My 24 gallon Nanocube journal (PIC HEAVY)

[Sonic]

Well some of you know me from my other posts asking how to get my tank that had been sitting for about 7 months up and running again...
I just thought I would catch anyone thats interested up to speed on how the tank is currently doing.
10/22/07 I sent the tank up with the old LR from the old tank after "cooking" it for a week. I also used the sand from the tank after cleaning it with fresh water.

 

[Sonic]

10/23/07
Tested water in the morning...
PH=7.9
AMMONIA=0
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=0
TEMP=79
SG=1.022

Added cocktail shrimp

 

[Cassette87]

Looking good! Like the aquascape, different What are you planning on as far as livestock?

 

[Sonic]

10/24/07
added 10lbs of LR from 6th st aquarium in SF($3.99 a #). Took the shrimp out. Tested the water.
PH=8.2 +
AMMONIA=.25 +
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=0
TEMP=79
SG=1.022

 

[Sonic]

10/25/07
tested water
PH=7.8 -
AMMONIA=.5 +
NITRITE=0
NITRATE=0
TEMP=79
SG=1.022

 

[Sonic]

10/26/07
tested water
PH=7.8
AMMONIA=.5
NITRITE=.25 +
NITRATE=10 +
TEMP=79
SG=1.023 +

 

[Sonic]

10/27/07
tested water
PH=8.2 +
AMMONIA =0
NITRITE= 0 -
NITRATE= 0 -
TEMP=79
SG=1.023

I probably should have held off on the livestock but I got excited so......

Went to Lucky Goldfish. Bought a firefish $8 and a blue damsel $2 and some zoas $20. Also got 2 Turbo/Astrea Snails ($2 each) and 2 Nassarius Snails ($2 each)

 

[Sonic]

10/28/07
tested water
PH=7.8 -
AMMONIA =0
NITRITE= 0
NITRATE= 0
TEMP=79
SG=1.023
Added buffer for PH

 

[Sonic]

10/29/07
tested water
PH=8 +
AMMONIA =0
NITRITE= 0
NITRATE= 0
TEMP=79
SG=1.023

I picked up 2 news bulbs at the LFS (1 50/50 and 1 atlantic both 36w)

I also was lucky enough to get 2 xenia frags from this woman Cerissa off craigslist for only $10. They also gave me 2 frags of green star polyps for free! Very very nice of her and her husband!

 

[Sonic]

10/30/07
I did about a 1.5-2gallon water change and moved the return pump to face the surface of the water and the corals seemed to like it a lot better.
Went to lucky goldfish and bought cleaner shrimp ($10) false percula clown ($6) two more Turbo/Astrea snails ($2 each)

 

[Sonic]

11/1/07
tested water
PH=8.4 +
AMMONIA =0
NITRITE= 0
NITRATE= 0
TEMP=79
SG=1.023

 

[Sonic]

11/2/07
went to lucky goldfish. bought 3 more astrea snails ($2 each) 4 blue leg hermit crabs ($1 each) and one more cleaner shrimp ($10). Rearranged the corals some and glued the green star polyps to some LR and glued the smallest group of zoas to a rock.

 

[Sonic]

11/3/07
tested water
PH=8.2 -
AMMONIA =0
NITRITE= 0
NITRATE= 0
TEMP=79
SG=1.023

did a 5 gallon water change

Heres how it looks today:

 

[Sonic]

BTW Im sorry all these pictures were taken with my phone.... My camera was recently broken so its all I have at the moment.

 

[Sonic]

Oh and im going to get one more fish. Any ideas on what it should be?????

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Very nice tank. Don't want to rain on your parade, but three adult fish is about the most fish you can support in a 24 gallon. One more fish will really tax your tanks ability to properly denitrify. One more fish is a great reason to get a bigger tank though!

 

[forestal]

I agree with Craig on the fish, remember those you have will get bigger

You did an nice job aquascaping... even tho the tank seems cycled, I would hold off for a few months on any more corals, as you will get the diatom then hair algae blooms as part of cycling especially now that you are feeding the fish, and that may hurt the coral (i had this issue after 2 months with my 14 biocube so took out the corals)

also i would mention i am unhappy with the water flow in mine, added a little 100gph ph in the corner and am looking to replace the insump pump...i think with the smaller tank, easier to see deadspots where detritus accumulates and for corals to do well, they need decent water movement (my take at least)

 

[InLimbo87]

I would be weary to add another fish so soon. Might be too much too fast if you ask me. I'd let everything run its course for a couple weeks and maybe add another false perc? Or a tailspot blenny (I love mine )

 

[lcstorc]

Looking good. I agree with the others about the bio-load. You are really maxed out at this point. If you really want another fish get something that stays really small like a yellow clown goby or even one of the other clown gobies. (The yellow stays smallest and they have great color.)

 

[Sonic]

Yeah I was thinking about going with a yellow clown goby. I read that gobies will pick on eachother though but I cant see it and my firefish fighting..

As far as the diatom bloom, I already had one and the asteria snails kicked butt! I have the 4 blue leg hermits waiting for the hair algea but im sure its not enough.

Here is my current livestock list:

FISH
1 firefish
1 blue damsel
1 clown

CLEAN UP CREW
2 cleaner shrimp
2 nassarius snails
4 blue leg hermit crabs
7 asteria snails



What else should I add to the CUC? One of the LFS has scarlet leg hermits for $3 each when you get ten.
Or I can just get the little blue legs from a different lfs for $1 each...

Suggestions?