Which salt and 4 more things!

[padi200]

For over 10 years I successfully owned and maintained a 180 gallon mixed reef tank. I had to sell it a little over 5 years ago. Although I had all kinds of corals and fish, Zoanthids always had a special place in my heart and in my tank.
So I decided to go for it and try a nano Zoanthid only tank. My Black Friday indulge/insanity was:
Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion PRO 2 (10 gallon)
• AI Prime 16HD light
• LifeRock Nano Reef Kit
• 20 lb CaribSea Arag-Alive! Special Grade sand
And a heater, test kits etc of course.

It’s not set up yes, but that’s what’s purchased. So, FINALLY, here is my question!

1. What salt would you use and why in my 10 gallon Zoa only tank !
Then, please take a minute and share 4 things you would do now, without changing what I’ve already purchased, to make the best 10 gallon Zoa tank ever! Maybe things you know now and wish you knew back then?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Uncle99]

Salt is salt. Get the salt that is most widely available in your area a stick with it.
I’ve seen stunning displays on IO and RC which are generally at a lower price point.

1. Get rock “cooking” ie, sand, saltwater, rock flow and heat. The longer it’s “wet” the better it bec9mes in terms of your micro fauna populations. They are the true backbone of systems.

2. Know your water. Understand what parameters result from a “fresh” saltwater mix and then mimick those numbers.

3. Work continuously to “stabilize” all 7 majors, ALK, Temp, Salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate,CA and MG.

4. Until you have a good bunch of Stoney corals, water changes would be easiest. When ALK starts to drop daily, this is where dosing would start.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[padi200]

Thank you!

 

[Jimbob]

An excellent 4 points from Uncle99!

I have used many salts over the years. The one that required me to do the least extra work to "stabilize" the Big 7 (Uncle99's point# 3) was the original TropicMarin. The challenge came both in price and in regular availability.

The salt I have absolutely had the most success with is basic Instant Ocean/IO. My best tanks and my best periods with any tank have been when I used IO with weekly (or even 2x weekly) water changes in combination with a nightly kalkwasser drip to serve a dual purpose of partial top-off and ALK + CA bump. Once I got those tanks dialed in with the IO, which I could get almost anywhere, nothing more than water changes and kalkwasser was required. The tanks thrived, regardless of lighting or anything else.

Since you are planning a nano zoa garden, I would not overthink the salt.

 

[griss]

Salt is salt. Get the salt that is most widely available in your area a stick with it.
I’ve seen stunning displays on IO and RC which are generally at a lower price point.

1. Get rock “cooking” ie, sand, saltwater, rock flow and heat. The longer it’s “wet” the better it bec9mes in terms of your micro fauna populations. They are the true backbone of systems.

2. Know your water. Understand what parameters result from a “fresh” saltwater mix and then mimick those numbers.

3. Work continuously to “stabilize” all 7 majors, ALK, Temp, Salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate,CA and MG.

4. Until you have a good bunch of Stoney corals, water changes would be easiest. When ALK starts to drop daily, this is where dosing would start.

Good luck and enjoy!
View attachment 32415288

I don’t think I could say it better.

 

[wvned]

Another vote for Tropic Marin. All I used in my nano tank. I have used IO and avoid it for reasons. None really bad. It will work.

You can cook the tank forever but you have to get the microfauna in it first for it to grow. LifeRock will bring nothing to the tank.

 

[griss]

For microfauna, : : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

 

[padi200]

Can

Another vote for Tropic Marin. All I used in my nano tank. I have used IO and avoid it for reasons. None really bad. It will work.

You can cook the tank forever but you have to get the microfauna in it first for it to grow. LifeRock will bring nothing to the tank.

Can You kindly elaborate a bit more about the microfauna . I want to get lots !!!

 

[padi200]

I am going to use Tropic Marin for sure now.

 

[wvned]

Can

Can You kindly elaborate a bit more about the microfauna . I want to get lots !!!

Pods mostly. There are several types sold commercially now. You could go that route. Bristle worms, most people hate them these days.

 

[padi200]

I believe I need to wait for the tank to cycle before adding pods. Is that true ?

 

[padi200]

I don’t think I could say it better.

Thank you!

 

[wvned]

I believe I need to wait for the tank to cycle before adding pods. Is that true ?

yes

 

[padi200]

For microfauna, : : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

Can someone help me with the timing of microfauna additions? Do I add some as soon as my ammonia and nitrite are down to zero?
I am using Dr Tim’s and adding some ammonia to cycle the tank ?