First marine setup!

[Thedudeiam94]

lol hijacked my thread for a response from her. She normally responds quickly in private messages. But since you posted that I went with the aquatic life RODI its the same gpd and has more reviews and ease of purchasing new cartridges.
But the unit you posted will work fine, you'll just have to let it run the day before you want to do the water changes. Mine takes about an hour and a half to fill a 5 gallon bucket.

Someone in another thread said that it would take around 80 mins to fill a five gallon bucket and I was shocked! But I appreciate you being cool with me asking here! I get lazy! And maybe someone else (such as yourself) can chime in and give me your opinion also! The more feedback the better! So it works out wonderfully for me! Thanks! Also I was going to ask about replacement cartridges also. Do you order hose from amazon also? And how do you know when to change the cartridges? I would be using this on a 20 long so how often would I need to change water and how much would I need to change?

 

[xpolkadotkittyx]

Hey there Asomeone,

Any new updates on your tank? Post more pics! Also how are the clowns were you able to get them to eat finally?

 

[Asomeone]

Someone in another thread said that it would take around 80 mins to fill a five gallon bucket and I was shocked! But I appreciate you being cool with me asking here! I get lazy! And maybe someone else (such as yourself) can chime in and give me your opinion also! The more feedback the better! So it works out wonderfully for me! Thanks! Also I was going to ask about replacement cartridges also. Do you order hose from amazon also? And how do you know when to change the cartridges? I would be using this on a 20 long so how often would I need to change water and how much would I need to change?

My dude you have 600 ratings I should be asking you these things. From what I understand as your total dissolved solids in the filtered water increases that signals its time to change your cartridges. I picked up a TDS meter for about 15 dollars on amazon. Make sure you get one that automatically corrects for temperature. For my DI unit it uses color changing material so I have any easy reference for when it needs changed. Every filter has different recommendations but the one I suggested has a charcoal filter that is advertised for 1500gallons. Important note: The reference for changing includes the waste water. That means if you make 5 gallons and 15 gallons goes down the drain...since theyre normally about 1:4 ratio of clean to waste water....it'll still be 20 gallons of water chewed up from your filters life.
I order just about everything I can from amazon but check around you might find a better priced item elsewhere. If I can prime ship it I'll probably pay the extra however much cause I'm impatient.

Hey there Asomeone,

Any new updates on your tank? Post more pics! Also how are the clowns were you able to get them to eat finally?

Here we are. Clowns have accepted frozen food so far. Blood worms target fed through tubing is the way I've had success. I change it up every feeding and alternate between mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and the bloodworms. I've left the jaebo running in a wave mode and they seem to have acclimated to it and have changed their hiding spots. I sometimes turn off the jaebo for an hour or so and they go explore other areas of the tank.
I'm in the process of adding a HOB fuge by repurposing an aquaclear 50. Then goes in the copepods. then goes the corals.
Theres a nice bright green algae that's slowly growing over some of the rock. I like it. The green algae that came on my 2 original pieces of live rock really dulled in color and this new stuff looks like what that rock did when it first entered the tank.
I think I'm past the brown algae bloom. Skimmer kicks out a good bit of yellow stuff. Theres always more questions but I'm trying to not stress and just let what happens happen. Tomorrow will likely be a 30% water change.
I am struggling with placement of my ATO. Its a hydor ato and the water doesn't fluctuate enough in the rear chambers to trigger it. Should have just got float switches. Despite sealing the lower intake ports of the tank water still drains out of the main display rather than the rear. I think I need to block off half of the upper intakes to make the levels more stable in the main tank.
W

 

[Asomeone]

Went to a pet store since I was in the city of Pittsburgh today and that doesn't happen often. Big ol pet store on the northside had bottles of tigger pods for 10 bucks and a good clump of chaeto for 6 so I got both along with a salifert ammonia kit. So I plopped the chaeto into a 30 micron bag and am floating it in the main tank until my HOB fuge is set up. Absolutely had some stragglers on the chaeto in the the form of snails.

I want some advice on that since I did not at all treat the chaeto everything from the store is still in it. I figure since a 30 micron mesh is rather small nothing big is getting out. Should I dip the chaeto before taking out of the bag and adding to the fuge (when it comes in) or happily except the addition of the snails...they looked like pond snails but I guess theyre a salty variety.

