Floridiot's 157 Nano build
- Thread starter Floridiot
- Start date
Floridiot
Member
I got the ammonia spike quickly. I added fish on 9/24. By 10/2 it spiked, and by 10/4 it went to undetectable. The nitrites have been slowly increasing and as of yesterday, they were reading > 1ppm. Today the test kit doesn't seem to show as dark a color as yesterday, so I think the levels are starting to drop. Hopefully in a day or two they'll go to zero.
As far as the Nitrates go, I'm not going to be running a denitrator. I've already setup a very sweet water changing system that will make 30 gallon water changes a snap. I also picked up a half dozen buckets of Instant Ocean from Foster's and Smith which make each 30 gallon WC cost about $5.65. I'll do about one of these every two weeks. I also plan on either growing chaeto to help remove some nitrates, or I may even try vodka dosing. The more I read about vodka dosing, the more I'm inclined to try it.
When I get a chance, I'll post a couple of pics showing my WC system.
Floridiot
Member
The tank has finally cycled! Yesterday the nitrite reading was about 0.2 ppm, and today it is zero.
Since yesterday, I added the following creatures:
1 Yellow tang
1 purple pseudochromis
3 more chromis (now have 7 total)
3 more yellow tailed damsels (now have 4 total)
6 mexican turbos
Since I've more than doubled my bioload, I'm expecting a mini spike, but as of a few minutes ago I am still reading zero ammonia & zero nitrites.
My Calcium and alkalinity are where I want them, so I may pickup a few easy coral frags from fellow reefers later this week if I don't experience any uncontrollable algae blooms while increasing the photoperiod. So far the mexican turbos have done a great job polishing my rocks.
Since yesterday, I added the following creatures:
1 Yellow tang
1 purple pseudochromis
3 more chromis (now have 7 total)
3 more yellow tailed damsels (now have 4 total)
6 mexican turbos
Since I've more than doubled my bioload, I'm expecting a mini spike, but as of a few minutes ago I am still reading zero ammonia & zero nitrites.
My Calcium and alkalinity are where I want them, so I may pickup a few easy coral frags from fellow reefers later this week if I don't experience any uncontrollable algae blooms while increasing the photoperiod. So far the mexican turbos have done a great job polishing my rocks.
Rogger Castells
New member
Looking good, Best of luck!
Floridiot
Member
The yellow tail damsels (Chrysiptera parasema) are the most peaceful damsel I've found (comparable with chromis). They are normally only aggressive to other damsels. They will establish a pecking order amongst themselves, but generally don't bother other tank inhabitants.
I've never found this species to be too aggressive in a large tank. I wouldn't recommend them in a nano (mine doesn't qualify as a nano in this reference).
I've never found this species to be too aggressive in a large tank. I wouldn't recommend them in a nano (mine doesn't qualify as a nano in this reference).
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illal
Active member
lol i hate those damsels well all damsels for that matter 
i just see it as a waste to have such a nice tank with all that top notch equipment than skimp on the fish and go with damsels! aside from the stocking list i think youve done a great job so far and i cant wait to see this thing fully stocked with corals (im sure u cant wait either)
i just see it as a waste to have such a nice tank with all that top notch equipment than skimp on the fish and go with damsels! aside from the stocking list i think youve done a great job so far and i cant wait to see this thing fully stocked with corals (im sure u cant wait either)
Floridiot
Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13573589#post13573589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by illal
lol i hate those damsels well all damsels for that matter
I actually really like the damsels. Just because they're cheap, and very common, doesn't mean they're not cool. I've had very expensive fish that don't have half the personality of a $4 damsel or a $12 psuedochromis. I like black tangs as much as anyone else, but I don't think they're really any cooler than a $25 yellow tang. I really like the Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis too, but I personally don't think it is any nicer than a $35 Cirrhilabrus solorensis. Please remember, this is JMO. All you who own black tangs and Rhomboid fairy wrasses need not bother flaming me!
I'm still planning on adding six tank raised perculas, a wrasse of some sort (probably a solorensis), and an angel (probably a pygmy) somewhere down the line. I will have colorful fish that have just as much personality as their expensive counterparts, at a fraction of the price.
I will also be stocking my tank with corals that aren't very expensive. I cannot see paying $400 for a one inch frag of anything, not even if it alternates between neon blue & hot pink. There are plenty of reasonably priced colorful corals. I will not, however have any brown coral in my tank. As far as I'm concerned, brown is not a color when it comes to coral.
I remember many years ago when an orange monti cap would fetch a very high price. Now they are relatively inexpensive. They still look just as nice today (most look nicer today) as they did back then, but they are much more common now, hence the much lower price. Not too long ago the fluorescent green sarcophyton was getting big money, now they too are relatively inexpensive. They still look just as cool as ever too.
You are very right on one thing... I can't wait to see it fully stocked. :rollface:
illal
Active member
well everyone is entitled to there own opinion and it is your tank lol but again nice job! i guess i just feel the way i do because i set my first tank up by cycling with damsels and they got big and ugly and wer impossible to catch until i broke the tank down! than and there i decided never again will i own a damsel
