24 Gal Cube SPS nano reef tank

[project1004]

Hi Reefers <><

This 24Gal Cube just hit 7 month mark. Took a while to get the post up but here it is.

7 month update:

-Tank cycling started on July 9th 2022 with dry rock/dry sand/ raw shrimp
-Initial SPS frags were added in September 1st (So far lost 2/10 the initial test frags (2 millepora)
-More SPS frags been added
-Upgrade from 15AIO on September 30th 24 Gal aqua top reef tank + 7Gal sump)


-Corals are now growing/encrusting onto the rock with polyp extension out all day and new colors are coming out
-Fishes are getting fat and happy (6 fishes in total) (two clownfish, hectors goby, mandarine goby, cherub angelfish, cleaners wrasse)
-All CUC doing very good job with tank maintenance (7 snails and 1 red hermit crab)

Tank Parameters:
Salinity: 1.027-1.025 (Milwaukee reflectometer) -tested twice a week now
pH: 8.5- 8.3 (Hanna & Redsea) -Tested randomly twice a week
Alkalinity: 8.5 to 8.9dkH -tested twice a week now (Hanna & redsea) - it got upto 9.9dkH currently at 9.4
Calcium: 375-395 ppm -rarely tested (redsea)
Currently at 430
Magnesium: 1400ppm -rarely tested (redsea & aqua forest)
Didn’t test This month
Nitrate: 22-9.5 ppm tested weekly now (redsea & nyos) it was around 5 last month currently at 10.5
Phosphate: 0.45- 0.10 tested weekly now (Hanna & redsea) it was around 0.01 last month currently at 0.18



I’ve added some picture of the tank. There is picture with all the lights on this morning for the reference. Glass havnt been cleaned for 2 days. Probably due to the uv. Which was turned off when picture was taken. If you have questions let me know. Thanks <><

- Front tank shot 7 month



100% LED ON


Top down

Here is initial posts I have on Fb nano page:

The nitrogen cycle completes in 24days without fish and without live rocks for 15Gallon aio tank. Started on July 9th and ended on August 1st. Hope this information is useful. <><

Detail to the setup
-JBJ 15 rimless AIO (12Gallon in total water volume)
- 10lbs of dry Red Sea nano reef tree rocks
- 10lbs of caribsea black sand (contributed nitrate from the beginning)
- Frits RPM salt mixes (had to raise from 1.020 to 1.026 using ato over the cycle)
-Used Red Sea Reef marine care test kit to measure (pH and Alkalinity is not important as of now but usually pH 8.2-8.4 and 8.5 for alkalinity when tested)
-Used Aquatic log app to log each day
-Added 2ml of Microbacter7 1 week after setting up the tank and will continue to use til bottle runs out
-Blow the rocks and sand to suspend anything there maybe once a day
-pH elevated from 8.0 to 8.4 due to aeration from UFS (upflow algae turf scrubber air pump on 24/7)
- Currently don’t have to do a water change since there is no detritus or spike in nitrate but plan to do one this weekend (25%/3Gal) and go pick up some fishes soon
- Wait couple months before start adding SPS corals.

Nitrogen cycle steps and logs:

1. Used half chunk of raw shrimp cut into two pieces from Publix (-$0.50) and let it rot in the tank to seed ammonia

2. took out the shrimp knowing Ammonia test resulting above 2.0ppm

3. Took 12 days to get the ammonia from +2.0ppm to 0.0ppm

4. Nitrite started at 0.5ppm and took extra 9 days to go from 0.5ppm > +1.0ppm > 0.0ppm

5. Nitrate: started at 2.0ppm and took 24 days to go from 2.0ppm > +20.0ppm > 5.0ppm as of yesterday (It was above 20.0 but never above 50.0ppm)

So I’m summary:
3 days of seeding
12 days of ammonia cycle
9 days of nitrite cycle

Finished: ammonia: 0.0ppm nitrite: 0.0ppm nitrate: 5.0ppm pH:8.4 alkalinity:8.5

 

[project1004]