I dumped in the bottle of tiggers which was in a re purposed pepsI bottle. I sniffed the cap and it still kinda smelled like pepsI but the pods were extremely active in the bottle so I just poured it in. I really feel awkward about saying that tiggers name cause if I spell one letter wrong I'm banned and I don't like that at all they need renamed to lil shrimp dudes.

I've now gone 8 days without a water change and according to the salifert test kit I'm still sitting pretty at 0ppm ammonia. I woulda thought itd be higher due to the food waste from feeding times. Is my system more stable than it should be? Or am I missing something.
I assumed at this point ammonia would be visible and the tank would require immediate help...but it doesn't. I'm trying to see at what point in the water change process I'd need to worry. That is why I haven't done a water change yet. Corals are on the horizon as the company I'm working with as well as my own personal shopping is gonna land me with some non photosynthetic corals. At the same time I will be purchasing a dosing pump to feed them. I figure start out with a coral that doesn't need much light and migrate to one that needs more.
I really don't like a lot of the hard corals...just me...I think they look creepy. And I want my tank to have a majority of flowy corals. I'm thinking the finger leather and colt coral, green star polyps, toadstool leathers, and after all that I have to research some corals the clowns will like. I have come to understand anemones they prefer are much pickier and harder to care for. I'll get there for them but until then I want strictly flowy looking corals with longer arms that don't look like theyre gonna eat me.

Salinity spiked with the addition all the way up from 2.024 to 2.027 but I quickly brought it back to 2.0245 with a good dose of RODI water. By quickly I mean within 2 hours of addition. From my research I was told it was safe to just dump the bottle in and my fish are not yet acting oddly so I'm hoping for the best.

Edit: So glad I put the chaeto it in this bag where none but the smallest of creatures can escape. The bag was designed to hold purigen so its tiny pores. I see soooo many worms and various creepy crawlys...i've also been reading that ich can be introduced through the stragglers on the chaeto...didnt realize that. So I'm really hoping I didnt mess things up. I assume I should Freshwater dip this before I move it into the fuge? Since I added those pods already I'll probably kill a lot of em but better than having all the stuff on the chaeto.

 

[Asomeone]

So here we are. 1 month and 13 days in. Xenia coral and some turbo snails arrive on thursday. Moved the chaeto from the main tank to a repurposed breeder box that will serve as my fuge. Changed my skimmer to an aquatic life 115 mini. Some problems with that as I forgot my fluvals first chamber has baffles about 3/4 of the way down and they block the skimmer from being placed low enough. I need an extra 1/2 inch of water to get it running properly....so tweaking will occur and I'm gonna try to raise up that chambers water level.
I observed the moss and picked my way through it in a bowl. Picked off some worms. Moved 2 of the smaller snails into the main tank.
Put in my foam so I removed the filter floss and am just running foam blocks now. I don't think many of my pods from the last addition made it. Hopefully now that I have some BIG amphiopods in the fuge young ones will find their way to the tank.
Reef roids and reef dip are ready to be used.
Clowns are eating and healthy (as far as I can tell)
Green algae is growing on the purple rock. I don't mind it though, Think it looks interesting in contrast to the purple rock.

I Frankensteind this tank together. I'm proud of the results thus far.

Also I hung the light from the ceiling because it was too far a bend when attached the rear and considering how much I take the lid of the tank off I didnt want to continually stress one area of the glass. And it was too much work to remove the whole neck of the light. This has been working so watevs.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Those breeder boxes are great! I have to trim mine now a 1/4 of the size almost every week it grows so fast. Tanks looking good. Let us know how that skimmer works out. I was tinking of using it for my 29 biocube when I set it up

 

[Thedudeiam94]

