Katie's CAD Lights 34g Nano

[kitkat717]

There might be die off from the dry rock you put in. If the biological filtration was established on the hob, I would just use that to prevent spikes from the dry rock. Just add a PVC elbow for clowns to hide in. They should be fine. You might create a cycle by adding the dry rock to a super small tank. Put the dry rock in the tank you will cycle.

I'll pull the rock, they don't need any extra stress. Maybe I'll stick a ceramic mug in there. Dog just had surgery so I'll be at home the next day or two with her, so no trips to home depot for a few days.

On the plus side the clowns seem to be acting like normal little snooty clowns. They turn their noses up at pellets and marine cuisine frozen. The fancy white loves mysis and mows on every bite. The Wyoming inspects each piece and only eats the meaty ones, chews on it, then spits out the shell/skin. Pretty cute to watch. Not QUITE eating from my fingers yet, but I'll bet they will be by the time they're out of that little tank. Classic happy little clowns!

 

[raastamon]

Great to hear.. I actually had one of my clowns in qt with prazipro for a few weeks and he is is now reunited with the other in the display and both seem very happy. While the smaller of the pair was removed, the other was really grouchy and much more territorial toward other tank mates and would only stay in his rbta. Now that the other is back they are swimming together but the smaller still doesn't host the rbta.

I used completely dry rock and dry sand when starting my tank to prevent any unwanted hitchhikers in there. I've had some downs but mostly everything thing has been going well. Now 5 months in. I was dosing microbacter7 to seed bacteria and used the raw shrimp method to add an ammonia source and Kickstart the cycle. It took about 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[kitkat717]

Great to hear.. I actually had one of my clowns in qt with prazipro for a few weeks and he is is now reunited with the other in the display and both seem very happy. While the smaller of the pair was removed, the other was really grouchy and much more territorial toward other tank mates and would only stay in his rbta. Now that the other is back they are swimming together but the smaller still doesn't host the rbta.

I used completely dry rock and dry sand when starting my tank to prevent any unwanted hitchhikers in there. I've had some downs but mostly everything thing has been going well. Now 5 months in. I was dosing microbacter7 to seed bacteria and used the raw shrimp method to add an ammonia source and Kickstart the cycle. It took about 3 to 4 weeks.

Yes, that was exactly my plan too. I had some disturbing giant worms in my old tank. I'm pretty sure they were harmless, but they skeeved me out. I also had a breakout of zoa eating nudibranchs, so I'm trying to keep it as uncontaminated as possible. I put in a cube of marine cuisine food into the tank that the clowns hate to try to kick start the ammonia but I think my skimmer took it all out because I'm still at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates. I think I'll have to turn it off.

Hopefully I don't have to do anything with the clowns, they seem perfectly healthy. I'll have to look into any prophylactic treatments, but I imagine they've got to be pretty healthy if they've made it this far. They guy I got them from said they were about 8 months old and he had them for most of that. They should be in that tank for a few weeks, so that's pretty much a QT.

 

[kitkat717]

Update! Water in the tank! I did it a couple days ago, but I had work and then the dog had surgery so no time to update before now.

And of course, sad puppy after surgery:

 

[kitkat717]

I have another question for you guys. Where do you recommend I put the MP10? Right now I have it on the left wall. Should it be on the R wall with the output tank pump?

Also the tank pump output is very intense. If I point it towards the back wall it disperses pretty well and doesn't trash the sand, but then I have a dead spot along the sand along the ride side wall. If I point it towards the right front corner/right wall it either splashes water out of the tank or disturbs the sand bed. What do you recommend?

 

[jkirk]

I have the same tank, love it as well. My MP10 is on the right side near the pump output. This helps push things toward the overflow to get removed. I originally had sand like you but also noticed that with the stock pump strength there were very few positions to point the output nuzzle to avoid disturbing the sand bed. I eventually just took the sand out and started running a bare bottom SPS reef. Now the crazy flow becomes a benefit and i don't have to worry about creating sand storms

 

[falcona2552]

I got a splitter and sent my return flow in two directions, one along the back wall and one pointing straight out. The flow is way too strong but if I turn down the pump then the water level in the back chambers can't be controlled. I am in the process of creating my own filter media tower for the overflow out of acrylic to try to control the return rate of the water in the over flow.

