Getting back into Salt with the Fluval 12g

[hotashes]

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?

I can vouch for the MP10wQD, it does my nano well. Keeps plenty of flow, although I have it lower down near the bottom
(Bottom left corner in picture)

Your gas exchange is sufficient in the skimmer right?

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

I can vouch for the MP10wQD, it does my nano well. Keeps plenty of flow, although I have it lower down near the bottom
(Bottom left corner in picture)

Your gas exchange is sufficient in the skimmer right?

A.

Yup, seems to be. Does yours pull that wet? Your tanks looking good!

 

[lake985]

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?

The tank is coming along great...can't wait to see it mature. I started reefing with a 6G Fluval Edge and also ran the Koralia 240. While it was fine for the 6G, I think you'll find it lacking for your size tank. The mp10 would be a nice step up.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

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.

I would watch those peppermint shrimp, especially with 3 in such a small tank, if they aren't getting enough to eat they may start picking on fleshy coral such as Acans. I had issues with peppermint shrimp in the past once they took care of my aiptasia, without flooding the tank with food they started to chew on my acans and hammer.

 

[Contrariwise]

I would watch those peppermint shrimp, especially with 3 in such a small tank, if they aren't getting enough to eat they may start picking on fleshy coral such as Acans. I had issues with peppermint shrimp in the past once they took care of my aiptasia, without flooding the tank with food they started to chew on my acans and hammer.

Yup. They get supplimented with frozen mysis and extra reef chili Good to know I should watch them around lps though! Thanks!

 

[hotashes]

Yup, seems to be. Does yours pull that wet? Your tanks looking good!

Hey thank you for the kind comments. How long did it take for your skimmer to pull that amount?
Mine isn't on wet skim, but pulls darker skimmate.

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

Hey thank you for the kind comments. How long did it take for your skimmer to pull that amount?
Mine isn't on wet skim, but pulls darker skimmate.

A.

Took about a week to break in, and about 2 days to pull that quantity. I just need to keep adjusting to get that good gooey skimmate. ;Yuck

 

[hotashes]

On the note of skimmers, my Avleopora coral just croaked.. I believe it's because my skimmer polished the water too clean.. I'll update my thread shortly.. dang.

On a brighter note, now we've had pictures of your goo, can we have more exciting ones

A.

 

[Contrariwise]

On the note of skimmers, my Avleopora coral just croaked.. I believe it's because my skimmer polished the water too clean.. I'll update my thread shortly.. dang.

On a brighter note, now we've had pictures of your goo, can we have more exciting ones

A.

Oh no! Sorry to hear it

Funnily enough I was just about to post the 18 frags I got

 

[mjforbes33]

Nice looking setup.

 

[Contrariwise]

It happened. 3 days ago I received Christmas in August! A beautiful little box from WWC appeared at my door

I ordered:

• 1 Acan Lord Frag Pack
  • 4 Acans 2-3 heads each
• 1 Softie Frag Pack
  • Orange Ricordea Mushroom
  • Deadpool Mushroom
  • Snake Eater Mushroom
  • Blue Eyes Girl Zoas
  • Clove Polyps (still unopened)
• 1 Zoa Pack
  • Funny D's Zoa
  • Bob Marley Zoa
  • Halle Berry Zoa
  • Eye of Rah Zoa
  • Bubblegum Pink Zoa
• 1 Neon Hammer

All were dipped and placed at the bottom of the tank and my Prime set to a 3 day acclimation cycle starting at a 50% reduction.

 

[Contrariwise]

Of course over the next 2 days the peppermint shrimp were *****s, like I was warned of and started eating the hammer. So they were banished back to the LFS. :mad:

While there, I got a little coral fever and picked up:

• Orange/red Rock Flower Anenome
• Duncan
• Pulsing Xenia (I know - but I've always loved them)

Everyone has settled nicely and are on Frag plugs in possible final positions.

Hammer is sad looking but starting to open up with less skeleton showing.

Will post less blue images tomorrow

 

[hotashes]

Of course over the next 2 days the peppermint shrimp were *****s, like I was warned of and started eating the hammer. So they were banished back to the LFS. :mad:

While there, I got a little coral fever and picked up:

• Orange/red Rock Flower Anenome
• Duncan
• Pulsing Xenia (I know - but I've always loved them)

Everyone has settled nicely and we're we're on Frag plugs to possible final positions.

Hammer is sad looking but starting to open up with less skeleton showing.

You've done well, excited to see them blossom. I'm liking your choice of frags, especial the Bob Marley special, rusta *boom*
They look clean, not surprised from WWC

I'm jealous

A.

 

[mjforbes33]

I thought peppermint shrimp were reef safe?

Nice looking corals!

 

[Contrariwise]

You've done well, excited to see them blossom. I'm liking your choice of frags, especial the Bob Marley special, rusta *boom*
They look clean, not surprised from WWC

I'm jealous

A.

Thanks friend!

 

[Contrariwise]

I thought peppermint shrimp were reef safe?

Nice looking corals!

I thought the same but was warned by @Reef of Fillory earlier in the thread that they may get hungry and start nibbling on LPS without an aptasia or nasties to munch on.

 

[mjforbes33]

I thought the same but was warned by @Reef of Fillory earlier in the thread that they may get hungry and start nibbling on LPS without an aptasia or nasties to munch on.

Good to know. Some of the live rock I just added to my new tank has Aiptasia growing so I was planning on adding them to my CUC in a few days. I still may do so and figure out a way to re-home them down the line but at least now I know.

 

[Contrariwise]

UPDATE! Sorry, I've been crazy busy with work lately, but it's time to update.

LOTS of new corals and I've decided that's it for now, no more can fit (that is until I see something I just have to have)

New list of corals:

From @WWC

• 1 Acan Lord Frag Pack
  • 4 Acans 2-3 heads each
• 1 Softie Frag Pack
  • Orange Ricordea Mushroom
  • Deadpool Mushroom
  • Snake Eater Mushroom
  • Blue Eyes Girl Zoas
  • Clove Polyps (still unopened)
• 1 Zoa Pack
  • Funny D's Zoa
  • Bob Marley Zoa
  • Halle Berry Zoa
  • Eye of Rah Zoa
  • Bubblegum Pink Zoa
• 1 Neon Hammer

From @uniquecorals:

• 1 Purple Discoma
• 1 Green Ricordea
• 1 Red with Blue Spot Mushroom
• 1 Green Zoa colony

From Tidal Gardens:

• Purple Stylophora
• Bird of Paradise Birdsnest
• Green Top Toadstool

From LFS:

• Red Monti Cap
• Duncan
• Frogspawn
• Fire and Ice Zoa Colony
• Torch
• Jedi Mind Trick Undata Monti
• Blue Eye Leptoseris

Livestock:
2 Mocha Misbar Perc Clowns
1 Tail Spot Goby
3 Blue Leg Hermits
1 (well behaved) Peppermint Shrimp
1 Hitchhiking Stomatella

Deceased:
Flower Nem (torn foot)
Purple Acan (evil peppermint shrimps who went back to LFS)

 

[hotashes]

Great additions, much needed update ha ha. It’ll look fab once the corals have grown out a little. Did you qt/dip all the new corals?
Are you having to clean the sand often?
Any algae growth?
Can we have an update on tank husbandry lol

A.

 

[NY_Caveman]

All the new additions look great!