13.5g Fluval Reef

[Kan123]

After 4+ years, I’m finally coming back into the hobby ‍

Just bought a 14g Fluval system and picking it up on Saturday. What I know so far of the system:
- Fluval Evo 13.5g
- Radion XR15 G3
- K1 Nano Protein Skimmer
- Sicce 1.0 Return Pump
- Jebao SW-4 Wavemaker

Follow along as we bring this system to its prime! Planning for a mixed reef, some SPS, some LPS, some Zoas… the whole spectrum!

Speaking of spectrum, I need advice on Radion settings. I plan to run the AB+ program but am unsure what intensity to run it at. Any suggestions?

 

[i cant think]

this sounds like its going to be an interesting tank

 

[Kan123]

Thank you, I’m excited! Any experience with Radion/suggestions on what intensity range to be at?

 

[Uzidaisies]

I’ve heard that nano skimmers are not super effective. Might not be worth it. Idk I’m not running one on my 14 cube, but I’ve only been doing this for a couple months.

 

[Kan123]

That makes sense, I can imagine that such a small tube and vertical channel could be less effective in building the skimmate.

The system has a refugium as well so need to decide what I want to proceed with long term.

Keeping skimmer as an option as I might want to carbon dose nopox so that I can avoid water changed lol.

 

[Uzidaisies]

That makes sense, I can imagine that such a small tube and vertical channel could be less effective in building the skimmate.

The system has a refugium as well so need to decide what I want to proceed with long term.

Keeping skimmer as an option as I might want to carbon dose nopox so that I can avoid water changed lol.

It might help with aeration as well actually, get some better gas exchange. So there’s that. I just don’t know enough about it.

 

[Kan123]

I guess we’ll find out. T-1 day

 

[Kan123]

Touch down! Updates to come tomorrow.

 

[Kan123]

Oops, what a week it has been. Absolutely love being back in the hobby. So excited that I’ve tested the water twice….


08/27
Ph - 8.1
Po4 - 1ppm
No3 - 10 ppm


08/29
Ph - 8.1
No3 - between 5-10 ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Po4 - 0.03ppm

Aquarium is absolutely in shock from the move. But is quickly recovering. Should be back to stabilized in a week. There is also so much aptasia, previous owner gave me no warning about that. Aiptasia-x is on its way and I’ll make quick work of them.

We’ll start filling this up in the next two weeks. Need to get a grip on how the parameters are. Enjoy this quick 2 second video.

 

[Kan123]

I present to you my WWC fragtober fest coral haul. Incoming Friday!

 

[Kan123]

Getting ready for Friday! Traded in some corals to make some space for incoming haul.

Bought a small piece of live rock to create a Zoanthid graded for the future. And welcome our two new members of the aquarium along with their rainbow bubble tip anemone. They’ve already started trying to host despite only being in for 30 minutes.

Glass looking dirty, probably due to the nitrates and relatively long photo period; massive water change incoming with the new corals and upping the refugium on timing up by an hour to hopefully reduce this.

 

[i cant think]

Getting ready for Friday! Traded in some corals to make some space for incoming haul.

Bought a small piece of live rock to create a Zoanthid graded for the future. And welcome our two new members of the aquarium along with their rainbow bubble tip anemone. They’ve already started trying to host despite only being in for 30 minutes.

Glass looking dirty, probably due to the nitrates and relatively long photo period; massive water change incoming with the new corals and upping the refugium on timing up by an hour to hopefully reduce this.

They look amazing! Cant wait to see the new corals

 

[Kan123]

Waiting for this shipment today is nerve wracking….

 

[Kan123]

Touchdown!

 

[i cant think]

Touchdown!

Oo! They should look good under the blue lighting!!

 

[Kan123]

Sand bed is FULL. Time to let them acclimate to lighting/flow and brainstorming locations for each coral. So many species I’ve never kept before, this will be interesting….

Also grabbed a couple of small easy SPS frags. A pink birdnest, a green birdnest. Bubblegum digi and my favorite, a birds of paradise birdsnest.

 

[i cant think]

Sand bed is FULL. Time to let them acclimate to lighting/flow and brainstorming locations for each coral. So many species I’ve never kept before, this will be interesting….

Also grabbed a couple of small easy SPS frags. A pink birdnest, a green birdnest. Bubblegum digi and my favorite, a birds of paradise birdsnest.

That bubblegum digi is the one coral I would love to grow, both pieces I had failed. Such a beautiful coral but such a pain to keep alive.
Every other monti I can keep but digis have been hard to keep for me.
I’ve even kept easier Acros (A Staghorn)

 

[i cant think]

Waiting for this shipment today is nerve wracking….

It always is when getting new corals or fish. Always the question if they survived or not

 

[Kan123]

That bubblegum digi is the one coral I would love to grow, both pieces I had failed. Such a beautiful coral but such a pain to keep alive.
Every other monti I can keep but digis have been hard to keep for me.
I’ve even kept easier Acros (A Staghorn)

Any idea why it died? I’m loving this piece and can’t lose it lol

 

[i cant think]

Any idea why it died? I’m loving this piece and can’t lose it lol

No idea, it was probably just the placement (I had it rather low in the tank)
Also, what is that neon green with what looks like red polyps coral behind the dogo and next to the bright blue birdsnest