13.5g Fluval Reef

[Just a Wrasse.]

this sounds like its going to be an interesting tank

cant wait to see pictures!

 

[Kan123]

No idea, it was probably just the placement (I had it rather low in the tank)
Also, what is that neon green with what looks like red polyps coral behind the dogo and next to the bright blue birdsnest

Neon spongode montipora!
WWC gave me another one as part of the mystery 4 pack, so now I’ve got two :/ not a bad problem to have but feels unfortunate for such a small reef. Oh well, oh well.

 

[Kan123]

Testing results:
salinity - 1.026
Ph - 8.0
No3 - 5ppm
Mg - 1230
Po4- 0ppm

I need to get my hands on some calcium and alkalinity test kits :/ time to spend more money, woo.

Also learned not to trust LFS salt water. They gave me water at 1.030 salinity, wish I tested it fully. Probably the cause of my low magnesium as I had to dilute the mixture substantially to fix it. Now I’m worried about calcium and alkalinity.

 

[i cant think]

Neon spongode montipora!
WWC gave me another one as part of the mystery 4 pack, so now I’ve got two :/ not a bad problem to have but feels unfortunate for such a small reef. Oh well, oh well.

Oh! I have one of those! Although, it has been upside down the whole year-
I should probably flip it but it just keeps being flipped (Bloody current and having no way to glue it to a rock) it’s bleached on the bottom but growing on the top of the drag plug now Atleast.

 

[i cant think]

Testing results:
salinity - 1.026
Ph - 8.0
No3 - 5ppm
Mg - 1230
Po4- 0ppm

I need to get my hands on some calcium and alkalinity test kits :/ time to spend more money, woo.

Also learned not to trust LFS salt water. They gave me water at 1.030 salinity, wish I tested it fully. Probably the cause of my low magnesium as I had to dilute the mixture substantially to fix it. Now I’m worried about calcium and alkalinity.

That’s the same with my LFS. I hate it, they used to do 1.025 water but now the old guy that was VERY trustworthy has left they’ve let the salinity rise and don’t dose with everything he used to.
I’d rather not have to lower my salinity straight after a water change, but the new guy is the least trustworthy.. He gives out crap information on fish. “You should get a coral beauty” the customer: Has a 4’ tank with a snowflake eel, lionfish (Yes, a volitains) and a triggerfish.
I felt VERY sorry for the coral beauty that got bought that day knowing it would be fish food or be beaten on by the trigger

 

[Kan123]

Oops it’s been a while…

Aquarium is fully stocked!
Goal was to get everything I would want asap and get my hand out of the aquarium asap. Mission (mostly) accomplished. Mostly because I have 2 corals to attempt to rescue. One fell into the sand and I didn’t realize for a while and second was overexposed to light and is slightly bleached.

Finally got my hands on some calcium, magnesium and alkalinity test kits. Needed this sooner, saw the coraline algae slipping away and guessed it was alkalinity. It was a dkh of 6.4. Been correcting over the past 3 days, will give an update of all parameters this weekend.

Here are pics of the aquarium today. If all of this truly survives and grows in, this will be a heck of an aquarium.

 

[i cant think]

Oops it’s been a while…

Aquarium is fully stocked!
Goal was to get everything I would want asap and get my hand out of the aquarium asap. Mission (mostly) accomplished. Mostly because I have 2 corals to attempt to rescue. One fell into the sand and I didn’t realize for a while and second was overexposed to light and is slightly bleached.

Finally got my hands on some calcium, magnesium and alkalinity test kits. Needed this sooner, saw the coraline algae slipping away and guessed it was alkalinity. It was a dkh of 6.4. Been correcting over the past 3 days, will give an update of all parameters this weekend.

Here are pics of the aquarium today. If all of this truly survives and grows in, this will be a heck of an aquarium.

That is a very pretty aquarium - That tree is different, I only ever see plain beige ones growing in the LFS.

 

[Aquachristik]

Loved my Fluval 13 when I had it, great little tank.

Definitely get your hands on a PAR meter. It would be really easy to overpower those corals with that light. Also, there isn't much depth to the tank so even placing corals meant for low light on the sandbed may still end up getting blasted.

How are you running your fuge? And did you end up using a nano skimmer?

 

[Kan123]

That is a very pretty aquarium - That tree is different, I only ever see plain beige ones growing in the LFS.

Thank you! It really does add a lot to the aquarium

 

[Kan123]

Loved my Fluval 13 when I had it, great little tank.

Definitely get your hands on a PAR meter. It would be really easy to overpower those corals with that light. Also, there isn't much depth to the tank so even placing corals meant for low light on the sandbed may still end up getting blasted.

How are you running your fuge? And did you end up using a nano skimmer?

I've been thinking about that but not sure where to get one from. I've tried the local forums but haven't had success yet. Currently running a modified ab+ program where I run it at a visually low setting and have a 4 hour 'cooking' session in the middle off the day. I also have the lights off-center to reduce the reach towards the lower light corals on the other side and ensured only high-light corals are in the half closer to the light. Running a really slow acclimation of the lights. Should give me the chance to be able to actually get to know what % works best.

My fuge is running in chamber 1 using the intank modification. Light is a led red/blue light from amazon attached to the back. Runs for 12 hours (8:30a-8:30p). Really wish I could be running it opposite to the radion photo period but the aquarium is in my bedroom and dont want that light at night.

