So I’ve been out of hobby for 10 years. I managed to save and my an old 55 gallon, my fluval 405 canister filter, 2 300w heaters, an old octopus skimmer, 60lb of old aragonite sand, 50 lb of dead reef rock to my new house.
The petco down the street shut down and all the live rock and animals had to go. I managed to snag 60lb of their “live” rock for. Bought the Coralife Seascape and reef necessities all at a huge discount. Cycled for 2 weeks. Went back and rescued the remaining 2 ocellated, 1 large mower blenny, a diamond goby, 2 scarlet hermies, 1 Pom Pom crab, and 6 snails. All 60% off.
I spent about a month researching tech beforehand and was blown away at the available technology. After countless reefing videos I decided to use what I had, keep my water chemistry near wild levels, and upgrade as need be. I work from home and with COVID I have plenty of time for micro maintenance. 10% water change a week.
As a novice now I believe it is my duty to see how far low tech can go. It has been 2 months and other than a massive algae bloom (due to me constantly turning on the lights to watch and I’m bad at feeding corals) the tank is healthy. Corals all show their polyps and are growing. Only animal I lost was the diamond gony. (My fault thought I was saving him)
I will list my equipment, livestock, water parameters, and progression photos. I will also be receiving an order of Oceanmagic and Ecopods from Algaebarn and will update with results. I already have a thriving colony of amphipods but their algae eating ability is ridiculously slow.
Equipment: 55 gallon glass tank, fluval 405 (prefilter, de-nitrate, biomax, chempure blue, and GFO), (2)300 watt heater, octopus hang on skimmer, 2 fluval 265g pump, and a coralife seascape. (I will upgrade to sump in a year and pro lights in 6-8 months).
50lb dry rock, 60lb “petco rocks”, and 55lb sand.
Live stock: jawfish, 2 ocellar is clowns, royal gamma, ruby fairy wrasses, algae blenny, cardinal fish, neon goby, 6 snails, 2 scarlet hermits, 5 blue legged, and a ruby mithrax
week 1 with fish
week 1
Week 4
Week 8 cyano and diatom galore again my fault. Amphipods are starting at my zoa garden and working out from there.
Xenia doing Xenia things.
Accidentally damaged chalice made full recovery.
favia and favites doing well. Eating like crazy.
cave acan
Week 4 vs week 8 zoa rock
Side view week 8
