods have multiplied significantly. I think the Dino's are sort of receding but I'm still getting strings. More green hair algae now though. The macro on the top rock is losing pieces but still has a lot of mass.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171013/d8a8d595ad6e24258bc8c7878ebeb115.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171013/47e315ed8790ba0aba9bc24dd71e744e.jpg
I still don't understand why detritus is still settling on my two corals. : /
The zoas are still stretched out. Some people at my LFS suggested my lights are too weak. I have the nano lite up to 60%. I read this should be plenty. If it truly is too weak to grow zoas; I'm not happy with my purchase.

[Musing.Dog]

Found the rotting molt of a small gorilla crab today. I have never seen the crab itself. : / I might try the bottle trick? No idea what he's been doing in there.


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[Bobbitworm13]

What % is the blue at? Also, you should try moving the coral more towards the middle of the tank where there will be more light

[Musing.Dog]

What % is the blue at? Also, you should try moving the coral more towards the middle of the tank where there will be more light



I did move the corals recently and the big rock to the right so it didn't cast a shadow. The blues ramp up to 50%.

I'm trying the glass trick for the crab. I actually saw it today.

Also got a microscope. 100% Dinos and most likely ostreopsis.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171028/aab1e236ab6d2e1f60f2b498391ceda4.jpg

Highly unfortunate. I have been using Dino X for a week or so, not much effect. I just got the scope today though.

[Musing.Dog]

Update: caught my rogue crab with a cube of mysis in a little glass. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171028/115cef846724af07deb5e343d96feb90.jpg