 

[kitkat717]

I have the same tank, love it as well. My MP10 is on the right side near the pump output. This helps push things toward the overflow to get removed. I originally had sand like you but also noticed that with the stock pump strength there were very few positions to point the output nuzzle to avoid disturbing the sand bed. I eventually just took the sand out and started running a bare bottom SPS reef. Now the crazy flow becomes a benefit and i don't have to worry about creating sand storms

Oh the benefits of bare bottom. I'm jealous. I'm running LPS/softies so I don't need the crazy high flow of SPS tanks. Plus I love the look of sand. For now I think I'll just point it to the back wall.

 

[kitkat717]

I got a splitter and sent my return flow in two directions, one along the back wall and one pointing straight out. The flow is way too strong but if I turn down the pump then the water level in the back chambers can't be controlled. I am in the process of creating my own filter media tower for the overflow out of acrylic to try to control the return rate of the water in the over flow.

This is a great idea. I will have to look into the splitter.

I wish I had the tools to make an acrylic media tower. I've thought about making one out of eggcrate. Right now I just cut one of the sponges to wedge horizontally in the overflow section so the water spills over on top of it. So far works pretty well.

 

[kitkat717]

So guys, I sort of went against your advice and threw the clowns in. Most of this decision was because of the rapid decline in water quality of the 3g even with water changes, I think the tiny HOB is simply not adequate for 2 active clowns. Furthermore, after a few days of dosing the food cubes the brats don't like into the tank and having 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, I threw them in. I also added a bunch of little rubble rock pieces of live rock, so maybe that's what nixed my cycle. Or maybe it was dosing the live bacteria cultures. Either way, I saw trace ammonia one day, and nothing since.

The clowns have been in for almost a week now. When I first put them in it was amazing, they raced around the tank, exploring everything. I don't think they've ever been in a tank that large before in their lives. Being designer tank bred, I imagine they grew up in little cubicles and then were in the 3g. If fish can be identified as "happy" that's what these fish were. They played in the output pump current like crazy, darting in and out and riding the currrent. They have since quit doing this when I pointed it to the back wall, which is sort of sad because they loved it so much. But they still find things to investigate.

I also added a cleaner shrimp a few days ago. I don't think they've ever seen one of these because they immediately attacked it when I was introducing it to the tank. It stayed on my hand after I scooped it out of its bag and into the water, picking at my skin. They kept racing up to it and nipping at its antenae, and it just kept swatting at them and eventually they gave up.

Now the little wyoming seems to want to be friends with the cleaner. They hang out together all day, but he still won't let the cleaner "clean" him, I think he doesn't know what that is and that it's good for him. But they do seem to be friends.

After a couple days everyone eats from my hand. The clowns wait at the surface of the water for food and will nibble my fingers if I fake them out or put my hand in to move things. The shrimp takes food from my fingers as well, so I make sure he gets his fill after the clowns eat.

Tank params are still 0-0-0, so all seems well in the little 34g. Assuming no spikes down the road, still testing every other day, it seems live bacteria cultures, a little live rock, and some extensive filtering, goes a long way for shortening or muting the new tank cycle. I still have the 3g and prepared water hanging around should I need to perform a rescue if anything gets out of whack, but seems to be alright for now.

 

[falcona2552]

I am working on a media tower of acrylic and egg crate as we speak to run small filter socks of GFO and Carbon, with a sponge on top for large particle filtration. I have been having trouble getting it exactly how I want but when it is assembled and in the tank this week I will share pictures of it and my design. When I get home I will take a picture of the splitter. I also shortened the lengths of the loc line so that it is only a splitter, one additional section on each arm of the splitter, and a flow nozzle. I still am able to aim them in opposing directions to create substantial flow while not disturbing the sand at all.

 

[falcona2552]

Loc Line Splitter

Loc Line Splitter

Here is birds eye view of loc line splitter. Again the one pointing straight out at the front of the tank I shortened to give the flow room to spread out so the sand blasting will stop. I then directed the other loc line a little longer.



