Fluval edge 6 journal

[andrewq]

So I have a 2yr old 14 gallon biocube, 2 week old 20long tank, and a 6 gallon fluval edge. I had extra rocks and sand from the 20. So I decided to setup a 6 gallon on my computer desk. I work at home, and spend alot of time at my desk. So I figured I could watch this tank pretty closely. Tank has been up and running for 4 days now. Took first readings today

Hydrometer 1.020 kinda low in my opinion
PH 8.0
Ammonia .25ppm
Nitrite 5.0ppm really high
Nitrate 40ppm

Im running the stock led lights, and I will be moding them today. Led kit being delivered later today.

Nano 240 circulation pump

3lbs of live, and 2lbs of base rock. Im going to replace base rock, and pick up some more live rock from lfs. They have fully cured live rock, and I have had good experience with them in the past.

Also using stock hob filter. With sponge and ceramic rings. Should I turn the filter into a mini refugium? I was thinking of putting some small pieces of live rock and then chaeto? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[andrewq]

So check it. I got new rock, a couple of hermits. Modified the hob filter, and made a mini refugium and added some led strip lights to light the refugium. I figured maybe a mini refugium would help stabilize this tank. Enjoy pictures

New rocks



Mini refugium



refugium and led lighting

 

[andrewq]

Today was first water change. Tank has been up for almost 2 weeks now.

Parameters

hyrdometer 1.024
ph 8.0
ammonia .25ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 80ppm

I did a 30% water change, clean filter, chaeto is growing. Not sure how much its helping tank, but im going to leave it in. Also dont think I'll be able to grow anything with the lights I have. Any suggestions on what light would work to grow corals. Ive seen all the mods on youtube. I found this on ebay.


This is a 20watt 20000k single led, and I could prob mount under the top of tank to keep hidden. What do you think?

 

[andrewq]

Im not going to be adding any fish to this tank. It just seems to small for fish. So this will be a coral and invertebrate tank only. I have three stripped hermits so far.

 

[Tripp102370]

Following. . . I have an Edge that i've been thinking of doing the same thing. I need to look at the LED Mods you referred to. I don't have a light and that's what's kept me from starting it up. . .

Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[andrewq]

Following. . . I have an Edge that i've been thinking of doing the same thing. I need to look at the LED Mods you referred to. I don't have a light and that's what's kept me from starting it up. . .

Thanks for the inspiration!

No problem, and thanks for reading. My 6 gallons doing really well. Cycling nicely, and I just picked up some snails today. Probably won't get the lights for a week or 2.

 

[andrewq]

So after some extensive research on the lights above. Im gonna try something else. I watched so many diy mods for the fluval, and didnt like any of them. So I decided to go with these. Its simple sleek, and no modifications needing. Just place on top of tank, and done. Probably going to get the 12in version. There low profile and silver. My edge is already silver/grey, so it should look fine. I ordered lights, and they should be here next week.



Lights are Current-USA 12" TrueLumen Pro LED Strip Light, 12,000K

Online desciption

4 Color Spectrums in 4 Lengths

8,000K Sun White – the perfect spectrum for freshwater planted aquariums or refugiums. ( which is probably useless for a reef tank, idk )

12,000K Diamond White – crisp white, an excellent choice for enhancing colors in marine & freshwater fish. Provides bright, penetrating rays of shimmering light without growing nuisance algae.

Marine Fusion – a slick combination of 12K white & 453nm blue. One strip will illuminate an entire aquarium with the perfect blend of light for marine fish & reef aquariums.

Deepwater Blue – sharp 453nm actinic blue lighting for providing the necessary wavelengths for promoting strong coral growth & enhancing brilliant coloration.See all of the product videos online.

 

[andrewq]

Oh happy days! My nano is fully cycled! Today is water change day, and these are the readings before water change. Time to buy better lights! One problem I am having is getting the water to stay under 80 degrees. Yesterday it went to 81.3! Yowzas! This is the highest its ever been. In the morning the tank is 77 and will get as high as 79. Any suggestions on how to keep my tank cool?

