Red Sea Reefer 350
- Thread starter Paleozoic_reefer
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OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
I went to the LFS for some salt (and to just get out of the house!!) yesterday but wound up buying a small clown, a bam bam zoa, and a firecracker polyp...I'll transfer the clown when it gets bigger to my 90 gal.
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
Today I got my dragon breathe from @fishview and...WOW!!! Where to start? Well, first the great packing!! I ordered two bags of dragon breathe and one bag of Gracilaria Hayi and they looked great!
I put the dragon breathe in the display and had enough to throw some in the sump too!
I removed the chaeto in the sump since it was growing like crazy so hopefully the dragon breathe does equally well!
I put the dragon breathe in the display and had enough to throw some in the sump too!
I removed the chaeto in the sump since it was growing like crazy so hopefully the dragon breathe does equally well!
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
Yesterday I decided to visit the LFS to get out of the house and to see about some about getting some possible inverts for the pico. I requested an order for a Harlequin Shrimp for my 90gal a couple of weeks ago and they finally got some in. After getting there I passed on the Harlequins since they were VERY tiny (like pinky nail tiny) and a bit pricey due to the increase of shipping costs. So I went with Porcelain Crab for the pico and some more zoas...
Porcelain crab is still not sure of the pico's nems, so it's hiding under them for now..
Got a Rasta frag of 3 polyps (and 3 buds) and a nice ~12 polyp frag of Fire and Ice...
I also removed the shelf rock on my rockscape since it was casting a large shadow on the floor. hopefully this will be last time I adjust the rockscape.
Porcelain crab is still not sure of the pico's nems, so it's hiding under them for now..
Got a Rasta frag of 3 polyps (and 3 buds) and a nice ~12 polyp frag of Fire and Ice...
I also removed the shelf rock on my rockscape since it was casting a large shadow on the floor. hopefully this will be last time I adjust the rockscape.
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
For the past few days my zoas haven't opened up fully for some reason..?...I have noticed a huge boom in my pod population and I am seeing them crawl all over the zoas. So I'm wondering if they may be the culprits! The nems, dragon breathe, single clown, and the rest of the pico is doing great. I just wish the zoas would open...does anyone know of any inverts that eat pods? I definitely don't have room for another fish!
Razorp
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Man that is a beautiful tank!! I know my fire fish loves pods. But as far as inverts I’m not sure. Keep the posts coming on this beauty though. Are you running an ato?
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
@Razorp Thanks!! It's been a fun project! My ATO is a plastic container that sits above the sump and is gravity fed. It's then connected to a float valve in the sump using aquarium tubing. I was a skeptical it would actually work, but it's been working flawlessly!
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
@Tacticool-Reefer Thanks! It's definitely a work in progress....I keep adding, removing, changing, and modifying things trying to get to that sweet spot in the tank...(if there is such a thing!)
Tacticool-Reefer
I have spoken!
@Paleozoic_reefer there is definitely an equilibrium (a.k.a. sweetspot) that most systems can get to. In my opinion, husbandry plays a big role in that, from the looks of it you’re well on your way!
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
@syriansoaper the sump is just a way for me to add water volume without increasing the display volume. Plus it gave my an area to put equipment in (heater, return pump, etc.) and keep them out of sight...
livie508
Community Member
Hey, I've been watching this thread for a while and I love your tank!! I have a 5.5 gallon tank which similar to yours has a clown and a few corals (not as well developed but I have only had the tank 3 months now).
One issue I have been finding is how quickly something like algae and in my case particularly scum can form.
I have a hob filter which is more than enough but obviously I lack the benefits of a sump and seeing what you have done here is making me think that's the route I should take as it would allow me to increase the volume and put in a protein skimmer.
This is my first ever saltwater tank so was wondering if you had any advice and what is essential for a small tank like yours and mine in terms of a sump?
Once again I adore your tank and look forward to seeing more!
One issue I have been finding is how quickly something like algae and in my case particularly scum can form.
