WarDog's 20 gal Reckless leftover tank... [Archive]

WarDog

04-12-2015, 08:06 AM

I've really caught the reefing bug.

I've had so much fun putting together my 65 gal tank and stocking it with SPS, that I've decided to put myself through some more punishment and start a second tank... LPS dominated.
I've got a new 20 gallon standard tank which I was planning on using as a Q/T for the 65, but have since decided against. True to my form, this will be another slow build (I can picture Brad rolling his eyes).

Reckless?

No sump, no controller, lots of DIY, little or no attention to detail, cheap equipment and maybe test once every 2 weeks.

Kind of an experiment for me really. I've been so meticulous with the 65 gal that I want to see how far I can push the envelope with reefkeeping... and I hear that LPS enjoy dirtier conditions than SPS.

Some ideas so far:

DIY canopy with 4 x 24w T5's, and a LED strip
Fiji Pink substrate I've had sitting in a tote for 8 years
Lots of live rock
Cheap used ATO
Manual dosing
Reactors for carbon and GFO
HOB skimmer, maybe a Remora?
A few nano wave makers, used and cheap
Water changes will probably come from the 65 gallons old water.

Just writing this up is getting me pretty stoked... maybe this build will go faster than I thought!

Here's the tank set up as a holding tank for my old Texas Cichlid, just before I sold him.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/13366768543_8cb98563f9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mnbbAB)

daplatapus

04-12-2015, 03:40 PM

Ah, another reefer with MTS. Someone should make a vaccine :D

Aquattro

04-12-2015, 03:54 PM

(I can picture Brad rolling his eyes).

that hurts...

WarDog

04-28-2015, 04:51 AM

Got a little something something to get this started! Might get around to putting some water in the tank this weekend. We'll see.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8694/17271079086_1ea689dc32_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sjbN6C)

Myka

04-28-2015, 01:35 PM

Haha, it happens to everyone at some point (or many points). You won't need 4 bulbs and LEDs for LPS though. You'll be just fine with 2 bulbs and a strip of LEDs. I'm assuming you're going for blue LEDs and ATI Blue Plus bulbs (which are fairly white and high PAR) or something similar. Light demands of LPS are actually quite low considering our current lighting technology.

WarDog

04-28-2015, 04:44 PM

Bblinks

04-28-2015, 06:36 PM

Oh I got just the light for you my friend...

WarDog

04-28-2015, 07:08 PM

Oh I got just the light for you my friend...

Intriguing!

WarDog

05-01-2015, 05:26 AM

My wife goes to spin class and I go into stealth mode... hehe. :twised:

30 minutes later and I'm painting the back of the tank!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/16706078334_3c5a77cc75_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rsg24m)

Ram3500

05-01-2015, 05:40 AM

You can paint the back black but you can't hide the smell🙊

WarDog

05-01-2015, 05:53 AM

She literally parked right next to it and didn't even notice. Lol.

WarDog

05-02-2015, 06:54 AM

So the cat is out of the bag. Wife caught me. It's too bad... I really liked her... guess I'll just have to divorce her now.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7656/16717245614_a63a936c97_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rtffGE)

It's a start... and Brad, look how fast I got it up and running! You'd be proud!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8758/17339718975_145b4706d7_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sqfAkZ)

gregzz4

05-02-2015, 07:01 AM

You don't need to get a divorce
Just put her in a container for the tank to absorb :twised:

Wretch

05-02-2015, 07:03 AM

So is this going to be bare bottom? Did Rich hook you up with a light?

WarDog

05-02-2015, 07:10 AM

You don't need to get a divorce
Just put her in a container for the tank to absorb :twised:

Oh dood, super twisted you are! :lol:

So is this going to be bare bottom? Did Rich hook you up with a light?

Yes!.. and when I say yes I mean maybe... well, no... not really.

I've got some 8 year old Fiji pink sitting in a Rubbermaid that I might throw in... and when I say maybe, again I mean something else.

I don't know!? Rich... are you hooking me up with a light? I'll buy you some frags... but do you really need more frags?

Bblinks

05-02-2015, 07:56 AM

Oh dood, super twisted you are! :lol:

Yes!.. and when I say yes I mean maybe... well, no... not really.

I've got some 8 year old Fiji pink sitting in a Rubbermaid that I might throw in... and when I say maybe, again I mean something else.

I don't know!? Rich... are you hooking me up with a light? I'll buy you some frags... but do you really need more frags?

I could... Lol

Don't go with the 8 years old Fiji pink, get a bag of that Hawaii black sand. It will look sick!

WarDog

05-27-2015, 05:07 AM

WOOHOO! My first anemone!... actually I have several.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8778/18144690332_f513991bc0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tDohhu)

Wheelman76

05-27-2015, 05:58 AM

Damn Warren , its beautiful!! Lol

Wretch

05-27-2015, 06:09 AM

Your tank isn't near old enough to be keeping an anemone! You are going to kill that beautiful creature! Some people.....

gregzz4

05-27-2015, 06:22 AM

Sweet !
Feed them lots and they'll split more quickly

Roskoreef

05-27-2015, 02:24 PM

wow is that a rare tan mini anenome? you should feed it, it'll probably go away..

WarDog

08-03-2015, 06:57 AM

Can anyone ID this little bad boy? He's about 1 cm across and much more attractive than the Aptasias.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/541/20249837825_a8b7f60a6d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/wRpHhV)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/379/20063255159_e985d9dc53_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/wyVqLp)

Myka

08-03-2015, 01:41 PM

That's just a bleached Aiptasia. :)

Coral Hoarder

08-03-2015, 05:12 PM

Swimming anemone?
Boloceroides mcmurrichi

The Guy

08-03-2015, 05:40 PM

Swimming anemone?
Boloceroides mcmurrichi
Yep! we all need a few of those guys Scott :lol:

Coral Hoarder

08-03-2015, 05:45 PM

Moving aptasia yay lol

WarDog

08-17-2015, 08:50 PM

Threw a Peppermint into the tank just before leaving on a 7 day vacation. Came home and no Aiptasia to be found!

WarDog

09-07-2015, 05:07 AM

So this tank has morphed into an observation tank for any new livestock destined for my 65. I say 'observation', because I mean to do no medical treating in this tank whatsoever. If it turns out I need to treat a fish, I will just set up a hospital tank for that very purpose.
Picked up a couple clowns a few weeks ago in preparation for the end of the 65's fallow period. They appear healthy, ich free, and have no problem eating Mysis and pellets. Have been soaking food in garlic just for that extra precaution.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/622/21019828550_585477e2aa_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/y2s7H5)

Added some Rastas, cause you know, had them kicking around.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5713/21020507638_8850b18fd0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/y2vAzu)

Also had an issue with a shrimp eating the hammer in the 65, so I moved it over here to hopefully heal. So far some new polyps have returned on the exposed skeleton.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/20646918048_dbec370cc5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/xsuRpE)

Nitrate is reading at 5ppm, and PO4 at around 0.25.
Hoping to get some more equipment for this small set up soon. Possibly a bio-pellet reactor, nano skimmer, tunze ato, more liverock and more substrate. Probably wont happen until Christmas, lol.

Bblinks

09-08-2015, 10:14 PM

look at that coraline algae growing out of control, and you were worried.

WarDog

09-13-2015, 05:33 AM

Moved the Clowns over to the 65. Did a minor overhaul on this tank tonight. Set up a CPR medium fuge (thank-you Ram3500, and DEAD_BY_DAWN at J&L for helping out with the pump selection).
Then I added some Indo Pacific Black livesand. Give it a couple days to settle... hope the peppermint makes it through the cloud!
Anyone have a good recommendation for a skimmer that will fit in a 3.75 x 5 footprint with a water depth of 9.75 inches?

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/702/21186585589_696b9c35a8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/yhbMLr)

Myka

09-13-2015, 12:41 PM

Check out the Tunze nano skimmers. They fit in the back of BioCubes and are great little skimmers.

WarDog

01-17-2016, 06:19 AM

Plenty of life in the tank. Still fishless and skimmerless.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1624/24430695785_ab025a6907_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DdRGGR)

Took off the crappy Hagen hood and moved the 2 Kessils from the 65 to the 20. A little too high here.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1543/24134922540_a5fb243fc5_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CLHMC9)

6 inches off the water... that's better. Bought a Tunze ATO, but... lazy.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1574/23802338054_027ce6df18_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CgkcQS)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1697/24134922230_ba17d92320_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CLHMwN)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1466/24322261512_93095dc282_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D4gWYq)

Too many frags in the 65... so I removed the original plugs, gave the frag a dip in peroxide for the bubble algae, and mounted on a new plug.
Frag tank is in full swing, now to add more liverock, fish and a skimmer!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1707/24062735269_29d3b58e37_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CEkNS2)

Myka

01-17-2016, 01:35 PM

Um, I don't see any LPS. Want me to change the title? ;)

WarDog

01-17-2016, 05:42 PM

Um, I don't see any LPS.

Yeah, just spent a whack of money booking MACNA. Accepting free donations, especially with Space Invaders in the name! :wink:

Myka

01-17-2016, 07:43 PM

Yeah, just spent a whack of money booking MACNA. Accepting free donations, especially with Space Invaders in the name! :wink:

:lol: Yeah, I don't know about MACNA this year. American Dollar was 1.49 on Friday and it's only supposed to get worse in the next year. It might be a good year to skip out. My Philippines trip was bad enough which was booked at 1.43.

