Fluval Edge Nano Reef

DD

DD

"Rambo"
A brief introduction: I've been an aquarist for roughly 28 years. Started out with a goldfish bowl and currently have a planted 46 gallon bowfront with high light and CO2 injection. Having tackled and maintained a planted tank this was the next logical step for me. I've had saltwater fish only tanks in the past. Mostly with triggers, lionfish, etc. I always wanted to try out a reef tank, so I am attempting to do what I did when I did my first planted tank. Go small. If I can be successful in a small setup, a larger one should be a piece of cake? Yeah right! I've come to learn from reading that this is not the best way to go about entering reef keeping, but I've already set the tank up and am stuck with it for now. I purchased the fluval edge 6 gallon when it first came out. It originally came with two crappy halogen lights that couldn't grow algae. I upgraded them to a larger size led and set the tank up for plants. I was very successful with the plants growing well and the fish doing good. I then made the switch on my 46 gallon from fish only to planted. July of last year I had to go down to Dallas TX for training for a total of 4 months. My fluval edge went to my buddies house and my planted tank was fed, ferts dosed, and water topped off by a family member. Well when I got back four months later, my tank looked like crap and the fluval edge was half filled with water and the plants were all gone. Which brings us to the present. Sorry for the blathering on and on lol.

Fluval Edge 6 Gallon Build:

Lighting: bought the new led bar to replace the original fixture. Nowhere near enough light. I then bought the Innovative Marine Single Strip Skyylight 18" 14K led light fixture. This drastically improved the lighting in the tank.

Filtration: I have the smallest HOB whisper filter they make. Plans are to add in some chemipure elite, and/or possibly something else. Open to suggestions.

Water movement: Aside from the whisper HOB, I have a koralia nano 240gph that moves the water sufficiently.

Heater: Heater is a tetra 2-10 gallon submersible. It maintains the water temp at 78 degrees.

Substrate: Two bags of aragalive sand. The bags were 5 pounds each for a total of 10 pounds of live sand.

Live Rock: 6 pounds of regular rock as a base and 6 pounds of "premium" aquacultured florida live rock. The "premium" is actually pretty nice. Well, except for the free aiptasia that came along with it.

Water: Using RO/DI from the LFS and am mixing my own salt mix. Still have yet to buy a salt and would welcome any suggestions. The water I purchased so far has been premixed by the LFS.

Once I had all the equipment together, I took a ride to the LFS and bought the live sand, live rock, and water. Got back home, put the live sand in, scaped the rock to my liking, filled the tank, plugged everything in, and away she goes!

The tank cycled amazingly fast. It took maybe a week and a half to two weeks! I think this was due to the amount of live rock I added. Not 100% sure though.

I added a small cleanup crew: 1 peppermint shrimp- I am about 85% sure it's a true peppermint shrimp. Got him to hopefully munch the aiptaisias. 2 astrea snails, or at least that's what I think they are, they're pyramidal shaped. 2 very very tiny blue hermit crabs. And that does it for them.

Hitchhikers I know about so far: Aiptasia (ughhh), a tiny starfish (all white), a keyhole limpet, a bunch of really tiny snails (unsure of the species), really small fanworms at various spots on the rock, and a bristleworm. I'm sure I'll find more.

Corals: I orange and blue florida ricordia, a tiny hammer frag, green star polyp frag, and a blast frag (red with a green center).

I will do my best to keep this updated as it progresses. Here are some photos to go along with this. They were taken with my iphone. Please excuse the quality. My friend borrowed my macro lens for my dslr so I will definitely be getting that back soon!

Any tips, comments, suggestions, are not only appreciated, they are welcomed! And if anyone has a recommendation of a fish to add, please suggest away!
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That's very nice. I to am into planted tanks and currently keep and breed cichlids. But I too want to step up to a saltwater tank. I wanted to start small too. I was thinking of doing the fluval spec 5 gallon but I am still looking around for tanks I have a nice 30 gallon acrylic with built in wet dry filter I was thinking of setting that up but Im not looking to spend a ton on lighting and live rock. Very nice setup
 
Very nice tank. I had one setup for a while. I learned quick an ato goes a long way. I would just pickup an Reef keeper lite. That IM led strip is hood for softies and maybe a few lps. Consider adding a small heatsink with 3 w LEDs. Really easy to setup. Pm me. I've built many and a custom one for my edge. The largest filter that I'm aware of is Aqua clear 30. I would run chemipure elite(carbon) and some filter floss. If that led strip creates any heat it will transfer to the tank. If you would like a couple birdsnest frags or some zoas let me know. I may have some just laying around. Nice start!
 
m.miller1547 said:
Very nice tank. I had one setup for a while. I learned quick an ato goes a long way. I would just pickup an Reef keeper lite. That IM led strip is hood for softies and maybe a few lps. Consider adding a small heatsink with 3 w LEDs. Really easy to setup. Pm me. I've built many and a custom one for my edge. The largest filter that I'm aware of is Aqua clear 30. I would run chemipure elite(carbon) and some filter floss. If that led strip creates any heat it will transfer to the tank. If you would like a couple birdsnest frags or some zoas let me know. I may have some just laying around. Nice start!
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Hey thanks! I would definitely be interested in doing a small light in place of the fluval led bar which is very weak. I'll PM you.
 
Smitty said:
Oh wow! Very nice looking tank you have. Good job.
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Jason R said:
Nice!!!
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Thanks, appreciate the comments!
BADGUS said:
Looks like ocean design rock.
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Lol! Yeah that's where I got them from. It was the only place that had really nice looking pieces. Unfortunately they also came with aiptasias. The peppermint shrimp seems to be very afraid of them so I'm hoping that it loses it's fear soon otherwise I'll have to get some aiptasia X.
 
Well, it's official. I remembered why it took me so long to pick up my fluval edge from my buddy's place. Because it's the worst tank to have if you are constantly having to do anything in the tank. Every time I have to add something, move something, or do anything in the tank, I have to first remove water. Once you have your tanked scaped, it's extremely awkward to get your hand and forearm in certain areas without knocking over a piece or rock, coral, etc. I can't believe I forgot how aggravating this tank can be! I'll probably wait about two weeks and get something a little different. I really like the length of the tank and the look of it which is why it is so aggravating. If anyone has any suggestions for a nano tank, I welcome them. I like the nuvo 8 but it's length isn't what I'm looking for. The nuvo 16 is cool but is a bit too long lengthwise for the space I have. I would really love something that's the same length as the edge but am unsure of the options available. I can push length of tank to maybe 20". Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
 
Quick update:

Tank is doing really well. I purchased a Mr. Aqua 11 gallon rimless tank. It came in well packed, filled it with water, leaked all over! Not getting another one of those tanks!

But here is a current shot of the tank I believe from yesterday or the day before. Gonna have to start looking for a tank 20" long or under.

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