SIJoe's new 30 frag

[SIJoe]

l it's official...I am back. I have setup my 30 frag tank for about 2 months now and have just stocked it. I have a major hair algae bloom but so far so good. All fish are healthy and happy.

My Setup:
DBP 30g frag RR 24x24x13"
DBP stand (piece of poop)
Skimz sumppro 14g
Skims monzter161 Skimmer
AI Hydra52 HD
2 Tunze 6055 pumps (love these things)
Apex Classic
Neptune ATK
Neptune AFS

I have tried to make my setup as automated as possible. So far I am very pleased with the outcome.

Livestock
-Mccoskers flasher wrasse
-Linespot flasher wrasse (originally ordered blue flasher but live aquaria messed up)
-Female hooded fairy wrasse
-Tanaka pygmy wrasse
-Biota Bonsai Coral Beauty
-Helfrechi Dartfish
-Tailspot Blenny
-Yasha Goby
-CUC
-Hoping to get 2 fire shrimp but will wait on this.
I tried to pick active fish that stay 2.5 in or smaller with the exception of the hooded fairy which eventually will need to be moved. I tend to overstock my tanks but all are very peaceful and the wrasse actually seem to be schooling with each other if that makes sense. Here are some horrible iPhone pics so far.

 

[glb]

l it's official...I am back. I have setup my 30 frag tank for about 2 months now and have just stocked it. I have a major hair algae bloom but so far so good. All fish are healthy and happy.

My Setup:
DBP 30g frag RR 24x24x13"
DBP stand (piece of poop)
Skimz sumppro 14g
Skims monzter161 Skimmer
AI Hydra52 HD
2 Tunze 6055 pumps (love these things)
Apex Classic
Neptune ATK
Neptune AFS

I have tried to make my setup as automated as possible. So far I am very pleased with the outcome.

Livestock
-Mccoskers flasher wrasse
-Linespot flasher wrasse (originally ordered blue flasher but live aquaria messed up)
-Female hooded fairy wrasse
-Tanaka pygmy wrasse
-Biota Bonsai Coral Beauty
-Helfrechi Dartfish
-Tailspot Blenny
-Yasha Goby
-CUC
-Hoping to get 2 fire shrimp but will wait on this.
I tried to pick active fish that stay 2.5 in or smaller with the exception of the hooded fairy which eventually will need to be moved. I tend to overstock my tanks but all are very peaceful and the wrasse actually seem to be schooling with each other if that makes sense. Here are some horrible iPhone pics so far.

Nice setup! Do you have good nutrient export with that many fish?

 

[SIJoe]

I do bi-weekly water changes and my skimmer is wayyyyy oversized for the tank. My nitrates are around 5ppm right now. Although as you can see I have an enormous around of hair algae right now.

 

[glb]

I do bi-weekly water changes and my skimmer is wayyyyy oversized for the tank. My nitrates are around 5ppm right now. Although as you can see I have an enormous around of hair algae right now.

You're right. That is one big skimmer! Sounds like nitrates are totally under control.

 

[SIJoe]

Time will tell. I have to clean up this green hair algae though. I kind of looks cool but I am hoping to stock the tank with some corals next month.

 

[SIJoe]

Update time! I have a couple review added in too.
First the tunze 6055 are the best pump brands I've ever owned. I have them on 25% and they are still kicking up sand with random flow. The kicking up sand is because my tank height is only 12". I still have to find the perfect flow pattern for them but I endorse these pumps whole heartedly over vortech.
Second review is the bonsai biota coral beauty. This fish came in so perfect colored and healthy as can be. It is eating hair algae like no tomorrow and a perfect citizen in the tank. Not too shy either. I would def buy one again. Hopefully he stays small like promised or will have to be moved in this smaller tank.
I have a very bad hair algae outbreak that I will try and control with water changes, manual removal, and CUC. My nitrates show 5ppm or lower which could be just the hair algae consuming all the rest. Finally some pics my wife took with her nikon. She's much better at photos than I.

 

[SIJoe]

So I cleaned the tank last night of almost all the algae leaving enough for the cleanup crew to survive on. I have a question for all. Would you yet 2 cleaner shrimp or 2 blood red fire shrimp. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[jsker]

More interested what test are being used, and your phosphates? The fire shrimp would look cool

 

[SIJoe]

I used an api test kit for the basicla ammonia nitrite nitrate, i use red sea for my cal, alk, mag and have not tested phosphates. Will be purchasing a few hannah tester within the year but for now my main nitrient export is water changes and the skimmer. I keep things very simple

 

[jsker]

If I my suggest testing your phosphates before you get the Checker a selifert test kit. Your rock is probably leaching phosphates and that is the main cause of the green hair outbreak. You can treat with a couple of products that have lanthanum Chloride instead of setting up a full blow reactor. FYI I have the Hanna HI376 is the one that was recommended to me. the checker works above my expectations. I am finally getting true reading and also my algae issue are now under control

 

[SIJoe]

I bought my rock from reef cleaners. It was all dry rock except 1 piece from my wife old tank to seed this new tank. I will be getting a phosphate kit shortly but I don't believe its the rock...atleast i hope not!

 

[SIJoe]

Opinion time please: I am thinking of adding rock rubble to my overflow. Its a larger corner overflow that seems like useless extra space. I would blast it with a turkey baster before I do a water change each week. But I feel it would be a nice pod factory for all my wrasse since I don't have a refugium. Would this make my filter sock pointless due to the rock rubble trapping detritus?

 

[SIJoe]

I saw my line spot flash today for the first time and wow what a display. I think i have 1 too many fish for this tank so I may end up donating 1 and some point. However eveyone is doing very well and getting along

 

[SIJoe]

 

[SIJoe]

I truly hate my durso drain setup. The plumbing I put thought into is actually really great for fast easy cleaning and water changes. However the durso drain method that is standard on deep blue professional tanks is super loud and I can not regulate it enough to be quiet. Learned my lesson for the next tank. The wife and I will be remodeling our basement which I am planing a sca reef ready peninsula tank for. Thinking of a 150g setup.

 

[SIJoe]

So i have a couple losses and gains this week. Both flasher wrasse went missing. I suspect an internal parasite. They both were very pale for a few days before going missing. Everything else in the tank looks very healthy and eating well.
I made a purchase from cultivated reef and they knocked it our of the park with beautiful cheap corals.
Sunny d
Pink zippers
Utter chaos
Candy apple reds
God of war
A few ricordea
Dont you love iphone pics!

 

[SIJoe]

Need some help here please. I have fine sugar sand from caribsea that is being blown around by my tunze 6055 on 30% power. My dilema is do i go bare bottom, or do i replace the sand with tropic eden reef flakes, or do i do a lagoon style tank with very low flow. Im looking for low nutrients which i currently have at this point. I want to support sps in the near future. Help!!!