15g Nano-riffic. 56k painful

azrien

New member
This little guy has been up and running for several months now. Light is an 80W Orbit with dual actinics and dual daylights plus two lunars. The skimmer is a cheapo Skilter (seems to do the job), there's a heater and a couple powerheads. There is a plenum in the tank as well as a DSB. We scored some fantastic live rock that was slathered in color and critters for very cheap (most pieces were $5 or $6 per lb). For a few months we just had the live rock, started with a few pieces then increased as necessary. I still do want more!

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About a month ago or so we finally got some frags, the yellow fluffy stuff and the bright green wavey stuff (I really need to find the names, I feel like a doofus not knowing). They seemed to do really well, and in fact the yellow guys have started moving from their frag and onto the existing rock. A couple weeks ago we added the mushroom polyps (I do hope I got that right, it's the blue/purple guys). One is happily parked out where I originally put it and the other insisted on walking away from view; it now sits at the bottom rear of the tank, but it seems to be content. I'm sure you've noticed our plentiful macroalgae. It was not added, it just happened. I trim the bush to 3/4 its height every couple weeks. I otherwise enjoy the bush on the rock as well as the one growing off the skimmer for the simple fact that they give extra filtration. Also, I think they look really neat!

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Yellow mushroomy goodness.

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Green strings and ham?

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The mushroom that bailed to the ground. *Above was digitially enhanced to match actual life color- the flash washed everything out.*

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The top floor mushroom. *Above again color corrected*

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What's this awesome macroalgae that grows over an inch per week?

We have endless creatures growing on the reef. Lots of worms, tons of what I think are copepods, misc corals and anemonae that hitchhiked on the rock and are thriving, featherdusters that came with the rock, and small, shrimplike things that scurry around. We've also added three hermit crabs; they're still with us, enjoying the reef.

About a week or two weeks ago we added the clownfish. He's got a nifty little abberation with his middle stripe, thus earning the name "Brokenstripe." We're giving the reef a couple months to settle in to the new bio-load and then I think we're going to add a small wrasse or something small. I would like to explore adding an anemone, but I'm not sure if I have the necessary requirements.

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Why he earned his name.

Incidentally, the clown eats frozen (Prime Reef) and New Life Spectrum Cichlid formula (the size is right). He seems to enjoy the NLS over the frozen!

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Glowing under the flash.

Maintenance includes top offs as needed (aged tap water) and water changes once a week or once every week and a half. So far, it seems to be thriving with this, but I know I may need to ramp up water changes with the clown in there.

Any advice on anemonae, anything we're doing wrong, what we could be doing better, or just a proverbial pat on the back (this is our very first) is much appreciated. :) I think we could use some more live rock as well... Any thoughts as to the names of the goodies in my tank, including the macroalgae? Judging by how much algae grows, do we have too many nutrients in there? If we pick up more live rock can it lean against the back wall of the tank provided they aren't huge pieces?

Thanks, hope you enjoy! All photos were taken with the Canon EOS 350D and the basic kit lens.
 
More photos!

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Our powerhead needs a haircut.

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Our skimmer is home to a forest of macroalgae.

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A 3/4 view from the top downwards.

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Brokenstripe looks very sausage-like in this pose.
 
Thanks very much! Green star polyps.. better name than green strings and ham, I suppose. :)

Nanomaniac, the clown's from a Petco.. can't remember what he is, but I can easily find out I'm sure.

Vishboy, that algae is very odd stuff. I wish my freshwater plants grew as fast as this stuff does. We can't be so lucky, I suppose.
 
That "macro" algae is hair algae..... most people consider it a pest.

And your "yello mushroomy goodness" are yellow polyps.
 
Jordan, so it's just normal algae? Ah well. I think it grew on me, no pun intended, and it's pretty easy to keep under control. Thanks for the yellow polyp ID.

Upon further investigation I suspect the algae is a Bryopsis sp. I'm considering either adding true macros to the aquarium or building an AquaClear refuge full of macros to get rid of that algae. For now though, I like it, but I will make sure to carefully control it so it doesn't get out of hand.
 
I'm surprised you like that algae; there is a reason why it grows an inch per week. Most of us hate hair algae, but if you like it and it is not bothering your corals, all the power to you! You have some really cheap, fast growing "goodness."

If you like to keep it under control, there is no need to add a refugium.
 
Bennerkla, the main bush is very much localized; all other strands are small and easily pruned back. I figure until I do get a refugium, it's using up some nutrients and no, it doesn't seem to bother anyone yet.

The next ventures will be the refugium and perhaps a DSB bucket. I'm deep into reading that thread and it seems too easy and too beneficial NOT to try.
 
all that algea growing is most like;y coming from you using tapwater. even though it is aged it still has all the same hard minerals and phosphates that algea thrive on. you might want to consider buying a ro unit and use that water instead and the algea will start to go away
 
you are doing an excellent job with your tank!
very very happy with the way your treating things
and about that macroalge, i agree i think its a pest but just means you have less to worry about
right now i would say everythingnis going as good as possible for you

as for adding the anemone, i think you could put a bubble tip in there and it would be fine and the clownfish might even live in it, but it would eventually gorw to big
 
Lizardcouple: Oh yes, I'm well aware of our wonderful water supply. At one point I do want to get an RO/DI system, but I may try a refugium and that RDSB thing.

Steven: Thanks! Yeah, so far so good. Haven't touched a reef prior to this. Honestly, I try to mess with it as little as possible and it seems to be doing quite well. I'm sure it could be worlds better, though. I will look into the bubble tip, thanks.
 
As far as your clown goes... I went to a seminar held by Julian Sprung who had said that when the clowns middle ring does not make its connection, its a sign that the fish was tank/farm raised. Just a bit of info on that for ya :)

You could try a $6.00 flower anemone. I've got 2 in my 20 gal. and have had no issues. They are very hardy and stay small... for the most part. Heres one of mine that I got. It was the size of a nickel when I got him, he has grown well since and does not bother any corals nor does it move around:

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Carl, I think I have bubble algae... I may have lots of it in fact!

Skabimini: Nice anemone! There is an LFS near us that has a SPECTACULAR bulb anemone for sale... it was a gorgeous specimen. I'd like to try one of those at one point in time.

Fishtaco: Thanks! For only doing this such a short time I am pleased with the results even though it's far from perfect, or even great. ;)
 
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