reefscape15's 20g re-do

[reefscape15]

I'm planning on almost all SPS with maybe a couple zoas or rics, or if I find a really nice LPS that i want. As far as fish I'm planning a pair of Yellow Stripe Neon Gobies, and possibly a Green Clown Goby and a Yellow Coris Wrasse. I hope to find a few different Acro Crabs, a PomPom Crab, and Emerald Crab. Also if i can find a BumbleBee Shrimp I would want that too. Pretty much any very small invert that I can find.

 

[chiblackhawks4]

If youre looking for smaller inverts I think a sexy shrimp or a small group (3) would be cool. I could picture them all hanging out on the little island youve created.

 

[reefscape15]

I've thought about those too. My LFS doesn't carry much as far as inverts, so that would probably be something i might have to make a road trip for

 

[reefscape15]

I noticed my first few patches of new algae on the rocks! It's comforting to know that life is starting to survive in the tank

 

[reefscape15]

I just really like this angle of the tank stopping tomorrow to grab a couple snails and crabs finally!

 

[reefscape15]

I picked up a used 10g tank and a sheet of acrylic today. I probably won't begin building the sump until after the holiday weekend, which is a good thing. That will give my tank an extra week or so of cycle time. Plans are to hopefully pick up a used SWC120 cone skimmer and a return pump. A fuge with LR and different macros and a 3-4" sandbed will be set up in one of the sump chambers. I'll post pictures once the sump build gets underway

 

[reefscape15]

23 days since I started the cycle. Just wanted to show the algae growth so far, definitely diatom bloom is starting but also getting a bunch of early stages of green coraline. Here's the first picture of setup:

And here is today:

 

[reefscape15]

Started building the sump today. I cut and fitted the acrylic to form a corner overflow drain/bubble trap section. I decided on this design to leave maximum space for a refugium. I have just enough space between the bubble trap and the glass to house a NAC3.5 cone skimmer. Hopefully I can find a used one eventually, and until then I plan on running a prism. I'll put some pictures up later tonight

 

[reefscape15]

Top down

From end of tank

Hopefully this idea works out how i planned

 

[reefscape15]

Sump is finished! A few pics:

Front view

Opposite side

Here you can get a good view of all the barrels and different sections

The corner overflow/bubble trap will empty into the skimmer section, which is 4.75"x6.5" with a wayer level of 8.5". I've seen a few used NAC3.5 skimmers for sale for around $125. The skimmer section will empty into the center fuge section. The fuge measures about 8"x9.5". The water level in this section will be roughly 7". I made an opening on the lower right side of the fuge in hopes that it will help the water flow through the entire fuge area.

This is a picture of the fuge outlet and return pump area:

I was planning on a mag7 or something like that, but the fuge outlet took up too much room. I've looked into running 2 smaller pumps instead. Hydor makes a small pump that looks decent. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance

 

[reefscape15]

I put my first coral in today and hope that the water is nice and stable and will support it. I picked up a tiny piece of green/purple ridge Monti Cap, and also a small rock with just a couple very tiny Zoas. They are too small at this point to tell what type they are but i would guess RDE from the look I got at them in the LFS today.

Also I added another powerhead to the tank because I felt that the flow wasnt quite as much as i wanted. I now have 2 Korallia EVO 1050's and an older Korallia 3. It created a sand storm for the moment. Hopefully it will calm soon

 

[reefscape15]

This is the small Zoa rock that I picked up yesterday, I turned the lights on before work this morning to take a couple pictures, so they aren't open yet. There's only about 4-5 very small zoas on the rock, but for $5 I thought I'd give it a shot

One of the Scarlet Leg Hermits made its way up to the new piece of rock last night

The tank was still a little cloudy from the sandstorm last night. It really moved the sand around, so i think ill try and reposition the powerheads to keep a little less flow across the sandbed

 

[jacob.morgan78]

How are your parameters checking out. I recently started a 20H too and I'm waiting for it to cycle. How long did you wait after your ammonia and nitrite were to zero to add stuff?

I thought I had a enough flow but after reading this I'm unsure! I'm using two Koralia Nano 425s and a eheim 1250 for return. It's hard to tell now that's there's not much in there.

I really like the setup of the sump... I'm looking forward to seeing it in action!

Thanks for updating!

 

[reefscape15]

Jacob, I've had the tank filled for 40 days now. My ammonia spike happened around 10 days or so, and nitrites started falling about a week ago and are pretty close to undetectable at this point. I wanted to get a few things over thanksgiving weekend, but I didn't have the time to get to the LFS then. I was happy that I waited an extra week or so, just to give the tank a little bit more time to stabilize, although I probably would have been fine to add stuff a couple weeks ago.

As far as flow, I am planning all sps, so I knew I wanted tons and tons or water movement. It's way too turbulent in there now to add any nems or softies, but I am going to play with powerhead positioning a bit until I can find a placement that I like. It all depends on what you want to keep in your tank. If you are planning a more LPS or soft coral dominant system, I think you could get away with the 2 nanos. If it doesnt seem like enough flow, you can always add another powerhead, or replace them with something a little bigger.

I'm excited as well to find out how this sump design works out. I probably won't have it going until after Xmas, and even then I don't think ill have the skimmer for a little while after that. Mainly i just want to get it hooked up and start the fuge.

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[reefscape15]

This is the best picture I could get with my phone of what I believe is an encrusting Monti. The polyp extension has been this good since its been in the tank so I think its pretty happy.

I turned off the Korallia 3, and moved the 2 Korallia 1050's around a bit. The flow I've found seems pretty good throughout the tank, and its not creating a sand storm so I'm leaving it alone for the time being.

 

[culligan_man]

have you opted for an overflow box or is it in the plans to drill the tank

 

[reefscape15]

Still need to order an overflow. I've found a used Lifereef nano that a guy is holding for me. Hopefully i can get that and a return pump soon. I've been sticking with water changes for now

 

[reefscape15]

Ok! So I finally got started in stocking my tank with help from a long time friend and fellow reefer (jmaiello04).

Potato chip coral, about 4"x3"

Big piece of purple Monti Cap encrusted on a small piece of LR, 5"X5"

Slimer

Pink Digi, and Purple Digi behind

Pink Monti Cap, 3"x1.5"