simple low tech nano cube (1 year)

[lil sumpin]

Stressed my fish out a little bit cus I had my arm in tank for about an hour clearing algae build up. Needed to happen, I really let the film algae go. I did leave the algae on the back glass for another day, I’m lazy but a little algae also doesn’t bother me. The blenny loves hiding and curling up into whatever nook he can find, he’s very good at hiding. Eating frozen, pellet and flake and is able to hold his own against the sixline. The tank bully now has a lil guy who can stand up to him

coral snow action in the works

 

[Manpeckz]

I recently got a Tailspot as well and now I never have to worry about where there is good parking in my tank.

Put it in reverse Terry!

 

[lil sumpin]

Sunday dump under windex lighting

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Sunday dump under windex lighting

Love the coral in your tank!

 

[lil sumpin]

Been seeing a lotta bristle worms lately, biggest one was probably like 3in long! I hope I can count on the sixline wrasse to keep the worms in check. The dude sure seems interested in the big worms but I dont anticipate him eating them, hopefully the juveniles though. I have been feeding less and trying to keep up w nitrate and phosphate readings, 10ppm and .2ppm most recently. About a week ago I added some CUC and peppermint shrimp from @reefcleaners. Everything was temperature acclimated and made it into the tank shortly after, healthy and active snails and shrimp, thanks John! Already seeing a dent in the aiptasia

 

[lil sumpin]

At 10 months, we got some pesky film algae. It’s no deal breaker, stay tuned for pics after WC and coral snow storm

 

[lil sumpin]

In between going fishing, grilling at the family cookout and hanging out all weekend I managed to do a WC and run some tests. Nitrate is 10ppm and phosphate is .14ppm

Did some glass scraping but I really need to get the film algae off the back glass. It’s really on there. The HOB refugium is beginning to grow hair algae on the outflow part and the chaeto inside has nearly doubled in the 6-7 weeks it’s been there.

 

[lil sumpin]

Can hardly believe I'll be hitting the year mark with this tank soon... time flies. I've learned a whole lot and am still trying to. Here's a tiny peep at what I'm planning to start up soon. The MTS has really been biting down, I think it's time to start up a little macro display




A trochus doing work and a six line with some zoomies:

 

[lil sumpin]

Happy Friday! Some fish pics:

 

[lil sumpin]

Kinda running low on real estate it seems. I originally had placed this red ORA goni on the sand months ago and noticed that it wasn’t truly happy. When I placed it slightly higher on the rockwork I saw better extension and when I finally attached the plug to a magnetic frag plug higher, it really began to take off. This frag was the size of a golf ball when I purchased in November and now it’s about the size of a tennis ball when fully extended. Great to see it taking off but I’m beginning to see its polyps land on the toadstool leather below it. So far so good, the toadstool seems unfazed though I’ll keep observing.

 

[lil sumpin]

This guy loves having his pics taken, the others not so much. I think the HOB refugium/ ATS is working well. Not necessarily seeing a dent in N and P, though they have lowered a tiny bit. The amount of green algae on the rockwork has steadily decreased, now it's mostly just film and crustose algae on the glass.

 

[lil sumpin]

I put water in this thing a year ago

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I put water in this thing a year ago

Congrats on a year with the tank!

 

[lil sumpin]

a little time lapse of the lights ramping up

 

[lil sumpin]

This thing has come a long way since I got it back in the fall. I almost lost it because I couldn't get parameters and flow dialed in and the frogspawn was getting blasted while going through constant swings. It took months but it's finally got two heads. Also, 2nd pic you can see my goby chillin in the toadstool as usual. No one chills harder than lil sumpin though! Chillin like a villain.

 

[lil sumpin]

I dont have a microscope yet but I'm thinking of eventually picking one up. Can anyone confirm if this is byropsis or not? Also there's something that appears to be a green or brown flatworm. Anyone confirm? At one year we have some new pests showing up though I'm sure they've been in there for quite a bit already. Thanks R2Reefers!

 

[lil sumpin]

My tail spot blenny is flighty sometimes and other times he'll swim right up to the glass and stick his face at me. He's not very territorial at all but I've seen him stand up to my six line wrasse. He's an algae grazer but I don't see him putting a dent in the byropsis (or GHA?) I'm dealing with. It would be cool if my six line could take out the flatworms too.. would really prefer going a naturally combative route than having to start using flux or flatworm exit.

 

[lil sumpin]

I’ll be away from the tank for about 3 weeks in September. This will be the longest I’ve been away from the tank. I’ve done weekend trips and 3-4 day long mini vacations but never something for a week let alone 3. I’ve been teaching an old friend about the maintenance and hope that she can manage the tank while I’m away. I’ve cat sit for her before so it’s time for her to return the favor. I’m trying to come up with a little 3 or 4 step plan she can easily follow. Will post the plan in the next update

 

[Flameback Pair]

@lil sumpin looking good!!! How is your 6line for aggression? If it has been behaved then you might have a female. Subscribed.

- Mitchell.

 

[lil sumpin]

Thanks Mitchell! It has been relatively well behaved but sometimes it messes around with the others. It’s not often to be alarming so I haven’t rehomed. Could be right about it being a female one