New 20 gallon nano reef build....

[MadCnty]

I am starting a clear for life acrylic 20 gallon show (30"x 10" x14") nano reef... I am going with 30# of regular coralife substrate,and another 16# of live substrate, and full dry rock [I bought 100# so I could choose the pcs I want to use... (had aptashia before not going back...) ], Coralife 65 skimmer, Aqueon ProHeater 100 watt, 2 x 6015 Tunze, on a Hydor smartwave controller, a Fluval C3 filter, & a Coralife T5 Lunar for lighting...
I will be using B-ionic for additive, and will be posting extended pics for this nano, as well as reviews for the equipment purchased... I will also post cycling info as well... I am not new to the hobby but my last nano was only 2.5 gallons so this is a move up...

 

[TBLDiver]

Tagging along

 

[Jerine]

Tagging along

Me too

 

[MadCnty]

Tank should arrive tomorrow...

 

[MadCnty]

Oh I forgot to add I am doing a reverse flow UGF... Yes I am old school but I want the best flow I can get...

 

[MadCnty]

Even in the substrate...:fish1:

 

[MadCnty]

Well the tank did arrive today via FedEx and although I still need to clean it etc. I wanted to see what the "setup" was going to look like... So here it is... Also my substrate arrived today and it is too small (aragonite sand) to do the UGF...

 

[carrots]

The idea of running a gravel filter scares me. It's going to be hard keeping nitrate levels down. Maybe consider just using live rock and circulation, it has worked for my 10 gallon Nano. w/ sps & lps corals. I'll be following along. Best of luck

 

[MadCnty]

The idea of running a gravel filter scares me. It's going to be hard keeping nitrate levels down. Maybe consider just using live rock and circulation, it has worked for my 10 gallon Nano. w/ sps & lps corals. I'll be following along. Best of luck

It was going to be just for more flow than anything else, but the sand is too fine to place on "regular" fiberglass window screen, but if I can find some finer mesh I will implement it, as I can reverse the power head every few weeks, and vacuum the gravel too... I am pretty sure I have plenty of rock (up to 100#) and 2 Tunze (475 GPH) power heads, on a wave maker...
I know that IF I do use an UGF it will provide very little bio-filtration, but the sponge on the power head will provide some mechanical filtration...

 

[MadCnty]

I should explain why I actually like using a RFUGF... It is because after you place your substrate, then your rocks, there are areas you cannot vacuum and as such getting oxygen to the substrate helps to breakdown/move the detritus to the areas where they can be reached...
And yes I know this is "old school" but it something I have used since day one... I also do a 25% H2O change weekly, as that is what we did when I worked at an LFS...
My 2.5 gallon (Azoo Mirror Bay) was up and running for almost 2 years before we had a house fire and when the re-construction was going on they moved the tank and the seams gave way... The only problem with that tank was the salt creep from the air stone... With a jet RF that should not be as much of a problem....

 

[MadCnty]

I washed the sand aragonite substrate today and placed about 15# into the tank, and I am now letting it dry. I am also getting ready to soak my dry rock in an mild acid (vinegar & SW) bath for about 2 weeks as we are leaving on vacation for that amount of time... I will add the 16# of live sand and my rock when we return, and then start the cycle... So stay tuned... :wave:
BTW no UGF for those concerned...

 

[MadCnty]

Back and now ready to cycle... Have frags in mind...

 

[MadCnty]

Added the live aragonite, dry rock, salt water, and a piece shrimp today... Cycle underway...

 

[MadCnty]

It is still a bit cloudy, and I have to fix the micro bubbles from the skimmer but here it is...

 

[MadCnty]

Cleaned my skimmer last night and it quit producing micro bubbles... No salt creep blocking the inlet and impeller seems to work just fine, and both inlets are clear... So I added an air pump (cheaper than a new skimmer), and all seems to be good atm... Keeping my fingers crossed that the bubbles do not restart on their own & I have an overflow... We shall see... I have it setup as per the instructions, and have no idea why the bubble production stopped due to cleaning the collection cup...

 

[MadCnty]

I did my first H2O change today (5 gallons) and did my first dose of B-Ionic... Removed the remaining shrimp decay, and I will do my testing on Friday and post the results...

 

[MadCnty]

I forgot to note I had ordered 400 pods and added them to the tank today as well... I will be adding more in another 2 weeks... I will also be ghost feeding as the pods will need food...

 

[MadCnty]

CuC up next... Red legs and fighting conchs...

 

[MadCnty]

Another addition which I forgot to add but is on the way... Never added algae to any tank I have had but this looks better than hair or bubble so why not???

 

[MadCnty]

Test Results...
Temp 78 Degrees...
Salinity 1.023 (will have to bump that up a little)...
Phosphates 0.25/ppm...
Calcium 400/ppm
Nitrate 20/ppm
Carbonate 196.9/ppm KH
I had no idea that my test kit did not come with an Ammonia Test... I will be purchasing one ASAP... I will also be getting a PH test kit as well...