I ended up using the nano skimmer, its honestly been working really well. The biggest downside I have noticed is the varying water level in the 2nd chamber, but I'm still getting good-ish skimmate. Might try to run it drier in the future since its pretty wet right now.

 

[Kan123]

A lot of testing over the past week. About 8 tests each of alkalinity and calcium. Trying to find balance in this system but things keep getting in the way…

the calcium mix I have keeps calcifying so I can’t even dose calcium properly and alkalinity can’t be stable without calcium being stable either. Just a battle at this point, probably will stop until I get my new calcium.

Almost everything has been thriving, except the goniopora. Seems like a lost Frag, my fragrestore hasn’t arrived yet so I’m playing that comes and works it’s magic soon. Hopefully one of those “saved from the last polyp” stories. Guess time will tell.

 

[i cant think]

A lot of testing over the past week. About 8 tests each of alkalinity and calcium. Trying to find balance in this system but things keep getting in the way…

the calcium mix I have keeps calcifying so I can’t even dose calcium properly and alkalinity can’t be stable without calcium being stable either. Just a battle at this point, probably will stop until I get my new calcium.

Almost everything has been thriving, except the goniopora. Seems like a lost Frag, my fragrestore hasn’t arrived yet so I’m playing that comes and works it’s magic soon. Hopefully one of those “saved from the last polyp” stories. Guess time will tell.

Gonis tend to go into sulk mode and when they do many people don’t actually know why. They go into sulk in giant established tank that don’t have spikes in Mg, Kh ect.. and then they also go into sulk in smaller established tanks. From what I’ve read I find that Gonis like dirtier water than many reefers used to believe.

 

[Kan123]

Gonis tend to go into sulk mode and when they do many people don’t actually know why. They go into sulk in giant established tank that don’t have spikes in Mg, Kh ect.. and then they also go into sulk in smaller established tanks. From what I’ve read I find that Gonis like dirtier water than many reefers used to believe.

Yeah I shouldn’t have gotten one while I’m still stabilizing the aquarium, really hope to have one in the future

 

[i cant think]

Yeah I shouldn’t have gotten one while I’m still stabilizing the aquarium, really hope to have one in the future

I have high hopes that you can revive it - You’ve managed to keep some lovely SPS alive that even I can’t keep alive after 20 odd months - Well, I say that but I realised that a part of my Forest Fire Digi actually survived after moving the branch into my nano, hopefully the nano can’t help it heal!

 

[Kan123]

I have high hopes that you can revive it - You’ve managed to keep some lovely SPS alive that even I can’t keep alive after 20 odd months - Well, I say that but I realised that a part of my Forest Fire Digi actually survived after moving the branch into my nano, hopefully the nano can’t help it heal!

The restore dip arrived today and honestly can’t see a real polyp anymore. Wish it came just 1-2 days earlier. Will try anyways for a couple of days and see what comes out of it.

good luck with the digi. They’re troopers

 

[BarrieNoob]

I present to you my WWC fragtober fest coral haul. Incoming Friday!

69 bucks?

I present to you my WWC fragtober fest coral haul. Incoming Friday!

69x3 for 12 frags? i don't think. even one of those could be purchased in canada for under 100 each. the pretty one's on the websites all go for much higher

 

[Kan123]

69 bucks?

69x3 for 12 frags? i don't think. even one of those could be purchased in canada for under 100 each. the pretty one's on the websites all go for much higher

I only got 1 of the $69 pack. Honestly was very disappointed with the mystery pack - only ended up liking 1 of the 4.

the rest I paid sale price and I think I averaged down to $25 per coral thanks to some $5 frags.

 

[BarrieNoob]

I only got 1 of the $69 pack. Honestly was very disappointed with the mystery pack - only ended up liking 1 of the 4.

the rest I paid sale price and I think I averaged down to $25 per coral thanks to some $5 frags.

That's a shame. I wish I lived in the EU, they have so many great sellers offering really nice frag packs: Coralaxy, Fauna Marin, Reef Corner, etc. In Canada, to get the best deals you have to scour the entire country and order FedEx express or shop in person in Toronto (where I live near).

 

[Kan123]

The aquarium is doing fantastic! Corals are already starting to grow which has me excited for the next 3 months of growth.

coral additions planned:
- mandarin zoa
- bam bam zoa
- pc rainbow
- red planet (maybe)
- either Walt Disney, red planet or gold leptastrea

I’m trying to complete the zoa rock before the Rastas take over because they’ve already started to grow.

Still fighting Alkalinity swinging, been procrastinating setting up my dosing pump but since I’m starting to travel for work, I should be more motivated to get that going.

Probably will start posting individual photos of corals this weekend to track growth.

 

[i cant think]

The aquarium is doing fantastic! Corals are already starting to grow which has me excited for the next 3 months of growth.

coral additions planned:
- mandarin zoa
- bam bam zoa
- pc rainbow
- red planet (maybe)
- either Walt Disney, red planet or gold leptastrea

I’m trying to complete the zoa rock before the Rastas take over because they’ve already started to grow.

Still fighting Alkalinity swinging, been procrastinating setting up my dosing pump but since I’m starting to travel for work, I should be more motivated to get that going.

Probably will start posting individual photos of corals this weekend to track growth.

Very nice tank!! I love the coral growth, although it’s minor it’s still there! Would be major growth within a year for sure, can’t wait to see that.