Lucas's 20g nano

[Babydaull]

Future plans

Future plans

As you guys can probably tell I am pretty partial to LPS haha. I finally moved my frogspawn and hammer from the sand to the rock work. From what I have read you can put frogspawn and hammers together and torch remain on their own with other torches. correct me if I wrong please. So the left of my tank will consist of frogspawn and hammers. On October 22nd I will be attending the c-sea frag swap and I hope to find some more exotic LPS at the swap to add to my addition.

let me know your opinions!

 

[Babydaull]

Future Plans

Future Plans

So the right side of my tank is going to be a torch garden, if that's what you want to call it. As you guys know I kind of rescued this torch from a guy that had a tank crack. I'm still up in the air, if I want to keep this coral. It has been a couple weeks and the coral just isn't a good color. Should I keep it or should I just take it to the place I work at and get a different colored torch? Also on this right side I would like to have 2-3 different types of torch coral maybe 3-4 would that be too much?

 

[Babydaull]

Tank mate

Tank mate

I finally got a picture of my flametail blenny! he is kind of a wimp but he is fun to watch when he is out and about.

 

[Babydaull]

lastly let me know what you guys think about supplementing a t5 fixture in my tank! I'm thinking about buy two single bulb fixtures... specifically the 24inch nanoblaster. one in front of my AI prime and one behind it!

Thanks guys!

 

[ReefWreak]

I'm totally on board. I've spent a while researching T5 retrofits that might fit in my biocube hood next to my LEDs. Unfortunately I think only the 18w 16.5" bulbs will fit in a biocube, and there's only like one or two manufacturers of bulbs that size out there, and probably neither of them are worth installing over a tank.

If you do go with T5s, make sure to get good reflectors, and pick a size that is standard enough that you can buy nice ATI bulbs for it.

 

[Babydaull]

I'm totally on board. I've spent a while researching T5 retrofits that might fit in my biocube hood next to my LEDs. Unfortunately I think only the 18w 16.5" bulbs will fit in a biocube, and there's only like one or two manufacturers of bulbs that size out there, and probably neither of them are worth installing over a tank.

If you do go with T5s, make sure to get good reflectors, and pick a size that is standard enough that you can buy nice ATI bulbs for it.

Yeah that is going to be hard finding a T5 for a biocube. It was pretty hard finding a single bulb fixture that was 24in for my tank. The coral farm that I have been working at just replaced 4 radion 30's with T5 fixtures. He said that the growth has been a lot better with the T5's. The model I am thinking about getting is the 24in nanoblaster T5HO set up. its like 35 bucks on amazon. it has a reflector as well. I was also thinking about using ATI bulbs in it as well.

sorry if I'm getting to in-depth haha.

lastly my lighting period will be
LED 8 hours with a one hour ramp so a total of 10 hours
Two T5 fixtures running for around 4-6 hours during the peak of the LED lights.

let me know your thoughts

 

[ReefWreak]

Yeah that is going to be hard finding a T5 for a biocube. It was pretty hard finding a single bulb fixture that was 24in for my tank. The coral farm that I have been working at just replaced 4 radion 30's with T5 fixtures. He said that the growth has been a lot better with the T5's. The model I am thinking about getting is the 24in nanoblaster T5HO set up. its like 35 bucks on amazon. it has a reflector as well. I was also thinking about using ATI bulbs in it as well.

sorry if I'm getting to in-depth haha.

It's your thread! Get as in-depth as you want. That's the point.

lastly my lighting period will be
LED 8 hours with a one hour ramp so a total of 10 hours
Two T5 fixtures running for around 4-6 hours during the peak of the LED lights.

let me know your thoughts

Sounds good. I guess it depends on which T5s you'll be running, but I would probably have some darker/funky color T5s, in which case I'd use T5s as sunrise/sunset, and LEDs as the main lights, so I'd fire up the T5s first, then the LEDs for main sun time.

If you're planning on non-dark T5 bulbs (I'm not an expert in T5 [yet ] ), then the way you described the light timing makes sense.

I still think of T5s largely as a supplemental lighting to Metal Halides or LEDs since I don't like T5s as a sole source of light (looks too sterile to me). But you won't have that issue.

