SNG's Reef tanks....

[slowngreen]

Still have a 55g and a 15g freshwater but I was ready for the saltwater scene.

Tank cycled already. 10g. Live sand. Seeded base rock, seeded by the live sand and the previous tank it was in with live rock.

40g filter with 165gph flow. 100w heater.


Have one kenya tree now but more coral to come real soon. Also have a yellow tail blue damsel but he was hiding behind the heater when I was taking pics.

Running 2 T5HO 12000k's and 2 actinics with 4 460 leds for moon lights.

Heres the tank with the two 12000k's only.

Both 12's and actinics.

I'll take some later of the moonlights.

Heres my kenya tree. Wanting to keep it as clean looking as possible.

 

[Skwerly]

Nice! My buddy just got one, too!

 

[joshman1204]

nice start!

If I were you I would catch that damsel and get him out of there while your tank is new. Damsels are a pain in the ass and will limit you to keeping nothing but that one fish in that tank. If I were you I would pull him out and get something like a shrimp/goby pair and maybe one other small fish. The shrimp goby pair will be much more interesting to watch and they are not aggressive like the damsel.

 

[slowngreen]

Yeah I actually made the decision of getting the damsel and keeping him alone. I'm going to focus for on coral in this nano then maybe go bigger this summer and do less territorial fish in it.
I went with the damsel, even knowing he will have to be a loner, do to lack of gobies at my LFS. Their selection for nano setups is very limited. Plus since its below zero every night and will be for a couple more months, ordering online was kinda out for me.

thanks too!

 

[WoodiE]

Pardon my ignorance, but what the hell is "live sand"?

 

[slowngreen]

Its sand from an established Saltwater tank or straight from the ocean that is full of good bacteria. Same as "live rock". I dont have live rock yet but the live sand "seeds" the rock I have as well as my rock was tanked with live rock. They work as a filter to keep stuff like Nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and such in check as well as help growth which will be a food source for the coral.

 

[jcjhl69]

Pardon my ignorance, but what the hell is "live sand"?

I was thinkung thw same thing WoodiE? Also is it just a myth about tank sizes for salt water? I was always told anything less than 55g was a real pain to do.

 

[slowngreen]

Yep its a myth. The technology they have now and test for the water, suppliments and so on make it so you can even have "picotope" saltwater tanks wich are 1-5g. All you gotta do is pay attention to your water conditions and do regular 50% water changes.

---------- Post added at 11:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

Change up my rock.

Heres my moon lights.

 

[joshman1204]

I was thinkung thw same thing WoodiE? Also is it just a myth about tank sizes for salt water? I was always told anything less than 55g was a real pain to do.

Yes and no ... a small tank is different than a large tank and requires a different approach but it isnt necessarily any more of a pain.

With that said I still reccommend anyone looking to get into saltwater to start with a 55g or larger tank. The biggest issue with small tanks is the lack of water volume. In a large tank a small problem gets diluted and doesn't really affect the tank much. In a small tank a very small problem can be enough to crash the entire system due to the lack of water volume.

The golden rule of saltwater tanks - "Dilution is the solution to pollution"

 

[hamz9561]

The tank looks killer under the moon lights, Lloyd.

 

[frickenjoey]

I have wanted to get into something like this but my problem is i move every few years and that makes for the butt pain of re-set up every time and worrying about stuff getting broke and replacing fish and plants....

 

[slowngreen]

The tank looks killer under the moon lights, Lloyd.

Thanks bro!

 

[h8z2luze]

Looks good man. I'm kinda concered about the rock on the right... It almost looks like a river rock. They sent that to you saying it was live rock? Its not very porous and I wouldnt think it would do very much in terms of filtration. If I were you id take it out and get some more Fiji rock. Sometimes rocks that arent out of the ocean such as lava rock can leach out phosphates and such. I couldnt see that in the cell pics. Also id still reccomend getting a small Powerhead.

 

[slowngreen]

No its base silly. I've not posted pics of the live rock that I have in now. It came out of a established tank with LR though and is with live sand as well as my live rock now too.

The current is pretty strong with this filter. Ima just see whats going on in like a month and maybe then if need be I'll get a powerhead but it moves my sea whip on the opposite side of the tank so it should be good for what I'm going to keep in it.

Here she is with the live rock added. I've been able to keep the ammonia in check but had a calcium spike and my lr is bleaching now, but I'm doing 20% changes and its coming down.

 

[h8z2luze]

Yea. The idea is to use the LR for bio filtration and to do that you have to push water through it. But if there is enough with the filter it might be ok. Post some updated pics man!

 

[slowngreen]

I did while you were posting It needs time for sure now, just need to let it do its thing.

 

[h8z2luze]

Nice. How did you get a ca spike? Looks good bro! Zoas on top? Try putting them on the sandbed out of direct flow.

 

[WoodiE]

How much upkeep would a tiny tank require that had maybe a plant or two with one or two salt water fish?

 

[slowngreen]

Saltwater takes alot compared to freshwater. You have to check your water perameters steadily, do often water changes (very important on a small tank) and lighting it way more touchy than freshwater.

Freshwater is cool if all you want is a couple fish and a plant or two. Take very little to get it going and very little to maintain it.

I like nano-reef.com as far as forums go Woodie, might check it out.

Theres tanks called Pico's that are up to 5 gallon that people use for saltwater on their desks.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15493

Hardest think in my opinion is the patience you have to have with saltwater, it takes time for it to cycle and do its thing, where as freshwater, you basically just declorinate your water, slap your heater and filter in and your good to go.

 

[HPIguy]

Very cool Lloyd, If it weren't for the time it takes to maintain one, I'd do it. Someday though for sure.