TheCanOpener
New Member
Hey y’all,
I’m TheCanOpener (JB) and I’m pretty new to Atlanta and have had tanks before but haven’t gotten far with coral. Just joined ARC and wanted to say what’s up and share what I’ve got going on.
I’m cycling a Red Sea Desktop 18.5 AIO. Started it on July 2nd, so I’m about two weeks in now. I’ve had tanks before but never got far with coral, so this time I’m trying to do it right and take things slow.
Current Setup
• Red Sea Desktop 18.5 AIO
• Ocean Direct sand and dry rock.
• RODI water with salinity at 1.025 to 1.026
• Maxspect bio blocks in the rear.
• Gravity-fed Red Sea ATO (stock) with mesh lid.
• Stock return pump for now, no wavemaker yet.
Filtration and Dosing
• Fritz Turbo Start
• MicroBacter7 every 3 to 4 days.
• OceanMagik every other day.
• Galaxy Pods added early on.
• Not running floss or a sock yet.
• UV bulb is installed but not turned on.
• Stock Red Sea skimmer for this tank that’s not running yet.
Lighting and Testing
• AI Prime (white LED is dead, planning to replace it)
• Testing with API Master Kit, Hanna checkers for phosphate and alkalinity, and Red Sea calcium.
• All tests have been reading zero so far and nitrate is just starting to show up. (haven’t done any other tests besides API’s)
The Plan
• Two clownfish
• One cleaner shrimp
• A few zoas and mushrooms
• Some hammers or frogspawn once things are stable.
• Just aiming for a clean and healthy setup that’s easy to manage.
Glad to be here and open to any tips or advice, especially around good gear for this tank!
TCO
I’m TheCanOpener (JB) and I’m pretty new to Atlanta and have had tanks before but haven’t gotten far with coral. Just joined ARC and wanted to say what’s up and share what I’ve got going on.
I’m cycling a Red Sea Desktop 18.5 AIO. Started it on July 2nd, so I’m about two weeks in now. I’ve had tanks before but never got far with coral, so this time I’m trying to do it right and take things slow.
Current Setup
• Red Sea Desktop 18.5 AIO
• Ocean Direct sand and dry rock.
• RODI water with salinity at 1.025 to 1.026
• Maxspect bio blocks in the rear.
• Gravity-fed Red Sea ATO (stock) with mesh lid.
• Stock return pump for now, no wavemaker yet.
Filtration and Dosing
• Fritz Turbo Start
• MicroBacter7 every 3 to 4 days.
• OceanMagik every other day.
• Galaxy Pods added early on.
• Not running floss or a sock yet.
• UV bulb is installed but not turned on.
• Stock Red Sea skimmer for this tank that’s not running yet.
Lighting and Testing
• AI Prime (white LED is dead, planning to replace it)
• Testing with API Master Kit, Hanna checkers for phosphate and alkalinity, and Red Sea calcium.
• All tests have been reading zero so far and nitrate is just starting to show up. (haven’t done any other tests besides API’s)
The Plan
• Two clownfish
• One cleaner shrimp
• A few zoas and mushrooms
• Some hammers or frogspawn once things are stable.
• Just aiming for a clean and healthy setup that’s easy to manage.
Glad to be here and open to any tips or advice, especially around good gear for this tank!
TCO
