Skimmerless AGA 15g @ 8months (56k no way)

[NicZ]

I have been lurking here for quite sometime and I have learned quite a bit. I figured it was about time that i contribute something.
I started this 15g 8 months ago as my first reef tank. Let me know what you think!

Tank Specs:
AGA 15 gallon
Custom Hood

Circulation/Filtering
AC30 powerhead
AC Mini power filter (to run carbon/phosphate media/sponge filters)
2.5g hang on CPR refugium

Lighting
130w Coralife Lunar Aqualight PC strip (65w 10,000k 65w Actinic)
18w Coralife Aqualight Mini for refugium (9w 6700k, 9w 10,000k)

Livestock
6 Hermits
Turbo,star, and margarita snails
False Clown
Cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Carpet zoo's
Hammer coral
Open Brain
GSP
Xenia

Night time cleanup crew :lol: (Bristle worm hitchhikers)

 

[NicZ]

Lights

Fan Worms in HOB fuge



8 months ago....

Original Xenia colony

Moonlights

 

[BLKTANG]

Welcome to RC.

Nice clean lookin tank.

 

[traveller7]

Nice job.

Looks like a comensal shrimp living in the hammer, is that the case?

 

[KUDA]

Looks really good!!!

 

[BLKTANG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9678421#post9678421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
Nice job.

Looks like a comensal shrimp living in the hammer, is that the case?

??????

 

[Rosseau]

Great looking tank. Nice hammer! It's amazing how well that xenia spreads too.


Re: the comensal shrimp.... do you mean the green bit sticking out on the bottom left in the first pic?

 

[Rosseau]

Do you have any more pics of your hood? I'm mostly wondering if heat build up is a problem for you.

 

[NicZ]

Thanks for all the comments,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9678421#post9678421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
Nice job.

Looks like a comensal shrimp living in the hammer, is that the case?

Nope, just the cleaner and peppermint in there.

 

[NicZ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9679074#post9679074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rosseau
Do you have any more pics of your hood? I'm mostly wondering if heat build up is a problem for you.

Heat isn't much of an issue because it has an open back. If the tank does get too warm I can simply prop the access panel up to vent it.

With access panel in place

With access panel off

Side view

 

[FatCow]

nice tank.

is that a worm next to the peppermint shrimp?

 

[Jadams]

great looking xenia colony...awesome growth! What do you dose as far as suppliments, feeding the corals??

 

[Jadams]

PS...nice MAC! Im a MAc guy too (see avatar)

 

[NicZ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9684615#post9684615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FatCow
nice tank.

is that a worm next to the peppermint shrimp?

Yeah, they came in with the rock. I'm still unsure as to what they eat because any food scraps always get snatched up by the shrimp and crabs.

As for the Xenia, it grows like crazy. I end up having to cut 3-4 stalks of it off once a month or so. The only thing i supplement is calcium and a ph buffer (both only when needed), in-between the bi-weekly water changes. (Reef Crystals and distilled water)

For how hard and sensitive people make these nanos out to be, this tank has been pretty easy to maintain.

Unfortunately I was traveling for the majority of December so I had to leave it alone with no one to care for it. All I could do was bring the s.g. down to compensate for evaporation and hope for the best.
I thought I would come home to a disaster, but it self sustained very well. Surprisingly nothing died! :eek2:

I think a mature refugium has been the key to this. There are countless varieties of pods , fan worms, and micro algae, that all work together to keep this tank pretty much hassle free.

p.s. about the mac. I have had it for close to 5 years and still love it. It's still as fast as the day I bought it. I don't think many pc owners would be able to say that.:lol: