Ocean Flowerbed - The 31x31x36 (cm) nano tank

[gingerwrasse]

Hello fellow reefers!

I've recently started a 34L nano tank and I'm hoping to pick up a couple of tips from you guys. I was warned about how this hobby was a time and money suck. But one day out of nowhere, I ended up at Iwarna and bought an OF 34L IOS tank from Aunty. Now there's no turning back.

I've documented my progress. This is ultimately going to be a zoa tank.

DAY 1 - Live rocks (not very exciting).

Here's the scape. Very nicely done up by my patient bf.

I wanted to let it cycle for about a week before introducing livestock but I'm not as patient as I'd like to be.

DAY 3 - Invertebrates, a clown and a wrasse.

Wrapped up work and made a trip down to the only marine LFS (that I know of) open after "office hours". Bought a clownfish, a green wrasse, an RBTA, an urchin, cleaner shrimp and a 3-pack of sexy shrimp from Aquamarin. Threw in a starfish and hermit crab (originally from my bf's tank) for good measure too.

Here's a sexy shrimp party that the hermit crab crashed.

DAY 4 - GSP wall

Got myself some GSP and BSI'd it at the back in hopes that it'll bloom into an unstoppable wall of green. Doesn't look very promising here. But I will remain optimistic.

DAY 7 - Operation zoa flowerbed

I decided it was time to pile in the livestock. Got myself some zoas, palys, acan, pulsing xenia, coco worm, clam, green octo coral and golden clove. Most of them here are from my bf's tank. Also, a trip down to LCK and the Pasir Ris farms can do wonders. I got a royal gramma, a couple of yumas and a one-dollar clown.

I'm working towards a zoa-saturated top tier. I'll post more pictures really soon.

[twiddledoo]

[[V]tEc]

very brave of u to add so many live stock within a week.... pray hard it doesnt crash on u

[reef garden]

Didn't your bf warn you not to add livestock until water is cycled or add so much livestock in a week in a 34 litre tank? With the ammonia and nitrite spikes, your tank is likely going to crash and you will lose some of the precious livestock. Be patient and you will be rewarded.

[linko]

I supposed that she got cured live rocks and salt water from her BF too. :lol

[Evolutionz]

woah.. new tank 2nd day put in RBTA.. thats brave.. i didn't dare to try RBTA till my 34L was 3 - 4months old. good luck..

and i don't think a clam is suitable for your tank. your lighting may not be enough.. you'll need a wavemaker in there too.

[MarcoVan]

Welcome to the hobby and

Good luck

[peacemaker]

It is not very clear, but judging from the photos, I think what you have is a bi-colour dottyback instead of a Royal Gramma.

Have you read those pinned articles in the Beginner's sub forum? You need to understand the basics before you embark further into this hobby.

[gingerwrasse]

I'm gonna fast forward this post because nothing especially exciting happened last week. Also because I forgot to take pictures last week.

It's now week 3 and I'd like to say that there were zero casualties. Very heng, I know. But yup, took out the clam because he's probably not gonna do well.

A light change (nano razor) and a trip to Uncle Mike's and Cedric Ang's coral wonderland later:

I'm more than happy with what I have so far. Everyone's eating and blooming well.

But. I'm far from done. Got an ice probe in the mail somewhere, scheduled to arrive some time this week. So here's to more huat for my nano reef.

Oh and. I'm PRETTY sure it's a royal gramma I bought. If not... then the black spot on his fin is a suspicious mole. And I clearly overpaid for the "dottyback".

Thanks for the support guys!

[Davidlow]

Nice !!! Like the mini Zoa garden ...

[Guest]

Looks like your coral is happier with the new light now. Everyone here is to learn from each other sharing, stock slowly as your system doesn't have much room for any drastic change in water parameter.

[Admiraltian]

Looking good with the mini zoas garden.

[pitto]

Woot woot, keep it up!

[reef garden]

I love the rock scape, lights, twin clowns and Zoas garden too.

[FLAME_hawk]

nice zoas

[Patrick]

I must say u r very successful with your tank. Can't say the same for myself LOL. I also started a 34l tank. U used natural sea water?

[gingerwrasse]

Patrick,

Thanks. I'm trying everything I can to maintain the status quo. Haha. Still get worried every now and then though. I get my water from Iwarna and mix the salt myself. What happened to your tank?

[Patrick]

I have been reefing for many years starting from 2ft to 6ft, took a break for a few yrs and now back with small tank. Still have difficulty keeping mushrooms LOL

[gingerwrasse]

Happy mid week, reefers. How are your tanks doing?

Work is slow this morning so here's another picture post.

My Rastas from Dr Cedric Ang are opening up rather nicely. This is frag Bob. As in Marley.

Some trippy looking yumas with a hint of sexy shrimp:

And an aerial view of the flower bed, GSP billowing in the wind:

Ok time to get back to work.

[moscowites]

Not many a time that we get to see successful female reefers. Here's wishing you all the best! Nice zoas btw.

[Patrick]

May I ask what skimmer are u using and is it any good? Thanks

[gingerwrasse]

Patrick,

The skimmer I'm using is the one that came with the OF tank set. But I don't want to rely on it so I change my water twice a week.

[gingerwrasse]

Hey reefers, need some advice.

I read that sexy shrimps feast on coral and zoa polyps periodically. Is that true? Has anyone ever had this problem? I'm wondering if I should take them out.

But if I do, I really don't know how that's gonna happen. Tell me what you guys think.

[reef garden]

If the sexies are well fed, it shouldn't be a problem. I used to have 10 of them in a 27 liters tank with a pom pom crab and other corals without any problems, until my newly introduced wrasse made a meal out of them.

[peacemaker]

Mine ignores the cheaper zoas and always pick the more expensive ones... however, like what reef garden said, make sure that they get enough food so that they will leave your zoas alone. Target feeding would be best.