Raied's 20 gallon nano :D

[mrhasan]

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/img404/7659/20120616152621.jpg
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg525/scaled.php?server=525&filename=20120616155025.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg69/scaled.php?server=69&filename=20120616202430.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg577/scaled.php?server=577&filename=20120616202537.jpg&res=landing

Colored the back of the tank black:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg840/scaled.php?server=840&filename=20120616155830.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg690/scaled.php?server=690&filename=20120616160019.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg713/scaled.php?server=713&filename=20120616160253.jpg&res=landing

Added sand: (first mistake)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/20120619164330.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/scaled.php?server=801&filename=20120619171019.jpg&res=landing

Added a timer:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg13/scaled.php?server=13&filename=20120619180135.jpg&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/scaled.php?server=266&filename=20120625133521.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg515/scaled.php?server=515&filename=20120625134526.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg685/scaled.php?server=685&filename=dsc00020600x450.jpg&res=landing

The first aquascaping:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg341/scaled.php?server=341&filename=aqua1s.jpg&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/scaled.php?server=834&filename=dsc00024og.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg515/scaled.php?server=515&filename=20120625164656.jpg&res=landing

The second aquascaping:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg407/scaled.php?server=407&filename=dsc00036fe.jpg&res=landing

Got the new lighting (got another clown + a brittle star + diotom bloom + rio nano skimmer):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg37/scaled.php?server=37&filename=201207211805081.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg62/scaled.php?server=62&filename=20120718090501.jpg&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/scaled.php?server=854&filename=20120718090453.jpg&res=landing

Meanwhile, this helped me to find out whether everything was in order:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/20120620222225.jpg/

[mrhasan]

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/scaled.php?server=35&filename=dsc00247it.jpg&res=landing

And my current setup:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg222/scaled.php?server=222&filename=20120904000736.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg11/scaled.php?server=11&filename=20120910181330.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg43/scaled.php?server=43&filename=20120910181127.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg546/scaled.php?server=546&filename=20120910181103.jpg&res=landing
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/20120910181146.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/scaled.php?server=577&filename=20120910181051.jpg&res=landing

Thanks for looking and suggestions are always welcome :D

I will update it from now on as my tank progresses :D

[mrhasan]

I kinda lost patience getting this thread ready so could not elaborate everything. :redface:

[mrhasan]

Just added a six line wrasse and a torch coral :D

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg29/scaled.php?server=29&filename=29774510151223265319808.jpg&res=landing

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg194/scaled.php?server=194&filename=31842310151223265739808.jpg&res=landing

[mohammadali]

nice led looks good set up

[mrhasan]

thanks :D

[mrhasan]

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/scaled.php?server=195&filename=20120915150600.jpg&res=landing
And got this light from NanoCat (Dave). Thanks Mr. Dave for this :D
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg222/scaled.php?server=222&filename=20120915150548.jpg&res=landing

[mrhasan]

New additions:

Neon green trumpet coral (from xtreme):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg253/scaled.php?server=253&filename=201209221458122.jpg&res=landing

Frogspawn coral (from reefwars):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg99/scaled.php?server=99&filename=20120922134548.jpg&res=landing

Polyps (from reefwars):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg827/scaled.php?server=827&filename=20120922134526.jpg&res=landing

Red monti cap (from xtreme):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg543/scaled.php?server=543&filename=20120922134517.jpg&res=landing

Ultra aussie acan (from reefwars):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg843/scaled.php?server=843&filename=20120922085034.jpg&res=landing

Torch coral:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg26/scaled.php?server=26&filename=20120919210003.jpg&res=landing

[mrhasan]

And the updated FTS:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg853/scaled.php?server=853&filename=20120922145729.jpg&res=landing

[Enigma]

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!

[mrhasan]

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!

