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Raied's 20 gallon nano :D
As some you may know, I have been here for a while but has not started any tank journal yet so thought about doing it to get opinions on my journey in saltwater hobby :D
Introduction: I am Raied, an international student, studying electrical engineering (MSc program) at University of Calgary. I have been into freshwater aquarium for over a decade back in my country (Bangladesh) but have always wanted to venture into saltwater but there was absolutely NO source of starting the hobby over there. So, once I came here, secured my scholarship and I knew at once that I should invest into this long pending dream :P So enough of the gibberish, I started this tank around in the beginning of June. Since I am living in a rented room, I don't have enough space so I went with the 20 gallon long tank since that was like the perfect size for me to start with. Starting equipment: 20 gallon long tank 15 pounds of aragonite sand 20 pounds of live rock Regular fluorescent light 2 aqueon 20 filters (got them for free) 50watt heater Current equipments: 20 gallon long tank (obviously :P) 15 pounds of aragonite sand 20 pounds of live rock Coralife T5HO dual fixture Rio nano skimmer Aquaclear 110 mod fuge One aqueon 20 1 koralia nano 1 1 maxijet 400 50w heater Enough with the writings. Here's the pictures along with the descriptions :D All the initial equipment I started with: http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7...0616152621.jpg http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg525...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg69/...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg577...pg&res=landing Colored the back of the tank black: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg840...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg690...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg713...pg&res=landing Added sand: (first mistake) http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...619164330.jpg/ Added salt: (lead to the problem, most of the salts got into the sand, remained undissolved. I didn't noticed it and kept on adding salt and when I first gave the sand bed a shake, the salinity shot up!!!! cost me a whole bag of sand; no biggy though - it was a mistake worth of few bucks. Afterwards, I dissolved the salt first and then added the sand.) http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg801...pg&res=landing Added a timer: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg13/...pg&res=landing The 20lb of aquacultured live rock (no pest) came in. The packaging was awesome and the rock did not stink. The pieces were good too. Very porous rock. http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg266...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg515...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg685...pg&res=landing The first aquascaping: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg341...pg&res=landing Added this little guy: (Took my first risk in this hobby through adding this awesome guy and it is still kicking :D) http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg834...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg515...pg&res=landing The second aquascaping: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg407...pg&res=landing Got the new lighting (got another clown + a brittle star + diotom bloom + rio nano skimmer): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg37/...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg62/...pg&res=landing The final aquascaping + the diatom bloom: (added a chocolate chip star which went back to the store when I got my first mushroom) http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg854...pg&res=landing Meanwhile, this helped me to find out whether everything was in order: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...620222225.jpg/ |
Got my first mushroom:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1859/mushroomi.jpg And after a week, this fellow died :(. After adding the mushroom, it's mouth did not close fully from the next day, stopped eating, and got ich after a week. Had to put it to sleep :( http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg35/...pg&res=landing And my current setup: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg222...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg11/...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg43/...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg546...pg&res=landing http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...910181146.jpg/ Back of the aquarium (if completely packed :P). I will put in chaeto + light on the AC110. I am running 2 packs of chemi puro elite + purigen in the aqueon 20: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg577...pg&res=landing Thanks for looking and suggestions are always welcome :D I will update it from now on as my tank progresses :D |
I kinda lost patience getting this thread ready so could not elaborate everything. :redface:
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Just added a six line wrasse and a torch coral :D
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg29/...pg&res=landing http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg194...pg&res=landing |
nice led looks good set up
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thanks :D
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Added a feather duster today :D It's HUGE!!!! And the funny thing is, it does not retract when it's touched :P
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg195...pg&res=landing And got this light from NanoCat (Dave). Thanks Mr. Dave for this :D http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg222...pg&res=landing |
New additions:
Neon green trumpet coral (from xtreme): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg253...pg&res=landing Frogspawn coral (from reefwars): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg99/...pg&res=landing Polyps (from reefwars): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg827...pg&res=landing Red monti cap (from xtreme): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg543...pg&res=landing Ultra aussie acan (from reefwars): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg843...pg&res=landing Torch coral: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg26/...pg&res=landing |
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I love the dimensions of the 20 Long. I like your low rock layout, too. It is coming along nicely. :)
I've heard that the electrical program at UofC is pretty tough. Good for you! |
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Oh well, at the end, its all about earning money and that keeps me inspired to study :P |
Two new additions to the tank :D
1. Pink with purple mouth japanese goniopora: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg402...pg&res=landing 2. Red and green maxi-mini (not fully opened yet; not much a "mini"): http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg90/...pg&res=landing |
New additions (from reefwars):
Green center zoa http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9f3a2cae.jpg watermelon zoa http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26a640e8.jpg (possibly) people eater zoa http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psd75aa3d1.jpg |
So my clownfish died today due to brooklynella It has been though such tough times : tank cycling, extremely high salinity, low salinity, tank establishment and yet now, when everything is alright, it died
Anyway, so I had to take it out from under a rock and I used this occasion to re-aquascape my tank. I did a few modification to the overall theme of the aquarium. What I did is, one part of the tank will be a "bonsai part" (left side), one will be "garden" (right side) and the last one will be "exotic surprises" (middle). The bonsai part will mainly consists of LPS that has branches and skeleton that will fit like a tree on the rock. The garden will consists of zoas, palys, star polyps and probably some other flowery and colorful stuffs. The exotic surprise will mainly be things that will not go with the other two themes (and that's why I named it surprise ). Currently, the bonsai contains: trumpet, torch, frogspawn and red monti (since it grows like rose, I have put it in the bonsai section) and feather duster. The garden consists of 3 types of zoas (watermelon, green center and people eater) and a paly (red paly). The middle consists of xenia (couldn't fit it at the garden and the bonsai might be too risky for it since there are LPS with sweeping tentacles), toadstool, ultra red acan, purple mushroom and a red-green maxi-mini anemone. I might be starting collecting some easy SPS and those will go to the top rock at the exotic surprise section. Pictures: http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8353068c.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b0b25ba.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9c59f089.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...pscca1043d.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4b972e21.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0d638cc4.jpg |
Looking great!
