The beginnings - Of my first reef tank

K

koga57

[:)


In February, 2005 I decided to add another aquarium to our home. I already had a nice cichlid tank up and running and looking nice.

Never experiencing a reef tank, i decided to give it a go with a small (40 gallon) tank. I feel pleased with the progess this tank has made. The occupants are: maroon clown, damsel (until I catch the sucker), blue chromis, citron goby for fish and a Rose colored BTA, Xenia, Jewel Flowerpot (doing great, but I know the risks), a nice toadstool with brown mushrooms growing next to it, and finally some candy cane coral. I think the candy cane coral is very pretty as it has a very distinct color. Please tell me your thoughts as well, because I honestly don't know the name of it. I am adding calcium, buffer, strontium, iron and manganese, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton on occassions.

http://www.dglennfamily.com



Koga57
David]
 
[From one new hobbiest to another it looks great! I just started mine this month and hope it looks as good as yours does in such a short amount of time. Good Luck! :nod:]
 
[The tank looks like everything is doing well!

I have a couple of questions and suggestions. What type of filters are you running on there and what lights?

My suggestions are that I would stack the rocks with more caves and holes through them. I would also move atleast on of the power heads down so that it is blowing across the rocks. If you open the rockwork up some then it will allow better flow as well as giving the fish caves to hide in. It will also make the tank look more full because the rock won't be packed so tight.

Thats my 2 cents, but I think you are off to a great start.

Jason]
 
[I used live-sand, cured live rock. I also found some additional live-sand and live rock from fellow members that came from established aquariums.

I put small, flat pieces of Texas holey rock on the bottom (you can't see) to raise the live rock off the sand which gives it better flow. I have one piece of Texas holey rock that you can see in the back left that has many, many holes in it and will establish into live rock over time. It is difficult to see, but the back wall live rock is raised and some distance from the closer (in picture) live rock with additional rock forming bridges between them. I gladly take suggestions for aquascaping because I moved these at least 6 times before stopping.

I have two maxi-jets up top and the output of a Rena Filstar XP-2 cannister filter (rated at 300 gph, but doesn't do quite that much). The output of the cannister filter on the left and the maxi-jet on the right run continuously. The maxi-jet on the left is on a time to increase flow sporadically. There is also a wet-dry filtration on this tank. I think that is filtered extremely well, including Purigen in the cannister filter (no carbon). My nitrates have never exceeded 20.

I do a 5 gallon water change every 6 to 7 days. I am now using Kent Salt and since adding hard corals, I have started using calcium (reading is 360), buffer, strontium, iron with manganese for the Jewel Flowerpot (research). I have both Zooplankton and Phytoplankton I add every 3 days (small amounts).

Since adding calcium and or switching to Kent Salt, my rock is really beginning to build a purple color. I feed the BTA every 3 days with a turkey baster (brine shrimp), and I have began trying to feed the candy cane the same, however reaching every one is difficult.

Koga57
David]
 
[Try feeding your BTA with something more meaty, like a piece of raw shrimp from the deli. Cut it up into tiny pieces no larger than a lima bean, and give it two or three chunks.

You can also use silversides, but cut it up again into small pieces that are easy to consume.

For the LPS, you can feed them frozen (thawed) mysis, if the pumps are off.]
 
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