Thanks Shelly. Trying my best to make it worth watching but have to stop adding any more corals for the next one month. Will like to see how these works out :)

Oh well, at the end, its all about earning money and that keeps me inspired to study :P

[mrhasan]

Two new additions to the tank :D

1. Pink with purple mouth japanese goniopora:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg402/scaled.php?server=402&filename=20120929203753.jpg&res=landing

2. Red and green maxi-mini (not fully opened yet; not much a "mini"):

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg90/scaled.php?server=90&filename=20120929203737.jpg&res=landing

[mrhasan]

New additions (from reefwars):

Green center zoa

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-01132315_zps9f3a2cae.jpg

watermelon zoa

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-01132309_zps26a640e8.jpg

(possibly) people eater zoa

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-01132301_zpsd75aa3d1.jpg

[mrhasan]

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/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193657_zps8353068c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193650_zps3b0b25ba.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193644_zps9c59f089.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193641_zpscca1043d.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193635_zps4b972e21.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-02193624_zps0d638cc4.jpg

[mrhasan]

Somes pics :)

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124848_zpsdab087fc.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124843_zps0eea4579.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124836_zps9e18a81f.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124830_zps5c484827.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124823_zps7a480641.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124816_zps435e7b65.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124805_zps0c483b4d.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124755_zpscc4e9958.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124735_zpsef453176.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124727_zps0bd3dba5.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124713_zps5d9306cb.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124703_zps76282f84.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124651_zps1b4152a9.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124642_zpsf9168b77.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124636_zpsbe852d82.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124629_zps5346cf45.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124436_zpseaab18e6.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124423_zps15776dc6.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124359_zpsff9b5872.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124346_zps59d0b568.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124325_zpsb21130f2.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-10-31124307_zps282e64c9.jpg

[Salt2Death]

Looking great!


Sent Via The Pirate Ship.......
Garrrrrrrrrrr

[mrhasan]

Looking great!


Sent Via The Pirate Ship.......
Garrrrrrrrrrr

Thanks :D

[ensquire]

Very nice, looks like you have been shopping at Denny's house LOL

[mrhasan]

Very nice, looks like you have been shopping at Denny's house LOL

Thanks :D

Haha. Yah 1/2 of the zoa frags + acan + frogspawn are from Denny :P

[reefwars]

lol i guess its my signature plugs that give it away eh:P

[mrhasan]

lol i guess its my signature plugs that give it away eh:P

Lol yah :P

BTW Denny you never commented on how my tank is coming along. Would appreciate it if you would through in something :mrgreen:

[reefwars]

Lol yah :P

BTW Denny you never commented on how my tank is coming along. Would appreciate it if you would through in something :mrgreen:

looks great buddy ....needs more purple lol

is the back of your tank just glass or is it painted/vinyl??

[mrhasan]

looks great buddy ....needs more purple lol

is the back of your tank just glass or is it painted/vinyl??

Thanks :D The coralines are growing, I would say, in good amount but not in the fastest pace, possibly because of the light.

I spray painted it :)

[miuYH]

That is a very nice purple torch coral! I am jealous:mrgreen:

[mrhasan]

That is a very nice purple torch coral! I am jealous:mrgreen:

THanku :mrgreen:

[miuYH]

THanku :mrgreen:

Where and who did you get it from? I want a piece....:D

[mrhasan]

Where and who did you get it from? I want a piece....:D

Its just a common torch which is available in almost every LFS :P

The green one is hard to find and expensive too.

[mrhasan]

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 :)

[mrhasan]

