Keegster803's 6 gal nano reef build

[keegster803]

Hey guys, I go the green light from my parents on a saltwater tank and took the chance, I went out and bought a Fluval spec, live rock, and water. I will be posting pics as I build. I am using the caribsea cichlid rift sand as my LFS said it would be ok for the tank, just make it cycle slower.


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[Sniperhank]

The sand won't make the cycle any slower. Sand is sand, just made out of different elements. My only concern would be if the rock is porous. Just grab yourself a cocktail shrimp, ask your mom for old panty hose, tie it inside and toss it in.

 

[keegster803]

Hey guys, I added the cocktail shrimp today, and I cut a big chunk of live rock in half and put it in the tank, is this alright?


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[Sniperhank]

Sure. If you're cycling get all the rock into the tank so you can have as much area for bacteria to grow on.

 

[keegster803]

I have a bunch of little brine shrimp like creatures on my glass, what are they? And what's the difference between the saltwater master test and the freshwater master test?

And since live rock is so expensive, could I buy some hokey rock and put it in their? Or is that a big no-no?


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[Sniperhank]

Your 'little shrimp' are pods, most likely amphipods. Good guys to have in the tank.

When it comes to rock, it doesn't have to be live. That said, you can't just go grabbing any porous rock. Some aren't made of the best stuff on earth and can leach nasty stuff into the water. Try looking into macro or base rock and see if that better fits your budget, though you only need a small amount for your tank thankfully!

The difference between the saltwater and fresh master tests is that the colors won't exactly match up when used on the other.

 

[blueramboy87]

I sent API an email and they sent me a saltwater card for free that I can just use with my freshwater kit.

 

[keegster803]

So I just need the saltwater cards?


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[blueramboy87]

Yep that's exactly what I'm doing.

 

[Sniperhank]

So I just need the saltwater cards?


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The color will still be off some.

 

[keegster803]

Ok, thanks for all the replies, now for the livestock list, any advice? I wanna do zoas, and I'm planning on getting an upgraded lighting system. What else could I do for this reef? And any kind of cool zoas I should try?


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[nshepler]

I think zoas are about personal likes, just look at a bunch and pick out your favorites.


Shep

 

[keegster803]

Hey guys, I started to see this muddy gray stuff on my rock and sand, any ideas? It looks kind of like concrete that hasn't hardened.


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[keegster803]

got any ideas on what it might be?


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[dylan p]

Looks like carbon from the filter or maybe chucks of a magnet from a glass scrubber


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[keegster803]

I think it might be carbon, but I just needed to make sure it wasn't leeched out from the piece of love rock that I cut into the 2 base rocks for the other one to sit on.


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[keegster803]

Hey guys I am doing 50%water-changes weekly, is this good? Or is it too much? I bought a bucket of instant ocean salt, mixes up to 160 gallons of salt water, for only $39.99. I was wondering if the light that the fluval comes with would be ok for growing zoas? Or should I get a new light? If I need a new light, should I get metal halides? Or T5s?


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[keegster803]

Anyone? This is my first saltwater tank ever, and I wanna minimize the mistakes on this tank, as I know saltwater is very expensive


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[Sniperhank]

That would be a great routine to keep things in check. That is the one major nutrient export by water changes, compared to skimmers for example.

 

[keegster803]

Thanks, and what about the lights?


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