Advice on next steps with hardware/aquascape opinions!

[Nick96]

Hey guys! I have had a peninsula 38g AIO for about 10 months. I think its time I really put more into the hobby in terms of hardware. I barely have anything in the refugim area other than a media basket with nothing in it and a heater lol. I had some really bad bubble algae and aptasia problems which required me to remove rocks and basically restart. What I want to do now is have proper media/hardware back there. Any recommendations?

Also any scaping opinions are also welcome

 

[lapin]

For fuge put in some rock and some pods for starters.

 

[Nick96]

For fuge put in some rock and some pods for starters.

Normal rock? And what kind of pods do you recommend?

 

[nessjosh]

I'm not an AIO guy, so I cant say for sure what you should do. Maybe a sponge or filter of some sort to collect small detrius like a filter sock would do. As far as aquascaping, it looks like your light should be further over your tank. It seems pretty dark on the far side (from the AIO). Maybe look at a longer LED light. I like to aquascape mine like under water mountains. in a tank like yours you could have to taller peaks on each side of the tank, and then a smaller mound in between, with sand between all 3 structures. This gives you good flow and options for mounting corals at different heights when then need more light.

 

[lapin]

Normal rock? And what kind of pods do you recommend?

Yes
Just some chunks of reef rock. porus stuff. Dry is fine.
I like

Amphipods & Copepods - 250

Live Foods for Feeding Aquarium Fish, Inverts & Corals: Amphipods & copepods

aquariumdepot.com

Sometimes they have sales. buy 1000 get 1000 free. I usually get enough to pay for freight. I do have 600 gallon tank.