P.S. I had to tag all the pictures since I had to send them to my mother :P

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/zoa2_zps51e2fc25.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/zoa1_zps404f85d4.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/yellowmonti_zps5206b235.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/watermelon_zpsf058fabc.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/torch_zps8d701d26.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/toadstool_zps43270ce7.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/redpaly_zps459c90dd.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/redmonticap_zps3db59182.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/purplemushroom_zpsbc79a5d2.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/purplebirdnest_zps2e975200.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/pompomxenia_zps180536fa.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/orangemonti_zps6f62215c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/montiporacapgreen_zpse55d06bf.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/montiporacapbrown_zps22e9bc79.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/maximini2_zpse8b04d9e.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/maximini1_zps45360a5f.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/konagoldpaly_zps95be40bc.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/hammercoral_zpsfb26cb49.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/GSP_zps484a1f96.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/greencenterzoa_zps0f6beaff.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/greenbirdnest_zpsb57e3887.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/frogspawn_zps01eda467.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/candycane_zps54617bf8.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/acros_zpsf3d9a6c4.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/acropora1_zps195ba195.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/acan_zps71137208.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/2012-11-04174012_zps598dfa63.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/2012-11-03113738_zpsa44eb939.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/2012-11-02161155_zpsc4b90db0.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/2012-10-31124703_zpsa3612a6c.jpg

[mrhasan]

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/zoa5_zps34414abf.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/zoa4_zps14013ea3.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/Update%206nov2012/zoa3_zps7801172a.jpg

[Leach29]

Looks very nice Raied ! Love the variety

[mrhasan]

Looks very nice Raied ! Love the variety

Thanks :) Yap I am trying to incorporate everything from softies to SPS. Nothing fancy but just a diverse ecosystem :)

[mrhasan]

Updated video of my tank. Please do watch it and feedback will be appreciated :)


http://s1304.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrhasan1/media/MyMovie_zps660600e1.mp4.html

[nanoreefnewbie]

Beautiful tank.....very very nice someday I'll get there lol:biggrin:

[mrhasan]

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

[mrhasan]

Some updates:

Got three chromis:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/65382_10151324291054808_1678911050_n.jpg

Just a view of my small maxi mini garden:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-11-18183957.jpg

FTS:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-11-18141153.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/s522/mrhasan1/2012-11-18035430.jpg

[mrhasan]

Some updates:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29174104_zps1603ca39.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29174056_zps0dd7c082.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29174041_zpsa7aebbe5.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29174014_zps2328f74c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173959_zps935702c4.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173926_zps3c68e8bb.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173854_zpsc4efc613.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173821_zps1f77adcf.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173807_zps422f32bf.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173758-1_zps47f2111d.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173748_zpsf5f26bf1.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173736_zpsa71b3a98.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173722_zps46fbb5b9.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173714_zpsa8b67ffb.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173708_zps3e884a4d.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173644_zps27326994.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173545_zps29ff77ae.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173523_zpsf84ce2eb.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173445_zpsb31ca8f6.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173429_zps65322e7a.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173421_zps749b57d4.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173404_zps589f8a0c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173341_zpse111c719.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2012-12-29173314_zps3217096c.jpg

[Xadieu]

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.

[mrhasan]

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.

I wouldn't say its low nutrient system but it remains under 5ppm. My whole system is somehow very well balanced; problem arises when I try to disturb something like sandbed and I get nitrate spike.

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.

[molotov]

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:

[mrhasan]

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:

I am not saying that using tap water is right....I am just saying I use it myself and have never had any problem :P

[Xadieu]

My thoughts exactly Mark. It's on like Donkey Kong :lol:

[kien]

looking good man! By the way, one of the tanks of the month last year used tap water for a long time. Looked great as evidenced by his TOTM acclaim :-) He did eventually switch to using RO/DI but I'm not sure why as his tank did fine with tap water.

[mrhasan]

looking good man! By the way, one of the tanks of the month last year used tap water for a long time. Looked great as evidenced by his TOTM acclaim :-) He did eventually switch to using RO/DI but I'm not sure why as his tank did fine with tap water.

Thanks Kien :D

Atleast I know I won't be going to RO/DI as long as I am in Calgary or something makes me do it.

