Started up my new Nano

[Louie3]

10g AGA, 10lbs of dry sand (2cups of LS from my 55g), 8lbs of LR (from my current 55g), Tetra 40 filter.
Readings
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
pH. 8.2
Nitrate 0!!!
Cal 350
SG 1.022
The tank Has been up and running for 3 days already. I added the Bacteria stuff from my LFS. I was wondering what should be the next step? Can I add a couple of Fish to aide in the extra helping of Bacteria?

[Noodle]

Wait a week or so to see that there's no spikes in NH3, NO2, and NO3. I wouldn't add fish in till the nano's established for 2+ months, but that's just me. :)

Are you planning for this to be a FOWLR or reef setup?

[cbianco]

Can I add a couple of Fish to aide in the extra helping of Bacteria?

Between your live rock and bacteria additive, you will not have to add fish to aid in the nitrogen cycle. Use a test kit to test for ammonia and nitrite. When these values equal zero you can add fish.

Christopher :)

[Louie3]

Sorry Guy long time that I havent logged on!
Winja: I decided to wait 1 week and there was no spike in anything! Im really happy that I have 0 Nitrates. I added 2 clownfish from my 55g, They didnt seem to happy with my tang and wrasse, they are doing great in the 10g. This is going to be a reef. I've added a colony of 15 large green button w/brown skirt zoas and 1 mushroom.

cbjanco: Every thing is going great!

Ok its been 8 Days since I started the tank I have 2 NO 19w flourescents on this tank and a 1w moon light. Is this enough lighting? I want to soon have SPS in this tank and Maybe a bubble anenome, can I keep my lighting or upgrade to CF or T5?

[Louie3]

Oh yeah I added a MJ400 and the clowns like it! Should I try using the MJ1200 and point it towards the rocks to deflect it a bit?

[Louie3]

Ha ha oh yeah ummm what kind of Sand shiffters and clean uppers should I look for?

[hobogato]

8 days? sps soon? hmm... patience is a virtue.

[dark8nge1]

and those lights wont do at all.

[cbianco]

...I have 2 NO 19w flourescents on this tank and a 1w moon light. Is this enough lighting? I want to soon have SPS in this tank and Maybe a bubble anenome, can I keep my lighting or upgrade to CF or T5?

The "SPS" corals that you speak of require much higher output lighting than what you currently are supplying. Flouresent bulbs cannot easily supply the the intensity needed for these corals to flourish.

As an example, I have a 24 gallon nano cube that is modded and has 144 watts of PC lighting. I attempted to put an Acropora frag in my tank (at the top of the rock structure) and it died.

Also, SPS corals require an extremely low nutrient load. You make no mention of a skimmer and state you have two clownfish in this tank. I think that it would be appropriate to say, start out with soft coral. Soft corals are much more forgiving and do not neccessarily require such a low nutrient load. Soft corals will also give you the practice you need with regards to keeping a reef aquarium.

All in all, good luck and enjoy! :)

Christopher

[Louie3]

8 days? sps soon? hmm... patience is a virtue.
I mean like soon as in once I get more information and upgrade my lights

[Louie3]

and those lights wont do at all.
I was looking into this, Orbit Compact Fluorescent Lunar Lights I would be able to fit 2 on top of the tank

[Louie3]

Christopher:
I should really start clearing up my ideas. ^_^ I know that my current lighting cant support much, except for some zoas and mushrooms. I plan on having about 260w in Compact flourescents. If I Must I will add a skimmer, but changing 1 gallon every friday seems to be doing me some good. Yes I plan to start of with some more softies then transition slowly. Thanks

[Ross]

keeping sps is more than lighting...water quality is very important. keeping them in such a small water volume is going to be extremely hard also, and very discouraging. I couldnt keep them alive in my 12g with over 200watts of lighting and 20x turnover, and nitrates were always 0! its just a really hard thing to do in such a small amoutn of water where things change very quickly.

[Louie3]

So should this just be left to the "expert" reefer? and just run a sweet softy tank?

[cbianco]

So should this just be left to the "expert" reefer? and just run a sweet softy tank?

Louie, I don't know what your experience is but I am assuming you are new to reef tanks.

