IM peninsula 20

[ks2509]

Hello not brand new to the site have been lurking for a few months looking for ideas and seeing what all is out there. This is my first saltwater tank I have had freshwater off and on most of my life my wife wasn’t extremely happy or interested in those so very happy that she has taken to saltwater as fast as she has. Picked up this nano off Craig’s list in the summer for a great deal planning on doing a mixed reef mostly lps. This is just a temporary tank once my work schedule slows down in a year or so we plan on moving to a bigger tank. I have my eye on the waterbox 130.4. Any way the idea and plan for this one is simple and fun.

Equipment is IM PENINSULA 20 currently running a Zet light, have and AI PRIME HD that just arrived awaiting the arm to mount it. Titanium heater and thermostat. Ice Cap ATO. Ceramic media balls. Livestock pair of black ice clowns, yellow clown goby, yellow watchman, cleaner shrimp, emerald crab, and mix of 7-10 snails. No skimmer plan on keeping it that way have been doing weekly 2-3 gallon water chances all levels are looking spot on after 3 months. Hopefully this weekend I can get out to several of the LFS and find some corals that we like gonna be looking for some zoas and a torch to start. Eventually want to find a couple rock flowers and acans. I will try and keep updating as corals start making their way in and growing.

Also looking for ideas about more flow. Not sure I want to do a power head due to being a nano tank. Was thinking about upgrading my return pump to get some where between 550-600 gph. Any one out there used any pumps to recommend or inputs for a cheap power head. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Looks great, man. That yellow goby really pops. As for flow, the stock pump that came with my peninsula 20 was insanely loud so I swapped it out for an 80gph pump that wasn't getting the job done...so I recently switched to a Sicce 0.5 and it's been great. As for powerheads, I'm partial to Hydor pumps because they look okay (certainly not as attractive as an MP10 but whatever) and you can get them for $20 or so. I'm using 3 of them between 250gph and 400gph in my peninsula 20. Oh and I'm using the spinstream on the return pump.

 

[ks2509]

T

Looks great, man. That yellow goby really pops. As for flow, the stock pump that came with my peninsula 20 was insanely loud so I swapped it out for an 80gph pump that wasn't getting the job done...so I recently switched to a Sicce 0.5 and it's been great. As for powerheads, I'm partial to Hydor pumps because they look okay (certainly not as attractive as an MP10 but whatever) and you can get them for $20 or so. I'm using 3 of them between 250gph and 400gph in my peninsula 20. Oh and I'm using the spinstream on the return pump.

Thanks my son named him rocky because when we first got him he just sat on a couple of the rocks all day. I don’t have an issue with this pump being loud I was actually surprised how quite it was. I looked at a couple of the Sicce pumps as well one of my LFS stock several sizes of them. Was thinking of getting a bigger one for more GPH then splitting my return nozzle for different flow patterns in the tank.

 

[SDK]

Looks very nice so far!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Welcome to R2R! Looking good! Another option would be a VCA Randon Flow Generator on the return nozzle. Would probably need at least 300 GPH though to be most effective. I use them on my dual returns on a 45 gallon AIO.

I also use a 1k gyre, but not sure you would need that much flow, depending on your stocking. The gyre works well and can be run full at 8.8” or capped on one end at 6.7”

 

[ks2509]

UPDATE- Decided to try a stronger return pump went with the Sicce 1.5 had to remove the adjuster knob and front screen to get it to fit. Also had to add .5 gallon so it didn’t out run the sump but it’s in and quieter than the stock one. The wife and I plan on goin coral shopping this weekend so hopefully have some awesome stuff to show soon.

 

[saintsreturn]

congrats and good looking setup! My buddy had one of these in a smaller size and found beautiful rock with a nem and some zoas on it. He put it in the center and they grew like crazy. Enjoy and welcome to the forum/salt side of things

 

[ks2509]

congrats and good looking setup! My buddy had one of these in a smaller size and found beautiful rock with a nem and some zoas on it. He put it in the center and they grew like crazy. Enjoy and welcome to the forum/salt side of things

Thanks. I’m really enjoying the tank so far I just won some auctions on some zoas and a rock flower can’t wait to get them in.

 

[ks2509]

Picked up 2 Acan frags from the LFS. Still angry from the revive dip but looking good turned down the lights a bit to help them acclimate. Will post more when they come out more.

 

[ks2509]

Update:

Won a couple auctions over Christmas can’t wait for them to arive in a few days. Also ordered a VCA random flow generator from BRS hopefully this will help cut down on dead spots since I’m not using a power head New pump is working great acans are loving life.

 

[ks2509]

Update:

Did first water tests after getting all the coral in this week. Last week had a bit of an ammonia spike that is back to normal now NO3 is a bit high but kinda expected that after my ammonia problem and water changes last week will keep an eye out.

SALINITY 1.026
PH 8
NO3 20
NO2. 0
AMMONIA 0
MG. 1360
CA. 430
KH. 8.4

Got some pictures of corals now that they have been in the tank for a few days. The Rasta zoas for some reason only one has opened of the others don’t soon I’ll remove them off the plug.