100% Aquaculture, Bare Bones SPS Lagoon

[Shark.Bait]

Hello all, I recently moved for school and of course had to set up a nano tank while I'm out here. This time around I decided to do a bit of an experiment instead of your standard build.

1. Everything in the tank will be aquacultured. Rock, fish and coral will all come from aquaculture sources.
2. I also plan to be away from the tank for some time, so water changes won't be possible. I'm going no skimmer, no water changes, no fuge, no gfo, only dosing and carbon.
3. I'm going to be dosing bleach

For better or for worse, I think it will be an interesting approach and hopefully you can follow my progress!

Equipment list so far:
Nuvo Fusion 25 gallon Lagoon and stand
160 watt Maxspect Razor
Coral Box wifi dosing pump and container
Smart ATO
ESV salt, part 1 and 2, strontium choride and potassium iodide, and T.E. plus
Bleach!

Pics to come

 

[Shark.Bait]

Supplies have arrived!

After about 3 hours of assembling the stand.

For no water changes, I overdid it on the ESV by a little. I should have enough for.... forever.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

What is the purpose of the bleach?

I love those IM tanks, I have a 14 peninsula and wish it was a lagoon...

 

[ifarmer]

Bleach for carbon dosing?

 

[refridgeRAIDER]

Interested in what the bleach dosing does as well

 

[Shark.Bait]

The idea is that it diminishes the count of bacteria in the water column but doesn't kill them all. The theory is it preferentially kills gram negative bacteria which pretty much makes up most of the coral pathogenic types.

In short, it should help clear detritus slightly and prevent bacteria that are involved with RTN. Bob Stark has proven this concept with his mixed reef, I'd like to apply it to a SPS focused tank and see what happens.

 

[TylerMoralez]

Wow! Love the build so far. Following for sure

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I would be afraid it would wipe out my entire bacteria colony and would cause an ammonia spike.

 

[Shark.Bait]

I would be afraid it would wipe out my entire bacteria colony and would cause an ammonia spike.

Ozone and UV sterilization work in a similar way and are considered tried and true methods. The difference is that these methods aren't selective to gram negative bacteria. They are constantly killing whatever is exposed to them vs a few drops of bleach a week.

If anything I'd guess that the bleach kills less total bacteria than compared to constantly running UV or ozone.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Interested to see your progress.

 

[Shark.Bait]

Interested to see your progress.

Thanks, me too!

 

[dima]

Wow thats should be interesting following

 

[drawman]

The idea is that it diminishes the count of bacteria in the water column but doesn't kill them all. The theory is it preferentially kills gram negative bacteria which pretty much makes up most of the coral pathogenic types.

In short, it should help clear detritus slightly and prevent bacteria that are involved with RTN. Bob Stark has proven this concept with his mixed reef, I'd like to apply it to a SPS focused tank and see what happens.

Very interesting. I can't say I've seen this written up anywhere other than to combat dinoflagellates. I have a tank that is actually relatively similar in concept to yours and I have been hit hard by dinoflagellates myself. Even though I know your aim is not to combat them I'm curious what your dosing regimen will be and how you will implement it to avoid an overdose.

 

[Aslam Abraham]

Interresting.

 

[Shark.Bait]

Very interesting. I can't say I've seen this written up anywhere other than to combat dinoflagellates. I have a tank that is actually relatively similar in concept to yours and I have been hit hard by dinoflagellates myself. Even though I know your aim is not to combat them I'm curious what your dosing regimen will be and how you will implement it to avoid an overdose.

Dosing regiment is 1 drop per gallon per week. I change carbon every other week. On carbon change days I dose the bleach, change carbon, then immediately dose again.

As far as tank progress, I'm still waiting for the ATO, sand, and light. I'll post the dosing setup soon!

 

[SlvrZ]

following

 

[Shark.Bait]

Got some goodies yesterday! Should have it all set up later today!

 

[john.m.cole3]

Following along for a few reasons.
1. I like the footprint of the IM 25 lagoon
2. interested in the bleach dosing
3. I saw your icecap ATO. That is the most silent ATO ever, right?
4. I'm considering switching to ESV from BRS

Looking forward to see your progress!

 

[reefergurl89]

following!

 

[Salty1962]

Nice build!