dinGdinG's nano xperience~!

[dinGdinG]

hey bros~!

Finally have the chance to post my own nano 2ft IOS tank here and hopefully I am able to gain some valuable advise and experience from all the fellow reefers here! I have been cycling my tank for 3 weeks now, added my first fish today~! Here goes~!

Day 1 14/09/2014

21/09/2014 (First guest of my tank)

30/09/2014 (Added new rock and deco)

04/10/2014 (First Fish!! The pretty Yellow Watchman)

Have been adding 2 tablets of bacteria (Aquapharm) every week since day 1. I have also been testing my parameters regularly in between a 2 days period, results are always NH4 - 0 (Salifert), NO2 - 0 (API), NO3 - 10 (API), SG 1.023 (refractometer). Did a WC today before adding the new fish and NO3 dropped to 5..

Currently also running a Dymax IQ Skimmer, having tons of problems with it and saving up to buy the Deltec MCE 300, any bros here with experience with it? Hope to have some advise!

Thank you~!

[Admiraltian]

What is the light u r using?

[dinGdinG]

What is the light u r using?

Hey bro, its just some cheap LED made in china brand, has got 11 blue and 3 white LED.. haha

[Firestarter]

Any wavemakers? What about temp? You plan to use any fan or chiller?

[dinGdinG]

Any wavemakers? What about temp? You plan to use any fan or chiller?

Thats what I am thinking about too.. as it is a 2 ft IOS tank, the DT area is quite small and I am currently using a 1200l/hr pump, seems to be creating quite abit of current in the tank

As for temperature, i plan to start off with a fan first and see how it goes.. But still hoping to keep some beginner corals like mushrooms and buttons haha

[Bunster]

Hi bro... Welcome to this addictive hobby. Nice scape...Is that aquaroche? What's your current temperature? And are u running any kind of media in the back chambers?

[dinGdinG]

Hi bro... Welcome to this addictive hobby. Nice scape...Is that aquaroche? What's your current temperature? And are u running any kind of media in the back chambers?

Hey bro, tell me about it.. i just bought a mushroom from ah beng again today hahaha, trying my very best to add slowwwwly....

Btw, yeah got the aquaroche ceramic rocks from iwarna, they have a great selection of ceramic rocks the last time i went, its locked up at another warehouse and its only upon asking and he will bring you to the warehouse for viewing..

I just started running a fan this morning, managed to keep the temperature between 27 to 27.8 degrees till now, using a dymax digital thermometer, reading taken at the return pump section..

This is the back view of my IOS, 1st portion is the overflow with Dymax IQ skimmer, 2nd portion is the bio rings/balls (the biggest portion), activated carbon and sponge filter, 3rd portion is the return pump..

Any tips to make it better? Areas of improvement?? Advise from a experienced nano reefer is definitely much appreciated~!!

[Bunster]

Yes bro, resist the urge to add too quickly. I found that my tank was very unstable for the first 3 months. Slow and easy especially since you're using artificial rock.

Temperature sounds ok but I think you should closely monitor your evaporation.

You have roughly the same stuff I have in the back except that I also have polyplab biospheres for a bit of carbon dosing and rowaphos for phosphate control.

[dinGdinG]

Yes bro, resist the urge to add too quickly. I found that my tank was very unstable for the first 3 months. Slow and easy especially since you're using artificial rock.

Temperature sounds ok but I think you should closely monitor your evaporation.

You have roughly the same stuff I have in the back except that I also have polyplab biospheres for a bit of carbon dosing and rowaphos for phosphate control.

Yeap, still trying out some little experiments with the fan chilling, temperature and evaporation. Anyways, got to go slow by force due to shallow pockets~! LOL

[dinGdinG]

05/10/2014 (First Coral~!!)

Seems happy enough with my China LED lights and 27.5 degrees water.. Bros, any coral supplements to recommend??

[Firestarter]

No need any particular supplements for softies. Just regular water changes will do.

[Bunster]

thats true... good water, good lighting and fish poo will do

[dinGdinG]

No need any particular supplements for softies. Just regular water changes will do.

thats true... good water, good lighting and fish poo will do

I see.. i read that some iodide drops occasionally helps the colouring? Have you guys tried?

