Fluval M-60 Reef (25 Gallons)

[Istrom]

Hey everyone

I recently made a post about what tank I should get. I ended up getting a Fluval Reef kit. It comes with:
Rimless 24 Gallon Tank
(Show tank is 18 G)
Built in overflow
(Filtration area is 6 G)
Fluval Protein Skimmer
425 GPH Powerhead
Return pump
25 Watt Fluval LED Reef Lamp
Tank stand

No pictures for now, the tank is foggy from just being set up.

The tank comes with a valve for water changes.

I attached the stock image from the fluval site to this post.

Basically, I just want some suggestions on what to stock in the tank. For fish, I'm thinking a tailspot blenny, or maybe a small angler. I'd love to get a smaller puffer, but I know that they tend to eat coral.

I plan on augmenting the lighting system with TrueLumen LED strips.

I know that the lights aren't great as they are right now. I'm going to get a fungia for sure, and I'm considering trying a montipora near the top.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[Istrom]

Update:
Tank is stacked, and has black live sand. Powerhead, pumps, lights, and skimmer are all running. I added matrix (from my cycled 90 Reef) to the filter chamber today.

I've done a little more research on fish for the tank. One thing I have considered is just coral, and a mantis shrimp. Here's my updated possibilities list:
Mantis shrimp
Angler
Damsels (and only Damsels)
ORA Gold Nugget Clown
Green striped goby
Court jester goby
Pom pom crab
Yasha goby
Firefish goby
Splendid dottyback
Ring eye dottyback
Red elongated dottyback
Orangetail dottyback
Zebra barred dartfish
Tail spot blenny
White banded possum wrasse

(no, I don't plan on getting all of these lol. Maybe a combo of some of them, as long as they're compatible)

 

[coralbandit]

NICE!
What makes you consider the true lumens?
I have owned a ton(aprox. 40 LF!) of them for years but know of few others who use them.
They are impressive for their sleek design.

 

[Istrom]

They have decent wattage, and spectrum. Plus the fluval lights have the blues and whites on the same channel, so a timer won't work well. I'm going to use the fluval lights either way, I'm just going to add a couple TrueLumen bars on different channels so I can do night lights, and get more wattage for a red planet acropora.

What's you're experience with the TrueLumens? What have you been able to grow with them?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[coralbandit]

I actually have the true lumen PROS!(My Bad!)
I went right there seeing true lumen in your post.
There is a considerable difference in power and price.
I have not owned the true lumens sorry.
Tank looks good and I'm following.
NOBODY uses the true lumen pros(except me!)! That is why I jumped right in(mouth first!).

 

[Istrom]

Actually I was talking about the pros! I know the regular ones have decent illumination, but they have very low wattage. So my questions still stand.

What are your experiences with the pro TrueLumens? What have you grown with them?

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Also, small update:

First water test

PH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.024
Ammonia: .125 PPM
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[coralbandit]

I have a carpet nem,many mushrooms,and leathers in my 75 run only by the pros.
I have had as many as 8 4' strips at one time.
I have 4 @4' on my 75 now.
I don't do one tenth the maintenance on my marine tanks as my fresh,so the tank has calurpae and such growing free!
I like using a timer for each power cell to create my own sunrise,day ,high noon,evening,dusk ,night lighting!
I have had a few issues with the transformer(power converter) for these lights but fortunately also found an aftermarket supplier(I like to keep Current on their toes and truly feel their customer service sucks!!!!).
Make sure you register (officially ) anything you buy form them!Ask me how I know?
I like the lights and 3-4 years in the fixture is bright as ever(for real).
The power switchers?????
So many more options for less today.
I have 2 mars aqua fixtures still in box for my 120 if the light fails and they cost less then 1 @4' and transformer of a true lumen pro!

 

[Istrom]

Awesome! I think I'm going to get two 24" strips, one with the mixed actinic and 12,000k, and the other that's only actinic (to bring coral colors out, and for night lighting).

Carpet nems need very high light, correct?

Also, do you have any pictures of the tank with the lights on it?

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Second water test (from 8/9)

PH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.024
Ammonia: .25 PPM
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

I'm gonna throw some krill into a fine mesh bag and throw it in for a couple days to hurry the Ammonia spike

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Just got TrueLumen Pro 24" LED strip over the tank looks good!

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Tons of copepods on the tanks glass!

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Upgraded the lighting to a Rapid LED Onyx unit (100 watts). The PAR chart (at 24 inches into the aquarium) is below.

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

Just added a fuge using my old aqueon evolve 4 gallon tank, the 150 GPH drain valve in the fluval tank, and a Rio 800 return pump!

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Sniperhank]

Things are looking pretty slick. How are the lights?

 

[Istrom]

Fantastic, actually 100 watts, I have an acro, and two maxima clams in the sand bed.

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Sniperhank]

Things are going really well then. I'm pretty jealous, for whatever reason clams in my system just aren't making it. Can't catch any issue on a test but thinking whatever it is is due to the use of distilled over ro/di water.

 

[Mattyfelts]

You need to make a build thread or a how to on the fuge setup and everything ! Sweet setup!!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Istrom]

Haha thanks Matty, maybe I will it's a pretty cheap and easy option for a fuge. I've always had luck with clams. For a while I had my first one under very weak LEDs.

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef

 

[Istrom]

My clams

90 G Reef
55 G Discus
24 G Reef