Another Noob Here! Master Plan...

[Tarbot]

Hi everyone!

As you can tell by the subject I'm new to the nano reef community. I just ordered a Aquapod 12G so here is the plan... I've had many freshwater tanks and have been researching saltwater for about a month now so let me know if I'm off my rocker!

Equipment:
1. Aquarium Systems / Instant Ocean Hydrometer

2. Boyd Enterprises Chemi-Pure

3. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Test Kit

4. Marina Suction Cup Thermometer

5. Mag Float Glass/Acrylic Mag Float

6. Current USA Aquapod Nano Aquarium System (12 Gallon): : 12 Gallon - 2x27 Watt with 2 Lunar (7050)

7. biOrb / biUbe biOrb / biUbe Cleaner Pump

8. Hydor Theo Heater 50W

9. Koralia Nano


Setup / Cycling:
15lbs live rock from local LFS (Friend of a friend = Trust them)
20lbs live sand from local LFS
Premix saltwater from local LFS
Removing all filter media but the sponge and adding in the Chemi-Pure and LR to the other chambers.
Going to set up and let cycle for 4 weeks or until stable (Testing every other day)

Clean up crew:
1 Blue Tuxedo Urchin
20 Astreas
1 Trochus
5 Scarlet Hermits
10 Mexican Blue leg Hermits
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Corals

Mushrooms
Blue
Flourescent Green
Metallic Green Hairy

Polyp/Zooanthus
Green Zooanthus
Multicolored
Star Polyp

LPS Corals
Candy Coral
Torch Coral
Frogspawn Coral

Fish
1 GreenBanded Goby
1 Ocellaris Clownfish

 

[KidNano]

Well that is definitely one heck of a plan. Everything looks good to me except your C.U.C. It's enormous. I know that a lot of people say a lot of different things, but my CUC isn't even that big in my 60 and I still have to feed extra for them. I personally would cut the astreas down to 4-5 and get no more the 3-4 hermits.

I've used the chemi-pure before and didn't notice a difference. I don't think it's worth the extra $$ and have been told so by others. Regular carbon works fine for me. I've also been told by trusted members of this site to stick with granular carbon, not using pellets, as they aren't as efficient because of surface area.

what are you going to do for your top off water :?:

Oh yeah..... I know some people will tell you to keep LR in your back chambers. A lot of people will tell you not to do that as well. I did it in my 12 and regretted it. such a pain to clean out. Detrius trap. I'd reccomend a quick mod to get a light in there and put in some Macro. With 15 lbs in your main display you won't need anymore anyway.

:welcome to nanotank.

 

[skipm]

The main thing I see right now is that I would gradually add the snails and hermits as needed so that they have an adequate food supply when added and I would ditch the urchin. Urchins tend to knock things over and they eat coralline algae.
One other thing that I have tried and liked was instead of using the Chemi-Pure try the Chemi-Pure Elite, it also takes care of any phosphates that may get into the tank.

 

[Tarbot]

For "Top off" do you mean for evaporation or water changes?

If evap I have a supermarket 2 minutes down the road that sells RO water. Down the road I'm looking buying a small home system.

If water changes I will use the LFS premix water and plan on changing out 15 percent a week..

Does this sound about right?

 

[KidNano]

Top off is to replace fresh water yes. make sure your careful with the RO from your supermarket. for a while I used Nestle Purelife and didn't notice any problems from it.

look up www.thefilterguys.biz. I just bought an RO/DI from them and it was the best system with the lowest price I found. You can e-mail them your local water report and they'll reccomend the best system for you. They're reefers too so they know what's important.

 

[Tarbot]

Well the tank arrived....... With a crack! :wlift

Called up Pet Mountain and they are shipping a new one right out.

They told me that if UPS does not return to pick up the old tank in 5 days that I can keep it for parts!

Let's hope UPS forgets about this one!

 

[KidNano]

Don't you hate that. Man...... i don't think I'll ever order a tank online because this happens to so many people. It's gotta be frustrating for you. How long till the new one gets there?

 

[Tarbot]

It should be here by next Wed.... I ordered it online due to the good price $119 (Free shipping). If the second one comes in cracked I'll get a refund and bite the bullet and buy one at my local LFS for around $155