chipmunkofdoom2
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone! Before we get started, the latest FTS of this tank can always be found here.
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, down to business! I used to be pretty active on this site, but life has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. There has been good, bad, and everything in between. Yet, as much as my life changes, there's still one thing I keep coming back to: saltwater aquariums. So, after landing a full-time work from home job late last year, I decided what better way is there to spruce up my home office than another tank? And so, here I am
I've kept two 29 gallon tanks previously and never had the discipline to take care of them properly, and thus never had much longevity or success in the hobby. I think my problem is I always tried to go too high tech or use equipment that was too sophisticated in order to make things easier. My last aquarium, for instance, got so overrun with GHA that I just gave up and took it down. I tried to solve my algae problems with a mini-sump/fuge that contained cheato, but the cold hard truth of the matter was that I wasn't doing enough water changes and I wasn't keeping up with cleaning the sand and rocks. Simply changing the water more frequently would have literally solved all my problems, but I kept insisting that I needed newer or different methods of filtration. Now that I'm a bit older (though not much wiser!) and have some more time on my hands, I think it's time for me to try again.
The theme of this tank is going to be simplicity. I was considering adding a sump with an overflow box, if for no other reason than to keep the equipment out of the display. While I may have to resort to this if I have nutrient problems in the future, for now I'm going without. Literally the only things in the tank will be the ATO float switch, live rock, powerhead, thermometer and heater. With basically no filtration besides the live rock, I'm relying on weekly water changes to export nutrients and keep the chemistry on balance. Here are the current specs and my planned maintenance schedule:
Tank: Standard 10g
Equipment and Specs:
Current water chemistry: 78*F, 1.026SG/35ppt, CA: 425ppm, Alk: 8 dKh)
Planned maintenance schedule
Planned livestock
And now, the pictures. The tank was set up last week and had its first water change Sunday.
Decided to go all in and hang the light from the ceiling! I think it looks good, though I'm not a fan of how I had to run the power and controller cords to the light...
Clean and simple (at least IMO!) aquascape.
An overhead shot of my float switch for my DIY ATO and the Koralia.
Any questions, please let me know! Looking forward to getting back in the hobby, and looking forward to being back at RS
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, down to business! I used to be pretty active on this site, but life has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. There has been good, bad, and everything in between. Yet, as much as my life changes, there's still one thing I keep coming back to: saltwater aquariums. So, after landing a full-time work from home job late last year, I decided what better way is there to spruce up my home office than another tank? And so, here I am
I've kept two 29 gallon tanks previously and never had the discipline to take care of them properly, and thus never had much longevity or success in the hobby. I think my problem is I always tried to go too high tech or use equipment that was too sophisticated in order to make things easier. My last aquarium, for instance, got so overrun with GHA that I just gave up and took it down. I tried to solve my algae problems with a mini-sump/fuge that contained cheato, but the cold hard truth of the matter was that I wasn't doing enough water changes and I wasn't keeping up with cleaning the sand and rocks. Simply changing the water more frequently would have literally solved all my problems, but I kept insisting that I needed newer or different methods of filtration. Now that I'm a bit older (though not much wiser!) and have some more time on my hands, I think it's time for me to try again.
The theme of this tank is going to be simplicity. I was considering adding a sump with an overflow box, if for no other reason than to keep the equipment out of the display. While I may have to resort to this if I have nutrient problems in the future, for now I'm going without. Literally the only things in the tank will be the ATO float switch, live rock, powerhead, thermometer and heater. With basically no filtration besides the live rock, I'm relying on weekly water changes to export nutrients and keep the chemistry on balance. Here are the current specs and my planned maintenance schedule:
Tank: Standard 10g
Equipment and Specs:
- AI Sol Blue LED light with AI controller (custom enclosure pending so I can remove optics)
- 150W ViaAqua Ti heater (large for a 10g, I know. DIY external temperature control device pending)
- Koralia Nano 425 (425gph flow, 42.5x turnover)
- DIY ATO powered by peristaltic dosing pump ($11.50 total cost, I can do a tutorial if anyone is interested)
- Unknown quantity of dry rock from friend's old tank (didn't even weigh it, just made a pleasing aquscape and left it at that)
- No sand (bare bottom)
- Generic digital thermometer
- Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt
Current water chemistry: 78*F, 1.026SG/35ppt, CA: 425ppm, Alk: 8 dKh)
Planned maintenance schedule
- Weekly 25% water change: Begin mixing water on Saturday, change on Sunday
- Testing newly mixed saltwater before adding, testing tank parameters the day after the water change, and testing once later in the week as well (Thurs/Fri?)
Planned livestock
- 1x Picasso clown (was going to go for two, but without a sump I'm not sure how well I'd be able to keep up with two)
- Softies, LPS and SPS (working my way from easiest to hardest, in that order.. never kept SPS before!)
And now, the pictures. The tank was set up last week and had its first water change Sunday.
Decided to go all in and hang the light from the ceiling! I think it looks good, though I'm not a fan of how I had to run the power and controller cords to the light...
Clean and simple (at least IMO!) aquascape.
An overhead shot of my float switch for my DIY ATO and the Koralia.
Any questions, please let me know! Looking forward to getting back in the hobby, and looking forward to being back at RS