Mini:
Began setup on March 12, 2010. 55 gallon standard glass box, 48"x 13"x 24" (I had a freshwater setup in it for 10 years.)
Filtration: 30lbs live rock, 60 lbs live sand (came in bags), 1 Aquaclear power filter for GAC (left over from freshwater setup), 2 water pumps (320 gph each, prop-style impellers). Also running a small bubble bar on left side (opposite power filter) for additional water movement.
Lighting: Dual tube HO T5 fixture, with one actinic tube and one super daylight tube.
Heat: 2 standard heaters, one on each end of tank.
Water parameters: salinity, 1.024; ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate unreadeable. (Nitrate hit 0 today!) Calcium 500 ppm, kh 6 (accoriding to API test). Temperature 79 degrees f.
Current inhabitants: hitchhikers and "2nd-week grunge."
Planning to add first: astrea snails and a peppermint shrimp (to eat aiptaisia), then 6 blue-green chromis, then, gradually, the rock and inhabitants of the nano-reef. (Hubby says only one tank, please.)
Nano:
Set up in August, 2007. 15-gallon standard glass box, 24" x 12" x 12"
Filtration: 20 lbs live rock, 20 lbs live sand (came in a bag) 2 power filters spec'd for 10-20 gal. tanks, bag of GAC in one, changed monthly.
Lighting: CF w/65 watt smartpaq tube.
Heating: 2 standard type heaters purchased at Walmart after previous heater failed some time ago. Still working, so still using them.
Corals: various discosoma, 6.5 (we're having a baby!) green hairy mushrooms (rhodactis?), a neon yellow tree-like soft coral (sinularia?), toadstool leather, various zoanthus, branching hammer, a small frag that may be a torch coral, a mat of pink star polyps on the sand, recently aquired Duncan, 2 caulestria frags.
Fish: 1 ocellaris clown and 1 yellow-tail damsel, both added about 2 months after setup.
Inverts: 3 recenly added blue-legged hermits, 3-4 astrea snails, 3 ceriths, 1 purchased feather duster and various identified and unidentified hitchhikers.
Water Paramters: Salinity, 1.024; Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate unreadable. Calcium usually reads about 420 ppm and kh about about 8 degrees dkh. Temperature: 76 degrees f.
Maintenance: inconsistent and infrequent water changes of 1 or 2 gallons. Change CF lamp annually. Add 1/4 tsp Purple Up 3 times per week.
Feeding: frozen mysis, brine or bloodworms (for fish) 3 times per week; 1/4 tsp Chromaplex and 1/4 tsp Zooplex 1 time per week.
Began setup on March 12, 2010. 55 gallon standard glass box, 48"x 13"x 24" (I had a freshwater setup in it for 10 years.)
Filtration: 30lbs live rock, 60 lbs live sand (came in bags), 1 Aquaclear power filter for GAC (left over from freshwater setup), 2 water pumps (320 gph each, prop-style impellers). Also running a small bubble bar on left side (opposite power filter) for additional water movement.
Lighting: Dual tube HO T5 fixture, with one actinic tube and one super daylight tube.
Heat: 2 standard heaters, one on each end of tank.
Water parameters: salinity, 1.024; ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate unreadeable. (Nitrate hit 0 today!) Calcium 500 ppm, kh 6 (accoriding to API test). Temperature 79 degrees f.
Current inhabitants: hitchhikers and "2nd-week grunge."
Planning to add first: astrea snails and a peppermint shrimp (to eat aiptaisia), then 6 blue-green chromis, then, gradually, the rock and inhabitants of the nano-reef. (Hubby says only one tank, please.)
Nano:
Set up in August, 2007. 15-gallon standard glass box, 24" x 12" x 12"
Filtration: 20 lbs live rock, 20 lbs live sand (came in a bag) 2 power filters spec'd for 10-20 gal. tanks, bag of GAC in one, changed monthly.
Lighting: CF w/65 watt smartpaq tube.
Heating: 2 standard type heaters purchased at Walmart after previous heater failed some time ago. Still working, so still using them.
Corals: various discosoma, 6.5 (we're having a baby!) green hairy mushrooms (rhodactis?), a neon yellow tree-like soft coral (sinularia?), toadstool leather, various zoanthus, branching hammer, a small frag that may be a torch coral, a mat of pink star polyps on the sand, recently aquired Duncan, 2 caulestria frags.
Fish: 1 ocellaris clown and 1 yellow-tail damsel, both added about 2 months after setup.
Inverts: 3 recenly added blue-legged hermits, 3-4 astrea snails, 3 ceriths, 1 purchased feather duster and various identified and unidentified hitchhikers.
Water Paramters: Salinity, 1.024; Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate unreadable. Calcium usually reads about 420 ppm and kh about about 8 degrees dkh. Temperature: 76 degrees f.
Maintenance: inconsistent and infrequent water changes of 1 or 2 gallons. Change CF lamp annually. Add 1/4 tsp Purple Up 3 times per week.
Feeding: frozen mysis, brine or bloodworms (for fish) 3 times per week; 1/4 tsp Chromaplex and 1/4 tsp Zooplex 1 time per week.
