60 ltr Nano reef

[spleep]

Hi all experienced nano fans,

Just setting up tank - 7 kilo live Fiji rock, Coral gravel, Jebo 178 skimmer and power head to supply current. Got no instructions with skimmer, so had a go at how I think it works. Had no media with it so added some filter wool to stop micro bubbles entering tank. Is this a good idea? Been running for 2 weeks now and all I see are Amhipods and tonight a small translucent anenome. Am getting more live rock this weekend to complete setup. Using synthetic salt and treated tap water (de-chlorine solution). Set up is in shed with forced ventilation. Water temp is set at 78Deg (Max 82). Having to top up with fresh water about 1 pint a day 'cause of the warm weather. Just getting white froth in the skimmer at the mo but bio load is just dead Amphipods. Not adding any food or treatments yet. Lighting is 50-50 2x18W compacts. Any advice if I am doing things right or setting myself up for an expensive disaster?

p.s. Just thinking of keeping feather dusters, mushrooms and soft corals. Maybee a snail, shrimp and Clown.

[spleep]

Just checked tonite for Amhipods after topping up with fresh water - hardly any left! have i screwed up already?

[iantoh]

hi there UK Newbie,

try surprising the area where you last spotted the amphipods with a flash light at night. hopefully, youll find that theyre still there.

if youve just set up the tank, youre likely to be experiencing the various stages of tank cycling at the moment, so the nitrites and nitrates will be at higher than optimal levels, and this might have killed off some of your pod population, but with the addition of corals, and their attached rock fragments, over time they should repopulate to some degree, especially if you dont rush to add carnivorous fishes.

you seem to be on track with everything, though id suggest making a google search for your skimmer model, and viewing pictures of how others have set up their skimmer to compare against your installation, to ensure youve got it running right.

is this a self-contained single tank system, or do you have a sump area? for me, i find that the primary issue with hang on back skimmers, especially the cheaper variants, is that they do not incorporate a surface skimmer to draw water from the surface. in marine systems, nutrients that we dont wish to accumulate in the tank (organic particles, oils, etc), will float because of the specific gravity of salt water. so it is thus crucial that your skimmer draws in water from the surface portion of the tank. if its drawing water from mid-column, it will miss most of the organics that are floating and accumulating on the surface, and appear to be malfunctioning, so to say. some LFS do sell add-on accessories to incorporate a surface skimmer to HOB skimmers, so do explore that.

well.. hope that helps some what.

cheers,

ian

[spleep]

hi there UK Newbie,

try surprising the area where you last spotted the amphipods with a flash light at night. hopefully, youll find that theyre still there.

if youve just set up the tank, youre likely to be experiencing the various stages of tank cycling at the moment, so the nitrites and nitrates will be at higher than optimal levels, and this might have killed off some of your pod population, but with the addition of corals, and their attached rock fragments, over time they should repopulate to some degree, especially if you dont rush to add carnivorous fishes.

you seem to be on track with everything, though id suggest making a google search for your skimmer model, and viewing pictures of how others have set up their skimmer to compare against your installation, to ensure youve got it running right.

is this a self-contained single tank system, or do you have a sump area? for me, i find that the primary issue with hang on back skimmers, especially the cheaper variants, is that they do not incorporate a surface skimmer to draw water from the surface. in marine systems, nutrients that we dont wish to accumulate in the tank (organic particles, oils, etc), will float because of the specific gravity of salt water. so it is thus crucial that your skimmer draws in water from the surface portion of the tank. if its drawing water from mid-column, it will miss most of the organics that are floating and accumulating on the surface, and appear to be malfunctioning, so to say. some LFS do sell add-on accessories to incorporate a surface skimmer to HOB skimmers, so do explore that.

well.. hope that helps some what.

cheers,

ian

[spleep]

Thanks Ian,

You were right - still some nocturnal life with a few Amphipods. Am going to get a little more live rock today and may look into replacing skimmer. Getting some brown algae now so may get a snail as well.

Will keep you posted.

Sam

[spleep]

Got another 2 kilo of live rock. trouble is it came with red headed fireworms, a big 2" fireworm and a crab with pointy claws!! Have 2 turbo snails and 2 blue legged hermits. I think one turbo has died as it hasn't moved for a day or two - help!!!

[big_ben102000]

u can place a small bottle in the sand bed and place a small piece of food, the crab should fall into the bottle. if that doesnt work, place the rock that contain those critters in freshwater. they will scramble out in a few minutes, thats what happen when i did it to one of my rock with worms and crabs. if they doesnt come out, to be safe, place it in fresh water over night. even if it doesnt come out, it will be dead.

[anzp]

haha.

care to post pictures??

interesting!

[spleep]

Hi mate,

Will post pictures soon. Designed an anti-evaporation drip today, so will include pictures of that as well.

Got any suggestions on any reef safe soft corals? Only got 2 x 18w day and blue lights 50 - 50 so am limited. I am considering a shrimp, but would need hardy type. Would it need feeding or just live off dead amphipods and other natural fauna / flora?

Thanks

[spleep]

Hi Big Ben,

Don't want to kill the tube worms attached, (mini feather dusters). Also, paid a fortune for live rock - surely this will just turn it to dead rock? Tried the bottle trick - no good! I am not putting any food in the tank so will the crab and worms just starve to death?

Any other ideas?

[big_ben102000]

i think it will take awhile for them to strave to death, they will probably feed on the marco flora that are on the LR. does the crabs and worm come out at night? if they do then try catch them when the lights are out. alternatively u can try adding in a trigger, which will wack the hell out of the crab at least thats what my trigger did. try adding six line wrasse? they are known to attack worms. however i am not too sure whether the 2 fishes above will attack your feather dusters.

cheers

[spleep]

Hi Big Ben,

Found dead crab when re-organising rocks to include some new green feather dusters. Killed big worm with thin rod when it was feeding on a Turbo snail. Have added a clown and 2 turbos to replace dead ones. All seems well...................!

Sam (uk newbie)

[big_ben102000]

haha congrats. think you might wanna add a wrasse for worm control. haha you cant really be sure that those critters are gone

cheers