29 Reef
St. Louis, Missouri USA
Introduction
I have kept aquariums since I was a teenager. I started with the usual suspects, goldfish. Then I moved up through various tanks and fish until I found Red Oscars. Those guys were like garbage disposals, I loved them. They got old as I was a teenager and I quit for a while. When I got out of high school I started a 55 gallon salt tank. I read everything I could find at the time, I still have my Albert Thiel books, plus his newest on Nano-Tanks. I gave up on the salt tank after about a year because everything kept dying on me. About 6 years ago I started another freshwater community tank with lots plants, it did very well until I have to move and I just got rid of everything. My other 29 gallon had mollies in it and I got rid of all but the tank. I set the 29 up about a year ago and decided to start a nano-reef. Here I am!
Background
The tank has been upgraded several times and now has an EcoTech Radion XR30 G3, EcoTech MP10WQD, EcoTech ReefLink and EcoTech Battery Backup. I'm in the process of planning a new 93 gallon cube and all of these updates will be moving to it. I was never really happy with my aquascape so the new tank is a chance to start over and do things like I should have done. Still using the Aquafuge 2 HOB and it's just not enough skimmer... But the fish are happy and the corals are happy, so who knows?
Videos See all Videos
Filtration
I use a Marineland C-160 canister filter with polishing floss, ceramic rings, carbon bags, and filter foam. The Aquafuge 2 provides some macro algae and skimming. I'm thinking of updating to a sump sometime.
Temperature
Salinity
Magnesium
Calcium
Alkalinity
Nitrate
Phosphate
Iodine
Iron
Potassium
Nitrite
pH
Currently the inhabitants include a Purple Firefish, a Banggai Cardinal, a Bicolor Blenny, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, an Emerald Crab and a Peppermint Shrimp. The Blenny is a character and makes us laugh all the time when he darts around and makes funny faces at us. The female clown is the boss and likes to run the show (who would have guessed?) :)
- 1
- 0
- Ocellaris Clownfish
- sekunda2003
30 Coral
Mellow Yellow Paly
Palythoa sp
4 Fish
34 Invertebrate
Equipment
Accessory
Additive
Aquarium
Cleaning
Controller
Ocean Pulse Wavemaker
Food
Hikari BioPure Cyclopod
Hikari BioPure Spirulina Brine Shrimp
Kent Essential Elements
O.S.I. Artemia Food
Filter
Marineland C-160 Canister Filter
Heater
Marineland Precision 200
Lighting
Aquatic Life 48" 2x54W T5HO Fixture (LINK)
EcoXotic EcoPico Arm Light
Mini Clip Lamp - 25w
Media
25
Oceans Wonders Coral Frag Plugs
Powerhead
Accela ASP1-1000
Refractometer
Refugium
CPR Aquafuge 2 PS
TestKit
Other
Bulk Reef Supply Coral Propagation Kit
Flipper Nano Scraper
Kent SeaSquirt Feeding Syringe
P3 Kill A Watt PS10
Tom Aquarium Aquatic Gardener
Zilla analog power timer center
As of 1/18/14 I have changed over to using the Red Sea Reef Care Program. I hope to have everything balanced and normal within a week or two so I can figure out my new dosing schedules. After 2 days of using these products I have nothing but great things to say so far. My corals and fish have never looked better or healthier. The colors are amazing already!
- 1
- 0
- Palythoa - Green People Eaters
- sekunda2003
Dosing See more
Red Sea Reef Foundation A 37.5 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea Reef Foundation C 50 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 21.6 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 49.6 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 21.6 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 25.2 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Reef Foundation A 99 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 25.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 21.6 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 16.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 36 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 21.6 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.2 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.5 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.5 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 10.8 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.5 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 12 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 8.4 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 33.6 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea NO3:PO4-X 0.1 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 41 ml · Red Sea Foundation A 7.5 ml · Red Sea Coralline Gro 0.8 ml
Red Sea Reef Care Program:
Foundation A
Coralline Gro
Foundation C
NO3-PO4-X
Reef Energy A
Reef Energy B
Coral Colors A
Coral Colors B
Coral Colors C
Coral Colors D
Foundation A
Coralline Gro
Foundation C
NO3-PO4-X
Reef Energy A
Reef Energy B
Coral Colors A
Coral Colors B
Coral Colors C
Coral Colors D
- 1
- 0
- Bicolor Blenny
- sekunda2003
Feeding See more
Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Mixed flakes · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Mixed frozen food · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.2 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Nori 1 tab · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Hikari Bio-Pure Spirulina Brine Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Hikari Mysis Shrimp 0.5 tab · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Boyd Vitachem 5 drops · Fed Nori 0.3 sheet · Fed Reef Energy B 2 ml · Fed Reef Energy A 2 ml · Fed Nori 2 tabs
I rotate feedings between several kinds of flake food and frozen. They seem to like everything, but mysis shrimp seem to get the best reaction after the coral frenzy.
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- Hammer / Anchor Coral, Branching
- sekunda2003
Maintenance
I have been making 10% water changes weekly for quite a while now. Last weekend I did a 20% water change and things seemed to level out much easier than before. I think this will be my new pattern for a while and see how things go. I also vacuum 1/2 of the substrate each weekend when I do a water change.
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- Trumpet Coral
- sekunda2003
On average you perform a 18.9% water change every 36 days.
0% total water change in 2024-11-28T09:42:55.175087Z[GMT].
Inspiration & Goals
Doing research on aquascapes and livestock for a newer 93 gallon cube to replace this tank. Some of the tanks I have seen out there are just amazing and I want mine to be like that. Really digging the spacious 2 bommie type layouts at the moment that leave a lot of swimming area. Might even do a biotope tank this time. At least have some kind of plan going in...
The BRS 52 Weeks of Reefing video series has been very educational and helps in making decisions moving forward.
The BRS 52 Weeks of Reefing video series has been very educational and helps in making decisions moving forward.
Words of Wisdom
Take the time to do lots of research BEFORE you set up a tank. Get all the equipment you want up front and get the best you can get, you will be replacing it later. It doesn't help to skimp on quality anywhere. I'm still trying to get caught up with updated equipment and such.
Build you entire setup on paper before you buy anything. Know what fish you want, what corals you want, make sure they are all compatible, and what lighting and flow you need for those choices.
Build you entire setup on paper before you buy anything. Know what fish you want, what corals you want, make sure they are all compatible, and what lighting and flow you need for those choices.
Disasters & Regrets
Its taken about 4 months to recover from a partial crash. All of my coralline algae turned white and my levels all went crazy and we lost a few critters. Still haven't found out what happened, but have made various upgrades since and things seem to be going very well now.
Sometimes I would like to start over with all that I know now and do things differently. I guess that's just life though :)
I really wish I would have spent more time getting things together before I filled the tank with water. A sump would work much better than the Aquafuge, and it would get the heater out of the display. I should have secured my live rock, every time I work on stuff it seems to move a little here and there.
Sometimes I would like to start over with all that I know now and do things differently. I guess that's just life though :)
I really wish I would have spent more time getting things together before I filled the tank with water. A sump would work much better than the Aquafuge, and it would get the heater out of the display. I should have secured my live rock, every time I work on stuff it seems to move a little here and there.
Acknowledgements
I have been researching for over a year and learning so much, its hard to pick any one resource as the best. I find the BRS videos to be super helpful and several of the forums as well. I have several books and I like to reread them any chance I get. Thank you to anyone who has ever said or written anything, however small, that has helped me advance in my love of aquatic critters.
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- Duncan Polyp
- sekunda2003