Coraln00b's 28 Gal Nano Build!

CoralN00b

CoralN00b

New member
I know my tank has been up for a while but it has been a wild ride so far and I have enjoyed it!

So I feel it is time for my tank build thread. I have a 28 Gal JBJ nano. It is the HQI version with a 14K Metal halide bulb. A pain in the a$$ lighting system but I am leaving it as is. I purchased this tank used. I was in my LFS and browsing around and one of their employees offered to sell me the tank. I did some research and thought it was a good deal at the time. I still don't regret it. The tank, 35 lbs of liverock, crushed coral, stand, 3 extra bulbs and a heater was $300. He even gave me the water lol.

Anyways, I started out with some domino damsels, as most people do.

Here is what my tank looked like before I picked it up. This is the photo he sent me of it.

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Then this is what it looked like after I got it home and scaped it.

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This is how it looked after running for a while.

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I know better now and won't improperly stock like that again.

Then I had my horrible crash where I lost almost everything except for a Diamond watchman goby and my clowns.

I cleaned the tank out completely and got rid of everything except for my three fish and my nem. After cleaning it and replacing the crushed coral with sand, this is what it looked like......

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I think it looks so much better now and I was able to do what I wanted with it. I hated the crushed coral and will never have that again.

Then this magical event happened!

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I was like a kid in the candy store! I got some awesome frags from Dan and since we were by reefwise, I picked up some CUC and a fromia red starfish with black tips.

This was how it looked after everything acclimated.

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It stayed like this for a while and then the CMAS Frag swap came along. This was my first swap and my wife actually wanted to come with and pick some stuff out.

The end result is this.........

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My better half took this picture for me earlier today because I asked how the tank is going. I LOVE MY TANK NOW!!!!!! I am so glad I didn't give up after my system crashed. Now I have this awesome little beginners reef. I can't wait for all this coral to start growing and taking over my liverock.

Oh and I picked up that frag tree at the swap. I love it. It gave me so much room and I can start planning where to put everything at now.

This tank is pretty much stocked full for now. I'll start moving and trading some stuff later. I'm picking up a pico next week and I am planning on making that my zoa garden and just having some torches, my candy canes, and frogspawn in this tank. We will see but for now I love it!

Thanks for staying with me through this thread guys! I'll update it regularly.
 
Looking great Mike, glad things recovered after the crash and you didn't get to frustrated, just give it time for everything to grow out now :)
 
Thanks everyone! Honestly, it was the help and support of these forums that got me back to where I am now. I really enjoy this hobby.

Frankie, I was not kidding when I said they were exactly what I wanted. Same exact intensity of color and everything. I love them!
 
CoralN00b said:
Thanks everyone! Honestly, it was the help and support of these forums that got me back to where I am now. I really enjoy this hobby.

Frankie, I was not kidding when I said they were exactly what I wanted. Same exact intensity of color and everything. I love them!
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Glad it worked out for you... It grows fast :) Keep us updated on you're tank progress
 
Hey guys, I thought i would do a quick update. I lost my Starfish. Those guys are so sensitive. He was doing really well and then I did a water change and bam. I will eventually replace him but I want to do alot more research before I do next time.

Also my Gorgonian was not in a spot with enough flow so some of his tissue was lost. I moved him to right by one of my powerheads int he back and he loves it there. He is nice and clean and doing well. His little bit of lost tissue should come back soon from the research i did.

Now onto equipment upgrades! i finally got my skimmer! Well I ordered it. It is not here yet. I went with an Aqua Euro Nano Skimmer. Some people are having awesome results with it and my tank. I didn't want to go all out on a really expensive one for my first skimmer. I will learn with this one and upgrade later.

Also got a refractometer and i am ditching the hydrometer. Got a new digital thermometer and a real test kit now. No more strips. I have the API one with the liquid and test tubes and stuff.

My Zoas and Softies are all doing great and love where they are at! I am going to take some new pics soon to put up.
 
Dont Ditch the hydrometer .. they are VERY Handy .. i have a refractometer but i still use my hydrometer often ..

Regarding digital thermometer .. calibrate it carefully .. use atleast one regulr thermometer to check the readings are fine in the digital thermometer.
 
Don't the Refractometer and hydrometer do the same thing? Just one is more accurate?

Thanks for the tip on the thermometer. I plan on using my current one with the new one side by side for a while.
 
CoralN00b said:
Don't the Refractometer and hydrometer do the same thing? Just one is more accurate?

Thanks for the tip on the thermometer. I plan on using my current one with the new one side by side for a while.
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yes they do but refractometers go out of calibration now and then so its always wise to double check with hydrometer now and then
 
I think it is time for some updates. My Starfish and my Gorgonian did not make it. :ohwell: I had gotten new testing equipment and overdosed my PH on accident and it affected them badly. I learned from it and found the source and now I know. Also, My gorgonian was happy at first but I needed more flow in my tank for it. That brings me to my next update.......

I joined the big boy leagues and got one of these bad boys......
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And now the moment we have all been waiting for. Drumroll please........ the FTS during feeding time.

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