Hello, Im new to this website but I kept tanks in the past. Ive seen lots of videos and some vague posts by reef builders on a coral cycle. I couldn’t find anyone with experience so I figured Id do a “cheap” basic set up. The tank is currently 2 days old and has some of what I think are basics for a reef tank.
equipment:
Aquatop bow front 13 gallon
Glass lid to slow evap.
Small aio pump, with rear chamber filtration:
Bio balls and chemi pure blue
Drainage system has walmart poly fill (changed out when visually dirty)
Live sand
New rock
Lighting- amazon 70 buck light 2nd gen A029
Coral:
Some LPS like branching splatter hammer and Acan
Pulsing Xenia
Misc. Zoas
New to me is “beginner” SPS of some kind from a local hobbiest where the majority of corals came from.
So now that the basics are covered. In terms of care I didnt add liquid bacteria because it contains high nitrates and nitrites to fuel bacteria from what Ive researched. Im doing a 2 gallon water change per week. 0 feedings for the first week or two in theory. There is no instruction manual to this so Im assuming clean is better.
My background has always had “dirty” tanks for the fastest softy coral growth possible. It worked wonders but I couldnt keep simple monti’s or other beginner sps. So this tank will, from my knowledge have much slower zoa growth and softies in general but it will allow me to keep euphyllia and sps hopefully with a low budget build (also hopefully “low maintenance”)
Anywho, here is a quick pic before I add more corals later this week. Feel free to add advice or anything. Its much appreciated.
equipment:
Aquatop bow front 13 gallon
Glass lid to slow evap.
Small aio pump, with rear chamber filtration:
Bio balls and chemi pure blue
Drainage system has walmart poly fill (changed out when visually dirty)
Live sand
New rock
Lighting- amazon 70 buck light 2nd gen A029
Coral:
Some LPS like branching splatter hammer and Acan
Pulsing Xenia
Misc. Zoas
New to me is “beginner” SPS of some kind from a local hobbiest where the majority of corals came from.
So now that the basics are covered. In terms of care I didnt add liquid bacteria because it contains high nitrates and nitrites to fuel bacteria from what Ive researched. Im doing a 2 gallon water change per week. 0 feedings for the first week or two in theory. There is no instruction manual to this so Im assuming clean is better.
My background has always had “dirty” tanks for the fastest softy coral growth possible. It worked wonders but I couldnt keep simple monti’s or other beginner sps. So this tank will, from my knowledge have much slower zoa growth and softies in general but it will allow me to keep euphyllia and sps hopefully with a low budget build (also hopefully “low maintenance”)
Anywho, here is a quick pic before I add more corals later this week. Feel free to add advice or anything. Its much appreciated.