Tank: UNS (Ultum Nature Systems) 30A Dual AIO (7 gallon)
Light: AI Prime 16HD
Heat: Aquael Ultra 50W
Pump: AI axis 20
Media:
Mechanical: Filter Floss, nylon sponge
Biological: Seachem Matrix, dosing Dr. Tim’s eco-balance weekly
Chemical: Purigen, mini activated carbon (Imaginarium)
Other equipment: Most Aqua Micro ATO, glass lid
Livestock: red razor algae, grube’s gorgonia, yellow clown goby, koji wada pink nepthea
Cycling:
Day 1: Caribsea Arag-alive special grade live sand, 3 lbs of rock, and 100g of Seachem Matrix added and water dosed up to 2ppm with Dr Tim’s ammonia.
Day 6: Cobalt Neotherm heater arrives. Amazon gave me a used older version. Sent it back and went to Petsmart and bought a new and cheaper Aquael 50W heater (same company as Cobalt and likely the same heater technology). I live in the SF bay area where temps were around 59F/15C. Too cold. Temp tank raised to 84F to speed up metabolic activity.
Day 9: Ammonia: 1ppm, NO2: 2ppm, NO3: 20ppm
Day 10-12: Ammonia: 0-0.25ppm, NO2: 2-3ppm, NO3: 20ppm
Day 13: NO2 drops overnight to 0. Dosed Ammonia back up to 2ppm,
Day 14: Ammonia drops overnight to 0.25-0.5ppm. Cycle finished.
Today is day 19. Unfortunately, the arm bracket was missing from my light body shipment that arrived on day 12 . Turns out it’s coming at a later date likely from overseas so that delays my plans to add any coral for the next 2 week at least. I may add a fish or shrimp in the meantime, we’ll see.
Light: AI Prime 16HD
Heat: Aquael Ultra 50W
Pump: AI axis 20
Media:
Mechanical: Filter Floss, nylon sponge
Biological: Seachem Matrix, dosing Dr. Tim’s eco-balance weekly
Chemical: Purigen, mini activated carbon (Imaginarium)
Other equipment: Most Aqua Micro ATO, glass lid
Livestock: red razor algae, grube’s gorgonia, yellow clown goby, koji wada pink nepthea
Cycling:
Day 1: Caribsea Arag-alive special grade live sand, 3 lbs of rock, and 100g of Seachem Matrix added and water dosed up to 2ppm with Dr Tim’s ammonia.
Day 6: Cobalt Neotherm heater arrives. Amazon gave me a used older version. Sent it back and went to Petsmart and bought a new and cheaper Aquael 50W heater (same company as Cobalt and likely the same heater technology). I live in the SF bay area where temps were around 59F/15C. Too cold. Temp tank raised to 84F to speed up metabolic activity.
Day 9: Ammonia: 1ppm, NO2: 2ppm, NO3: 20ppm
Day 10-12: Ammonia: 0-0.25ppm, NO2: 2-3ppm, NO3: 20ppm
Day 13: NO2 drops overnight to 0. Dosed Ammonia back up to 2ppm,
Day 14: Ammonia drops overnight to 0.25-0.5ppm. Cycle finished.
Today is day 19. Unfortunately, the arm bracket was missing from my light body shipment that arrived on day 12 . Turns out it’s coming at a later date likely from overseas so that delays my plans to add any coral for the next 2 week at least. I may add a fish or shrimp in the meantime, we’ll see.
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