Like always, don't try to repair something if its not broken :P

[kien]

Like always, don't try to repair something if its not broken :P

Exactly :-) If it's working for you, keep on keepin' on :-)

[mrhasan]

So got my new lights running. I am running 2 blue+, 1 purple+ and 1 KZ coral light. The color this combination is popping is just too good! I never saw colors like that in my tank :P

Anyway, here are some pics (with my new camera, Canon SX160 IS):

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0096_zps2992d027.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0099_zpsaeeb05c6.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0100_zps6dfc95ed.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0102_zps8cfe3ae3.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0106_zps9b1079b1.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0108_zps207afa85.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0110_zpsfd640aff.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0123_zps5e3b8cb3.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0125_zpsf8f2f7ca.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0126_zpsbe4ba936.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0127_zps9e5b7280.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0128_zpsc4ba9d6c.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0129_zps6ae7d649.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0130_zps7c1f983e.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0131_zps890f2eda.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0132_zpsc50e21fd.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0133_zps34fc9bc9.jpghttp://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0144_zps4ef5a949.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0143_zps027f0893.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0153_zps07470ef2.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0154_zpsb44fc54b.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0159_zps69761b41.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0161_zps3e32078d.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0170_zps3f89a36f.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0175_zps9f79ec24.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0176_zpsedfa3851.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0179_zpsf9547ace.jpg
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_0180_zps635aaa58.jpg

[Xadieu]

I counted 8 fish in your tank, I know they are not tangs but they still go poo poo and pee pee. How you have no problem with nutrients while using tap water is beyond me Raied. But good on you buddy :mrgreen:

[mrhasan]

I counted 8 fish in your tank, I know they are not tangs but they still go poo poo and pee pee. How you have no problem with nutrients while using tap water is beyond me Raied. But good on you buddy :mrgreen:

Yah till now I don't have any issue with my tank till now :D (I knew someone's gonna count the fishes haha). Weird stuff :P Like they say, every tank is different :D

[Whiston]

That is a stuffed 20 long. Absolutely awesome!
Great tank.

[Madreefer]

Looks good, and all that time you spent researching LEDs.:lol:

If only I could get my colors to pop like that, and I have yet to see anyones LED covered tank look as good as T5s.

I would'nt say tank of the month:biggrin:

That nano contest still on from 2012? I'd say this is a winner!

[mrhasan]

That is a stuffed 20 long. Absolutely awesome!
Great tank.

Thanks :)

[mrhasan]

Looks good, and all that time you spent researching LEDs.:lol:

If only I could get my colors to pop like that, and I have yet to see anyones LED covered tank look as good as T5s.

I would'nt say tank of the month:biggrin:

That nano contest still on from 2012? I'd say this is a winner!

Hahaha.. Yah too much time spent on LED but when I saw that the cost just kept building up, I thought why not just remain old school!

I am not in the contest. I set up the tank months before the contest started :P Thanks for the appreciation Bill, means a lot :D

[mrhasan]

Some new additions (from Lee9)

Sexy shrimp pair:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-01-16101513_zpsee0e8987.jpg

Red algae (finally!):
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-01-16100216_zps675df55b.jpg

Pokerstar monti and red planet:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-01-16100206_zps15894e89.jpg

Monti confusia and yellow spider polyps:
http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-01-16100201_zps56fcda66.jpg

[mrhasan]

Some pics are blurred since this was my first experiment with DSLR :)

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2971_zps1a632083.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2968_zps704e5db8.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2966_zps24dff088.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2965_zps59d4403a.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2953_zpsf452e184.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2952_zps54e74e2a.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2951_zpsfab1c7ad.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2944_zps8a87a008.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2941_zps302e53cb.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2932_zps70e9839c.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2925_zpsf9395953.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2924_zps925604e2.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2914_zps6fe215ff.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2908_zpsc1e5d6ef.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2907_zps5ac67e9e.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2903_zps91931acc.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2901_zps65891c7f.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2900_zps23205fbd.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2899_zpsd5401cbf.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2898_zps23dba866.jpg

[mrhasan]

