Sleeper's 7 gallon nano build thread.

[sleeper]

I'm finally back in the game! I sold my 55 gallon mixed reef 7 years ago when my fish room became the nursery for our first born. Now the kids are being joined with a 7 gallon nano. This is a closeout on a kit from a company called aquatop that I haven't heard of.

So far I purchased Carib-sea live sand, live rock from my LFS. Clean up crew of blue leg hermits and assorted snails. A small pair of ocellaris clowns.

I have since removed the live rock and killed it, I noticed 3 or 4 aptasia, and am just going to cycle it for a month in a bucket and start over.

Current plans while the rock cycles include possibly upgrading lighting, (in thinking Kessil A80. Maybe going to a small HOB fuge, and weakly 1 gallon water changes.

Future plans include. Addition of a cleaner or fire shrimp. Then mostly zoanthids, a Duncan, maybe a frogspawn, and then I'd like to try some acan's at some point if all goes well over the next few months or so.

Any suggestions are welcome, this is my first tank under 55g.

 

[sleeper]

One week progress shot! [emoji12]

"Live" rock from LGS has been bleach soaked, dried, rinsed with fresh water and prime for 48 hours. Now it's in saltwater to begin a one month cycle.

 

[UABsleeper]

Looking good! Welcome back!

 

[FugeReefer]

Welcome back to reefing! Going slow in setting up, what I call a "micro-nano", is extremely important. It's great to see that you have pulled your rock to recure it. The bleach cure is a good start to getting the nasties off of and out of the rock. A HOB fuge is a good plan for the future. Anything you can do to help add stability to a 7 gallon reef is going to pay off big.

 

[sleeper]

Looking good! Welcome back!

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[sleeper]

Welcome back to reefing! Going slow in setting up, what I call a "micro-nano", is extremely important. It's great to see that you have pulled your rock to recure it. The bleach cure is a good start to getting the nasties off of and out of the rock. A HOB fuge is a good plan for the future. Anything you can do to help add stability to a 7 gallon reef is going to pay off big.

Thanks for your comments, any advice on a type of fuge that is small enough for this type of tank yet still effective. The back of the tank is about 17 inches. I have never used a fuge before I like the idea of natural filtration. This tank is also in my main living area so I want to keep it as quiet as possible.

 

[FugeReefer]

Thanks for your comments, any advice on a type of fuge that is small enough for this type of tank yet still effective. The back of the tank is about 17 inches. I have never used a fuge before I like the idea of natural filtration. This tank is also in my main living area so I want to keep it as quiet as possible.

I have included a link for the small Aquafuge2 by CPR. It has plenty of capacity for your system. Plus it increases your total water volume by quite a bit.

I will make two suggestions:

1) Have the lights on the refugium on at night when your tank lights are off to help maintain a more consistent pH in your system.
2) Along with chaeto macroalgae, if you ever have access to some MarinePure or Xport biofiltration media in the ball form, put a few of those in there as well (or live rock rubble).
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/small...um-with-led-ligthing-system-cpr-aquatics.html

 

[sleeper]

Thanks for the suggestions, so far I think things are going well enough. So far the one piece of live rock in the tank hasn't shown any more aptasia. The rest of my rock continues to cycle in the bucket.

I have added a small heater, temperature remains constant at 76.

My Calurpa seems to be dying off. It looked great until about a week in. Now it's turning clear and breaking apart.

Only thing I can figure is my daughter turned the timer on my light to "off" before we left town. Was only off two days.

I ordered my Kessil A80 today, and will be adding a cpr aquafuge within the next month. Then if all looks well I will think about adding some corals.

A picture of one of the clowns for fun.
Love their personality.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Looks like a lot of fun!

Can't wait to see the next step!

 

[sleeper]

I received my Kessil A80 Tuna blue today. My first impressions are that it is really well made. The gooseneck installed easily. Had it on my little nano in under five minutes.

Some before and after shots.

After.

It looks way more blue than it actually is. I can't wait to get some corals under it in a few weeks!

I have ordered my TUNZE comline nanofilter, so that will be the next step. Then my rock goes back in. [emoji106]

 

[sleeper]

Weekly update!

I received my TUNZE comline nanofilter yesterday and got it set up in tank. I removed the HOB filter and put it aside for now.

I moved two pieces of my cycled rock into the nano and am happy with the progression.

I hope to add a few hardy softies in the next few weeks in all my water parameters stay consistent.

Thanks for following along, and any advice is always appreciated.

 

[Katrina71]

Nice tank. What are you thinking of adding?

 

[sleeper]

Maybe just some mushrooms, or zoanthids. I plan on a frogspawn and Aussie Duncan at some point. I don't want anything too sensitive and want primarily color and movement.

 

[Soflow Rubio's Corals]

keep it simply zoas and shrooms maybe a lps or 2

 

[sleeper]

keep it simply zoas and shrooms maybe a lps or 2

That's kinda my plan, a frogspawn or octospawn on one end and a Duncan towards the other. Cover the rocks with shrooms and zoas, and maybe try an acan on the sand bed in the future, because I'd like to try them.

 

[kanders87]

Looking good!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Good-looking little nano!

 

[sleeper]

Looking good!

Thank you.

 

[sleeper]

Good-looking little nano!

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[sleeper]

I guess I'm about 6 weeks into this nano now. I stopped off at the LFS today and picked up a few frags. So far I have added a Aussie Duncan and an Acan placed on the sand bed. There looks to be a little tissue damage on Duncan that hopefully heal with time. After acclimating they started to open up after an hour or so. I'm keeping the lights low for now but here are some pics!

Thanks.