(Tank Move and 8 week Update) 10g Nano, TBS live rock, live sand, hitchhikers, CUC (Original TBS Package)

CallMeChris

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(Tank Move and 8 week update posted in replies, July 30th)

Greetings!

Doing a bit of an experiment. I will get into more details as to why I am doing this particular plan in future posts. For now, the short version is that I am starting a 10g nano tank as a QT/Observation tank for live rock, live sand, hermit crabs and snails from Tampa Bay Saltwater @LiverockRocks

Plan is to, in a few months, move the entire contents of this 10g tank into a 100-125g reef ready tank with sump to seed the sterile dry rock and sterile sand I will be putting into the larger tank. Then use the 10g tank as a QT/Observation tank for future additions to the larger tank.

On June 1st, I ordered the Original TBS Package for a 10g tank. Scheduled to pick up the first half of the order on Saturday, June 10th. I live in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, so will do local pick up. ‘Tis my understanding that there will be two pickup times, the first one will be the live sand and base live rock with minimal visible growth in it. Then a week later the premium live rock with all sorts of visible growth on it along with the snails and crabs. Looking forward to that!

I will not be adding anything to cycle the tank other than the contents from the Original TBS Package, and food for the crabs. I will of course be monitoring the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and maybe pH and alkalinity.

Equipment and stuff: very basic at this point
  • 10g Top Fin Essentials Aquarium Starter Kit and their stand for it. From PetSmart
  • The above kit has an HOB filter, heater, thermometer, lid with super basic LED light, net, and a few odds and ends.
  • Hikari Crab Cuisine
  • Freeze dried mysis shrimp
  • RedSea Marine Care Test Kit
  • LED Refractometer for Reading Salinity with Calibration Fluid
  • Rubber gloves
  • RODI Fresh Water and premixed red sea salt RODI water from LFS (supposedly guaranteed 0TDS)
  • Python siphon
  • Buckets
  • I’m sure there will be more stuff, will update list accordingly
I will take pictures of what I’ve got so far and new pictures when stuff comes in.

Most Up To Date Pic 07/24/2023 (7 weeks old): see below for more
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See ya around!

Day 1 for reference IMG_0950.jpeg
 
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CallMeChris

CallMeChris

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I should mention that while I have some limited past experience with freshwater, this is my first foray into salt.

Waiting on stand and other items, but here’s what I’ve got so far.
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CallMeChris

CallMeChris

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Installed the tank heater. The indicator for temp setting is very vague lol. Guess that’s where a thermometer comes in.

My testing kits came in today too! Will post test results later.

On a side note, my in laws were robbed yesterday so I’ve been spending most of my time over there helping them deal with the aftermath. They are fine, the cat is fine, just stuff missing.

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CallMeChris

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Got the nano mag float. Installed the thermometer, bang on 78F. Tested a bunch of parameters. 5 days in with RODI RedSea saltwater running with HOB filter, wave maker and heater running. So far, No dosing, no ghost feeding, no fish, no rock, no sand, just water.

Tomorrow, picking up TSB package with live rock and live sand! Excited :)

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CallMeChris

CallMeChris

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Picked up the live sand and live base rock today from @LiverockRocks TBS! Picking up the premium live rocks in about a week.

Here’s some unboxing and installation pics, and a couple hitchhikers. I also caught one gorilla crab, the only “pest” so far but will keep an eyes out.

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CallMeChris

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Three days after introducing live sand and live rock, the tank is cycled :) only feeding was 4 or 5 small pellets a day of the sinking crustaceans food the past two days.

Scheduled to pickup the premium live rock, blue legged hermit crabs and more snails this Saturday afternoon, fun times!

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CallMeChris

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One week in update. Initial ammonia cycle appears to be done. Every day I see new cool stuff on the rocks. Don’t know what they are half the time, but cool :D

Picking up some premium live rock this afternoon from @LiverockRocks So wanted to do some before and after pics and testing.

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New Unidentified critters/Algae: (it’s snail eggs!)
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Feather duster? (It’s a micro brittle star!)

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Sump Crab

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One week in update. Initial ammonia cycle appears to be done. Every day I see new cool stuff on the rocks. Don’t know what they are half the time, but cool :D

Picking up some premium live rock this afternoon from @LiverockRocks So wanted to do some before and after pics and testing.

IMG_0950.jpeg
IMG_0951.jpeg
IMG_0952.jpeg
IMG_0949.jpeg


New Unidentified critters/Algae:
IMG_0960.jpeg


Feather duster?

IMG_0965.jpg

Looks like a brittle star to me
 
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