Paku's 10g Nano (56k warning)

[paku]

Heya all,
After allot of research on this forum (about 2 months worth), and a great thread by Reef_dude76 (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=679159) I have decided to take the plunge into a nano reef. This is my first attempt at a marine tank. I used the AC110 Mod from Reef_dude76's thread. Currently it is still cycling (only 2 days old). I don't have my lights yet, but I plan to get a 20" 80w 50/50. It is cycling with a 20w 50/50 power compact atm.

Base rock: 3lbs
Live rock: 10-12 lbs of newly shipped Caribbean un cured.
Live sand: 20lbs

Stocking plans:
1-2 True Percs (tank bred) Would a pair of Percs be ok in a 10g?
or
1 True Perc (tank bred)
Watchman goby / Pistol combo

Both of those list would include a Peppermint Shrimp and of course cleanup crew.

I am not sure yet on what corals I will go with.

Bad Hitchikers found on day one include:
1 Mantis Shrimp (1") Scary little bugger that attacked my tongs, very strong for being so small.
2 little hairy crabs (Gorrila I think from browsing thru the threads)
1 small Welk

All have been removed. My LFS didnt want the Mantis, and my GF said no more tanks... (have 3 already) :(

Front Shot
http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10gnanofront.jpg

Weird ClamThing, anyone know the species?
http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10gnanoclam.jpg

[rombouts]

Looking good.

[Brandon's Reef]

you have alot of coraline on those rocks

[paku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8204823#post8204823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brandon's Reef
you have alot of coraline on those rocks


Thats a good thing right? lol... They came in fresh about 50 miles off the coast of the Keys... Or so says my LFS guy. There is some coral on a couple pieces, I hope they live thru the cycle. I am changing 50% everytime the ammonia reaches 1.0ppm Should I do more than that? I dont want all my hitchihkers to suffer or die off. I have noticed a couple tiny blue hermits. And that big crusty clam with coraline all over it opens up and seems ok.

These rocks are so nice under a moon light, they "glow" a redish pink.

Any comments or advice would be greaty welcomed!

[deeplove]

Nice looking rocks on that 10 Spud. I have a couple of 10's and a couple of big chunks of rocks like those I would like. It looks nice. Almost like a island or so.

[Copacetic]

Nice rock!

[damitchsta]

I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO LET THE AMMONIA PEAK AND THEN THE BACTERIA WILL MAKE IT GOT DOWN. BUT ANYWAY NICE LOOKING CORALINE ALOSME COLORS

[CraigG]

I would say the clown pair would be more then fine in the 10g. Get them on the smaller side and you will have no problems. Clowns like to stay in a smaller area nearly their whole life, they don't require a ton of room to swim around.

Rock looks great. I am not sure about water changing during the ammonia spikes though.

[jcarnahan12]

Looks Good. Love the Rock! I would let the ammonia go...i.e. It is part of the cycle.

[paku]

Updated the rockwork to suit a piece of coral I found on the LR. I like this a little better.

3rd day of cycling:
http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10gnanofrontnew.jpg

[paku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8206346#post8206346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcarnahan12
Looks Good. Love the Rock! I would let the ammonia go...i.e. It is part of the cycle.


So I shouldn't be to worried about the hitchikers? What about the bits of coral on the LR that are starting to look a bit better now? Will an ammonia spike during the cycle kill them off? How high should i let it spike before doing say a 50% water change?

Thanks all for the replies, I love this rock also and cant wait till it cycles and cures.

[dangpride]

you shouldnt worry about water changes yet; leave it like this for about 2-3 weeks - ammonia peak will go away on its own...

[jcarnahan12]

As necessary bacteria builds up, the ammonia will subside

[nmprisons]

i disagree with the above posts. you SHOULD do water changes when ammonia goes over 1.0 if you are using rock like that. Check out the directions on tampabaysaltwater.com for taking care of their aquacultured florida live rock. they suggest doing water changes just as you are and they are certainly the experts on the rock you have.

[Henry22]

Dont do water changes during the cycle, you just let it sit for a few weeks.

[paku]

Well, I have noticed some of the coraline on my LR bleeching after leaving the ammonia for a day. I have decided to continue 50% change when the ammonia hits over 1.0ppm.

[Henry22]

Thats because its cycling, the coraline will come back, you might continue the cycle with water changes, leave it.

[paku]

Thanks all for the replies. I will go ahead and plan on a pair of tank bred percs and a goby. I think i might be in the market for some sort of nano skimmer. Somthing small enough to either *** on the the ac300/110 Mod or the 3-4 inches left on the back of the 10g. Any good suggestions for a nano skimmer HOB that is decent?

Also once the tank cycles 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrites. I should go ahead and add the goby first or my cleanup crew? The pair of percs will be added later on. Maybe when i have a few nice host selections for them that have been established.

[alien9168]

Great coraline!!!

[Henry22]

Add the cleanup crew first, and wait a few weeks or longer for a fish. Once that fish is added, wait another few weeks so your biological filtration can adjust to the new bioload.

[fromtheocean]

I like my rock from florida too. The clams might be turkey wings. I also had a bunch of them. FWIW I also was told to do 50% WC's.
I am cycling a 10g rite now also. I wanted to have a pistol shrimp and goby But was told the dsb they need could cause many problems. one problem was with excessive sulfur build up in a small tank. you would need plenty of sand shifters. you would also need to put something in sand bed for them to build their burrows. I havent figured out yet what to put. Anyway Great tank hope you have much success and keep posting pic's :D

[paku]

UPDATE and ID's please!

New FTS. 5 days cycling.
http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926front.jpg



Jewel box clam (I think) Smiling in his new home.
http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926clamsmile.jpg



I got this out of the "crap" $4 a lbs LR section at my LFS and just threw it in. I didnt know what it was but it seems to be comming back to life. Anyone know? Maybe a dead Candy Cane comming back? Also it has allot of new polyps growing on it.. i dunno if its a diffrent coral or not.

http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926CC.jpg




This was on the good rock. Very bleached out but seems to be making a comback. Star coral? Anyone know?

http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926star.jpg




Also a lone survivor from this colony on a piece of LR... What is it?

http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926survivor.jpg




Yellow Sponge?

http://home.comcast.net/~paku/10g0926ysponge.jpg


Thanks all! Sorry for some of the bad pics, my camera is only 3.1mp. :rolleye1: