Kris's 80L Aqua Medic Blenny [SHUT DOWN]

[mrkris]

Hi All

Im Kris, long time admirer, first time reefer.

I have been right into heavily planted freshies for a fair while but after returning from overseas to a crashed tank i wanted to try something new! i was originally going to change the style of freshie to something a bit more high tech. I did some sums and with help from the bitter taste from losing my pride and joy, i persuaded myself into a nano reef.

I did a bit of research and found that the AM Blenny was perfect all in one for a noob reefer such as myself.



excuse the temporary ikea cabinet. turns out you get what you pay for i had to buy 2x16mm mdf sheets to sit it on.

I fired it up and put some water in it last weekend and ill be picking up some live rock this thursday. At the moment im running NSW bought from my lfs and top ups with RO. not done any tests apart from salinity thus far.

Ill be honest, im a bit of a cowboy, so for the first few weeks i wont really worry about tests (apart from salinity and ph) as i know whats going to happen. ill just do a daily 15-20% WC for a few weeks after the LR goes in. Then ill buy some test kits and go from there...

System Objectives: Start off with a softie tank, may dabble in SPS as i progress

System Type: Small reef

Display System: AM Blenny

Strike up Date: 30/6/2012

Display Tank: All in one setup

Display Lighting: Stock Aqua Sun Spot (2 white, 1 blue X3)

Stand: Ikea Cheapie with some extra paneling for support

Sump: None

Refugium: None

Refugium Lighting: No refugium set up yet

Support systems:

System Water: NSW from LFS with RO Top Ups

Display Water circulation: Stock Nano Prop 5000

Skimmer: Stock Turboflotor 500

Evaporation Top Up: Manual top up

Chemical Support:

Calcium Addition: None, yet

Alkilinity Addition: None, yet

Other Chemical Maintenance: None, yet

Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:


Kris

[mrkris]

a quick note on some of the things im planning to get over the next few months.

stability being the key im planning on starting out with a bare essentials profilux 3 controller, just with ph, temp and a switching power board. some sort of chiller from guppies (closer to summer) and a schego heater. Tunze osmolator for ATO.

new lighting. i have read so many different things about OMG LEDs are the new MH in one article and completely opposite in another. So many differing opinions it can make it hard to read between the lines, so i might just stick with the stock lights for now...

[lets_koko]

I love this setting, saw it at reeflection last time...

[priscacara]

The smaller tanks seem to be getting better and better, looking forward to following your journal.

[kit]

I saw one of these at the LFS and it's a really nice tank.

Just a comment: I wouldn't bother with daily water changes; just top up the evaporation every few days.
You can actually do no water changes during the whole cycling process if you didn't want to.

As there are no fish in there, the water quality doesn't need to be pristine; and most of the hitchikers will survive the cycle anyway.
But of course, you can do water changes if you really wanted to; but there's no real need.

[mrkris]

So here goes.

We have LIFE!

Instead of driving the missus insane whining about having the worst cold that ever existed (man flu is serious business) I took advantage of LFS late night shopping and a fresh live rock shipment.



I ended up getting 4 kilos and im pretty impressed with the little things ive seen so far.

2 snails, 2 little crabs, some closed polypy things and some little worm things in white tubes with bristles.

[priscacara]

Nice! I think all you guys setting up new tanks suck though ( :-) ). Not really of course just a bit envious, I enjoy seeing them all come together and I'm learning for when i get mine.

[its_jono]

I agree with the anti-test kit bandwagon. We all know whats going to happen

[dorz]

looking good kris! where in adelaide are you? im assuming near marine+ somewhere?

will be keen to see what you do for flow and lighting...

[mrkris]

looking good kris! where in adelaide are you? im assuming near marine+ somewhere?

will be keen to see what you do for flow and lighting...

im in clarence park (sort of near the south road / cross road overpass) bit of a drive from marine plus but thats my LFS.

For flow i'll probably go with a MP10wes, jurys still out on lights.

The stock lights are kind of annoying, i cant really adjust them and the heatsink/surround leak light which is kind of annoying while we're watching tv etc. currently entertaining the idea of a slightly custom 24 led kit from rapidled. Theres no way i need 24 leds but i like the idea of that amount to get around the leds spotlighting. im thinking that ill replace some of the leds for UV ones on a separate driver.

Kris