[Bunster]

I started dosing iodide a couple of months ago. Did notice an improvement in my zoas and green star polyps. But u might not need it with such low stocking and regular water changes. What salt are u using?

[dinGdinG]

I started dosing iodide a couple of months ago. Did notice an improvement in my zoas and green star polyps. But u might not need it with such low stocking and regular water changes. What salt are u using?

hey bro, i bought the tropic marin sea salt but have not started using it yet. Planning to try it out for this weekend's wc. Was using nsw from ah beng for the last wc. Got to admit that nirates build up quite fast.. its was 5 on sunday and shot to 10 yesterday.. nh4 and n02 remained at 0 consistantly..

btw, your tank is my inspiration!! Was wondering what lighting are you using, I planning to change my China LED too..

[Bunster]

thank you! I'm honoured... currently using maxspect razors 120w 16k version, so far so good... can even keep some sps

I'm still doing weekly wcs... ard 10%. That plus my biospheres and skimming helps keep the nitrates down. Go easy on the feeding... you only have one fish right?

[shaohao85]

Am using maxspect razors 120w too .. my birdnest and digi and monti and lps doing great .. I agree tat u should do water changes with salt mix 20 % weekly wc for me .. I have 2 reactors .. 1 aquamarco skimmer .. similar to bunster setup but pocket very shallow .. not much corals now and tank is 3 months old now .. cheers

[dinGdinG]

thank you! I'm honoured... currently using maxspect razors 120w 16k version, so far so good... can even keep some sps

I'm still doing weekly wcs... ard 10%. That plus my biospheres and skimming helps keep the nitrates down. Go easy on the feeding... you only have one fish right?

Yes bro, only 1 watchman & 1 pistol shrimp at the moment.. Great pair, always together and feeding well.. i feed a quater cube of frozen mysis in the morning and another quater in the evening, i always check for leftovers after feeding and seems like they are able to finish everything.. I am sure they finished it because i switch off my return pump for a good 10 to 15 mins during feeding, nothing left on the spot i left the food for them..

Am using maxspect razors 120w too .. my birdnest and digi and monti and lps doing great .. I agree tat u should do water changes with salt mix 20 % weekly wc for me .. I have 2 reactors .. 1 aquamarco skimmer .. similar to bunster setup but pocket very shallow .. not much corals now and tank is 3 months old now .. cheers

Okie.. seems like i have to invest in the maxspect too but am thinking of getting the 60w instead.. pocket very very shallow lol

[shaohao85]

Aiyo .. save up a bit get a good lighting .. I bought mine 2nd hand .. so quite ok .. this is my setup

The grow led is for my mini refugrium not shining into my tank

[dinGdinG]

Aiyo .. save up a bit get a good lighting .. I bought mine 2nd hand .. so quite ok .. this is my setup

The grow led is for my mini refugrium not shining into my tank

Wow! I am guessing your IOS must be damn spacious to fit so much equipment~! Bo Bian lah.. because of space constraint in my IOS, im only left with a choice of getting the Deltec mce300 skimmer, plus lighting and some live stock thrown in, close to 1k already...

[shaohao85]

No space at all la .. so all the reactors and skimmer all hang on .. yup my initial setup already 1k plus .. I bought a resun 450 to keep the temp stable too .. fan cant keep my tank cool enough .. for now shall save some money for more corals

[Bunster]

Think the light coverage for the 60w won't be enough for yr tank bro. Might end up buying again. Should hunt for 2nd deals like shaohao

[dinGdinG]

Hi bunster bro, I ended up buying a maxspect glaive instead which I'm guessing it should be enough due to the shallow depth my tank has (light to sand beg is 18").. btw my mushroom is not doing so well too, some of the seniors here said it may be due to strong lighting, but I'm guessing it should be due to a lack of nutrients coz my water is only about 1 month plus old..

Might be too clean for any corals... thinking of giving it a teeny weeny bit of reef nutrition dose.. what do you think? do you have any similar experience?

[asg]

Bro, dont dose anything that you cant measure lah. Very dangerous. If you light and flow is ok, then when was the last time you do a water change and how many %?

[dinGdinG]

Hi bro andtsg, I last did a wc last Saturday, aprox 25%.. Planning to do another 10% wc tomorrow.. do you think its ok?