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2897_zpse581aa44.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2896_zps7362e915.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2895_zps3a098289.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2893_zps6a767421.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2892_zpsc3d2c992.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2884_zpsda5ba507.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2883_zpsee9ac422.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2882_zps5ef4f164.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2877_zps42109aa3.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2876_zps0f5824aa.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2875_zpsff0d2cd3.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2872_zps4ffcf4ff.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2870_zpsb1676261.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2868_zpsda58f903.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2865_zpsf19b8afa.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2853_zpseb96ce06.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2848_zps8d9039a7.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2845_zps67d75ef1.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2843_zpse3d414b3.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2839_zps34bf3189.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2833_zps7ae66f7c.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2828_zps1cb85424.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2826_zpsf8b569ce.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2818_zpsdf32c420.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2807_zpsdbb28a94.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2800_zps8a33be87.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2792_zpsd56d5507.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2778_zps23156227.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2758_zpsf0c70c34.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_2724_zpse818fc2a.jpg

[Xadieu]

I see you stocked up some of those $10 frags from Denny Raied :P I was going to say stuffed tank but I already said that few post ago :mrgreen:

[mrhasan]

I see you stocked up some of those $10 frags from Denny Raied :P I was going to say stuffed tank but I already said that few post ago :mrgreen:

Haha yah. Some of them are not fully opened so didn't take their pics. Got 8 frags from him during the sale haha.

[mrhasan]

Aussie duncan:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_3119_zps650da6d4.jpg

A 3D shot (don't know why the starfish appears 3D):

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_3112_zps7360bb24.jpg

The happy family:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_3138_zps615d19de.jpg

Got this bad boy:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_3076_zps27a2d5f2.jpg

And an FTS:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/IMG_3066_zpsa0d3a539.jpg

[Nano]

Looks great Raied if you wan really crisp macro shots, turn off the powerheads while taking the pics so the polyps are still. You've got lots of great color going in there now! Didn't take long :)

[mrhasan]

Looks great Raied if you wan really crisp macro shots, turn off the powerheads while taking the pics so the polyps are still. You've got lots of great color going in there now! Didn't take long :)

Thanks for the pointer. :D Didn't know about that; will sure try it :)

Thanks for the appreciation too :D Well trying my best but unfortunately ran out of space :P :(. Have to setup a new tank since the male banggai is now carrying eggs.

[mrhasan]

I have a slight outbreak of bryopsis since some seeds came through some frags and they actually require very low nutrient and BAM! They started taking over my sand bed. Since I don't want ULNS, fighting bryopsis would be hard and hence I took a different step. Came to find out that true scarlet hermits (all scarlets are red but not all red are scarlets :P ) much on bryopsis like a boss since they don't get affected by the toxin. Its like puffer sushi to sushi lovers :P

Anyway, so I got three scarlets and a maxican turbo today and my oh my, they started working (even the turbo) right when they hit the sandbed. They are working like magic! So they are happy and I am happy too :D

Some pics of the new crew:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173400_zps9dd2e113.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173801_zps29f679cc.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173731_zps69fbb74c.jpg

Anyway, I have also added two big pieces of live rocks in the tank so that I can stuff in more corals (till now, I have 56).

Pics of the rocks:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173420_zpsd6554fab.jpg

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173426_zps94f2df31.jpg

My acan garden:

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173535_zps0329174a.jpg

And a leptastrea frag (never saw these in LFS; might have missed it though):

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173556_zps31da325d.jpg

And nothing ends without a good FTS :D

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s522/mrhasan1/2013-02-16173443_zps0f91456d.jpg

[mrhasan]

A video of my tank:

http://s1304.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrhasan1/media/Myreef_zpsbbd61424.mp4.html

[Goatman]

A video of my tank:

http://s1304.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrhasan1/media/Myreef_zpsbbd61424.mp4.html


It says video not found

[mrhasan]

It says video not found

Ah sorry about that...This should work:

http://s1304.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrhasan1/media/Video/Myreef_zpsbbd61424.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

[mrhasan]

The end of the starting point of my reef tank. This tank has taught me so much from various perspectives. Alongside, lots of people have help me accomplish this tank. To me, this was like a masterpiece that I was able to create myself. Don't know whether I will be able to recreate it with my new tank but then again, the first step is always to be remembered. Thanks to everyone who appreciated my tank and helped me along the way :)