 

[Babydaull]

It's your thread! Get as in-depth as you want. That's the point.



Sounds good. I guess it depends on which T5s you'll be running, but I would probably have some darker/funky color T5s, in which case I'd use T5s as sunrise/sunset, and LEDs as the main lights, so I'd fire up the T5s first, then the LEDs for main sun time.

If you're planning on non-dark T5 bulbs (I'm not an expert in T5 [yet ] ), then the way you described the light timing makes sense.

I still think of T5s largely as a supplemental lighting to Metal Halides or LEDs since I don't like T5s as a sole source of light (looks too sterile to me). But you won't have that issue.

I am no expert on T5 lights either ha. but I do know that supplementing
T5's in the my tank will increase my light spectrum. which will aid in coral growth. With this being my main thinking... that is why I was thinking of running them during the peak of my light schedule(with LED). Also I just want the best colored bulb in there(if there is one) . The T5's will run on a timer while I'm at work/school, so if looks unappealing I'm not there to see it. but then the lights will turn off as I get home or a few hours before I get home so visually the tank looks eye appealing to me. That is my thinking behind. Does this sound right?

 

[ReefWreak]

I am no expert on T5 lights either ha. but I do know that supplementing
T5's in the my tank will increase my light spectrum. which will aid in coral growth. With this being my main thinking... that is why I was thinking of running them during the peak of my light schedule(with LED). Also I just want the best colored bulb in there(if there is one) . The T5's will run on a timer while I'm at work/school, so if looks unappealing I'm not there to see it. but then the lights will turn off as I get home or a few hours before I get home so visually the tank looks eye appealing to me. That is my thinking behind. Does this sound right?

That sounds fine, but you'll likely want to keep the T5s on while you're home. They don't look unappealing, particularly if blended with other lighting sources. I just don't like an all-T5 tank as I feel it looks "sterile" without the shimmer. Part of the coloration you see from corals is their reflection from the light source, so that's why you'd want to leave the T5s on when you're home.

Look in the lighting forum. There are tons of recommendations in there on what colors to get. I think ATI Purple Plus/KZ Fiji Purple are recommended color enhancing bulbs, but again, I'd recommend you doing some research.

 

[Babydaull]

That sounds fine, but you'll likely want to keep the T5s on while you're home. They don't look unappealing, particularly if blended with other lighting sources. I just don't like an all-T5 tank as I feel it looks "sterile" without the shimmer. Part of the coloration you see from corals is their reflection from the light source, so that's why you'd want to leave the T5s on when you're home.

Look in the lighting forum. There are tons of recommendations in there on what colors to get. I think ATI Purple Plus/KZ Fiji Purple are recommended color enhancing bulbs, but again, I'd recommend you doing some research.

I will definitly do some extra research. I forgot to mention the fixtures come with a 6500k white bulb. So this is what I was referring to as unattractive' thanks for all of your input!

 

[Babydaull]

new fish

new fish

I have thought long about what I want my last fish to be for my tank. I have thought about a dwarf angelfish but I'm too scared with them picking a corals. I thought a shrimp and goby pair would be cool but I have a flametail blenny so that wont work out. SO I think I might do 2-3 banggai cardinal fish and have them school. If anyone else has some suggestions on a cool last fish. I'm all ears! and also just let me hear your opinions as well.

 

[Babydaull]

I havent done a water change in forever. I can totally tell by how my tank looks.
I need to do one asap

 

[ssick92]

I have thought long about what I want my last fish to be for my tank. I have thought about a dwarf angelfish but I'm too scared with them picking a corals. I thought a shrimp and goby pair would be cool but I have a flametail blenny so that wont work out. SO I think I might do 2-3 banggai cardinal fish and have them school. If anyone else has some suggestions on a cool last fish. I'm all ears! and also just let me hear your opinions as well.

Personally I don't think you would have any issues with a blenny and goby + shrimp pair in that tank. Blennies characteristically perch high up on rocks and graze, while the goby stays in the sandbed and under rocks with his shrimp buddy. I have had a yellow watchman & tiger pistol pair in all of my tanks -- they are by far my favorite part of any tank.

I had a Yellow Watchman + Tiger Pistol along with a Starry Blenny in a 30g with no issues for over 2 years until I had to take down the tank. If you get the goby about the same size as your blenny then you should probably be fine...

What is your typical water change schedule?

 

[Babydaull]

Personally I don't think you would have any issues with a blenny and goby + shrimp pair in that tank. Blennies characteristically perch high up on rocks and graze, while the goby stays in the sandbed and under rocks with his shrimp buddy. I have had a yellow watchman & tiger pistol pair in all of my tanks -- they are by far my favorite part of any tank.

I had a Yellow Watchman + Tiger Pistol along with a Starry Blenny in a 30g with no issues for over 2 years until I had to take down the tank. If you get the goby about the same size as your blenny then you should probably be fine...

What is your typical water change schedule?

I know the starry blends are safe but the flametail blennys have been known to be territorial towards other fish their "shape" so that's the only thing I am scared about. I watched my blenny straight up attack my narrsarus snail the other night. I try to do 20% water change once a week but I haven't in forever I need too. My corals aren't opening as much and I'm pretty sure that's why they aren't opening.

 

[ssick92]

I know the starry blends are safe but the flametail blennys have been known to be territorial towards other fish their "shape" so that's the only thing I am scared about. I watched my blenny straight up attack my narrsarus snail the other night. I try to do 20% water change once a week but I haven't in forever I need too. My corals aren't opening as much and I'm pretty sure that's why they aren't opening.

Corals can be unhappy for lots of different reasons. I would test the following and then post your results. More than likely it is just because of lack of water changes, but if something else is going on we would most likely be able to see it in your water parameters.

Test for the following at a minimum:
Temp
Salinity
Nitrate
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
pH

 

[Babydaull]

Corals can be unhappy for lots of different reasons. I would test the following and then post your results. More than likely it is just because of lack of water changes, but if something else is going on we would most likely be able to see it in your water parameters.

Test for the following at a minimum:
Temp
Salinity
Nitrate
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
pH

Yeah I just tested last night
Alk 8.4
Ca 430
Mg 1450
Salinity 1.026
I usually run to petco to get my nitrates tested I'll have to do that

 

[ssick92]

Yeah I just tested last night
Alk 8.4
Ca 430
Mg 1450
Salinity 1.026
I usually run to petco to get my nitrates tested I'll have to do that

I would try to pick up a salifert nitrate test kit if you can find one (or order one if you can't). I'm betting that Petco is just using the API kits which are pretty unreliable.

You've probably already noted this earlier in the thread, but what are you using for your filtration? Nitrates can build up quickly in nano tanks especially if not running a skimmer.

 

[Babydaull]

I would try to pick up a salifert nitrate test kit if you can find one (or order one if you can't). I'm betting that Petco is just using the API kits which are pretty unreliable.

You've probably already noted this earlier in the thread, but what are you using for your filtration? Nitrates can build up quickly in nano tanks especially if not running a skimmer.

Yeah petco uses API. Which I know is horrible. But I use filter socks and filter socks which need to be changed. So I'm like 90% sure it is just a nitrate thing haha. I'll do a water change extremely soon.

 

[ReefWreak]

Yeah petco uses API. Which I know is horrible. But I use filter socks and filter socks which need to be changed. So I'm like 90% sure it is just a nitrate thing haha. I'll do a water change extremely soon.

FYI API gets a bad rap, but they're really not inaccurate. I particularly like them for their simplicity. If you don't need detailed accuracy, they work just fine, particularly for things like nitrate (red = bad, yellow = fine, orange = middle), pH, or alkalinity (# drops = # DKH reading).

If you'd like some comparison shootouts here on RC of the different test kit brands, let me know and I'll drop a link.

 

[Babydaull]

FYI API gets a bad rap, but they're really not inaccurate. I particularly like them for their simplicity. If you don't need detailed accuracy, they work just fine, particularly for things like nitrate (red = bad, yellow = fine, orange = middle), pH, or alkalinity (# drops = # DKH reading).

If you'd like some comparison shootouts here on RC of the different test kit brands, let me know and I'll drop a link.

thats a great point! I do have red sea for Ca/alk/Mg.