Honestly, stony coral upkeep require a great deal of knowledge. It's not that you can't do it but if you are new to reefs it may benefit you a great deal to start off with more intermediate corals (softies) rather than more expert corals. This will give you experience and more likely than not, you will be successful even in the event you make mistakes.

If you decide to start out with stony corals then make sure you do it right. Instead of buying with the intent to upgrade, buy what you need right off the bat.

Your MAAST brothers and sisters (including myself) are more than happy to assist you if you need the help. We are interested in your success!

Christopher :)

[Louie3]

Christopher:
I've been in the saltwater aquarium hobby for a total of 3 years. 1 yr FOWLR and just around 2 yrs Reef (55g). I wanted to start a Nano because I can provide good products to it. ex:lighting,flow,LR. In my 55g I just have a bunch of different zoas and 7 blue 12 red and 1 orange shroom and a 3 inch frag of colt. My prams in that tank are perfect except for NITRATE ( but i have a little piggybank dedicated to that tank).
And thank you for the help you've given me and thanks to the others as well!

[jrnannery]

Your MAAST brothers and sisters (including myself) are more than happy to assist you if you need the help. We are interested in your success!

...and your frags :skeezy :D

[Jeff]

with all that has happened with all the sps tanks lately, and i could never really get them to thrive, i am thinking of converting my sps tank into a seahorse tank. there is a lot of time and money involved to keep sps.

[Louie3]

S.O.S!!! I left for 6 days to lonpoc California and left the tank with an auto feeder. everything was on check with all the params. and now the tank is filled with hair algae, all over!! Nitrates are still 0 and how so I get rid of this stuff in such a small tank?

[Noodle]

A small clean up crew - maybe 3-4 astreas, 6-8 scarlet red hermit crabs.

[jrnannery]

Get together with some of the folks here and troll out a few things... http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=23127

[slimpknz]

I had a pretty bad outbreak of red hair algae in my 12 gal nano.. 1 turbo later and it's pretty much gone.

I do get tired of picking up the small frags it knocks over, but it's worth it.

[Louie3]

Winja: I called my lfs and they said they should be getting some next week :(
jrnannery:Sadly I live 4hrs away from SA.
slimpknz:I dont have that much to worry about a snail knocking over

[Noodle]

Next week shouldn't be too bad, have patience! :)
If you do end up using a turbo, make sure it's a small one! I ordered 2 online for my current tank a while back and they were golfball sized!!

[Louie3]

yeah I hope it doesnt get that bad its taken over 2 of 4 panes of glass and almost reaching my zoas

[Louie3]

I'VE GOT WAVES!!!! I replaced my Maxijet 400 with a 1200 to see if the flow would stop algea from growing. well It ended up being enough flow to creat some waves

[Louie3]

Ok I looked in the phone book and found a petstore in Harlingen "harligen pets" and they had some snails. I had told my dad to buy some since he was in town and he just got a mix of some, there are 3 HUGE!! Mexican Turbos I beilve. and 3 astrea and 3 more that I dont know about but all of them were 2.99ea.

[Louie3]

ok what to do now? should I put the astrea in the 10g? or put 2 of the big ones into my 10g?

[Louie3]

I put 5 sm-med turbos and 1 big turbo in the 10g, so whats your alls estamated time that the algea would be gone?

[cbianco]

I put 5 sm-med turbos and 1 big turbo in the 10g, so whats your alls estamated time that the algea would be gone?

This is the $64000 question. Everyones tank is a bit different. It mainly depends if the snails can eat the algea quicker than it grows. Also, keep up with the water changes using ro/di water.

If possible, help the crabs out and cut some of the algea off the rock. Just don't let the cut algea get all over the tank, you would be back at square one, :( .

