12 gallon CAD nano journal

[Starchar]

Well I finally got my 12 Gallon CAD in today (actually yesterday but I wasn't in the office to open the box). So I thought that I would share with you my ideas, photos, and hopefully benefit from your thoughts and experiences.

So here goes:

12 Gallon Aquarium with built in refugium
250 GPH pump
Tank dimensions: (L)15" x (W)15" x (H)13"
Full sized 3-chambers refugium dimensions: (L)14.5" x (W)3" x (H)12.5"
90 degree hinged light mount.
(2) 8W 10,000K and (2) 8W Actinic blues.
individual reflectors for each bulb
Loc-line bulk-head fitting
Hydor 50w heater
~14lbs of black Sand
5.5 lbs of live rock
2.5 lbs of base rock (could find another live rock that I liked)

SG at 1.023
started new cycle today approx 3:00 PM EST

Would love your thoughts, concerns, ideas, and mostly ideas for stock. I am contemplating (Yellow Watchman Goby, Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Black Clown).

Here are some photos!

 

[Starchar]

Here are a couple photos after I started cycling.

 

[iDream]

Woo!

Glad you got it! I'm assuming you had no problems with it?

Awesome that it actually came with those T5s too! I like that large coral rock you have there too!

 

[Starchar]

No problems at all which is great considering there were also no instructions.

I have chaeto in the ref and it looks like the lighting for the tank may actually cover the ref as well!

Now just waiting on the cycle....

 

[Starchar]

Measurements today:

0 Ammonia
0 Nitrites
0 Nitrates
Ph 8.2

Added some "Go Juice". Going to let that stew over the weekend and will check parameters on Monday.

 

[iDream]

"Go Juice"? One of those miracle cycling additives?

Do you know if you bought cured or uncured rock?

 

[Starchar]

Yeah it was only a couple of bucks and I figure it couldn't hurt to throw it in. I believe it is the cultured bacteria? It was green and smelled less than wonderful. But it was only a couple bucks. I was there more for the activated carbon bag.

I am using cultured live rock. I am not expecting much of a cycle.

 

[Starchar]

Came into the office this morning and tested the water. All looks great! I dropped a few hermits in on Friday to pick at the live rock and I never noticed how much waste is produced by hermit crabs! It is really noticeable against the black sand.

I moved my frogspawn in the tank. He will benefit from the better lighting and I had to get him out of my sea horse tank. He will be much happier here.

Ordered a clip on refugium light today for my chaeto and a hydor koralia 240 nano powerhead.

So what are some thoughts on stock?

 

[iDream]

Mantis shrimp!

 

[Starchar]

Thought about it but looking for something visible. Looking to showcase something and add some coral as well. Thought about anenome and clown but concerned with the moving anenome and the potential for stinging corals. Also since this is open top I need to stay away from jumpers.

 

[Starchar]

Pretty sure I am going with two percale clowns and a long tentacle anenome. I love the whole clownfish - anenome relationship even though it is pretty much a saltwater fish cliché. I reuse to name it Nemo though.

 

[iDream]

Get some of those designer clowns if you're going to showcase something.

And of course they smart thing to do would be add the nem, let it settle in, then add corals around him

 

[Starchar]

That is the plan so that the nem isn't zapping the corals.

 

[iDream]

Obviously you know to wait about a year or so to add the nem right?

 

[Starchar]

I know that it requires a well established tank.

Still considering my options at this point.

 

[Starchar]

Well I am running and all is well. I have 2 True Percs a frogspawn and a torch. Water parameters are great and doing PWC's every 3rd day or so. Here are some pics

 

[iDream]

Beautiful clowns! A very nice looking torch as well!

 

[Starchar]

Added some snails and an emerald crab for cleanup crew today. I already had a few hermits in there. Also a new mushroom frag that I added last week. Got it from frags.org, pretty cool there.

 

[Starchar]

New addition to the tank!