Opinions on first marine tank

[Madonia]

Would love your opinions/critiques on my tank so far. Established on 12/20/2019 (a little less than 2 mos ago)

much of what I’ve learned so far comes from this site, so I highly value everyone’s criticism and will use it constructively!

 

[Madonia]

Would love your opinions/critiques on my tank so far. Established on 12/20/2020.

much of what I’ve learned so far comes from this site, so I highly value everyone’s criticism and will use it constructively!

Established 12/20/2019*******

 

[Espino963]

Do you mean 2018?

 

[Madonia]

Do you mean 2018?

No, a little less than 2 mos ago.

 

[Saybng]

Wow. All that in 2 months?

 

[Madonia]

Wow. All that in 2 months?

I probably moved a little too quickly but everything is doing pretty well. I cannot take credit for the top rock with all of the coralline, it was donated to me. But coralline is starting to grow on the base rocks at this point.

 

[Frey]

I think your tank looks awesome for 2 months old. I also seen you had another thread about the algae at the base but i dont believe its green coraline. Hopefully that rock you described at the top has enough bacteria in it to keep everything going.
Myself personally would have waited a little longer to drop all the sps in. But i wish you success and think its going to look great when the corals grow in.

 

[Madonia]

I think your tank looks awesome for 2 months old. I also seen you had another thread about the algae at the base but i dont believe its green coraline. Hopefully that rock you described at the top has enough bacteria in it to keep everything going.
Myself personally would have waited a little longer to drop all the sps in. But i wish you success and think its going to look great when the corals grow in.

The addiction became too real too quick. I do agree with you about the SPS being too soon. Probably should have waited until I have a firm grasp on additional testing info (ca, mg, alk). At this point It’s basically a mad dash for me (to learn as much as possible about how to keep high end sps happy before they start to decline). Lol

 

[Frey]

My suggestion is to get good test kits, i use red sea and hanna checkers and then get yourself a good doser if you dont have one already. Take your big 3 at on a certain day and time. Then start your dosing. Test it at same time each day it takes a little bit to get it dialed in and then it will need to be upped once the corals start taking off. After i got mine pretty close i just started testing once a week now.
I started with kalk myself but my tank is large and i was having an issue supplying enough through ato once the corals started growing.
But that would be my advise. You appear to have some really nice sticks in there. Keep us updated!

 

[Madonia]

I think your tank looks awesome for 2 months old. I also seen you had another thread about the algae at the base but i dont believe its green coraline. Hopefully that rock you described at the top has enough bacteria in it to keep everything going.
Myself personally would have waited a little longer to drop all the sps in. But i wish you success and think its going to look great when the corals grow in.

My suggestion is to get good test kits, i use red sea and hanna checkers and then get yourself a good doser if you dont have one already. Take your big 3 at on a certain day and time. Then start your dosing. Test it at same time each day it takes a little bit to get it dialed in and then it will need to be upped once the corals start taking off. After i got mine pretty close i just started testing once a week now.
I started with kalk myself but my tank is large and i was having an issue supplying enough through ato once the corals started growing.
But that would be my advise. You appear to have some really nice sticks in there. Keep us updated!

i definitely need to upgrade test kits. Been using API master reef. I’ll look into the hanna and Red Sea tomorrow. I appreciate the encouragement and I’ll send updated pics in the future!

 

[SPR1968]

The tank look great to me, and don’t worry about adding the corals, it’s an addiction as you say. I have it real bad! Lol

Just try and keep your water parameters stable especially alkalinity as corals don’t like changes to their environment or they’ll tell you very quickly

 

[Madonia]

The tank look great to me, and don’t worry about adding the corals, it’s an addiction as you say. I have it real bad! Lol

Just try and keep your water parameters stable especially alkalinity as corals don’t like changes to their environment or they’ll tell you very quickly

Just saw your build- big compliment coming from you! What an amazing tank you have...goals lol...

what kind of testing equipment do you use? I almost just pulled the trigger on Hanna for Ca, pho, alk...or stick with Red Sea color charts?

 

[SPR1968]

Just saw your build- big compliment coming from you! What an amazing tank you have...goals lol...

what kind of testing equipment do you use? I almost just pulled the trigger on Hanna for Ca, pho, alk...or stick with Red Sea color charts?

Lol! Thank you

Ive tried various but settled on the following. the NYOS are simple to use and accurate compared with Triton

Alkalinity - Hanna checker
Calcium - NYOS
Magnesium - NYOS
Phosphate - Hanna low range checker
Nitrate - NYOS
Salinity - Hanna salinity and Neptune Apex

 

[Frey]

What size tank is this by the way and what lighting are you using?

 

[Madonia]

What size tank is this by the way and what lighting are you using?

This is a 32 gallon biocube. I use Steve’s LED retrofit kit. I installed it about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Madonia]

Lol! Thank you

Ive tried various but settled on the following. the NYOS are simple to use and accurate compared with Triton

Alkalinity - Hanna checker
Calcium - NYOS
Magnesium - NYOS
Phosphate - Hanna low range checker
Nitrate - NYOS
Salinity - Hanna salinity and Neptune Apex

I just ordered some of your recommendations- lots of mimicking in this hobby!!

 

[SPR1968]

I just ordered some of your recommendations- lots of mimicking in this hobby!!

Lol!

If you’ve been using the Red Sea kits especially the magnesium, you’ll find NYOS a breath of fresh air. it’s so simple, no adding waiting adding.......

Oh and I fell out big time with the Red Sea magnesium. It always said magnesium was high at around 1450. I had my one and only triton test so far about 2 years ago and it came back around 1240. NYOS tested to within 5 of this.

 

[Frey]

This is good info on the NYOS. I have not tried them yet. BRS did do a utube video on the test kits and said they were good. I have been using hanna dkh, phosphate and calcium. Red sea everything else. They all cost to much to just throw away but when the redsea is gone i may have to try the nyos myself.

 

[Madonia]

Lol!

If you’ve been using the Red Sea kits especially the magnesium, you’ll find NYOS a breath of fresh air. it’s so simple, no adding waiting adding.......

Oh and I fell out big time with the Red Sea magnesium. It always said magnesium was high at around 1450. I had my one and only triton test so far about 2 years ago and it came back around 1240. NYOS tested to within 5 of this.

I’ve been using the API- so I’m sure all of my numbers are generally screwed up, lol. But no major casualties so far & polyps are all exposing themselves and coral seems happy. Once these test kits come in, I think it’ll force me to reach the ‘next level’ of reef keeping.

 

[Frey]

Yeah compared to the rest API are not very good however years ago thats one of the few choices there was. They will keep you in the ball park. 5 gallon water changes a week as long as you dont get a crazy fish load should keep you in good shape for a while until your corals take off