Do you have any pictures? :)

Christopher

[Louie3]

It shouldnt be growing in the first place! Nitrate is @ 0. and Im still doing weekly 10% water changes with RO. I do use a mafloat to scrape some off the sides, and I cant really mess with some growing on the sand and between the rocks. I dont have any pictures at the momment the tank is pretty plain at the momment :p

[Noodle]

Nitrate might be 0 because the green hair macro is using it up to continue growing (hence, NO3 being undetectable). Keep on doing water changes with RO/DI (edit: salt mixed with RO/DI), keep the hair algae cropped close to the rock, and let the snails do their work. Should be gone in a little while. :)

[Darth-Tater]

Nudi branch took care of hair algae at school. Also one lawnmower blenny works wonders

DT

[Louie3]

I've seen an lawnmower blenny and he looked big, would he really fit in a 10g?
Winja:Every friday I do a 1 gallon water change, siphon out 1 gallon and replace with a brand new freshly mixed batch of saltwater, then I add a little more so the level is right.

[Darth-Tater]

When he is finished munching on the algae move him to you bigger tank. Mine at school graduated elementary school (12 gallon) to middle school (45 gallon). He is happy as can be.

DT

[Louie3]

Well If the hair algea comes back hard again Ill invest in a Lwanmower blenny. As of now I put 1 of those big (golf ball sized) Mexican turbos and in 1 night he cleard 1 panel and hes still working! as for the little ones, still kinda big, they work on the rock work but im thinking of getting some hermits to aide in the small spaces

[Darth-Tater]

Yep a big ***** Mexican Turbo will also do the job.

DT

[Louie3]

Ive got 3 if one was able to do that, I bet if I put all of them they'd eat it all. but they're doing fine in my 55

[Louie3]

WoW Im so amazed by this eating machine hes almost cleared everything (except edges and rock) Now all I need is a good reccomendation on hermits

[Louie3]

I added 8 more pounds of LR and a mushroom.

[Louie3]

This wednesday test results are
Cal 420
ph 8.3
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0

[Louie3]

Ok I ran into another problem. I guess the turbos must've gotten lazy or something. (does water temp affect their work?) Ok Since they are being lazy turbos How can I help get rid of this hair algea? I keep scraping and scrubing it off but its too much. and here's some stuff I should tell you, Whisper 40 no media just has floss, 0Nitrate, No skimmer, 2 clowns, mushrooms and shrooms.

[Noodle]

How about running some chaetomorpha in the filter compartment of the Whisper? The chaeto will hopefully outcompete your hair algae for nutrients and starve it off.

What kinda water are you using for water changes/top offs (tap water, Distilled, RO/DI)?

Also, how old are your light bulbs?

I guess that'll give MAASTards a bit more information to work with in helping to cure your tank's algae problem.

[Louie3]

Its really hard to find anytype of bennifical algea Here. Im Using RO water. The bulbs are about 3-5 months old.

[Louie3]

Should I add an Old Skimmer (berlin airlift) its rated for 60g

[cbianco]

Should I add an Old Skimmer (berlin airlift) its rated for 60g

If you have it, add it. Couldn't hurt. A bit of skimming is better than none. Just don't hope for miracle from an airlift skimmer :p.

Christopher

[Louie3]

Ok I put the skimmer in and had to sacrafice 1 light strip, I also took off the extension tube to make it a bit more compact for the system. and I kinda broke the limestone :blush but it seems to be working with out it, or should I go buy another one

[cbianco]

Ok I put the skimmer in and had to sacrafice 1 light strip, I also took off the extension tube to make it a bit more compact for the system. and I kinda broke the limestone :blush but it seems to be working with out it, or should I go buy another one

Buy a wood diffuser! A wood diffuser creates finer bubbles and better skimmate. You should buy a few wood diffussers so that you can replace them regularly.

Christopher

[Louie3]

Ill get one tomorrow. I Had some laying around and now I have no clue where they are!

[Louie3]

Ok the hair algea died off but now im gettin a thin green layer of algaeish slime. Is tthere something that I need to do now.

[blueboy]

sounds like cyano algae. it's another step in the algae cycle of most new tanks. keep nitrate down and flow up and it should run it's course.

[Louie3]

ok Ill let it go through, I havent even gotten any type of skimmate I borrowed my neighbors Prizm and still nothing :( so I guess water changes keeps my water clean?

