17g Nano Tank

[obligatoryreefpun]

Hello everyone. I've been waiting to start this build for quite a while. For some background, this tank was originally my first successful reef tank. While it only ran for just over a year, it was quite a rewarding experience. Learning the ropes, doing the research, and of course, the payoff of keeping such a fascinating variety of animals like coral! I'm sure we're all a bit nostalgic about our first successes, but I'll get more to the point.

I'm using a Lifegard Aquatics 17 gallon rimless, and I personally consider it to be the best bang for your buck you can possibly get for a nano tank. I picked it up for around $150 on Amazon, though it's definitely increased in price since then. Not that I have much experience, but I'd say 15-20 gallons is a great place to start getting into reefing. You have a good amount of depth and height for a good scape, and enough water volume that swings in parameters can occur slowly enough for you to detect and take action.

For filtration I'm using a Polar Aurora canister filter, same as my first setup. This is rated for tanks up to 75 gallons. In the future you'll notice me sticking with equipment rated much higher than what is required.

Now to lighting, I'm using a single Current USA 18 inch Orbit Marine fixture, same as my first setup. It's worked excellently in the past, and I'm eager to see how effective it will be with more SPS corals.

After paying a visit to Emerald Coast Coral Farms, I returned with roughly 18 lbs of dry rock and a single 20 lb bag of Nature's Ocean. I wanted to try a bit less substrate than last time in order to showcase more of the base of the rock. Since this will be more SPS oriented, I went with a larger grain size.

After using a mix of Fiji Pink and regular aragonite substrate last time, I was quite irritated with how easily the small grains would be siphoned out, or flow around in the current and land on some of my more sensitive colonies. I believe the specific name for this substrate in "Aussie Gold." I can't say I've seen too many tanks that use this color, and I'm considering getting another bag for a Pico softie build that I'll be starting soon, I think it'll look very nice under 10k lighting.

I'll post an update after I've scaped a bit.

 

[obligatoryreefpun]

After about an hour, I've found a scape that I really like.

This is the first time I've scaped with future coral growth in mind. I can really see some plating monti coming out from the right midsection, some Euphyllia on the left arch, Pocillopora on the top right, and maybe some Duncans smack in the middle. The right column should also help to conceal my heater, but we'll see if it gets sufficient flow.

This is also the first time I've used white dry rock, something I wasn't look forward to. But I know it'll be all the more rewarding when it's coated in coralline.

 

[obligatoryreefpun]

Right, it's been over a week. Things are going very smoothly thus far. I've gotta say, I'm much more satisfied with the scape now that the substrate is in.

I've had the lights on minimum power. I like the soft blue tinge. Right now the whites are pretty dialed up, but as I begin adding LPS/SPS in the future, I'll start leaning it more towards actinic.

I realized that I'm using a fake GoPro, so I used the tripod to take some interior pics!

I decided to up my clown game. Got a pair of black darwins! I specifically wanted some with their stripes not meeting all the way. They're pretty small right now, but that just makes their world bigger!

I got a shell with coralline on it and lodged it up against the future SPS pillar. I might turn it around, maybe a future inhabitant will lodge up in it!

I very recently got some Xenia, growing on light diffuser. (Can anyone tell what variety?) I wedged the diffuser into the substrate, then placed rocks over it. Hopefully within a few months, it'll be a nice island, maybe I can attempt to get the clowns to host it then!

-More pictures

 

[count krunk]

Off to a good start!

Made me laugh when you said "using over powered equipment" then followed that up with "and here is my orbit light" hahaha!

If it works it works.

 

[Hermie]

good stuff

 

[Jilly92]

Right, it's been over a week. Things are going very smoothly thus far. I've gotta say, I'm much more satisfied with the scape now that the substrate is in.

I've had the lights on minimum power. I like the soft blue tinge. Right now the whites are pretty dialed up, but as I begin adding LPS/SPS in the future, I'll start leaning it more towards actinic.

I realized that I'm using a fake GoPro, so I used the tripod to take some interior pics!

I decided to up my clown game. Got a pair of black darwins! I specifically wanted some with their stripes not meeting all the way. They're pretty small right now, but that just makes their world bigger!

I got a shell with coralline on it and lodged it up against the future SPS pillar. I might turn it around, maybe a future inhabitant will lodge up in it!

I very recently got some Xenia, growing on light diffuser. (Can anyone tell what variety?) I wedged the diffuser into the substrate, then placed rocks over it. Hopefully within a few months, it'll be a nice island, maybe I can attempt to get the clowns to host it then!

-More pictures

I believe that's anthelia, waving hands