Bblinks

01-18-2016, 08:29 PM

Yeah!!!! MACNA!!!

Myka

01-19-2016, 01:42 AM

Yeah!!!! MACNA!!!

Have you been?

WarDog

01-19-2016, 05:37 AM

:lol: Yeah, I don't know about MACNA this year.

Booo!

Yeah!!!! MACNA!!!

Yay!

Have you been?

Don't think Rich has ever been.

Myka

01-19-2016, 01:11 PM

Hey Warren, did you notice how many little bit of sand are stuck to your magnet above? Magnetic sand isn't good.

Bblinks

01-19-2016, 03:14 PM

Have you been?

No I have never been but the closest I ever got was seamax in Seattle. So it's gonna be interesting!

soapy

01-19-2016, 03:59 PM

:lol: Yeah, I don't know about MACNA this year. American Dollar was 1.49 on Friday and it's only supposed to get worse in the next year. It might be a good year to skip out. My Philippines trip was bad enough which was booked at 1.43.

Yes and it is a bad year to be buying gear for the tank too.

To quote my favourite disaster movie "I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

WarDog

01-30-2016, 06:29 AM

Hey Warren, did you notice how many little bit of sand are stuck to your magnet above? Magnetic sand isn't good.

You know, I never noticed until you said something. Meh. Lol.

Sold the Kessils to some guy with a Kessil addiction and picked up a 2 x 24w Coralife fixture with a blue plus and a coral plus. Definitely not enough light for SPS.

Also added more rock from a buddy who hoards clams... lots of clams.

Went for the old 'pile it up in the back' aquascape.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1538/24405431060_91213a036e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DbCdo9)

CPR fuge is doing great. Cheato is growing, might have to start pruning soon. Lots of pods. Still think there's some aiptasia in there.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1608/24074121833_7c3c21beac_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/CFmaG6)

Ram3500

01-30-2016, 06:52 AM

Dam you Kessil why won't you grow sps??? :twised:http://http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o794/groundhogdog/3D484E7D-9670-49AE-8BFE-DE34D8FC2BA9_zpsqodcm4ho.png (http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/groundhogdog/media/3D484E7D-9670-49AE-8BFE-DE34D8FC2BA9_zpsqodcm4ho.png.html)

one day you will learn my young padawan

WarDog

01-30-2016, 07:25 AM

one day you will learn my young padawan

I chose the easy path, as Vader did.

Looking pretty damn sweet!

Bblinks

02-02-2016, 06:21 PM

WarDog

04-21-2016, 06:09 AM

Photo dump. Loving the nuisance algae, seriously, so much life.

Added a Red Honey Damsel, waiting on a Yellow Wrasse.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1586/26418939905_b136933eb9_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GfxYpT)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1643/26326603442_23fc71f78f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/G7oHZU)

Awesome brown Bonsai.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1484/26393009566_055e1996f4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Gdg5e5)

Loving the rock from Coasting!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/26146095800_ec4008ab7b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FQrznb)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1523/25814111584_7a64f9bf47_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Fk752o)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1646/25814111964_30135eef79_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Fk758W)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1476/26146095520_81f40851f4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FQrzhm)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1631/26326602392_b91056b865_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/G7oHFN)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1515/26326602522_ac053f367e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/G7oHJ3)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1649/26393009816_e996407b6c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Gdg5io)

soapy

04-21-2016, 03:11 PM

That looks like a nice little red mithrax? Whats he doing in the tub?

WarDog

04-21-2016, 03:28 PM

That looks like a nice little red mithrax? Whats he doing in the tub?

About to go in the tank.

soapy

04-21-2016, 03:33 PM

About to go in the tank.

Nice!

soapy

04-21-2016, 03:38 PM

Did you know those guys like nori? You can feed them little pieces if you are worried they are running out of food. In fact they are very trainable.

WarDog

04-21-2016, 05:03 PM

Good to know! Lots of overfeeding going on in this tank, so he won't be starving that's for sure. Lol.

WarDog

03-09-2017, 05:35 AM

1 year update I guess.

Tank is going good and acting as an overflow from the 65. Nothing goes in here that isn't a fresh cut and dipped in peroxide. Bubble algae blues.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/700/32521854483_ef7f38c99c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxR1i2)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2943/32521845533_def3055dc2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxQXCH)

Fuge real healthy.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3737/32521845583_1f1bb91ae4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxQXDz)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/780/32521853983_e335fd8d5e_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxR19p)

Space Invaders Pectinia starting to grow. I should try feeding it.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/682/32521854243_5e1b145f68_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxR1dT)

Rastas reaching for the light.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2813/32521845573_e5e19106f2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxQXDp)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3709/32521845563_2dc378a3ec_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxQXDe)

Moved the SIP higher, hoping for more colour.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/671/32521845523_ca89ba8b59_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RxQXCx)