Samnaz’s K.I.S.S. 20L

samnaz · Mar 6, 2018

I’m currently running this set up as a temporary/holding tank, while I complete the bigger and better setup - a Nuvo Black 30L + 25 gallon sump. (progress on that build is linked in my sig.)

EQUIPMENT:

Display: 20 Long (30 x 12 x 12)
Lighting: Current Marine Orbit PRO 24-36”
Biological Filtration: Figi Pink Substrate, 10lbs Gulf Coast Live Rock
Filtration: AquaClear 70 (Chemipure Elite, Purigen, Filter Floss)
Wavemaker: Jebao PP-4
Heater: Neo-Therm 100w
Water: Tap water and Prime
Protein Skimmer: Aquamaxx HOB-1

Established - August 2016

INVERTEBRATES:
Crustaceans:

Thor amboinensis - Sexy/Squat Shrimp (1 left)
Clibanarius tri color- Blue-Leg Hermit (1)
Clibanarius vittatus - Thin Striped Hermit (1)
Mithraculus - Emerald Mithrax Crab (1) - RIP
Micro-crustaceans: Amphipods, isopods, copepods (1,000,000)

Mollusks:

Cypraea annulus - Gold Ringed Cowrie (1)
Planaxis sp - Dwarf Planaxis Snails (12)
Cerithium sp - Dwarf Cerith (10)
Nassarius vibex - (5)
Stomatella varia - (tons)
Nerita fulgurans and N. tesselata - death by suicide RIP

Worms:

Bispira variegata - Variegated Pink Feather Duster
Sabellastarte sp or Bispira sp? - White and Red Feather Dusters

Sponges:

Palkortis nigra - Black Branching Sponge

CORAL:

Euphyllia glabrescens - Gold, Purple, Green, Midnight

Euphyllia divisa - Teal Frogspawn, Green/Pink Frogspawn
Euphyllia ancora - Gold Hammer
Duncanopsammia - Midnight Duncan
Cyphastrea - WWC Mardi Gra, Jingle Bell, misc others
Cyphastrea - Branching Pink/Red
Pavona sp - Tang o Rang, Gator Sparker
Turbinaria - Scroll Coral
Leptastrea - Blue-Eyed, Orange
Montipora digitata - Green Digi
Montipora stellata - Branching Forest
Montipora sp? - Bubble Gum, Zombie Juice, Rainbow, Mystic Sunset, Green Cap
Discosoma - Hairy Mushroom
Discosoma - Mushroom Blue spotted
Ricordea florida - Reaver Ruins, Blue
Pachyclavularia sp - Teal Star Polyp
Sympodium
Galaxea fascicularis

samnaz · Mar 6, 2018

Florida Gulf Live Rock arrival:

samnaz · Mar 6, 2018

Very very nasty water...

Lots of water changes.

Slightly less dirty...

Getting there.....

Dying/decaying bivalves didn't make it, and really funked up the water.

Pretty pink coralline.

One live coral and one bleached/dead.

Lit up for the first time.

samnaz · Mar 6, 2018

Transferred the rocks to the shiny new tank!

Good lookin' live rock.

samnaz · Mar 6, 2018

Didn't take but a few days for diatoms to explode, and they did so with a vengeance... Time for a CUC from reefcleaners.org.

A few days after CUC was added, clearly they were hungry for some diatoms.

Hard at work, thanks little buddies...

Flameback Pair · Jun 3, 2020

@samnaz I love to see the progression! Thanks for so many reaction scores on my build thread. I might go with aquacultured rock. Did you find many pests, gorilla crabs or mantis shrimp?

samnaz · Jun 4, 2020

powers2001 said:
@samnaz I love to see the progression! Thanks for so many reaction scores on my build thread. I might go with aquacultured rock. Did you find many pests, gorilla crabs or mantis shrimp?

Woah blast from the past, forgot this thread even existed. To this day that Gulf Live Rock was one of the most enjoyable greatest decision I’ve made in the hobby so far. Nothing compares to good ol live rock. And no not a single pest, maybe I’m just lucky but even if there had been pests I’d take them over dead dry rock. The biodiversity Is worth it, if you ask me ;-)

ONE issue, it’s not easy to build cool scapes with. Doesn’t allow much creativity...

My current build in progress will have the best of both worlds - mostly live and some dry to spruce up the overall scape.

ScubaEthan · Oct 14, 2020

Biodiversity that we as humans can't bottle up is a good point. Hmm maybe I'll try your half and half method... I'm still deciding on rock for my next setup.