Sent Via The Pirate Ship....... Garrrrrrrrrrr |
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Very nice, looks like you have been shopping at Denny's house LOL
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Haha. Yah 1/2 of the zoa frags + acan + frogspawn are from Denny :P |
lol i guess its my signature plugs that give it away eh:P
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BTW Denny you never commented on how my tank is coming along. Would appreciate it if you would through in something :mrgreen: |
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is the back of your tank just glass or is it painted/vinyl?? |
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I spray painted it :) |
That is a very nice purple torch coral! I am jealous:mrgreen:
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The green one is hard to find and expensive too. |
Update: 6th Nov. 2012
My tank now has 33 types of corals (Yappy) :mrgreen:
The list: 1. Ultra Aussie Acan 2. Lunar eclipse zoa 3. Red paly with purple center 4. Day tripper zoa 5. Eclipse zoa 6. Eye of the storm zoa 7. Green implosion zoa 8. Kona gold zoa 9. Purple puddle zoa 10. Whamming watermelon zoa 11. Radioactive dragon eye zoa 12. Green center zoa 13. Green lagoon zoa (couldn't ID this but it looked exactly like blue lagoon with green center) 14. Neon green candycane 15. Purple torch 16. Hammer 17. Frogspawn 18. Brown monticap 19. Tri color acro 20. Bonsai acro 21. (Unknown acro) 22. (Unknown acro) 23. (Unknown acro) 24. Pompom xenia 25. Yellow toadstool 26. Green monticap 27. Red monticap 28. Green birdnest 29. Purple birdnest 30. Green star polyp 31. Purple polyp coral 32. Purple mushroom 33. Green hairy mushroom Inverts: 2 astraea snails 1 skunk cleaner shrimp 2 or 3 hermit crabs 2 maxi-mini anemones Fishes: 2 false percula 1 banggai cardinal 1 firefish Not bad for a five month old newby tank :) |
Pictures :)
P.S. I had to tag all the pictures since I had to send them to my mother :P
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps51e2fc25.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps404f85d4.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5206b235.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psf058fabc.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8d701d26.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps43270ce7.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps459c90dd.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3db59182.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psbc79a5d2.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2e975200.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps180536fa.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6f62215c.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...pse55d06bf.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps22e9bc79.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...pse8b04d9e.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps45360a5f.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps95be40bc.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psfb26cb49.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps484a1f96.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0f6beaff.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psb57e3887.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps01eda467.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54617bf8.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psf3d9a6c4.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps195ba195.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps71137208.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps598dfa63.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psa44eb939.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psc4b90db0.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3612a6c.jpg |
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Looks very nice Raied ! Love the variety
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Updated video of my tank. Please do watch it and feedback will be appreciated :)
http://s1304.beta.photobucket.com/us...600e1.mp4.html |
Beautiful tank.....very very nice someday I'll get there lol:biggrin:
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Thanks :D
No worries. Didn't take much time for me so you shouldn't have problem as long as you do the things technically ;) P.S. I use tapwater without even adding any sort of dechlorinator and have never seen any algae other than diatom ;) - that's like my biggest achievement :P |
Some updates:
Got three chromis: http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...78911050_n.jpg Just a view of my small maxi mini garden: http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...1-18183957.jpg FTS: http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...1-18141153.jpg My first dead SPS (blue gomezi acro) (I am out from acropora! Personally, I didn't like how egoistic these are; just doesn't worth it to me!): http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...1-18035430.jpg |
Some updates:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1603ca39.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0dd7c082.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7aebbe5.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2328f74c.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps935702c4.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3c68e8bb.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psc4efc613.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1f77adcf.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps422f32bf.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps47f2111d.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psf5f26bf1.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psa71b3a98.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps46fbb5b9.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psa8b67ffb.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3e884a4d.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps27326994.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps29ff77ae.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psf84ce2eb.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...psb31ca8f6.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps65322e7a.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps749b57d4.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps589f8a0c.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...pse111c719.jpg http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3217096c.jpg |
How are you able to achieve such low nutrient levels using standard tap water Raied? Chaeto helps but it doesn't wipe nutrient from your tank.
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I should say I am really lucky with the tap water. I never had any algae outbreak using tap water (other than diatom) or any problem with it. Even dKh remains 9 to 10. |
Tap water? Are you kidding me? You've never told me this! I've been fighting algae since day one and I use ro/di. It's on now buddy! :twised:
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