First Reef Build; Fluval 13.5

[mikemathis555]

Take it easy on me…my first reef tank

Im only two months in, and started with the standard Fluval EVO 13.5, some live sand and rock. After my cycle added some CUC and my fish (the Royal Gramma didn’t make it unfortunately).

Current livestock;
Darwin Clown (Fishy)
Firefish Goby (Turbo)
Watchman Goby (Rod)
Snails (1xTrochus, 2xAstraea, 4xCerith, 2xNassarius)
*Crazy amounts of Copepods
Assorted Zoa/Paly frags and 1 mushroom

upgrades;
Upgraded Pump (250 gph)
AI HD Prime 16 light
AI Nero 3 powerhead
InTank media basket (section 1)
Tank heater (section 2)

Next will be to create a Zoa garden (open to suggestion but was thinking on some rock rubble I have and placed in middle of sand off main rock structure).

Planning predominantly softies (mushrooms and leathers) along with some LPS (Torches) along the rock arch.

open to suggestion!!!

 

[lapin]

Nice

 

[Shawaiz_106]

Do you know what exactly happened to the royal gramma ?, I'm looking at a similar stocking with a similar sized tank but I'm not really sure if it will work out.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Very nice, always good to see another fluval 13.5!
Agree it would be good to know what happened to the gramma, if you didn’t qt it’s possible there is a disease in the system.
I’d get a pistol shrimp (tiger or candy cane), it’s a fun addition to the tank and pairs with the goby.
Also look into the inTank media baskets, it improves the filtration and makes for clearer water and happier corals.

 

[mikemathis555]

Very nice, always good to see another fluval 13.5!
Agree it would be good to know what happened to the gramma, if you didn’t qt it’s possible there is a disease in the system.
I’d get a pistol shrimp (tiger or candy cane), it’s a fun addition to the tank and pairs with the goby.
Also look into the inTank media baskets, it improves the filtration and makes for clearer water and happier corals.

I do have the intank media basket already, and agree it was a very nice addition. I regularly use filter floss + Chempure & bio media.

 

[mikemathis555]

Do you know what exactly happened to the royal gramma ?, I'm looking at a similar stocking with a similar sized tank but I'm not really sure if it will work out.

to be honest - the Royal Gramma was a great fish for a few days. I don’t think it was heathy from the LFS. I also had two green Chromis which didn’t make it either - from the same LFS. The three heathy fish I have are from a different LFS…go figure

I don’t have the luxury of a QT at this time. My plan is to build out this Fluval with parts I can use later in a bigger tank…turning this tank into a QT

 

[mikemathis555]

Small Zoa garden started, new LR formation in the center with my WWC Red Bull, Scrambled Eggs and Radioactive Dragons.

I’m in love with the Ricordea

 

[Gedxin]

Tank looks great and I love the arch!

How long did it take for your firefish to regularly hang out in the open? Mines been shy since I added 4 days ago.

 

[mikemathis555]

Tank looks great and I love the arch!

How long did it take for your firefish to regularly hang out in the open? Mines been shy since I added 4 days ago.

It took a few weeks, and he still hides during the mid day period. He comes out in the mornings and evening to feed on copepods and evening feedings accordingly.

 

[jfoahs04]

Looks good, I really like what you've done with the rock work. Hopefully the Zoas fill out quickly.

 

[reefer_evo5]

tank looks good i got this tank a couple months ago as my first tank as well did almost all the same upgrades just need the ai light. What settings do you have on your Nero 3 for the tank?

 

[mikemathis555]

tank looks good i got this tank a couple months ago as my first tank as well did almost all the same upgrades just need the ai light. What settings do you have on your Nero 3 for the tank?

updated photo - some more corals added (torch zoas, mushrooms, blasto and chalice on sand are acclimating to tank lighting).

I run my Nero low, I know some run it even lower. Feeding time from 5:45-6:45.

 

[reefer_evo5]

updated photo - some more corals added (torch zoas, mushrooms, blasto and chalice on sand are acclimating to tank lighting).

I run my Nero low, I know some run it even lower. Feeding time from 5:45-6:45.

awsome thanks im still messing with my nero 3 to find a good setting the highest i go it a pulse of 20% and run it at 1 percent at night

 

[mikemathis555]

Current update…
I’ve added a few more coral to the inventory, some of which are still acclimating in the sand.

next project is converting the Fluval chamber #2 into a mini refugium. I have another intank basket coming, soon to be filled with some chaeto and a grow light.

 

[louivee]

That’s a nice little arc u made how did u do it ? I wanna do something like this with mine

 

[mikemathis555]

That’s a nice little arc u made how did u do it ? I wanna do something like this with mine

Thanks!

Well, we started with 2 pieces of LR, then went to 4 and we didn’t like the way it looked. You can see the early pictures with 4 big pieces. We smashed one of them to bits! My wife had a stroke of genius and basically pieced the arch together using the bits and some carefully placed reef glue over the top of the other three pieces of LR. There is a nice crevice between the rocks on the right side where my watchman goby lives/protects. There is also a nice hiding spot under the arch in the LR where my Firefish hides when he’s not hunting copepods.

ideally, we would have done that from the start and aquascaped when we started the tank, but that was not the original plans. Creativity doesn’t always come at the most convenient times I suppose.

 

[jfoahs04]

Love the arch too. I'm dealing with two separate rock piles myself. I don't want to rock the boat yet though, so it'll be status quo for a bit.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Gluing rubble pieces together worked for me…just have to be very careful how you attach them and not to mess with them, otherwise it collapses.

 

[jfoahs04]

Gluing rubble pieces together worked for me…just have to be very careful how you attach them and not to mess with them, otherwise it collapses.

I’ll have to give it a shot. Yours looks really cool.

 

[Just John]

Looks great!