So here we are. 1 month and 13 days in. Xenia coral and some turbo snails arrive on thursday. Moved the chaeto from the main tank to a repurposed breeder box that will serve as my fuge. Changed my skimmer to an aquatic life 115 mini. Some problems with that as I forgot my fluvals first chamber has baffles about 3/4 of the way down and they block the skimmer from being placed low enough. I need an extra 1/2 inch of water to get it running properly....so tweaking will occur and I'm gonna try to raise up that chambers water level.
I observed the moss and picked my way through it in a bowl. Picked off some worms. Moved 2 of the smaller snails into the main tank.
Put in my foam so I removed the filter floss and am just running foam blocks now. I don't think many of my pods from the last addition made it. Hopefully now that I have some BIG amphiopods in the fuge young ones will find their way to the tank.
Reef roids and reef dip are ready to be used.
Clowns are eating and healthy (as far as I can tell)
Green algae is growing on the purple rock. I don't mind it though, Think it looks interesting in contrast to the purple rock.

I Frankensteind this tank together. I'm proud of the results thus far.

Also I hung the light from the ceiling because it was too far a bend when attached the rear and considering how much I take the lid of the tank off I didnt want to continually stress one area of the glass. And it was too much work to remove the whole neck of the light. This has been working so watevs.

What is the pink light in the back for? I can’t seem to find where that was explained, If you can explain once more what’s going on there I would appreciate it! Lol

 

[Asomeone]

Those breeder boxes are great! I have to trim mine now a 1/4 of the size almost every week it grows so fast. Tanks looking good. Let us know how that skimmer works out. I was tinking of using it for my 29 biocube when I set it up

Will do!

What is the pink light in the back for? I can’t seem to find where that was explained, If you can explain once more what’s going on there I would appreciate it! Lol

Its the grow light for my fuge. There chaeto sitting in the box under the light. I found the box a bit small for my liking so I got a bigger breeder box that I'll install later tonight.

 

[Thedudeiam94]

Will do!

Its the grow light for my fuge. There chaeto sitting in the box under the light. I found the box a bit small for my liking so I got a bigger breeder box that I'll install later tonight.

Would you post photos once you change it?

 

[Asomeone]

It was too much effort to repaint the box with krylon. A lot more space for chaeto to grow. Takes up the rear of 2/3 of the back of the tank and expanses 2 entire chambers. Adds .5 gallon to my water volume so that's a win.

Those breeder boxes are great! I have to trim mine now a 1/4 of the size almost every week it grows so fast. Tanks looking good. Let us know how that skimmer works out. I was tinking of using it for my 29 biocube when I set it up

Tweaked the water level with plastic so I was able to raise the rear chamber water levels easier. Its kicking out a very wet skimmate and is a bit noisy. Key noise is from vibration and I think my water is slightly too high at the moment so I hear a gurgling from the air intake. But hey I definitely already outperforms the air driven skimmer I had. With tweaking I think it'll be a great add.

First piece of xenia is in but I have very little hope for it. Not including pics cause its pretty pathetic. The seller on ebay I purchased from sent me turbo snails and xenia. I have a feeling nothing added today will survive. Its fine. my Local reef supply has some I'll purchase after payday. Should have just gone to the LFS to begin with. The company I was working with had none so this is what I did. Bad choice.

 

[Asomeone]

Went to the lfs and bought a proper piece of Xenia. Much much happier with it.
If the vid is super low quality go on YouTube via the link.

 

[Tony_097]

Just remember xenia is highly invasive I say you find a isolate it like an island before it becomes established.

 

[Asomeone]

Just remember xenia is highly invasive I say you find a isolate it like an island before it becomes established.

Its on its own rock currently....like from the lfs it had attached to a rock and I got that rock . I was moving it around the tank and since I have a rather high flow tank I Didnt wanna leave it just getting blasted by the wavemaker. This was a spot with decent light and lighter flow. Since its on its own rock I'll move it around if it becomes a problem. Also, can't I just tear/cut parts of the xenia that were spreading to other things? Like Trimming my Freshwater plants?

 

[Tony_097]

Yes you can frag corals but there is a good reason why many hate Xenia with a passion.

 

[Asomeone]

Yes you can frag corals but there is a good reason why many hate Xenia with a passion.

I really like the look of it so if it takes over a lot of my tank I won't complain. I wanted very hardy coral to begin with.

