MOST RECENT PICTURES:
Taken 08/10/2023
Suffice to say, things are not going as planned with this redemption story. Keeping at it though!
THE BUILD
Tank:
IM Nuvo 25 Lagoon AIO
Filtration:
2 x IM Media Caddies - Top filled with filter floss, rest for carbon media or anything else I need/want to throw in there.
1 x Icecap K1 Nano Skimmer
Carbon Dosing - Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance / Tropic Marin Elimi-NP
Bacteria:
Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter Start
Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter7
Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter Clean
Vibrant (sort of as needed) - Not using this as of 2/25/22 due to it not being bacteria as they claim. Won't support a business that lies through their teeth like that, especially after all these years it's been used in the hobby. Dang shame.
I abandoned all other products outside of Dr Tims One and Only for the initial cycle, and am dosing Aqua Forest Life Source periodically.
Light:
AI Prime HD (older gen)
Noopsyche K7 v3
Rock:
Dry rock. Thinking Marco but I'll look around for what comes in the cleanest. If anyone has recommendations on ones they've used with success I'd love to hear!
Pumps/powerheads:
Stock return
Vortech MP10 (older gen) Will add spare powerheads I have lying around if needed, or get an additional MP10
6/20/2022 I added an AI Nero 3. So far no complaints.
Dosing:
Tropic Marin All For Reef - Eventually
Coral:
SPS only, focusing on sticks. Maybe some encrusting montis if I get the itch but my main focus is acros.
EDIT (08/10/2023): Turns out I still suck at these and going for softies instead.
Fish/Inverts:
Banggai Cardinal - In 6/6/2022 - Removed. It was a murderer.
Shrimp and Goby pair - In 9/18/2022 - Did not survive.
Maybe hermits
Cleaner shrimp
THE PLAN
Not treating water changes as a nutrient export for this go around. I'll be doing them weekly as a way to replenish minerals, but that's pretty much it. Water tests on the "big ones" will be done throughout this process.
I hope to get water in the tank soon, and will probably start posting pictures when the rock is ordered and I have a scape going. If you have experience carbon dosing with a smaller tank please let me know! I'll take all the insight I can get.
Taken 08/10/2023
Suffice to say, things are not going as planned with this redemption story. Keeping at it though!
THE BUILD
Tank:
IM Nuvo 25 Lagoon AIO
Filtration:
2 x IM Media Caddies - Top filled with filter floss, rest for carbon media or anything else I need/want to throw in there.
1 x Icecap K1 Nano Skimmer
Carbon Dosing - Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance / Tropic Marin Elimi-NP
Bacteria:
Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter7
Vibrant (sort of as needed)
I abandoned all other products outside of Dr Tims One and Only for the initial cycle, and am dosing Aqua Forest Life Source periodically.
Light:
Noopsyche K7 v3
Rock:
Dry rock. Thinking Marco but I'll look around for what comes in the cleanest. If anyone has recommendations on ones they've used with success I'd love to hear!
Pumps/powerheads:
Stock return
Vortech MP10 (older gen) Will add spare powerheads I have lying around if needed, or get an additional MP10
6/20/2022 I added an AI Nero 3. So far no complaints.
Dosing:
Tropic Marin All For Reef - Eventually
Coral:
EDIT (08/10/2023): Turns out I still suck at these and going for softies instead.
Fish/Inverts:
Cleaner shrimp
THE PLAN
Not treating water changes as a nutrient export for this go around. I'll be doing them weekly as a way to replenish minerals, but that's pretty much it. Water tests on the "big ones" will be done throughout this process.
- Dry rock chosen because it's more available and no hitchhikers.
- SPS, mainly sticks, chosen since they seem easier to ditch the plug on and dip/examine. I don't want to deal with aiptasia again if I can help it. LPS bases are so hard to be thorough with.
- Cycle the tank using the bacteria starter and ammonia source.
After cycle, keep lights off and fish in the tank. Monitor nutrient levels and figure out carbon dose that works with the feeding to keep nutrients low, but not zero.- EDIT: Ended up putting lights on after the nitrogen cycle and AF life source went in. Nutrients bottomed out without carbon dosing.
Add coralline in a bottle. Keep AI Prime off but let light in the room to grow coralline. If it doesn't, try again with LEDs at lower power. Dose microbacter7- EDIT: I've been holding off on the coralline in a bottle. Mixed reviews on it and such. Might try at a later date though.
- EDIT2: It is a later date and I have tried it. We'll see how it goes!
- EDIT3: It did not work.
- Add tester coral when numbers are within typical ranges.
- Add additional corals if things are still looking good and keep up with carbon dosing. If algae pops up, but levels are good, manual removal and hit with microbacter clean.
- Once water changes do not meet mineral demands of the corals, begin dosing All For Reef
If Nitrates and Phosphates trend towards 0 - 0, back off of carbon dosing, dose TM Plus NP. If it continues, feed more heavily, or add more livestock. I'd see this as the corals uptake matching the food input and this would be my marker for success with the tank.- EDIT: Dosing carbon to a new tank in my possession was a very, very bad idea.
- Share frags with as many people as possible.
I hope to get water in the tank soon, and will probably start posting pictures when the rock is ordered and I have a scape going. If you have experience carbon dosing with a smaller tank please let me know! I'll take all the insight I can get.
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