[Louie3]

Its been 9Days and I have gotten real sick looking skimmate after that period of time. What I decided to do was take out the skimmer, takes to much space in that small fo a tank, I added back my other light strip. and upgraded my Whisper 40 to a Whisper 60. I have the 2 chambers filled with sand to the highest possible (took it from my 55g) I'm hopeing to make a mini DSB if possible. I added about 2 pieces of LR to each chamber and maybe if Pet land decides to order some cheato. I'm hopeing that some one can comment their opinions on if I'm doing something bad? or if its going ok.

[emac]

its very hard to follow everything that your doing with the tank bro. maybe you could post a picture of your tank and also what kind of hardware you are currently using.

[Thunderkat]

Hair algae followed by cyano = lots of food in the water. Cyano can be hard to cut back, you will never get rid of it but you can reduce it. If you put food in the water make sure it is all getting eaten, also don't have too many critters in your nano. Do you have a biowheel? (Biowheel bad)

Those mexican turbos aren't getting lazy, they can only eat so much before they have to let the stuff digest. My favorite clean up crew for my nano when I had one running was Stomatella snails. I found hermit crabs to be more descructive than helpul (they irritated my corals by crawling all over them and stealing food).

You are going to have nutrients in your water no matter what you do, the question is what are you doing to take care of them. You can either have corals or algae growing.

I used to have a bad problem with hair algae until I got the mexican turbos, stomatellas, and a good fuge with chaeto going. I still had to go in and rip out handfulls of hair algae every day until my clean up crew could take care of the algae.

I still remember my cyano nightmare too, yes your nitrates will be zero but that is because it is getting eaten.

[Louie3]

Update on my current system so that everyone wont have to go through the pages.
10 AGA
.5-1" sand bed (um 10-15lbs)
10-12lbs of LR
Green button Zoas with brownish purple skirt. Red Zoas. What looks like green/blue buttons
Big 1Purple, 1Red, 1Green Shroom Small Blueish green w/black spots.
40Watts (2*50/50) NOF
Whisper 60 chambers filled with LS from my 55g and LRR ( cheato oneday)
I'm hopeing to create a Mini DSB in the Filter
MJ 1200 with a restrive flow Mod
Mj400
**Live Stock**
2 False percula clowns
2 Golf ball sized turbos ( 4little ones died some how)
Green button Zoas with brownish purple skirt. Red Zoas. What looks like green/blue buttons
Big 1Purple, 1Red, 1Green Shroom Small Blueish green w/black spots.

[Louie3]

its very hard to follow everything that your doing with the tank bro. maybe you could post a picture of your tank and also what kind of hardware you are currently using.

Ok I changed some of the stuff so it can be understood a bit better.
Ha pictures cant do any now my Digi cam crapped out on me

[Louie3]

I feed those little tetra granules and drop in about 15 or so and the clowns will eat most of them. I feed only once a day.

But every 2 weeks on sunday I mash up a pinch size amount with a spoon and spot feed my corals.

I'm not using a Bio-wheel
I've been thinking of gettin some blue legs to heep the sand some what stirred up but I've heard bad stuff like irritating corals.
There was 1 hitch hiker blue leg in the nano.

[cbianco]

Hair algae followed by cyano = lots of food in the water. Cyano can be hard to cut back, you will never get rid of it but you can reduce it. If you put food in the water make sure it is all getting eaten, also don't have too many critters in your nano. Do you have a biowheel? (Biowheel bad)

Those mexican turbos aren't getting lazy, they can only eat so much before they have to let the stuff digest. My favorite clean up crew for my nano when I had one running was Stomatella snails. I found hermit crabs to be more descructive than helpul (they irritated my corals by crawling all over them and stealing food).

You are going to have nutrients in your water no matter what you do, the question is what are you doing to take care of them. You can either have corals or algae growing.

I used to have a bad problem with hair algae until I got the mexican turbos, stomatellas, and a good fuge with chaeto going. I still had to go in and rip out handfulls of hair algae every day until my clean up crew could take care of the algae.

I still remember my cyano nightmare too, yes your nitrates will be zero but that is because it is getting eaten.

Nice to see that your alive and kickin' Thunderkat! How's life treating you?

