Hello all, sorry if this partial repost from my "build thread" is frowned upon... I didn't know how to best contextualize all my newbie questions for the beginner forum!
Starting equipment:
Starting equipment:
- Aquarium: Innovative Marine Fusion Pro 2, 40L AIO
- Heater: Helio 200W (2x 100W) PTC Heating System
- Lights: Aqua Illumination Hydra 32HD LED
- ATO: Tunze 3155 Osmolator and a 5 gallon bucket
- Substrate: ~30-35lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive Live Reef Sand (Fiji Pink) and ~30-35lbs of Marco Rock
- RODI Filter: Bulk Reef Supply 5 Stage Premium Plus 75 GPD RO/DI System
- 1x Mandarin Dragonet (obviously)
- 1x Helfrichi Firefish (because dragons breathe fire?)
- 1x Brunneus Fairy Wrasse (fae fun!)
- 1x Flameback Angelfish (more fire!)
- 1x Flame Hawkfish (is everything fire?)
- Zoanthus: Goblins on Fire (hilarious), Flaming Dragon, Pixie Dust, Has Fox Fairy Tales, Illuminatis
- Mushroom: Flamethrower Yuna Mushroom
- Clavularia: Flame Tipped Clove
- Micromussa: Raging Unicorn Aussie (whoever named this should get a promotion), Eternal Phoenix Lord
- Favia: Snow Dragon, Angel Eye, Pyrokinesis
- Euphyllia: Dragon Soul Torch
- Goniastrea: Spyro (what a throwback), Dragon Soul Prism, Spitfire
- Will introducing Dr. Tim's cycling kit after the tank's been running for about a week and a half with rotting fish food ruin the saltwater cycling process? There is currently no measurable amount of nitrite or nitrate.
- I accidentally left the carbon pack, mechanical fiber ball, granular phosphate remover, and the filter sock in while starting... should I remove these now and replace later?
- The aquarium location gets about an hour of direct sunlight in the summer late afternoon. Will this cause any problems I can prevent?
- What salt mixture do you recommend?
- Should I introduce copepods directly after cycling while introducing my first fish to prepare for the dragonet? I assume they feed on algae and detritus, but perhaps that is insufficient?
- Would a small refugium in one of the AIO back chambers do anything significant? I would say it would not even total 5% of the volume of water, but I love the idea of more biological filtration.
- Are there protein skimmer recommendations for this AIO setup?
- What should my stocking order be? I'm assuming the firefish should be first?
- Any fish ideas to go along with the current list or to replace some of them?