For this skimmer it is noisy without a doubt. I'm going to be custom making a HOB box with a 100gph pump to feed it water. It needs an extremely constant water level. A change of even 1/4 of an inch completely messes up skimming ability. I have found that it only produces skimmate when the water level covers all the return ports of the skimmer. Even then, I only get a really wet skimmate since the water level fluctuates so quickly in such a small tank this is not optimal. So I figure A custom box will prevent the water fluctuating. I'll update once its made.

2 turbo snails I added were initially moving and now theyre just sitting. I tried to move one of the 2 and it is firmly stuck to the rock. How do I get them moving? They were absolutely alive before addition. I acclimated via float and drip for about 45 minutes.

 

[stella1979]

Hey there! Congrats on the coral!! I got xenia as one of three that were my first corals in the current tank too. I didn't and don't hate the coral... but it stopped pulsing, more corals came along which I liked better, and there just wasn't room to keep it's rock far enough away from the main scape. It grew, covered its rock, reached onto the scape and tried to spread further. I didn't want that and yep, it's quite a bit messier and definitely slimier than trimming plants but we can 'frag' xenia in the tank. For me, that meant gripping polyps by the stem, very near where it attached to rock, using plant tweezers, and yanking it out. Not fun, but not too bad, lol. In the end, xenia kept making its way off of the little rock I wanted to keep it on so after 4 or 5 times yanking it off of the main scape, and by then, with lots of other little corals that I wanted to protect from getting smothered... xenia lost the battle and I got rid of it all. So... that's my long way of saying, congrats, xenia can be a bit of a pain, but it wasn't so bad for me and it'll only get as bad as we let it.

How's it doing for you now? Is it pulsing for you?

 

[Asomeone]

Hey there! Congrats on the coral!! I got xenia as one of three that were my first corals in the current tank too. I didn't and don't hate the coral... but it stopped pulsing, more corals came along which I liked better, and there just wasn't room to keep it's rock far enough away from the main scape. It grew, covered its rock, reached onto the scape and tried to spread further. I didn't want that and yep, it's quite a bit messier and definitely slimier than trimming plants but we can 'frag' xenia in the tank. For me, that meant gripping polyps by the stem, very near where it attached to rock, using plant tweezers, and yanking it out. Not fun, but not too bad, lol. In the end, xenia kept making its way off of the little rock I wanted to keep it on so after 4 or 5 times yanking it off of the main scape, and by then, with lots of other little corals that I wanted to protect from getting smothered... xenia lost the battle and I got rid of it all. So... that's my long way of saying, congrats, xenia can be a bit of a pain, but it wasn't so bad for me and it'll only get as bad as we let it.

How's it doing for you now? Is it pulsing for you?

Oh yes. under the flow I have it you can't really see it pulse much since it just gets blown right around but with the pumps off during feeding time you can see it happily pulsing away. I really enjoy watching it. I know its invasive. But its one of those corals that I wouldnt mind if it just infested my whole tank. The Zoas I introduced in the higher rock have quite some space to grow before the xenia can overtake it. But just like I battle the over growth in Freshwater I can battle xenia.


Update on the skimmer if the water line covers all the outlet ports it performs fantastic. Produces a very stinky gross skimmate. I haven't been able to adjust it since I didn't make the box for it yet. Once I have it in the HOB box it'll be much easier to tweak it.

 

[xpolkadotkittyx]

So you say until the Xenia invasion takes over your tank Just teasing haha, but Xenia’s do sound like aggressive growers. I may have to give second thought to adding them in my tank.

(Fixed my typos)

 

[Asomeone]

So you say until the Xenia invasion takes over your tank Just teasing haha, but Xenia’s do sound loke aggressive grovers. I may have to give second thought to adding them in my tank.

Oh yea theyre super aggressive to other corals from my research. But I feel like Its just like trimming Fw plants that like to grow rapidly. Cut it with a razor and pull up what you don't want. Simple.

 

[Asomeone]

So heres a little update. Levels are still holding strong. Clowns are growing. I finally have had success with snails. I bought a looooot cause I was tired of them dying and....unfortunately? all but 3 have lived so now I have like 30 snails in a 15 gallon. I also got an emerald crab which has been happily feasting on my bubble algae. I think the Zoas are happy the xenia appears to be getting larger by comparing photos. I've upped the salinity to 1.0255. I plan to just leave the lights where they are since where it is now grows a good bit of algae and I have enough snails to mow a football field. Never did make that HOB box for my skimmer but after it built up the biofilm it operates reasonably well regardless of water level.