Christopher

[cbianco]

Whisper 60 chambers filled with LS from my 55g and LRR ( cheato oneday)...I'm hopeing to create a Mini DSB in the Filter

It is to my understanding that DSB's don't work on a such a small scale. Maybe someone with a bit more experience could help to dicuss why.


...Green button Zoas with brownish purple skirt. Red Zoas. What looks like green/blue buttons...Big 1Purple, 1Red, 1Green Shroom Small Blueish green w/black spots...Green button Zoas with brownish purple skirt. Red Zoas. What looks like green/blue buttons
Big 1Purple, 1Red, 1Green Shroom Small Blueish green w/black spots.

You have a nice little collection of corals going there. Borrow a camera so we can see your progress!


...10-12lbs of LR...

I am not sure of how dense your liverock is but you may consider getting more. Remember that LR is our main source of filtration. It is always fun to see what little critter will crawl out of a new batch of LR, lol.


...2 Golf ball sized turbos...( 4little ones died some how)


I would definately suggest getting some additional snails and hermits.

Christopher

[Louie3]

The mini DSB was kind of an experiment. I just wanted to see if an averaged size dsb can be minimized to 1-3 lbs in a HOB filter. But if anyone has a reason that it wont work or if it would have an benifit tell me pleaseeeee
My base rock seems to be lighter than my other decorating peices and the ones the corals are attached to.
I'm planning to buy a couple at petland and maybe snails

[cbianco]

The mini DSB was kind of an experiment. I just wanted to see if an averaged size dsb can be minimized to 1-3 lbs in a HOB filter. But if anyone has a reason that it wont work or if it would have an benifit tell me pleaseeeee
My base rock seems to be lighter than my other decorating peices and the ones the corals are attached to.
I'm planning to buy a couple at petland and maybe snails

RE: The mini DSB

I think you mentioned cheto in an earlier post. Cheto is a great macro, it takes up nutrients fast and typically is not a pain to deal with. I think this would benefit your tank much more than the mini DSB.

Christopher

[Louie3]

Yeah but Petland is the most reliable source of stuff. So it might take a while till I get the cheto

[cbianco]

Yeah but Petland is the most reliable source of stuff. So it might take a while till I get the cheto

I don't personally have any cheto but you may find a fellow reefer who would be willing to ship it to you. Instead of overnighting it, it probably could be sent priority mail to save on money. Even though there would be a bit of die off from the extra shipping time, you would be able to save most of it.

Ask around (i.e. the for sale forum) you may be pleasantly surprised :) .

Christopher

[Thunderkat]

I wouldn't use a deep sand bed in a nano tank because I doubt you would want to take up 5-7" of the bottom of your tank with just sand.

[Louie3]

Thunderkat:
I'm experimenting with a mini dsb, dont know if its going to work, in my filter.

[Louie3]

Christopher:
I posted on RC and here a want ad for cheto. Hopefully I get some hits.

[cbianco]

Hey Louie check this out, Chaetomorpha.

This is $9.99 + $7.00 SH (Priority Mail)! (http://cgi.ebay.com/Refugium-MACRO-ALGAE-Chaetomorpha-Live-Coral-Critters_W0QQitemZ260083696996QQihZ016QQcategoryZ6 6788QQcmdZViewItem)

This is $7.99 + $6.50 SH (Priority Mail)! (http://cgi.ebay.com/CHAETO-Chaetomorpha-Macro-Algae-1-quart-bag-refugium_W0QQitemZ170077799645QQihZ007QQcategoryZ6 6794QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Christopher

[Louie3]

eeeee, I dont do ebay My mom has had bad stuff happen.
But thanx

[cbianco]

Found some chaeto at Dr. Foster Smith.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2401

Christopher

[Louie3]

Well heres an update.

I take it that some how my mini dsb in my filter is some what helping my tank. I have little to no algea growth. I even have an increased bio-load! there is no media running in the tank. The tank practicly sustains itself and a little 1g water change is done every week. Thanks christopher I was able to buy some cheato from my lfs but I have it in my main tank.

[dwdenny]

Louie3 got any pics yet? I am going to be getting some liverock rubble for the back chambers in my aquapod. I am going to have to mod a small light in there so I cam grow chaeto in there as well.