First build

[tidefanjam]

I have a couple of these grow lights, I want to set up a refugium in my sump with some cheato, should these lights be suitable to grow the cheato?

 

[tidefanjam]

Well, I picked up 2 small pieces of live rock yo put in with some coraline, on them, and now have 2 tiny aiptasia on one, I'm guessing that just removing the rock would be the best idea?

 

[tidefanjam]

OK, ammonia and nitrates will drop to 0 in a day after dosing up to 2 ppm, I’ll be out of town for 4 day’s next week, will the bacteria drop without me dosing over that time? Should I drop in a shrimp or something while I’m gone?

 

[Greybeard]

OK, ammonia and nitrates will drop to 0 in a day after dosing up to 2 ppm, I’ll be out of town for 4 day’s next week, will the bacteria drop without me dosing over that time? Should I drop in a shrimp or something while I’m gone?

No, it'll be fine. Once established, it takes more than a few days without food to kill off your bacteria culture. Maybe a pinch of flake food the day before you leave.

Nice looking system! Clean and neat.

 

[tidefanjam]

Ok, time for skimmer shopping, my issue is low clearance in my sump, 18”, would it be effective using 2 skimmers that are rated for a smaller aquarium? Also I assume you want your skimmer rated for total gallons, DT and sump? I can get a HOB if necessary

 

[Ryan@ShelteredReef Verified Sponsor]

Ok, time for skimmer shopping, my issue is low clearance in my sump, 18”, would it be effective using 2 skimmers that are rated for a smaller aquarium? Also I assume you want your skimmer rated for total gallons, DT and sump? I can get a HOB if necessary

Tunze makes some shorter skimmers. The Comline 9012 is a little over 16 inches tall. I'm not sure on cup clearance though

 

[Ryan@ShelteredReef Verified Sponsor]

I've been looking at some of these clean up crew packages, 90 something hermit crabs seems like an awful lot of critters, is that much really needed?

I personally would choose snails over hermit crabs for cleanup. Primarily Banded Trochus for glass and rock plus Tiger Conchs for the sand bed. Whenever I've tried to mix, the hermits always kill the snails no matter how many empty shells I give them.

 

[tidefanjam]

Any thoughts on first fish additions? I’ve thought about a small school of chromis, we know we want a clown/anemone, and I like some of the wrasses

 

[tidefanjam]

I really like the fu Manchu lion, and some of the anglerfish, but I don’t want to be so limited as to worrying about other critters getting ate, so won’t be getting either of those.

 

[Ryan@ShelteredReef Verified Sponsor]

Any thoughts on first fish additions? I’ve thought about a small school of chromis, we know we want a clown/anemone, and I like some of the wrasses

I've always been a fan of cardinals as a first fish. They're slow, stick to themselves and are easy to catch if you end up deciding to go with a predator tank.

 

[tidefanjam]

QT ready for water, just a few more water changes in my DT to get nitrates down more, plus some cheato should be here in a day or 2, getting closer to something alive bigger than a pod to live in there, tho I did see a teensy snail crawling around the other day, must of been on the couple of pieces of seeded rock I put in

 

[wlittlefield]

Looks great. Love the cat collar.

 

[tidefanjam]

Looks great. Love the cat collar.

yea, thats my anti 3 year old device

 

[tidefanjam]

Waiting in the big house, parole hearing in 14 days...

 

[tidefanjam]

well its been awhile, guess an update is in order, currently i have a torch i picked up a couple weeks ago, and a duncan,blasto,a zoa covered rock and a birds nest that have been in a couple of months, along with a starry blenny and a clown, 2 emeralds,2 peppermint, 2 blue hermits that have been banished to the refugium in the sump for being generally a pain to my zoas, and various snails, I'm currently working on getting the nitrates and phosphates up just a bit for my torch.

 

[Tahoe61]

That blue marco algae just glows, really pretty.

Man that Starry Blenny is so cute.

 

[tidefanjam]

That blue marco algae just glows, really pretty.

Man that Starry Blenny is so cute.

yea its much brighter blue than i thought it would be

 

[Tahoe61]

yea its much brighter blue than i thought it would be

How long have you had the macro algae?
Will it maintain that coloration?
Is it Blue Ochtodes?

 

[tidefanjam]

How long have you had the macro algae?
Will it maintain that coloration?
Is it Blue Ochtodes?

It’s hypnea pannosa,I’ve had it for about a week and a half so I’m not sure about the color long term, but it’s gotten much brighter and more blue since I put it it, when I got it it was more of a dull blue-green,probably from shipping

 

[Denisk]

Everything looks incredible!!