10g nano build

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Finally got a tank set up today :dance:. Decided to go with a 10g nano for the time being. Set it up today with about 7 pounds of dry rock i had left from an old tank, and seeded with about 4 pounds of rubble that i got from the LFS today. Right now i have rubble distributed across the rock and since i actually ended up with more than i intended it is pretty much covering the bottom of the tank as well. Over time I may take up the rubble and leave it bare bottomed. We'll see how much detritus i can siphon out.

Already see some feather dusters poking out. Also a tiny branch of birds nest that somehow found its way in. Like an 1/8th inch of tissue on a 1" piece of skeleton. I would be SHOCKED if it lived. We will see what pops up.

So it is now cycling with a large HOB power filter for carbon and some mechanical filtration. Plan to add more flow soon. I will probably not run a skimmer on this tank, but rely on carbon and frequent water changes. I plan to start with some easy softies once the tank cycles. Wouldn't mind dropping some chaeto in the interim. According to the lfs the rubble was established so hopefully it wont take too long. And now the waiting begins. I will try to get a picture up later on.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Update: The tank now has light. I used one of the LOA 65w PC floodlights. I was surprised with how white the 6500k light looks. Last time I used one of these it was a lot more yellow, but this is a bright white.Although I am using the one with all the tubes horizontal to the tank as opposed to around a screw in style socket.

My next project will be an a gravity fed auto-topoff.

The birds nest is still kicking and is extending polyps. The recession has not progressed.

As soon as i can borrow a camera pics shall be forthcoming.

I am open to any suggestions or ideas.

 

[twintrades]

nothing like a free frag !! OUr birds nest is industructable. :uzi:

 

[Kevin_Bullis]

We need pics!

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

I will try to borrow a camera and snap some pictures after work tomorrow. Just found out there is a good (so i hear anyway) lfs right by my new job, so will get the water checked on Wednesday.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Pics! Full tank shot, some feather dusters, the frag, and a small white starfish on the back glass. Maybe 1/4" in diameter.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Well, I tested the water today and Got the following readings:

SG: 1.026
pH: 8.2
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5 ppm

I have been putting in a very small amount of flake every other day or so, and am starting to show some algae growth, particularly on the bright white rocks. So into the tank today goes 2 margarita snails, and 2 red cortez hermits. Definitely need to get a bit of chaeto for the tank. Will be going to a new lfs tomorrow after work, we shall see what they have in stock.

 

[isildursbane]

Awesome start for your tank.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Thank you! Did a 15% water change tonight, sucked out as much detritus as i could (some but not much, and gave the filter a good rinse. Spotted some spaghetti worms and a stomatella tonight as well!

Suggestions anyone?

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

It is amazing how fast the micro-fauna spreads. I can now see life starting to take hold on the previously dry rocks. Copepods are crawling around on the glass, and saw a couple of amphipods Any thoughts on the tiny starfish potentially preying on corals? I have heard that some of them may.

Also: Got the auto top off done yesterday. It's just a simple gravity fed design with the air input for the siphon positioned at the desired water level. I am using about a half gallon reservoir (formerly an apple juice container), so that if anything goes wrong it can't throw off the tank too much and should be enough for a couple of days or so. If it works out, I will upgrade to a 1 gallon reservoir.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

DISASTER (almost)

DISASTER (almost)

Haven't had much time to update due to work schedule lately. Got a great deal from a couple of local reefers and finally put some frags in the tank and everything is doing well. Have: GSP, a few zoa polyps' a tree leather,neon green candy cane (1 head) and green tip frogspawn (2 heads), =and a toadstool leather. The birds nest frag. and 1 mushroom (blue/green i think). Pictures to follow tonight or tuesday.

However...I can home from work the day before yesterday to water dripping! The bottom seam on the tank had sprung a leak. Fortunately the small vessel of top off water only dropped the salinity to 1.024 and only lost a gallon or 2 of tank water. Also fortunately, I had a spare 10 gallon tank laying around so it was a relatively simple matter to switch the tanks out. Everything did fine and opened back up in a couple of hours.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

I haven't had time to do much uploading but the tank is doing surprisingly well.

Changes to the tank: I have removed all of the rubble from the bottom of the tank as the originally dry rock has colonized well. The rubble I also felt like was becoming a detritus trap. Top-off is now controlled via an aquahub top-off with float switches. I don't know how i ever lived without one. circulation is now accomplished with a koralia nano 425 model. The power filter I have removed.

Where the tank stands now: So far I am very happy with the BB. I do frequent water changes 20-30% at least 1x per week. I am impressed with how well the 6500K PC grows coral. This is an excellent frag tank light especially for the price. It is however missing that "pop". There are loads of critters everywhere many varieties of pods, worms, stomatella, mini-brittles, etc. The coralline is also taking hold nicely, with some patches on the rock approaching dime size, and a nice speckling everywhere.

Everything in the tank has grown noticeably. The candy cane is splitting, the polyps are multiplying and the birds nest has encrusted and is starting to branch a little. Bonus: Out of the skeletons that came with my rock from the LFS rubble bin; there is a piece of chalice skeleton that is regrowing, and a Euphyllia skeleton that has budded out.

Future plans: Although I love how the PC grows stuff without heat issues, I really miss the "pop" that a more balanced / higher kelvin gives. I have been toying with the idea of an "experiment". I am very interested in LED lighting (the prospect of not having to change bulbs for years + less power consumption is hugely appealing to me). What I am leaning towards is getting a PAR 38 bulb and running it on half of the tank opposite the PC for comparison. If anyone has thoughts/suggestions/ideas PLEASE let me know.

Pics attached with more to follow! Here is a full tank shot and some of my birthday presents to myself.:celeb1: A nice Acan. lord. and 2 zoas. I am having trouble accurately capturing color with my fiance's point and shoot. The lord's color is fairly accurate, the orange zoas on bottom are somewhat accurate (brighter in person), while the zoas on the rock are not nearly as bright in person, to my eye the look more green, but were yellow in the store. I believe this may be due to my low K light. Other things are accurate some are not. Largely hit or miss with the pic quality.

 

[Jon_Hewett_85]

Note: Many things are not fully open due to me irritating them by moving things around and a WC.