15gal SPS dominated nano

stealth57 · Mar 23, 2015

Here is my little tank nothing comparable to yours.. I have this small reactor from innovative marine that seems to do the job. How are your corals doing now that you glued them onto the rock? its nice you have a lot of coraline algae growth, for some reason my tank never wants to grow any, maybe because my tank is only 6 months old.

SCMatt · Mar 23, 2015

Nice tank. My coraline exploded a while back then basically dropped off to nothing, now I have spots coming back on the side glass so I know its growing just not exploding like it did that one stretch. The glued corals are doing good, all seem to like where they are, good PE on them all, will have to wait to see about growth but they all seem good for now.

acroaddict · Mar 23, 2015

That's an awesome tank brother! Keep up the good work!

Mr.Rocc · Mar 23, 2015

excellent tank i wish my nano looked as nice as yours.

RedneckReefer68 · Mar 23, 2015

Nice reef and corals:bounce:

SCMatt · Mar 24, 2015

Thanks all!

SCMatt · May 19, 2015

Still going! I might try to get photos once the lights come on today. Still having an algae problem. Still hasn't exploded and isn't bothering coral it just refuses to go away. Tried peroxide, tank blackouts, GFO....dies down with blackouts and peroxide mixed but then just pops back up as soon as I uncover the tank. Not sure what else to do. I suspect it's Dino as it will get stringy and have bubble in it, but it doesn't fully take over like some Dinos I've seen do...thankfully.

However with that being said I keep feeling the urge to upgrade to something larger so the algae may be a moot point as I'd kill it with fire before going to the new tank

. Still in the should I or shouldn't I phase, haven't made up my mind. Will have to buy new lights, new powerheads, filtration as I'd go sump this go round, etc. Lots of costs. Won't be anything to huge, thinking along the lines of a 50-60gal type of tank which is a good jump from a 15gal nano. I just want more room for coral and more fish choices. I know I can fit a tank along the lines of 42x18x18 (peninsula), I just need to measure the space again and see what I have.

SCMatt · May 19, 2015

Meanwhile here is a bad photo from 2? days ago. Sorry my glass cleaning bottle was in the way. I threw my HOB filter on the left side just for some mechanical filtration while I was trying to extract this algae.

SCMatt · May 19, 2015

Thought this might be a cool comparison. Here is a shot from May of last year compared to May this year above. What a change. You can see a lot of growth. Slimer in the middle almost the same position in both photos. Hawkins is on the sand front center below but on the rock to the left of the slimer above. Retina blaster on the sand under the brains below but far left rocks above beside Hawkins. Brains show growth, especially that one choked out by algae. Cali tort on the far left sand below is top right on rocks above. And one of the biggest changers other than the Slimer is the CC Oakland A's, located on the far right side sand below as a small nub is now attached to a magnet on the glass above left side.

I wouldn't call the tank having exceptional growth, but I think I'm doing fairly well in such a small tank so far! The comparisons really put it in perspective.

Tahoe61 · May 19, 2015

It looks really good.

SCMatt · May 20, 2015

Thanks! I'm happy with it thus far

SkipperTheSohalTang · Jun 5, 2015

totally found a list of equipment! Lol. Love this build. May have something like it in the near future.

SCMatt · Jun 6, 2015

Thanks! Its ever evolving but I think I'm good for a while. Except for a controller. I've had the Apex sitting in the shopping cart for days.....today just might be the day I finally pull the trigger on it.

SCMatt · Jun 8, 2015

Well I finally did it. I just pulled the trigger on an Apex controller. I've been on the fence about it for so long but I figure I'd rather spend the money now as insurance so I won't lose more in livestock. Especially in a small tank like this where things can change so rapidly. Plus I can always use it if I upgrade, should be one of those pieces of equipment that last me a long time. I hate seeing the black eye to my bank account but I'm sure that will heal once I get it setup. Excited! I got the base unit package (lab grade probe) and the Vortech module. I will probably get the conductivity probe and the PM2 down the road but it's not something I need right now. I feel like the pH and Temp changing would be more likely.

Anyway, that's the latest update. I'm still toying with the upgrade idea....even to the point of playing in sketchup. This is only a test! Don't get to excited just yet. Tank is mocked up as a 40x24x20 with a steel stand.

dormreefer · Jun 10, 2015

Very cool, love the look!

SCMatt · Jun 13, 2015

Thanks.

Got the Apex up and running today after a good bit of frustration. Finally connected to Fusion. Seems to be rolling fine now. Was anyone else afraid to go to sleep the first night they set their Apex up? I know it has notifications but just the thought of switching all of your equipment over to a new system is a bit frightening. For the better of course but I can't get the warm fuzzies yet. I guess that's the whole point of a controller though, to allow you the extra piece of mind. It will come. What I am excited about is being able to actually SEE how my pH and Temp react over night. I feel like I'm entering a whole new phase of this hobby, ready to step the game up and really be on top of things.

I want to take some new pics, so new pics coming....at some point.

SCMatt · Jun 19, 2015

New pics! First some FTS, took them with the peak lighting schedule on so they are a bit washed out. And don't mind the slick on the top of the water, gross.....took care of that with a WC afterwards.

CC Oakland A's, growing it on a magnetic disc. Side macro and full front shot.

Hawkins

Got to have some Slimer shots, few macros.

Top of the Cali tort

Smoothskin type. I think this may be my CC Needles in a Haystack. I have 2 pretty similar so I may have them mixed up. Anyway one from the front and from above.

Crayola Plana right under the Needles in a Haystack.

And finally, one of the Onyx Clowns

SCMatt · Aug 2, 2015

Newest FTS. I don't know what it is but I feel like I STRUGGLE getting good shots of the SW tank. Shoot FW all day no problems, SW just throws me for a loop color wise. Can never get it quite right. Like in the image below my Hawkins is totally washed out, its actually a really nice full blue. The reds and purples are a bit tough to get true as well. Maybe it's just the blue LEDs messing with my eyes I don't know. I need some practice.....or tips lol. Anyway here is a FTS from today. Notice the coral on the bottom right of the rock, that is one of the 2 pink lemonades that is on deaths door for whatever reason. Everything around is has great PE and color, I just can't grow pink lemonade. Does well for a bit then just slowly dies over time. I've been wanting to get some battle corals, guess some space just opened up

Making lemonade out of well....lemonade!

Tahoe61 · Aug 2, 2015

Not sure if it helps but my Tyree PL from Battle, loves a lot of flow and intense lighting.

Capturing a true image under my LEDs is difficult, especially a coral with the coloration of Hawkins, blue just does not capture well.

Your images are excellent though as is the tank.

SCMatt · Aug 3, 2015

Thanks! I have one stuck to the rock lower right side and another on the rack up top where the MP10 basically blasts it. Not sure, maybe it was a pH spike or Alk fluctuation or something that made it just not like the water. The other coral seem to be doing great though so I'm not going to sacrifice messing with stuff for it lol. I'll stick something else in it's place!

That disc on the front glass is temporary. Was up on the upper right side, it's a Rainbow something or other from Cherry. Just seeing where it's happiest in the tank and where I can get some good color from it.