Here is the front view of the tank, I used the rockscape to hide the return line and make it split and wrap around the back of the rock. Really happy with how it came out, but it only took me three trips to the LFS to get sizes correctly matched up on all the return pump plumbing. CAD lights uses metric I believe where 'Loc Line' uses standard units. A little plumbers tape tightened my connection up and no problems since.



And the pretty shot:

View attachment 287516

 

[kitkat717]

Here is birds eye view of loc line splitter. Again the one pointing straight out at the front of the tank I shortened to give the flow room to spread out so the sand blasting will stop. I then directed the other loc line a little longer.

View attachment 287515

Here is the front view of the tank, I used the rockscape to hide the return line and make it split and wrap around the back of the rock. Really happy with how it came out, but it only took me three trips to the LFS to get sizes correctly matched up on all the return pump plumbing. CAD lights uses metric I believe where 'Loc Line' uses standard units. A little plumbers tape tightened my connection up and no problems since.

View attachment 287517

And the pretty shot:

View attachment 287516

That's brilliant. I'm going to look into doing that. I bet you get much better flow that way. Great photos. And your tank looks awesome! Cute clown. This tank is such a perfect size for a pair of clowns.

 

[kitkat717]

Update!

Tank is doing great. I think I have effectively skipped/surpased (pwned?) the cycle. I highly recommend zeobak. I still add a little occassionaly when I think of it. I had a tiny diatom bloom which lasted for maybe 2 days and has since disappeared.

I now have a couple LPS and softies. I have a duncan coral which has doubled in size in about 2 weeks, probably due spot feeding or maybe its the lights.

I got a cleaner shrimp and a tiny yellow clown goby last week.

The cleaner is amazing, runs and flings himself onto my hand to eat. The wyoming, the yellow clown goby, and the cleaner shrimp are all bffs, they hang out constantly together. The other fancy white is a jerk (female) and hangs out by herself because she won't play nice enough for anyone else to like her. The wyoming does his happy submissive dance when she picks on him, but he doesn't choose to be anywhere near her unless she forces the issue. I almost wish I could get rid of her. I would if he'd stay male and nice, but then he'd probably turn into the biatch female.

I have almost no algae with this filtration system. I'm sure I will get more with time. I have a little on the back wall which is barely visible and I clean the glass maybe once a week because a teensy bit grows just enough to slightly obscure that beautiful starfire glass.

Skimmer is doing great, not quite totally broken in, but making some nice dark skim, still pretty wet however. Will post some more pictures once I actually do some aquascaping of the frags, right now they're just strewn around on the sand to not shock them with the lights.

LEDs are set at 30% blues and 25% whites and the corals seem to be happy. When I first put in the orange plate when the whites were 30% it seemed to bleach a teeny tiny bit, hence why I lowered them a touch. Now it's colors are becoming brighter and more neon. That plate LOVES being spot fed, the moment food hits the water its mouth opens right up, just waiting for me to trickle some mysis over its tentacles which it promptly shoves in its mouth.

Overall, tank in the perfect size for an apartment for a few fish. LEDs are plenty bright for softies and LPS, haven't tried sps and might when the tank is older. Flow is still being sorted out as the stock tank pump is actually stronger flow than I would like, still working on tracking down a lockline splitter in the right size.

Moral? Large investment = great gains. You don't even want to know how much money is in this tank... I have a spreadsheet on it and it's pretty sick. Cheaper than drugs though! :bounce3:

Next project! Auto top off and semi-automated water changes. Yeah! :lolspin:

Crazy cat lady? Pahlease, crazy reef lady.

 

[frkysl]

Here is birds eye view of loc line splitter. Again the one pointing straight out at the front of the tank I shortened to give the flow room to spread out so the sand blasting will stop. I then directed the other loc line a little longer.

View attachment 287515

Here is the front view of the tank, I used the rockscape to hide the return line and make it split and wrap around the back of the rock. Really happy with how it came out, but it only took me three trips to the LFS to get sizes correctly matched up on all the return pump plumbing. CAD lights uses metric I believe where 'Loc Line' uses standard units. A little plumbers tape tightened my connection up and no problems since.