I have a hob filter which is more than enough but obviously I lack the benefits of a sump and seeing what you have done here is making me think that's the route I should take as it would allow me to increase the volume and put in a protein skimmer.
This is my first ever saltwater tank so was wondering if you had any advice and what is essential for a small tank like yours and mine in terms of a sump?
Once again I adore your tank and look forward to seeing more!
OP
OP
Paleozoic_reefer
Valuable Member
@livie508 well now is as a good time as ever for an update...I knew this project was always to be trial and error type of deal so here is what has occurred since my last post...
The nems did great...a little too great. The three became six! So I decided to move them back to my display, along with the clown (who never bothered to to try to have the nem host it). So that was a slight set back, but at least they're all happy again in my main tank.
The other issue, as you stated, was the algae! I don't think I ever scraped my main tank as much as I did the pico! Since I have dragon breathe macro in there, snails were out of the question. So as I grow out the dragon breathe I'm scraping the sides of the pico everyday to get it as clean as possible...
I also had to remove my zoas because of a pod explosion that occurred in the pico. At 2.5 gal I couldn't (in good conscience) get a pod eating fish, so I decided to take them out too. My new goal is to make the pico a macro algae display. I currently have other macros on order....fingers crossed!
The sump is still working great!! The ATO (automatic top off) is fantastic and I only need to fill the reservoir once a week along with my other tank. The added space also allows for a small heater as well. I also put some filter floss in between the baffles to help clean the water.
I'm still trying to find the perfect balance for stocking this pico without harming or stressing anything I put in it. Hope this update helps!!
The nems did great...a little too great. The three became six! So I decided to move them back to my display, along with the clown (who never bothered to to try to have the nem host it). So that was a slight set back, but at least they're all happy again in my main tank.
The other issue, as you stated, was the algae! I don't think I ever scraped my main tank as much as I did the pico! Since I have dragon breathe macro in there, snails were out of the question. So as I grow out the dragon breathe I'm scraping the sides of the pico everyday to get it as clean as possible...
I also had to remove my zoas because of a pod explosion that occurred in the pico. At 2.5 gal I couldn't (in good conscience) get a pod eating fish, so I decided to take them out too. My new goal is to make the pico a macro algae display. I currently have other macros on order....fingers crossed!
The sump is still working great!! The ATO (automatic top off) is fantastic and I only need to fill the reservoir once a week along with my other tank. The added space also allows for a small heater as well. I also put some filter floss in between the baffles to help clean the water.
I'm still trying to find the perfect balance for stocking this pico without harming or stressing anything I put in it. Hope this update helps!!
John Bolden
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or gsp haven I love gsp too and don't know why all the hate and love trimming it every weekend
livie508
Community Member
Hey sorry for taking this long to reply, Definitely a huge help for me! absolutely love your tank!@livie508 well now is as a good time as ever for an update...I knew this project was always to be trial and error type of deal so here is what has occurred since my last post...
The nems did great...a little too great. The three became six! So I decided to move them back to my display, along with the clown (who never bothered to to try to have the nem host it). So that was a slight set back, but at least they're all happy again in my main tank.
The other issue, as you stated, was the algae! I don't think I ever scraped my main tank as much as I did the pico! Since I have dragon breathe macro in there, snails were out of the question. So as I grow out the dragon breathe I'm scraping the sides of the pico everyday to get it as clean as possible...
I also had to remove my zoas because of a pod explosion that occurred in the pico. At 2.5 gal I couldn't (in good conscience) get a pod eating fish, so I decided to take them out too. My new goal is to make the pico a macro algae display. I currently have other macros on order....fingers crossed!
The sump is still working great!! The ATO (automatic top off) is fantastic and I only need to fill the reservoir once a week along with my other tank. The added space also allows for a small heater as well. I also put some filter floss in between the baffles to help clean the water.
I'm still trying to find the perfect balance for stocking this pico without harming or stressing anything I put in it. Hope this update helps!!