Do fans really work?

I was thinking some type of pc fan that I can attach to top of hood.

Going to change lighting schedule, maybe that will help.

Todays reading

Salinity 1.025
ph 8.0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
nitrate 0
phosphate .25

 

[andrewq]

So new lights came in, and look great. Concealing them is a different story. I built a box out of some scrap wood, painted it grey, and still need to put hinges so the tank can be easily be accessed. The paint is moisture resistant fyi

The plan is to mount 2 12in led light strips, 2 small fans, and one small led strip to the lid of the box. The temp in my tank varies, and its hard to keep it cool.

Box still needs hinges, and im going to cover the bottom of the lid with some type of reflective material?.........foil. Then mount everything.

This will be attempt #1 or protoype #1.

SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!

 

[sctip]

Looks fantastic. I am think of those lights myself.

 

[ericarenee]

we use that some 20 w led on our planted 42 gal bow front fresh water tank . i ALSO use them in my Sump and the coraline algae grows down there like mad...

 

[andrewq]

Looks fantastic. I am think of those lights myself.

These lights are bright, and each strip is 9watts. 18watts total. So im figuring 3 watts per gallon, and 6 gallons=3watts. Should be able to get some good looking corals.

ACTINIC LIGHTS ONLY

 

[andrewq]

we use that some 20 w led on our planted 42 gal bow front fresh water tank . i ALSO use them in my Sump and the coraline algae grows down there like mad...

Those lights look great, but I think they would have been to much power for my 6 gallon. My tank probably would have turn into algae soup.

 

[saltyskier]

The tank looks slick under those lights! Any concern about them being too bright? Can you change the output power at all?

 

[andrewq]

The tank looks slick under those lights! Any concern about them being too bright? Can you change the output power at all?

I had a small piece of some zoas. They didnt open up in my 20long. My 20 long is running T5's, and I have same type of zoas that are growing good in my 20. I put them in the 6 gallon, and I think I burned them. So yes a dimmer would be a great idea, and I am presently using one. I had it leftover from an older led kit. It also seems to me, that most led kits use the same connectors. I must have about 5 power supplies from various led lights, and there all the same. So you could probabaly get a dimmer online for cheap.

 

[andrewq]

So im not going to install fans. I was able to figure out water temp problem. Yay, easy fix.

Added first corals today. Tanks been up for m ore then a month, so Im sure its ready to go. Also last few readings have been on point. I added Radioactive dragon eye zoas, and they look awesome under the led strips! I took some crappy cell phone pics.

I did have to turn down the lights about 20%.

 

[andrewq]

So just a few updates. Tank is running smoothly, and I added a bunch of zoas. Lights are working awesomely. Hopefully my zoas will just take over everything. Couple mushrooms, gsp, and frogspawn. Also added a yellow watchman goby. Plan on adding a pistol shrimp, and then thats it. Just gonna let it grow. Enjoy pictures





All the different colors really pop when the actinics are on only. To bad I cant get a good shot of them.

 

[tennesseebob]

nice, i have a AquaRay light i am thinking about putting on a 10g or a 20t, would look nifty, its a decent little light, be good for a nano softy or lps i think.

mine is the reef white, 4blue 4white

 

[andrewq]

Just a quick update. I have a 20long in my kitchen right now, and Im going to downgrade to a mr aqua 13 gallon bowfront. The 20 seems to big for my kitchen. So Im collecting corals from everywhere, and putting them in my 6 gallon nano. My 6 gallon is doing awesome. I have a yellow goby, and pistol shrimp in there somewhere, and various corals. Made a quick vid too. Some of the corals are going to my 13 bowfront. Should be here anyday now. Sorry for the quality, but enjoy.

Click on picture for video

 

[sctip]

Just out of curiosity how much do you have in the 6 gallon. I am looking for something for my desk.