2 month update: 15G JBJ aio reef tank

Salinity: 1.026-1.025 (Milwaukee reflectometer)
pH: 8.0-8.3 (Redsea)
Alkalinity: 7.7-7.5dkH (Hanna & redsea)
Calcium: 500ppm (redsea)
Magnesium: 1400ppm (redsea & aqua forest)
Nitrate: 1.0-2.0ppm (at highest: 25ppm at lowest: 0.5ppm) (redsea & nyos)
Phosphate: 0.03-0.01 (at highest: .024ppm at lowest 0.00) (Hanna & redsea)

Maintenance:
-Feed the fishes 2 times a day
-test and dose mb7 and phytoplankton
-Repace filter floss every 2-3 days
-Change out carbon
-5Gallon water change biweekly
-Top off ATO
-observe the tank

 

[project1004]

2 month 3 week update: 15G JBJ aio reef tank

-Upgrading to 30G this weekend

Salinity: 1.026-1.025 (Milwaukee reflectometer)
pH: 8.0-8.4 (Redsea)
Alkalinity: 8.0 - 8.4 dkH (Hanna & redsea)
Calcium: 420 -380 (redsea)
Magnesium: 1400ppm (redsea & aqua forest)
Nitrate: 1.0-2.0ppm (at highest: 5ppm at lowest: 1.5ppm) (redsea & nyos)
Phosphate: 0.08-0.00 (at highest: .08 at lowest 0.00) (Hanna & redsea)







Upgrading to 24Gallon with Sump

 

[project1004]

Enjoying the looks of fresh and saltwater this Sunday morning. <><

 

[project1004]

100 days since getting back into reefing . Been adding some corals to fill the space lately. Running 2 Hydra 16hd’s on 24 cube.

 

[project1004]

4 month update:
-24 Gal aqua top reef tank + 7Gal sump
-Tank was started on July 9th 2022
-Zero lost other than 2 initial test frags
-Corals are now encrusting onto the rock with polyp extension out all day
-Fishes are getting fat and happy (4fishes in total) (two clownfish, hectors goby, mandarine goby)
-All CUC doing very good job with tank maintenance (7 snails and 1 red hermit crab)

Tank Parameters:
Salinity: 1.027-1.025 (Milwaukee reflectometer) -tested daily
pH: 8.0-8.3 (Redsea) -rarely tested (I should test more often but Idk why I just don’t seems to be so concern with this one yet
Alkalinity: 7.7-8.5 dkH -tested daily (Hanna & redsea)
Calcium: 460ppm -rarely tested (redsea)
Magnesium: 1400ppm -rarely tested (redsea & aqua forest)
Nitrate: 0.2-4.5ppm -tested daily (redsea & nyos)
Phosphate: 0.01-0.33 -tested daily (Hanna & redsea)

Maintenance:
-Feed the fishes 2-3 times a day
-Dose needed supplements
-Change out carbon (every 2 week)
-5Gallon water change weekly-biweekly
-Top off ATO 5Gal reservoir
-observe the tank

 

[project1004]

5 month update:
-24 Gal aqua top reef tank + 7Gal sump
-Tank was started on July 9th 2022
-Zero lost other than 2 initial test frags
-Corals are now encrusting onto the rock with polyp extension out all day and new colors are coming out
-Fishes are getting fat and happy (4fishes in total) (two clownfish, hectors goby, mandarine goby)
-All CUC doing very good job with tank maintenance (7 snails and 1 red hermit crab)

Tank Parameters:
Salinity: 1.027-1.025 (Milwaukee reflectometer) -tested twice a week now
pH: 8.5- 8.3 (Hanna & Redsea) -Stree to test this daily with Hanna hand held controller
Alkalinity: 8.5 to 8.9dkH -tested twice a week now (Hanna & redsea)
Calcium: 375-395 ppm -rarely tested (redsea)
Magnesium: 1400ppm -rarely tested (redsea & aqua forest)
Nitrate: 2.6 - 3.5ppm tested weekly now (redsea & nyos)
Phosphate: 0.00 a 0.03 tested weekly now (Hanna & redsea)

 

[project1004]

Took a top shot while Adding pods. 18” x 18” 24Gallon cube. Tank will be 6 month old this weekend. Mostly SPS’s and 6 fishes.

