No Lobster's Allowed 20 Gal Reef

[NoLobster]

Build Thread and Journal!

Start Date: 7/31/2019
Most Recent FTS: 10/5/2019

Hardware:
Tank: Innovative Marine Nuvo 20 AIO
Filters: 1 Media caddy (right now only carbon and filter floss in there), 1 200 micron filter sock, 15 lbs dry rock, 18 lbs live sand
Heating: 150 W heater
Cooling: AC Infinity AXIAL 1225 Fan - Amazon
Controller: Neptune Apex Classic (orange label) + EB8 + display
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3155
RODI Unit: Liquagen 4 stage (tds of city water is around 45 originally)
Lighting: 1 Kessil a160 Blue with mounting arm (averaging about 60% intensity over the photo period, peaks at 80%.)
Lighting Controller: Kessil A series spectral controller
Return Pump: Stock ~250 gph
Testing: API nitrite, API Ammonia and API Phospate, Salifert Nitrate, Refractometer, Neptune Apex Classic Temperature and BRS Ph Probe, Hanna Checker Alk, Salifert Ca, Salifert Mg
Flow: MP10 runs about 20% in Lagoon mode right now for half the day.

Possible additions: Algae Scrubber if nutrients become an issue.

Livestock:
Fish: 1 Clownfish, 1 Orchid Dottyback (deceased), 1 Warpaint Clown Goby, 1 Yellow Clown Goby
Corals:
Softies: 1 rhodactis mushroom, 1 neon green toadstool leather,1 ricordea florida mushroom (orange), Utter Chaos Zoa, LA Lakers Zoa
LPS: 1 Aussie elegance coral, 1 Blastomussa Wellsi
SPS: 1 red montipora cap
Inverts: Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone, Fire Shrimp, 1 astrea snail, 3 trochus snail, 1 narcissus snail (deceased), 1 Tuxedo Urchin, 1 yellow sea cucumber

Maintenance:
-25% weekly water changeover
-feed a variety of foods
-Add a bit of phyto (not sure how helpful this actually is, probably will not purchase again)
-I track expenses, all test results, and wants/needs for the tank in a spreadsheet which has been very helpful + use the apex logs.
-Daily glass cleaning as necessary

I would love any feedback and suggestions!

Current Problems:
1. Bryopsis spotted within the tank , will try fluconozole.
2. Red cap monti hasn't started growing yet.
3. Trying to dial in what my cal, alk and Mg are at and what the resource uptake of my system is to see if I need to dose.
4. Starting to see some hairy, cyano or dino like algae on the sand. I'm not going to rush to treat this too quickly. I want to see if the system can even out.
5. 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates detectable, will try feeding more.

Highlighted Photos:

 

[NoLobster]

Where should I put my MP10!? I have it currently in location 1 which allows me to get a lot of movement behind the rocks where there usually isn't much. I am considering trying out location 2 though because I will get more surface agitation and it will interact more with my return pumps.

 

[btmedic04]

Mine was on the opposite side of the tank approximately where you have your cords suction cup. It agitated the surface and interacted with the flow from my spinstream there

 

[NoLobster]

Thanks, that isn't a bad idea for a location either. Might try that out. When I had the pump higher it was agitating my Bubble tip anemone and he doesn't seem to like too much flow/didn't want to risk him moving.

On a side note, I just dosed fluconozale to deal with the few bryopsis strands that have sprung up. Will report back on results

 

[DomiKasReef]

I have mine on the opposite side in the back at the top also.
My schedule maxes out at 54% on Reef Crest mode.

I might play with that some more though but it's good flow for what I have.

 

[NoLobster]

I dosed Fluconozole for the bryopsis and it took it out in a matter of days... I'll leave it without a water change for another week to make sure.

 

[NoLobster]

Tank is looking pretty clean, everything has been happy. I added a yellow clown goby and a yellow sea cucumber

 

[SPR1968]

The tank looks very nice and I love the aquascape design, especially shown in your first picture.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Tank looks great !!!

 

[jk_s124]

Beautiful! Love the elegance and bubble tip. Great aquascaping too!

 

[NoLobster]

Got a few new corals Urchin always checks out the snacks on the new guys