Crytone's 10 Gal. Nano [New pics/frags added Mar 6th, pg.3]

[mseepman]

There are some products that you can add to help a cycle along. I think I've heard of people using "cycle" to help it along. I've also heard of other things but can't remember any names. You might want to search it on here.

Just remember that patience will be your greatest friend in this hobby.

[Crytone]

I'm trying to be as patient as possible. I really don't mind waiting but I expected something to happen in this time.

Today when I got home from school I noticed my sand looked 'dirty'. Brown sediment on it, which wasn't there yesterday (at least not this noticeable). I assume this is possibly a diatom bloom. I tested my params again and Ammonia is 0-.25 (depending how the light hits it you could argue either) but my Nitrate is now probably about 5-10ppm. Still 0 Nitrites.

Also, upon closer inspection I'm noticing growth on my rock. It's pretty small right now but it definitely is new. It's starting as small green 'petals', that's how I'd describe it. I assume it's a type of algae. The feather duster I found last week seems to be doing well too (it even retracts back sometimes too!). I also found some new red growths that I never noticed before. They seem to be like little red twigs coming from my rock.

Hopefully these are all good signs!

Edit: Decided to test the pH also. 8.3!

[Crytone]

I haven't posted new pictures lately so thought I should. Sorry if they are small but I try to resize them from being 'OMG HUGE' so it's not hard on the slower interwebs people.

Also had an order problem that worked out in my favor; ended up getting 2 AC70's, 2 AC20 impellers and 2 pumps (for my ATO I'm going to build). Can't beat deals like that! Not sure what exactly I'm going to do with the free stuff for now but I guess I'll probably have them as spares...

Parameters are still holding steady with 1.023 SG, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and ~5ppm Nitrates and a pH ~8.3. I'm waiting patiently and praying that my cycle is over without me even noticing but I'll give it more time to be sure I think. I'm getting excited to add a CUC though and the wait is torturous! I'm still debating what I want for a CUC too.

This picture is from earlier in the week. Notice how everything is so white and clean!


Picture taken tonight. Notice how 'brown' everything is. This picture doesn't really capture how brown it really is in contrast to earlier this week! Do you think it appears there's enough rock or should I get more?


Here is... something. It's rather small. Also sorry for the bad picture but it is VERY hard to get a good picture of it.


And some green algae (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). I talked a bit about it in a previous post. Nothing too exciting I'm sure.


So leave any comments, suggestions, complaints or anything! I like hearing it all!

[nlreefguy]

that first pic could be aiptasia, it's not really clear. The second is definitely some form of bubble algae. While it's only small and you have the ability to do so without completely rearranging your tank, I would suggest you manually remove it before it has the opportunity to take over your tank (and it does have that potential).

[Crytone]

After researching those for the past hour or so they both don't sound too appealing. For the bubble algae I'll try to remove it myself but am thinking of adding an Emerald Crab to my CUC to deal with any new blooms (plus I really like crabs!). I'm hoping the hair algae I have the hermits will deal with, thinking of getting 2 red leg and 1 blue legged hermits. And as for the aiptasia I'm unsure how to deal with it. Lemon injections seem like it'll work, but would be hard at this tiny stage, or a peppermint shrimp, which is ok but I was hoping to get a cleaner shrimp instead... Any tips on dealing with these from the canreefers?

If you haven't guessed I'm really pro-biomanagement. I'm looking to create a small ecosystem that's self correcting with very little outside manipulation.

In other news. I found out late last night that I can order many aquarium/fish products through the family business at cost! I still have to see exactly what is offered but it can be written off as a business expense. Hoping to get decent deals on T5HO bulbs, food, supplements, test kits, filter media, etc... The benefits of having family that owns veternairy clinics!

[Crytone]

Well, my parameters are STILL holding at Ammonia- 0, Nitrite- 0, and Nitrates ~5-10ppm so I feel the tank is done cycling. My coraline algae is growing more too and the bigger rock is looking more and more red everyday. I also did some slight re-arranging of the rock too (the rock between them now sits higher cheating a larger arch). I'm getting more and more anxious to start adding a CUC! Possibly have a few additions before the weekend is over...

I'm kind of wanting to add more rock but I think to keep costs down and to minimize a chance of any cycle happening at this stage, I'm going to use dry rock and let my LR seed it while the tank matures. I figure I want about 5-10lbs of LR or that's be about 5lbs of dry rock which would be about ¼ the cost of buying LR I figure. Another option is to buy rock from someone shutting down their tank. Any thoughts on this?

Also on the agenda is modding one of my AC70s into a fuge. I've literally scoured the internet for hours and hours trying to find the most info I can about this mod. I also ordered a 5w submersible light for my fuge which should be here tomorrow. It was in Canada too which saved me on shipping (the company everyone seems to buy these from in the states wanted $25usd just for shipping to Canada!).