 

[project1004]

6 month old SPS tank update:

1 photo is with 100% light on which shows you the algae on the rocks that were introduced early on. Tank is stable as for the parameters but still in needing to dose nitrate in liquid form (once or twice a week) to keep it from bottoming out. 2pt dosing of daily 10ml each is keeping my tank stable at 8.4 alk and 410 calcium constant. Using Fritz RPM salt. I did add back the turf scrubber to give it a try one more time. Lol <><

 

[King Piscean]

Nice tank. Where do you get your corals from?

 

[project1004]

Nice tank. Where do you get your corals from?

All the corals were bought from here at the ARC sales forum. Some were given as free frags like bird nest and digitada and some were exchanged with other members.

Granted all said they are pest free, I did have to deal with aphasia, vermetid snails and bristle starfishes. But being a nano, it was easier to take care the issues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[project1004]

Tank setup details:
Sump: 15” x 15”: Roller mat, heater, ceramic media, tunze skimmer, upflow turf


Dosing pump, air pump, controller cabinet.

RODI Setup. Currently drawing ATO directly from the brute container and removing auto water changing into drain saving much space and lesser containers needed.


5Gal Salt water Container for AWC

 

[project1004]

In the process of moving, next week.

I just happen to think about WHAT IF?!?
We shine the light from much of direction as way to assist with growth?!!

only time will tell but the display already looks so much better and the under side of corals are definitely getting lights they don’t get. Slowly ramping up.

 

[project1004]

Side views, you can see the white pigments on many of the corals due to not getting enough lights.

 

[project1004]

My tank just became some sort of project which I didn’t expect . I’ve added 3rd Nero on the back wall for more flow. (Currently running pulse 3on2off@40%. Couldn’t pass on a good used pump on sale.

And to bad news, in attempt to rehome cleaners wrasse (which I already had buyer and new home ready), he jumped out of my tank some time this morning and was too late to revive him. I was trying to catch him this morning but failed and I left the tops off. RIP.

Also will remove/sale all of easy SPS and encrusting LPS’s and make space for some other SPS corals.


Next photos will be the moving of the tank to new home.




checked Algae turf Scrubber yesterday and it seems to be doing alright so far. This is second time trying. Scrubber online since Jan 4th.

 

[anthony]

What did you use to cycle your tank so quick?

 

[project1004]

What did you use to cycle your tank so quick?

I’ve used raw shrimp I’ve bought at the public. I think I left I. The water for about 3 days.

My second post on this thread is about the nitrogen cycle if you want to look at it. Just remember that the bigger the tank is, longer it will take to complete the nitrogen cycle. You just need to get your ammonia above 2ppm and allow the nitrogen cycle to complete.

If you are asking how and why did a put SPS corals right away after the nitrogen cycle was to test my skills I’ve accumulated over the years in this hobby. Most due to failures and of course the time…. It actually did better than my initial thought.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[project1004]

Moving tank Part 1

So far I’ve moved 15Gal freshwater tank to new home. Marine tank Probably get moved over sometime this week.

Initial moving started. I’ve saved all the buckets. And we all know

“we all mess up our nice floor”. -.-;


pretty much done. Easy transfer.


My 24Gal reef will go where long cabinet is seating in the hall way.

 

[project1004]

Moving tank part 2

Took 2 hour to break down the tank and took 4 hour to set it back up. I used about 10Gallon of Old water and 20 gallon of new salt water. End up taking out about 70% of sand due to moving.

Some corals did break off (Transferee in 5 gallon buckets) so, I tried to put back as best as I can.

I tried to make the same aqua scape like before with somewhat success. Also, I was able to completely “un-touched” the back wall with live rocks. GSP might migrate to the rock later which I don’t want to happen. Still need to set up dosing pump and two LED’s. Automatic water changing is out of equation. Everything survived but am worried about mandarin goby. It will take some time for the pod to repopulate. I cleaned the sump as well.

last front shot before the move <><




Good bye…. to… 17yrs… T.T


Ready to put it back together -.-


Long day. Had to goto work after. LoL



FTS.

 

[project1004]

Post 24hr move update.

Test some parameters.
Alk is at 8.1
Nitrate at 3.3
Phosphate at 0.14
Salinity is at 1.026/34
Added some carbon
While checking the dosing pump, I’ve noticed 3rd pump clogged. It was clogged starting from end and was thicken close to a foot long. Which was acro power. Acro power tastes like sugar water…. I don’t know what I will use the 3rd pump for now.