My BC14...

[Idragslots]

Here is my first attempt at saltwater reefkeeping

 

[carey]

Very nice attempt, lol, it looks great. Keep an eye on those xenia they grow like weeds

 

[all4wheels2]

I like it

 

[Leighton79]

Looks new, how long has it been up?

 

[Idragslots]

Looks new, how long has it been up?

Doing my 5th wc tonight...

 

[Idragslots]

WC done, Nassarius laid eggs and now Astraea is eating them. Whould they have hatched?

 

[Idragslots]

Also, I am going on vacation tomorrow for 2 weeks. My wife will be feeding the fish every other day. What will I need to do in the way of water changes to catch up when I get back. Or will it be ok to go 2 weeks just this one time w/o a water change?

 

[tlkng1]

First thing I would do to limit the food that goes in, to make it easier on your wife and make sure the tank isn't overfed, is take an ice cube tray. Add the right amount of food to the cubes and fill with saltwater. Freeze. When it comes time for feeding, all your wife has to do is pop out a cube and toss it in the tank. The cube slowly melts, releasing the food. I do this for my petsitters and it works great.

As for water changes, my other concern would be evaporation. If you haven't already, let yur wife know she may need to add water. Have pre-mixed water ready at just a slightly lower salinity to account for the rise in salinity in the tank due to evaporation.

Two weeks isn't an excessively long time but I would make sure all of my filter media, if you are using any floss, chemical media etc, is 100% fresh.

You will need to do at least a good 20% change I'd say on the day you get home and maybe another 10% each day over another two days. I would do tests in between just to monitor...your problem would probably be more from nitrates than ammonia.

 

[redsea]

It looks awesome! I love the Purple Firefish!

 

[Idragslots]

First thing I would do to limit the food that goes in, to make it easier on your wife and make sure the tank isn't overfed, is take an ice cube tray. Add the right amount of food to the cubes and fill with saltwater. Freeze. When it comes time for feeding, all your wife has to do is pop out a cube and toss it in the tank. The cube slowly melts, releasing the food. I do this for my petsitters and it works great.

As for water changes, my other concern would be evaporation. If you haven't already, let yur wife know she may need to add water. Have pre-mixed water ready at just a slightly lower salinity to account for the rise in salinity in the tank due to evaporation.

Two weeks isn't an excessively long time but I would make sure all of my filter media, if you are using any floss, chemical media etc, is 100% fresh.

You will need to do at least a good 20% change I'd say on the day you get home and maybe another 10% each day over another two days. I would do tests in between just to monitor...your problem would probably be more from nitrates than ammonia.

Yep, talked to her about the top offs and if she has any questions she will call me. Thank you for the advise

 

[all4wheels2]

I never saw any eggs from my nassarius snails, but I have noticed little baby nassarius snails roaming around no bigger than an eraser tip on a pencil

As far as the vacation....I agree with tlkng1. Except when I top off my BC14, I use freshwater. I wouldn't add any saltwater -- it'll make the salinity rise. As long as you did a large water change before you left, you should be good.

 

[Idragslots]

Well, back for vacation and my wife did great on handling the tank duties. Just gonna sit back and do weekly water changes and watch the tank grow.... I did replace the lights after I got back, really couldnt tell how bad they were until I put the new bulbs in, amazing difference.

 

[Idragslots]

Been a while since an update... Everything seems happy even got a new baby snail

 

[Greenturtle]

Is that a stylophora coral? I'm not sure that it will be ok in stock lighting for a BC14. I think they need lighting about the equivalent of a BTA's needs.

 

[Idragslots]

Is that a stylophora coral? I'm not sure that it will be ok in stock lighting for a BC14. I think they need lighting about the equivalent of a BTA's needs.

Sorry got busy at work, yes it is. I have around 4+ watts per gallon with the new stock bulbs that I just replaced. It has done very well in there.

 

[Greenturtle]

Sorry got busy at work, yes it is. I have around 4+ watts per gallon with the new stock bulbs that I just replaced. It has done very well in there.

Oh, I didn't know that about the BC14. It looks really nice! I am getting a birdsnest that looks like that one for my Biocube 29 in a few months.

 

[Rhino]

Are you just using the stock filtration our do you have it modded? Also, are you using a skimmer? I am looking at getting one and have had some hesitations

 

[austinsdad]

That xenia is gonna be a problem down the road as it will spread like wildfire. You've got it in a good place since it will spread upwards and there's not much real estae upwards of it right now. I still doubt whether xenia is a good choice for a nano. It'll need constant pruning.

Tank looks great!

 

[Crabs]

It's a good looking tank for as young as it is. I see there isn't much Coraline Algae. But I did notice what I think to b a pic of a Palau Sinularia frag. Right? I have 1 that is growing very well under the stock lighting of my Bio14. My Clown Goby Perches on it all the time. And they're right about the Xenia. It grows too well in these tanks

 

[redsea]

Been a while since an update... Everything seems happy even got a new baby snail

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View attachment 64560

Everything looks great! I love the coral!