My 20g high reef- started Aug 2009

[Newreeflady]

Disclosure- the rock in this aquarium was curing for months before startup. The clown pair was being held in a holding tank. There was never an ammonia spike because of the cured rock.

Stats:

20g high with 10g sump.

Equipment:

Chiller: JBJ Arctica
Heater: 150w Viaaqua
Lighting: 24� Nova Extreme T5 Saltwater Fixture (2 bulbs) & Current USA PowerBrite LED Lights (4 LEDs) on main tank, mini aqualight (2 x 9w pc) over sump.

Doser: peristaltic pump from reefdosinpumps.com dosing B-ionic
Top off: JBJ ATO

Closed-loop: 1262 Eheim with hopefully soon-to-be-fixed OM Squirt
Sump pump: 1262 Eheim also.

Reactor: Phosban reactor running carbon & WM Phosar
Skimmer: Tunze Nano

Info on Plumbing:

Main tank is drilled (2 X 1" holes) for closed loop. I also built an external overflow with a weir that feeds the sump through 2 1" drains. The return from the sump is fed to the chiller then fed over the top through one 3/4" line. CL return is split in two and will hopefully soon go through an OM squirt for variation. only 1" vinyl hosing was used (no pvc piping) and these are of course converted to PVC fittings just before return. Bulkheads are ultra heavy duty (huge) obtained from Ace hardware.

Livestock:

Red Goniopora
Green Bubble Coral
Yellow Fiji Leather
Purple Ribbon Gorgonian
Orange Cap & Purple Capricornis
Red macro algae (grape) and some odd green tree-like macro.

Ocellaris pair (1 Australian black, 1 orange)
Yellow Watchman Goby
Pistol Shrimp (maybe, haven't seen it since added)
African Flameback Angel

Snails (Trochus, cerith, turbo, Nassarius)
Serpent star

Rock: Fiji branch from Drs. F&S


Also, a small frag of green slimer & some yellow gorg found in rubble.

Pictures to come...

 

[Newreeflady]

I know, this one sucks. I'll try again soon:

 

[Newreeflady]

I found this yellow gorg in some rock rubble from reeftopia:

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Looks great i really like the yellow leather

 

[reefscape15]

Angela - the tank is really coming along! I love the rockwork. It looks like you really took your time and found what would look good in the tank, and still provide you with plenty of space for water to flow in and out of the rocks. The fish are beautiful, and the corals are looking very healthy and colorful. That Red Goni is very nice! I'm glad to see that you've started your tank thread When you get some time, I'd be interested in seeing your plumbing and sump setup and what not. Thanks! Looking great!

 

[Newreeflady]

Hey guys. Thanks for the compliments.

Jim,

The rockwork was tricky, but was really helped by having more small pieces. I got rid of the larger pieces I had from the last tank and invested in all new rock. In order to get the full effect of all of the caves you really do need to view it from all angles. There are some spots in the picture that look like they are blocked by rock, but actually are caves coming out at you. The fish really seem to like being able to swim through all of the caves, and, as you said, it helps to keep water from stagnating behind rocks.

I'm still having some trouble getting pictures of the fish. I probably need a little help with the right settings for this. But, thanks a bunch. I'll try to eventually catch the watchman, too. The angel is more beautiful than I expected, and my clowns are very mature now.

I'm also loving the red goni! It's so lovely to watch it move with the indirect and muted flow in its area. I really worked to find a way to get the flow right by moving some rocks around for deflection. It seems really happy.

I'll snap some pix of the hardware and plumbing and next upload I'll post them up.


I didn't mention feeding and filtration. Currently I'm feeding selcon or marine snow on alternate days and I'm feeding twice daily with two of the following (I like to change it up.)

Blue Zoo mix
Rods Food
Mysis shrimp (frozen)
Formula Two flake
Cyclops (frozen)

In order to get the angel feeding I started with live brine enriched with selcon for a week while I worked in the other foods. Worked like a charm

I have a filter sock in the sump that I'm changing twice a week. I can't believe how gross this gets. I can't believe I never used these!

-A

 

[Newreeflady]

 

[reefscape15]

I've used to run a power filter on my reef, but took it off and brought in a 2.5gal hob fuge. The difference that made was incredible! Pods galore!!!! One question for you though. Do you have room in your sump for that heater? No offense, but it's a little obtrusive in the corner of the tank, and if you can move it to the sump, it'll provide a little bit of a cleaner look. Also, are you running a fuge area at all? If you can have one, no matter how small, it's totally worth it.

 

[Newreeflady]

Heya Jim,

Actually, I had an electrical problem and then when I pulled the old heater noticed that I couldn't read the numbers anymore. This one is in there temporarily, but I will put a viaaqua 150w in when it gets here. I'll try it in the sump. I used to have it on a battery backup, but since I don't anymore there is no use in having it in the display. Good point!

Yep, do have a little fuge chaeto basket going.

Pods are nice, but the grunge that comes out on those socks is worth running them I think. I used to get gunk building up in corners in the sump, etc. But no more. There should still be some pods in the display- I'm unconvinced that they would survive the impeller for return to the tank anyhow, and it's best they don't clog up my carbon reactor and skimmer pumps.

-A

 

[reefscape15]

they would make it through the return, but as long as there is some in your display, there will most likely always be some in there. It's almost impossible for any fish to reach all areas of the tank, and the pods will find these areas for hiding. I've been looking at those ViaAqua heaters too, but I'll see how the tank temp does this winter. After I added a 250watt MH there has been no need so far to add a heater. Let me know what you think of it after you run it a while though.

 

[Newreeflady]

Actually, I have a via aqua 50w titanium. I have never had a problem. I like that the temperature probe is separate. I also like (and now consider necessary) that there is external temperature control. This is why I'm ordering a new one to replace the visitherm (can't read the numbers on the dial anymore.) You could play it by ear, but I'd be surprised if you didn't need it in the winter (is your sump in the basement?)

 

[reefscape15]

Sump isn't even built yet, but it'll be under the tank

 

[Newreeflady]

I thought it might be a good idea to simply address the speed bumps I hit along the way here, in the tank thread

Issue 1: Bubble coral recession- highest point skelaton radiating from the center of the coral has begun to recede and show algal growth. (Pictures soonish.)

Steps taken:

1- moving coral to a corner by itself, setting the flow just right again, and putting a cover over a portion of the T5s. Will also start feeding nightly.

Possible causes:

1- began putting lights on during 2 cycles per day. 4 hours over lunch, then 3-4 hrs after I got home (6-9pm or so.) The corals took a while to start opening after the second light cycle. This exposed some of the weak tissue to bright light. I propose that some microalgae enter the coral along with water and perhaps get enough light in there to make it start degrading.

2- degradation of water quality. I will be checking shortly.

3- a combination of these and other stuff. In short, who knows?

All other specimens seem fine. Will check again tomorrow. Right now still working on the water change and moving things around to get the flow right for the bubble.

-A

 

[reefscape15]

My Chalice that bleached out on me started growing some spots of algae. I kept picking it off of there and stuck it in a pretty shaded spot. Now it's looking AMAZING!

 

[Newreeflady]

Cool! Do you feed it? I'm hoping this guy will do alright if in the shade for a while. I'm hoping the algae will die off and the tissue take back over if I keep it well fed.

 

[reefscape15]

I don't really do anything to the tank actually. Sometimes I'll feed Rods Food, but usually only flake and Nori soaked in vitamins for the fish, Corals just get light and leftovers.