Getting back into Salt with the Fluval 12g

[hotashes]

Good to hear, I've always had Venturi driven skimmers before and wasn't sure of the ability to pull skimate with the air driven style. I'll post pics when I see some nasties forming.

Please do, you know we all like pictures [emoji16]

P.S. Did you find my tank log?

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

Please do, you know we all like pictures [emoji16]

P.S. Did you find my tank log?

A.

I did, now following. What a quick cycle, your corals, and clam look to be doing great and I love the microscopic images - something you don't see too often on the forums! I'll probably wait out the algae and "uglies" phase - as I've done that before with Nanos and had good luck keep a relatively algae free display. It's definitely a patience tester - especially when the husband keeps asking when we will get fish. Maybe I'll set up the 5-gallon Spec V while I wait... ;Pompus

 

[hotashes]

I did, now following. What a quick cycle, your corals, and clam look to be doing great and I love the microscopic images - something you don't see too often on the forums! I'll probably wait out the algae and "uglies" phase - as I've done that before with Nanos and had good luck keep a relatively algae free display. It's definitely a patience tester - especially when the husband keeps asking when we will get fish. Maybe I'll set up the 5-gallon Spec V while I wait... ;Pompus

Great, glad you found me. No doubt your input will be valuable to me at points *wink*
I'm in it for the long haul as once I've learnt the basics I may just well go bigger.
Ha ha, I need a scope to see my 1" maxima clam.
Yes I find that if water change is left more than a week, it's trouble in nanos.
He sounds like the inpatient type, teach him patience lol.
I've got a 5G spec V as my QT tank, which is day 18 prophylactically going through chloroquine phosphate treatment then into the display tank.

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

Great, glad you found me. No doubt your input will be valuable to me at points *wink*
I'm in it for the long haul as once I've learnt the basics I may just well go bigger.
Ha ha, I need a scope to see my 1" maxima clam.
Yes I find that if water change is left more than a week, it's trouble in nanos.
He sounds like the inpatient type, teach him patience lol.
I've got a 5G spec V as my QT tank, which is day 18 prophylactically going through chloroquine phosphate treatment then into the display tank.

A.

Nice Idea turning the Spec into a QT. I'm assuming the clown is in there currently?

 

[hotashes]

Nice Idea turning the Spec into a QT. I'm assuming the clown is in there currently?

Yup, being a good little boy. Only another 12 days yay.

I reckon you should only go smaller if you set up a pico. That's what I'm gonna do once my fish stock is in my display. Close down my QT, set up a coral only pico (maybe a shrimp)

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

Yup. I think the Spec is perfect for softies and a small group of sexy shrimp. They just seem like fun (and a bit challenging) to keep. Going bigger is MUCH easier than keeping nanos, I've had a 55 predator tank and 75 mixed reef before and you have SO much more time to deal with any issue that arises. The bigger the tank, the more stable ime.

 

[hotashes]

You like the challenge/fun right!

Tell me something, dealing with algae in a big tank is easy?
I've only had the nano myself so cannot answer that.

What makes a nano harder do you think?

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

You like the challenge/fun right!

Tell me something, dealing with algae in a big tank is easy?
I've only had the nano myself so cannot answer that.

What makes a nano harder do you think?

A.

Fighting with algae is never easy - the approach to it can be (physical removal, CUC, RODI water) but the fight and frustration itself - never is. ;Dead Larger tanks give you more time to react to water parameter fluctuations, disease, parasites, etc simply because of the larger water volume; It doesn't get as polluted as quickly. That's not to say that things can't go wrong quickly in a large tank, it just doesn't happen AS quickly as in a nano in my experience.

I will say it's been a hot minute since I have played the "waiting to cycle" game and I'm pretty bored currently. ;Shifty All I've been doing is building my fantasy coral league in my head all week ;Hilarious

 

[Contrariwise]

Just a little update. My levels have been looking stellar, had a bit of a cycle but considering I used 15lbs LR and Live Sand I'm guessing the LR had a bit of die off even though it was transported wet? NitrAtes are reading at 5-10ppm - I assume this is due to non RODI water. Will be doing a 20% WC this weekend and replacing with RODI. Diatoms have shown their ugly little heads, so CUC to come soon.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Just a little update. My levels have been looking stellar, had a bit of a cycle but considering I used 15lbs LR and Live Sand I'm guessing the LR had a bit of die off even though it was transported wet? NitrAtes are reading at 5-10ppm - I assume this is due to non RODI water. Will be doing a 20% WC this weekend and replacing with RODI. Diatoms have shown their ugly little heads, so CUC to come soon.

Always some dieoff in my experience. Sponges that were exposed to air for example.

 

[Contrariwise]

Always some dieoff in my experience. Sponges that were exposed to air for example.

Yup. Tried to choose "clean" rock with little sponge life but I do see some. Also after some good ole tank staring I noticed a welcome hitchiker - a baby trochus snail . Lots of copepods and I spotted a flatworm. By the looks of the forums it appears to be an aceol, white not red. Almost had a heart attack until the hitchiker ID thread saved my life.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I have been staring at my live rock for a month. My favorite part of reefing is watching what emerges. I have coral, clams, sponges, pods, worms, snails, crabs and who knows what is still to show itself.

 

[Contrariwise]

Agreed! The best part is the ecosystem that emerges. Such a diverse microcosm - maybe it's all about the desire to learn, whether it be about the creatures in the tank or the equipment and chemistry that keeps it all going.

 

[hotashes]

We can't see the tank though, it's not fair lol

A.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

We can't see the tank though, it's not fair lol

A.

+1. We need pics.

 

[Contrariwise]

Pic Hounds! I'll grab some after work today. I'm really considering building an acrylic hang over sump similar to the Marine Pac 3 since he's no longer selling, but I have a ton of questions since I've never done anything with acrylic. You guys can check out that thread here - any advice is much appreciated!

 

[Contrariwise]

Some pics showing off my hard grown diatoms Also picked up some CUC members. 5 Blue-legged Hermits, 3 Peppermint Shrimp, 2 Astrea Snails, 1 hitchiking Baby Trochus Snail.

 

[Katrina71]

I love the little critters that come out!

 

[Contrariwise]

Cyano is starting to show it's slimey little face on the sandbed. The progression of this tank is much quicker than most nanos I've had in the past. I think it's the quantity of the LR I got this go around.

 

[Contrariwise]

Reef Skimmer started to pull some good looking skimmate, pretty wet but nicely colored. Pretty happy with this little guy.

NitrAtes holding at 5. Diatoms almost gone from rocks but still putting up a fight on the sandbed. Cyano all but gone.

I'm considering adding a vortech mp10qd to get more varied water movement and to increase gas exchange. Also keeping the water level lower than top of the glass to help with this. Anyone have success with this pump?