fluval Chi to 10 gal upgrade

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Nothing like the feeling of topping off my tank with water I feel is dirty. Ugh... I really gotta get a RODI unit. I'm gonna start saving. Cause grocery store RO water has something in it that algae likes and it kills me to use it to top off. And I CAN'T use tap water. That tests for 40ppm nitrates. Who knows what else is in there... Woe is me.

Funny... I can drink my tap water but it's not good enough for my fish... LMAO!
 
Well, time for an update. I've not added anything new but the things I have are doing well. I did a 2 gal pwc today. My hair algae is practically gone. I have a little cyano here and there but the hermits and snails eat it so I'm not worried with it. Here's some pictures!

(Side view) http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/members/57623-albums10765-picture47051.html

FTS-
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/members/57623-albums10765-picture47054.html

Grape Monti:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/members/57623-albums10765-picture47052.html

Zoas and Palys:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/members/57623-albums10765-picture47056.html

Pagoda Cup:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/members/57623-albums10765-picture47055.html
 
Everything is looking very happy in there. Is it time to put a fish in yet? Just a little one-you know you wanna!! :D
 
I'm hoping that for a Christmas present to myself I can get 15lbs of base rock from reefcleaners.org along with 2 zig zag periwinkles and 2 dwarf cerith snails. I feel like my tank looks so empty. And I have decided on getting a yellow tail damsel for the tank. I know suggested tank size for an adult is at least 20 gallons, but I feel like I can keep it happy and healthy. It will be my only fishy.

If I get some live rock rubble from the store for my second HOB, and ask them to put water in the bag like if it were a fish in there, would a 25 minute drive home be to long? Would there be a lot of die off to cause my tank to have a mini cycle? I feel like it would be ok.
 
It would be perfectly fine. You shouldn't see die off unless the rubble is very fresh or it has black sponges which you will see and smell. They can be removed with a toothbrush.

I honestly believe your situation is one of the better ones for keeping a single yellow tail damsel. Yes, a 20 would be better but the little guy should be fine. If anybody gives you grief just blow it off. lol
 
CorallineAlgae said:
It would be perfectly fine. You shouldn't see die off unless the rubble is very fresh or it has black sponges which you will see and smell. They can be removed with a toothbrush.

I honestly believe your situation is one of the better ones for keeping a single yellow tail damsel. Yes, a 20 would be better but the little guy should be fine. If anybody gives you grief just blow it off. lol
Click to expand...

Thank you coraline! I value your opinion so I'm glad it was positive. :) I may get the fish first and then the base rock I want to get. :)
 
Annakhil said:
Are you planing on upgrading the lights? If so what have you been thinking of going to?
Click to expand...

I'm happy with what I have right now. If I do upgrade I'd like a 2nd par38 like the one I have. For now I won't be getting coral with high light needs. They will have to be med/ low light corals.
 
Bearchumjs said:
I'm happy with what I have right now. If I do upgrade I'd like a 2nd par38 like the one I have. For now I won't be getting coral with high light needs. They will have to be med/ low light corals.
Click to expand...

(^_^)
I prefer, much prefer, medium light on small reefs. High light means faster growth from corals and in a pico reef it's so hard to maintain the calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels needed to sustain the rate of growth you get with strong lights. There's only so much water for them to draw from. That said, my old 10 gallon reef was so packed with corals they started growing on the glass and powerheads. They were only soft corals in the tank and it was beautiful.

I HIGHLY recommend you add a normal tan colored pumping Xenia to your tank. They actually act a bit like cheato by taking up excess nutrients and improving the overall water quality in the tank. The more iffy the water the faster they seem to grow. It's my silver bullet for a small reef without a skimmer. Many people with large tanks and huge skimmers can't grow them in their SPS tanks. The water is just to pure. In a tiny reef tank they shine.
 
CorallineAlgae said:
(^_^)
I prefer, much prefer, medium light on small reefs. High light means faster growth from corals and in a pico reef it's so hard to maintain the calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels needed to sustain the rate of growth you get with strong lights. There's only so much water for them to draw from. That said, my old 10 gallon reef was so packed with corals they started growing on the glass and powerheads. They were only soft corals in the tank and it was beautiful.

I HIGHLY recommend you add a normal tan colored pumping Xenia to your tank. They actually act a bit like cheato by taking up excess nutrients and improving the overall water quality in the tank. The more iffy the water the faster they seem to grow. It's my silver bullet for a small reef without a skimmer. Many people with large tanks and huge skimmers can't grow them in their SPS tanks. The water is just to pure. In a tiny reef tank they shine.
Click to expand...

I will have to get one of those Xenias! I also want some mushrooms. I understand they like med-low light, right? Do you by chance have a picture of that tank you mentioned?
 
Bearchumjs said:
I will have to get one of those Xenias! I also want some mushrooms. I understand they like med-low light, right? Do you by chance have a picture of that tank you mentioned?
Click to expand...

No, Katrina and Rita were the end of it. I have a few pics but they're film pics, not digital. I'd need reprints as a local reef shop asked to display them on their customer wall. I broke it down after the storms. It wiped out my 30 long reef as well and I reset that one up but just broke it down and gave it to my brother a few month back. I'll be setting up a new tank in the new year. My 30 had a refugium that I set up around 1997 and ran until this year.
 
Well, I'm not feeling up to getting a fish today. I'm going to snuggle my kids. Terrible things have happened in the world today. My heart is breaking for all the families and people involved. Maybe I will get her tomorrow.
 
Ok. Going to go to get a fish today. Hopefully she is still there. I found a brand new fish store around here. It will be nice to have an option other than petco. I'm not going there today though because they don't have the damsel I want. He suggested a clown or chromis, but I have decided on the damsel and that's what I am getting. I don't think he believed me when I said I was only having one fish in my tank. Maybe if I told him its been fishless for around 3 months or so... Anyway, he said I can trade my hi fin variatus for some rummy nose tetras so that's awesome! That's freshwater stuff though... Anyway, I'll let you guys know when I bring home my new fish. :)
 
Looks great!! :) you'l get a fish soon!!

How did you treat your hair algae again? I forgot and I'm getting a tiny bit myself! Was it hermits?
 
Evansimp said:
Looks great!! :) you'l get a fish soon!!

How did you treat your hair algae again? I forgot and I'm getting a tiny bit myself! Was it hermits?
Click to expand...

Thanks you!!! im going to call on thursday to see if they got any new damsels in. Id really like a damsel. mostly because alot of people do clownfish, and i hear how alot of people hate damsels because of their aggression. I guess i developed a soft spot for them. They tried to sell me a pseudochromis like a royal dottyback or purple striped one. I just kept thinking to myself "you've not researched those. Don't do it!" LOL!

hair algae- Yeah, I have 4 hermits (2 dwarf blue leg and 2 red leg) and an emerald crab. I also have 2 cerith snails. I thought I was going to need to get some more snails or hermits but then the algae went away. It was weird, like magic. I get a little cyano growth here or there, but nothing crazy. The snails and hermits eat at it, and if it gets on my zoas I just take a soft tooth brush to it. You know, I wonder if amount of flow has anything to do with hair algae... It disappeared shortly after I upgraded my tank to the 10gal and added a second HOB filter... Whatever happened though, I'm glad that its pretty much gone now.
 
How have I not seen this thread yet??? Lol so weird.. well I havent read ALL of it but some and I'm excited for you n your eventually damsel :) you're right tho, not a lot of people like damsels the way you do haha
 
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