 

[Asomeone]

Finally got a "sump" installed on this tank. Its nothing more than a Tupperware container with eggcrate to create sections. For the return pump section, I wrapped the eggcrate in fine screen mesh to keep the chaeto out. Got a filter sock sitting in a little eggcrate holder. In total it adds roughly 3 gallons to my capacity.
I like it a lot more than all the clutter in the rear of the tank. I still have the foam blocks and chemical filtration up in the main tank but this lets all this other junk stay down. Overflow is a simple DIY that I use on 2 other of my tanks. 1/2" pvc cemented together.
The return pump is a variable 180-280gph pump. With head height, I'd say it probably does about 100gph, perfect for my application.

Added GSP's a couple of days back and within an hour my emerald crab was eating them. So I had to move them around and found a spot in the tank I never see the crab venture. Polyps have been opening and the coral seems happy. Xenia has spread from its original source rock to finally touch the tank rock it was placed on. It is now glued to its spot. Zoa's have almost outgrown their frag and should begin encrusting the rock.

I do have rather an irriating bubble and green algae issues, but with the help of forum members, I've been combating it. Hopefully, the makeshift sump helps even more.

I gotta say I'm pretty happy about spending a total of 25 bucks to make the sump. Considering similarly sized proper sumps run over $150 I'd say this is a very easy alternative choice.

Still got some kinks to work out with the sump in regards to my ATO system. Gotta add a siphon break since my supply tank is now higher than my sump. I also want to cut the lid for the tupperware so It lets me run the wires through it but gives the tub a bit more rigidity. Also so dog hairs don't get in the water.

I did get around to building that HOB box for the skimmer and then the day after I was like....tupperware sump. So kinda a waste of an afternoon but its all good now I got a random HOB box for something else.

Lastly. While my wires may look like a horrible mess they are "organized" theyre just all crammed into a tight area so they look pretty tangled up.

 

[Asomeone]

So here we are...November 4th. The Zoa's have since closed up and have stayed closed. Attempts to reopen via dips have been unsuccessful. I am hoping the movement to a lower flow area with less direct light will encourage them to reopen and recover from whatever originally caused them to close. Reading up on this subject I feel like this just sometimes happens. Stuff harasses the coral and they close. Or you dip them one too many times and they can't come back.
I do have a bristleworm infestation. Which will be the next thing I target. I removed three which were bright red and spiny....so I assume theyre fireworms. Which could have been harassing the coral. idk there's so many aspects I'll just wait and see. I just know my levels are more than adequate.

My levels are negligible after adding a reactor and a proper marine depot overflow to the tank. I have experienced no further overflows.
Due to the very low levels, I have begun feeding the corals with reef roids again. I know my corals prefer a dirtier tank so this is my solution cause I'm not dealing with algae again.
Bubble algae and green algae has all disappeared and I'm not too sure how I'll keep my snails happy now. Guess I'll get some algae wafers. Brown algae has attempted its start in the tank but I'm confident it will fail as the other algaes have. Come get some Mr. algae. I beat you.
Gotta give a little shoutout to aquatic life for sending me a new pump for the skimmer when one failed with only one email exchanged. Didn't ask any questions just sent me a new pump and within 2 days it was back operational. Convenient cause I actually burned up the motor when the sump ran dry on an overflow before I installed the marindepot hob overflow.
I don't really know what else to update on. Everything is alive. Everything but the zoas are happy and growing...xenia's have another new branch on the rock. Clowns are slowly growing and fully black and white.
Considering adding a panda goby to the mix. Maybe some shrimp but if I add shrimp I'll have to move the emerald down to the sump. maybe he'll be happier down there since that's the only place that has any algae growth. The emerald runs out so fast when I feed the clowns. I feel bad so I squirt some frozen food his way.
Thanks for all the help getting this going.

