Fede-Hanover
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2013
- Messages
- 8
Hi,
This is my first SW tank (only FW planted tank experience). I chose to go with the IM 16. IMO it's expensive, but easy to use and set up (I have it in my office desk).
This is my current gear and livestock:
1) Innovative Marine 16 Nuvo Black
2) Innovative Marine Protein Skimmer Desktop
3) 18 lbs of "Real Reef" live rock
4) 17 lbs of Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand
5) Two Koralia Nano 425 gph (on timer)
6) Cobalt heater 50W
7) Livestock (for now) 2 True Percula Clowfish, 1 fire shrimp, 2 red leg hermit crabs
Cycling: for cycling I used the live sand, live rock (already cured), and Bio-Spira. The cycling was a little bit odd (given that I used Bio-Spira)... the Nitrites staid high for 2 days, after the ammonia spiked. That same day I add more bacteria from the Bio-Spira bottle, and did a 20% WC after 24hs (4th day). The WC helped reduced the Nitrite and Nitrates. Now it's full cycled.
Live sand: I follow the guide of the books that I read. 1) Fill 1/2 of the tank with water 2) throw the sand.... It was clouded for 24 hs, but it settled fast. I was going to use the cup technique, but I chose to follow the book. I don't really don't know if it makes a difference.
Live Rock: I chose the Real Reef because it's more environmental friendly and the color looks real good. Also, it came cured from my lfs. No hitchhikers at all.
Aquascape: It was not easy. I tried to minimize the amount of rock touching the sand. I have 3 tunnel and 1.5 inches of space between the rock and the glass at the back. Given that the fish tank is very narrow, I'm happy with the result.
Powerheads: I'm still doubting about the position. #1 (during the day) aims to the middle of the front glass from one side. #2 (during the night) aims to the back of the rocks. I guess that after I add soft corals I'll decide if the position is ok.
Skimmer: This was a mistake (for now ). I didn't know that the skimmers can overflow depending on the water level (I'm afraid of flooding my office). Also, it makes a lot of microbubbles.... I'm still doubting about using it.
After 4 months of reading and researching, I'm extremely happy about the outcome. The learning doesn't end.... Now I need to understand the effects of having a 425 PH aiming to the back of the LR in a 16 gallon tank and decide what to do with the skimmer issue. This is the start.
Here are some pics:
This is my first SW tank (only FW planted tank experience). I chose to go with the IM 16. IMO it's expensive, but easy to use and set up (I have it in my office desk).
This is my current gear and livestock:
1) Innovative Marine 16 Nuvo Black
2) Innovative Marine Protein Skimmer Desktop
3) 18 lbs of "Real Reef" live rock
4) 17 lbs of Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand
5) Two Koralia Nano 425 gph (on timer)
6) Cobalt heater 50W
7) Livestock (for now) 2 True Percula Clowfish, 1 fire shrimp, 2 red leg hermit crabs
Cycling: for cycling I used the live sand, live rock (already cured), and Bio-Spira. The cycling was a little bit odd (given that I used Bio-Spira)... the Nitrites staid high for 2 days, after the ammonia spiked. That same day I add more bacteria from the Bio-Spira bottle, and did a 20% WC after 24hs (4th day). The WC helped reduced the Nitrite and Nitrates. Now it's full cycled.
Live sand: I follow the guide of the books that I read. 1) Fill 1/2 of the tank with water 2) throw the sand.... It was clouded for 24 hs, but it settled fast. I was going to use the cup technique, but I chose to follow the book. I don't really don't know if it makes a difference.
Live Rock: I chose the Real Reef because it's more environmental friendly and the color looks real good. Also, it came cured from my lfs. No hitchhikers at all.
Aquascape: It was not easy. I tried to minimize the amount of rock touching the sand. I have 3 tunnel and 1.5 inches of space between the rock and the glass at the back. Given that the fish tank is very narrow, I'm happy with the result.
Powerheads: I'm still doubting about the position. #1 (during the day) aims to the middle of the front glass from one side. #2 (during the night) aims to the back of the rocks. I guess that after I add soft corals I'll decide if the position is ok.
Skimmer: This was a mistake (for now ). I didn't know that the skimmers can overflow depending on the water level (I'm afraid of flooding my office). Also, it makes a lot of microbubbles.... I'm still doubting about using it.
After 4 months of reading and researching, I'm extremely happy about the outcome. The learning doesn't end.... Now I need to understand the effects of having a 425 PH aiming to the back of the LR in a 16 gallon tank and decide what to do with the skimmer issue. This is the start.
Here are some pics: