10G Nano Reef

[AquaBison]

I've had this tank running for nearly a year. It started off strong, went through all the algae stages and what not, then all of a sudden just fell apart on me. It was literally a black hole, any fish I put in the tank would be dead and have no signs left of it within 24hrs of it's arrival.

It was about 5 or 6 months in when disaster struck. After it all fell apart and turned into a black hole, I pretty much just let it be and let nature take its course only keeping it topped off with RO water and occasionally adding some new salt water. All life, except the microorganisms, was gone.

Just this past weekend after sitting nearly untouched for about 6 months I felt like it was time to give it another shot. Just got the new CUC tonight. Having a job, and a girl friend who is into fish, gave me much motivation. She even insists she buys me the fish(es) for the tank.

What it had a year ago:
Hood w/2x10w CF 6500K bulbs
CPR BakPak (MJ1200)
6lbs LR
3lbs dry rock
Koralia 1
Heater

Here's how the tank first sat a year ago:

What is has now:
4x24w T5HO
CPR BakPak
9lbs LR
Koralia 1
Heater

Current Stock:
1x turbo snail
2x cerith snail
2x nassarius snail
2x astrea snail
5x red/blue legged hermit crabs

Future Stock:
1x emerald crab
1x blood red fire shrimp
2x ocellaris/percula clowns (still up in the air)
softies, w/a few lps and sps

Anyone have any other fish suggestions? I'm tempted to get a hi-fin red banded goby w/red pistol shrimp, but I'd rather not risk my CUC getting to close to the pistol shrimp. I don't want a firefish or damsel. I'd like a goby, but it needs to be 1.5"-2.5" and colorful(my mind is slipping me for options).

FTS of the tank as it sits now will come tomorrow.

 

[Mussin]

I bought a nice little Green clown goby for my 10G, only problem you only see him when the moonlights are on.

 

[AquaBison]

That's exactly what I'm worried about. I want a fish that is active and that I will almost always see when I look in the tank.

 

[AquaBison]

Nothing new today, I got around to getting a picture.

Here's the current FTS:

 

[wnppmy]

I'm here more on questions then answers, sorry to hear of your Delma, years back had a 15 gallon with years of success with pair of clowns, live rock, no live cultures as sand back in the day, finally things worked.

Question do you do maintenance water changes, frequency as weekly and what percent. These small setups perhaps demanding compared to larger tanks am sure.

Currently back into salt water with a bio 14 gallon, few ponds live rock, system only few days old, hope to perhaps do clowns again, Emerad Crab hitch hicked onto last live rock, early, but added drops iodine, already ate hair algae, trying to find agreeable food.

Hope your system restarts again, did well the first year indeed.

Note the Emerad Crab is cool, does venture portions of the day but known to be nocturnal, careful on rock setup, sure enough caught him wedging between and rocks moved, so have them well set as not to tumble.

 

[AquaBison]

I do roughly a 40% waterchange every month. But, I find myself topping it off with RO water at least once a week.

The main "arch" rock in the middle is nearly cleared of all the algae. Hoping some coraline starts growing on it.