 

[Jesterrace]

So you say until the Xenia invasion takes over your tank 1787] Just teasing haha, but Xenia’s do sound like aggressive growers. I may have to give second thought to adding them in my tank.

(Fixed my typos)

Xenia are great if you are content with one coral and want a cheap way to cover your tank in coral. Other than that I wouldn't recommend them due to all the aforementioned issues.

 

[Thedudeiam94]

I wish I could see pics not letting me see them. But from the sound of it I bet it’s awesome. Cool to hear your taking it upon yourself to make the things you need! Hats off to you!

 

[Asomeone]

Thedudeiam94 here ya go

 

[Thedudeiam94]

Thanks! Everything looks great!! Well done!

 

[Asomeone]

Just for reference on what I spent with a 15 gallon nano reef. This is not an all-inclusive list. Some things like sand, wasted products (air driven skimmer, HOB boxes). Didn't include salt prices since that's more a continuous cost. Probably forgot other items like the shrimp I killed...live rock isn't needed to start the tank...I built my own stand...Iodine dips...tank doses...filter socks...ato tank/pumps/tubing...I can go on.
For the basics for an up and running reef tank...this kinda seems like a decent baseline.
I also meant "marinedepot" vs marineland HOB.

Last edit after my previous 20 lol...I am decent with my hands...It is not for everyone. Despite having spent so much money, I probably saved anywhere from 100-500 dollars building the stand myself. Saved more doing the plumbing myself. DIying the sump easily saved me 200+. Making the flex tank work with the components I purchased saved even further since I didn't have to find products that integrated with the flex system itself. Bottom line....if you really wanna save a pretty penny do everything possible yourself.

 

[Asomeone]

Just a little update. I have added a very small (1 inch) 6 line wrasse to the aquarium. Only been a couple of days, but seems to be settling in well. I am also battling a dino outbreak that I can't seem to get a hold on. I'm gonna try vibrant and see if it works it out.

 

[Jesterrace]

Just a little update. I have added a very small (1 inch) 6 line wrasse to the aquarium. Only been a couple of days, but seems to be settling in well. I am also battling a dino outbreak that I can't seem to get a hold on. I'm gonna try vibrant and see if it works it out.

You planning on other fish in the tank? 6 line is not a good community fish, especially in a small tank.

 

[Asomeone]

You planning on other fish in the tank? 6 line is not a good community fish, especially in a small tank.

I have the 2 snowflake clowns that have been in for...like 5 months? I am not planning on any other additions. If you recall I have a lot of rock and hiding spots. By the time the wrasse and clowns reach full size I'll likely have a larger tank set up....in case of fighting.

 

[Jesterrace]

I have the 2 snowflake clowns that have been in for...like 5 months? I am not planning on any other additions. If you recall I have a lot of rock and hiding spots. By the time the wrasse and clowns reach full size I'll likely have a larger tank set up....in case of fighting.

The rock and hiding spots are a non factor with 6 line wrasse aggression. Generally they are well behaved as juvies but as they mature they can be downright pescacidal maniacs (there are people who have issues with them in 200+ gallon setups). What I would do is keep the current tank even when you upgrade and just have the 6 line as the only fish and move the clowns on to the other tank and you could use the 15 as a frag tank with the 6 line for pest control.

 

[Asomeone]

The rock and hiding spots are a non factor with 6 line wrasse aggression. Generally they are well behaved as juvies but as they mature they can be downright pescacidal maniacs (there are people who have issues with them in 200+ gallon setups). What I would do is keep the current tank even when you upgrade and just have the 6 line as the only fish and move the clowns on to the other tank and you could use the 15 as a frag tank with the 6 line for pest control.

thank you for the heads up. I will keep an eye on everything and watch for signs of agression. If there's problems I have made salty friends in my city that I'm sure will be able to rehome the wrasse.

 

[Asomeone]

Update:
Built a new stand so I could fit a larger sump for the salty tank. The biproduct is now all my tanks are in one room. Plus I really enjoy the look of the two tanks side by side.
Added a good 8 gallons of water to the system. Was able to stick a skimmer I got from a buddy in. Much much more powerful than the one I had. And it allowed me to consolidate all my cords much better. Very happy with the result.

 

[Jesterrace]

Nicely done.