A few questions:

1- I want the option to run carbon (Chemi-Pure Elite likely) in my AC70, does it need to be placed directly in the path of the water flow to be effective? I was thinking of placing it near where the intake tube enters. I've seen this done a few times before but really question the placement. I'll also likely run filter floss too.

2- I'm wanting to place my heater in my modded AC70. I notice that some people create a separate baffled area for a heater. I'm concerned as this would 'cut into' my fuge area for my chaeto. Would I be fine running it in the same compartment as the chaeto (and possibly touching the chaeto when it grows too large)?

[Crytone]

Well, a few new updates. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

First thing.. I got mad at my big rock since it was too hard to clean around. Took it out and with a quick hit with my trusty hammer, it wasn't so big anymore. Ended up getting 2 still rather large (but much more manageable) pieces and some rubble for my fuge when it's done. I still want to aquascape better so looking at getting a bit more rock (probably dry rock or cheap LR from someone) and curing it in another bucket.

In other news I went out today and got the start to my CUC (thanks to BWA). I didn't want to get too big too fast so I only got 3 Hermits, an Emerald Crab, a Turbo Snail, 2 Astrae snails and 3 Nassarius snails. The Sexy Shrimp were VERY tempting but I held back... Someday though! The Emerald crab is a little power house! He's been working non-stop since I finished acclimating him and placed him in the tank (really hoping he rids my tank of the green bubble algae)! I'm actually considering making this an invert tank now- I just love watching invert work! Do you think I'm off to a good start on my CUC? Did I make good choices? Should I add more? Suggestions?

Now a few concerns/questions:

1 (EDIT: SOLVED, see my next post below)- One of my Nassarius hasn't moved since I got home (was a 10minute drive and I came straight home). While acclimating he was in his shell and after I placed him in the tank and he's still exactly where I placed him (same with another guy but he has his feeler out and checking stuff out at least). The 3rd one burrowed immediately into my sandbed. Should I be concerned? I'm hoping I wake up tomorrow and he's fine but I'm a big worrywart that something is wrong!

2- I asked for Blue-legged hermits since they were out of Scarlet Reef Hermits (and apparently they are hard to get atm) but the ones I got, after getting them in the tank, do NOT appear to be Blue-legged hermits either.. I took a picture of one chilling on my rock below. After some quick research I believe it to be a Zebra Hermit (or Left-Handed hermit). It's left claw is bigger than the right. Am I correct in my ID of these guys? Is this good or bad? Should I try to take them back and get what I originally wanted or stay with these?



Thanks for any of the help and post any comments or suggestions you may have!

[Chase31]

i think it looks good, cant wait to get my cuc

[Crytone]

Thanks Chase21, I hope you'll get your CUC soon!

Solved concern #1. Turned on the lights after about 4 hours of them being off (for acclimation purposes) and the 2 Nass snails that hadn't burrowed yet (and 1 which I thought might be dead) burrowed almost immediately. I get the feeling I won't be seeing these guys much.

The emerald is so fun to watch! He's working so hard that I feel bad for paying him nothing for all this work.. He's a tough guy too, if I go near the tank he puts his pincers out to intimidate me!

I think the hermits may be slightly mentally challenged too.. I placed a few shells in the tank and 2 of them decided to move nearly instantly but the smaller guy moved to a shell that are likely WAY too big. He's struggling a bit to move but he seems happy. The other guy is currently testing his 3rd shell... They're fun to watch though.

I'm extremely happy how things are going!

EDIT: I finally identified the things pictures before that others thought was Aiptasia. It is, in fact, hydroids! Not exactly a good thing but everything I've read says they are relatively harmless filter feeders. Better than Aiptasia at least.

[Crytone]

Well, I finally settled on a fuge design and it's working great for me so far! It's a modified AC70 with an AC20 impeller (to reduce flow). It's modified to accept a cartridge (that has a filter floss and carbon in it). I opted to keep the heater in my tank though due to wanting the most chaeto possible. I also was thankful enough to get a huge ball of chaeto from a fellow canreefer yesterday that was teeming with life. Found a mini-brittlestar in it and various other pods! Huge thanks again to him!
So now.. PICS!

Top of the fuge. I placed the foam on the sides of the cartridge to hold it better and encourage the water to go through it (rather than around). Working well so far! Submersible halogen light is awesome too, stuffed it into the middle of the ball of chaeto.


Side view of the chaeto. Hard to see but there's some LR rubble at the bottom of the fuge (great pieces for fragging I figure). Also shows the submersible light I'm using! Running on a reverse cycle.


Finally got an OK picture of the Emerald crab the other week. He likes hiding!


Turned around after taking the fuge pics and someone wasn't happy with me...