View attachment 287517

And the pretty shot:

View attachment 287516

Hey can you let me know the details of plumbing. I have the tank but no plumbing at all. I am planning to buy a return pump (500 gph) and some loc-lines to direct the flow.
Which size loc-line you use? 3/4 or 1/2?
How can you attached the return pump to loc-line?
Could you give us the list of your loc-line?

Thank you

 

[cchsoracle]

Great looking tank Katie. I have the same tank and absolutely love it! It seems to be getting more and more popular. I just finished making a thread here....check it out!

 

[kitkat717]

Wow, so I just looked over this thread. A massive update is in order.

Are you ready?

Updated fish list:
1 Wyoming White Clownfish
1 Fancy White Clownfish
1 Dragonface Pipefish

Inverts:
1 Cleaner Shrimp - "Sebastian"
1 Emerald Crab
1 Sea hare (small, will return when bigger)
1 Maxima clam

Coral:
Orange Plate Coral
Welso Blasto
Duncan
Palm Tree Cloves
Blue xenia
Elegance Coral x3 (all 3 aussie)
Frogspawn
Hammer
Silver Pulsing Xenia
Acan
Assorted Ricordia
Assorted Zoas/palys


RIP:
1st elegance coral (killed by the yellow clown goby)
Yellow clown goby (eaten by the 2nd elegance coral I suspect)
Pagoda cup, did well for awhile and just quit opening despite moving it around the tank, not sure what happened there...


Keep in mind these photos were all taken by my iPhone, so it simply does not do this tank justice.

FTS:

Dragonface Pipefish and fancy Ricordia

Emerald Crab looking for food from my fingers. He comes out of wherever he's hiding upon sight of my fingers now, then he holds my finger with one claw and shovels the food i'm holding into his mouth with the other.

Yellow sea cucumber filter feeding off the side of my hammer

Elegance Coral #1

Elegance Coral #2

Elegance Coral #3

Video: http://youtu.be/5NogQQ3LZdc?list=UUzgG5Oz9l35jzgQEkzgs_vw

 

[kitkat717]

And lets not forget the clowns. They are really difficult to photograph with my iphone, so excuse the blur.


Wyoming White baby boy

Blurrrr together

Queen fancy white

 

[kitkat717]

So my links broke, so lets try this and see if it sticks

Wow, so I just looked over this thread. A massive update is in order.

Are you ready?

Updated fish list:
1 Wyoming White Clownfish
1 Fancy White Clownfish
1 Dragonface Pipefish

Inverts:
1 Cleaner Shrimp - "Sebastian"
1 Emerald Crab
1 Sea hare (small, will return when bigger)
1 Maxima clam

Coral:
Orange Plate Coral
Welso Blasto
Duncan
Palm Tree Cloves
Blue xenia
Elegance Coral x3 (all 3 aussie)
Frogspawn
Hammer
Silver Pulsing Xenia
Acan
Assorted Ricordia
Assorted Zoas/palys


RIP:
1st elegance coral (killed by the yellow clown goby)
Yellow clown goby (eaten by the 2nd elegance coral I suspect)
Pagoda cup, did well for awhile and just quit opening despite moving it around the tank, not sure what happened there...


Keep in mind these photos were all taken by my iPhone, so it simply does not do this tank justice.

FTS:

Dragonface Pipefish and fancy Ricordia

Emerald Crab looking for food from my fingers. He comes out of wherever he's hiding upon sight of my fingers now, then he holds my finger with one claw and shovels the food i'm holding into his mouth with the other.

Yellow sea cucumber filter feeding off the side of my hammer

Elegance Coral #1

Elegance Coral #2

Elegance Coral #3

Video: http://youtu.be/5NogQQ3LZdc?list=UUzgG5Oz9l35jzgQEkzgs_vw

 

[kitkat717]

And lets not forget the clowns. They are really difficult to photograph with my iphone, so excuse the blur.


Wyoming White baby boy

Blurrrr together

Queen fancy white