Wow amazing. As someone 2 months into the freshwater side of the hobby, don't stop trying. I feel like I get a good grasp on things and then x pops up. Cannot wait to see your journey.
Wow, thank you so much! It’s awesome to have you here sharing this journey too. Freshwater tanks are amazing, and you’re right-there’s always something new popping up! But that’s what makes the hobby so exciting, right? Keep at it, and I can’t wait to see how far you’ll go too. Let’s grow together!
I might have done it wrong; the ideal approach is really to wait for the tank to complete the full ammonia and nitrite cycle. My anemone is a Bubble Tip Rainbow. Here in my region, aquarists say it is more resilient, but I can’t confirm that for you.
6 months may be a but early as well. It takes about a year to establish the true microfauna and microbial population of the tank, which would be introduced by an established biological media (e.g. a used filter sponge from a store), bacterial additives, and through your first fish and inverts. Once that's introduced, you can introduce hardy soft corals, and this is where you learn to test. Once your tank goes through it's blooms, that's when you begin to introduce more moderately-difficult and difficult organisms like an anemone. Most folks go through the steps too fast, then give up when all their corals are covered up by bryopsis and diatoms.
Most tanks are shut down between 6 to 12 months. Beginners go through the ugly phases (alternating between diatoms, dinos, cyano, pest algae, bryopsis, etc.) and this is the part that makes beginners become disillusioned about their ideal tank. This is the phase with the most lessons on patience. But once your microbial population is established with the right biodiversity, you wonder where these pests went or what miracle happened. Also helps if you avoid those white base rocks, cause it'll be the pests that takes over those at first. So your ugly phase would be 3x-10x worse than if yup had started with those purple rocks or even live rock
Started my tank with dry rock but live sand. Gifted a colony of rbta 1 month after I 'completed' my cycle without much problems. Finally getting out of the ugly stage 8 months in
I added many anemones in the beginning in my tanks as I was impatient and eventually they just melted away. It's not just the ammonia, they just simply don't like chemical balance changes in your water. A new tank has a lot of parameter swings. But even in mature tanks, an alkalinity, salinity etc. swing can cause them to die off. They are very sensitive. You can add anemone on day 1 in theory if you control and keep all your parameters stable but that takes a lot of experience, labour and sometimes a lot of money (equipment, dosing substances, etc.)
Great content. I find looking into my reef tank is very relaxing as well. I sit in a chair just like you and look into my reef tank ever morning for at least 20 minutes. Very soothing.
Thank you! It’s amazing how relaxing it can be, right? Taking time to enjoy the tank each day is the best part of the hobby. Glad to know you’re finding it soothing too!
You're doing quite well so far but I would wait before you add anything else. At 3 months old your tank is not completely stable chemistry wise. I'd wait another month or even two before adding new creatures so the tank can adjust gradually. You'll love getting a larger tank though. I'd recommend a sump as well. You could use your 65 liter tank as a sump for a larger tank. I'm glad to see you're learning new things. I have quite a bit of time in the hobby and I'm still learning!
I am very happy to see a comment from someone much more experienced in this amazing hobby of ours. Take a look at the latest videos; I’ve really learned a lot and made some progress, and I’ll continue sharing all the progress of the reef here. Thank you so much for leaving your advice. It’s very important to me as I’m still learning.
Just a few tips. Change floss twice a week so it doesn't go too biological. Add more rock. It's a main filter. If your filter has a biological section ,only clean with old tank water. Make a lid to reduce evaporation to keep salinity stable and to keep fish in the tank. And maybe a six-line wrasse for coral pest control. They are jumpers and need more live rock. And be sure to smell new rock to see if it has decay or by dry rock. Good Luck and keep watching videos.
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely change the floss more often and think about adding more rock. The lid idea and wrasse suggestion are great too-really appreciate the advice!
Wow, thank you so much! That means a lot to me. I’m really glad you’re enjoying the content-there’s so much more I can’t wait to share. Your support makes it all worth it!
Thank you! I think sharing the hiccups is just as important as the highlights-it’s all part of the learning process, right? Glad you’re enjoying the journey with me!
Off to a great start man! I would say it’s successful so far! It’s a never ending learning experience! What are you doing for top off water? It looks like the water level is constantly low. Might want to invest in an automatic top off system. It makes life so much easier! If you don’t have the funds, I could probably find one in my pile of reef stuff. May not be the best/nicest but it works..
Thank you my friend! I'm really at the beginning and I've learned a lot from the people in the comments. I recently set up a new nano Reef with the best equipment I could find, I'll post it this week or next here on the channel
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ll keep working to improve even more. Your support means a lot. And with time, the tank will definitely get even better!
In the age of the internet and social media, there is no excuse, really, for not doing research and being prepared before you put water into a glass box.
Thanks, bro! I’ll keep sharing every upgrade with you. Owning a reef tank is an amazing dream, and I’m sure you’ll make it happen one day! Start small, and you’ll get there-it’s all worth it!
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ll keep an eye on the shrimp and make adjustments if needed. Protecting the corals is my top priority, so I really appreciate the advice!
Beautiful first tank, take it slow and enjoy. ❤
Wow amazing. As someone 2 months into the freshwater side of the hobby, don't stop trying. I feel like I get a good grasp on things and then x pops up. Cannot wait to see your journey.
Wow, thank you so much! It’s awesome to have you here sharing this journey too. Freshwater tanks are amazing, and you’re right-there’s always something new popping up! But that’s what makes the hobby so exciting, right? Keep at it, and I can’t wait to see how far you’ll go too. Let’s grow together!
And everyone tells me I need to wait 6 months before adding an anemone...
I might have done it wrong; the ideal approach is really to wait for the tank to complete the full ammonia and nitrite cycle. My anemone is a Bubble Tip Rainbow. Here in my region, aquarists say it is more resilient, but I can’t confirm that for you.
6 months may be a but early as well. It takes about a year to establish the true microfauna and microbial population of the tank, which would be introduced by an established biological media (e.g. a used filter sponge from a store), bacterial additives, and through your first fish and inverts. Once that's introduced, you can introduce hardy soft corals, and this is where you learn to test. Once your tank goes through it's blooms, that's when you begin to introduce more moderately-difficult and difficult organisms like an anemone. Most folks go through the steps too fast, then give up when all their corals are covered up by bryopsis and diatoms.
Most tanks are shut down between 6 to 12 months. Beginners go through the ugly phases (alternating between diatoms, dinos, cyano, pest algae, bryopsis, etc.) and this is the part that makes beginners become disillusioned about their ideal tank. This is the phase with the most lessons on patience. But once your microbial population is established with the right biodiversity, you wonder where these pests went or what miracle happened. Also helps if you avoid those white base rocks, cause it'll be the pests that takes over those at first. So your ugly phase would be 3x-10x worse than if yup had started with those purple rocks or even live rock
Started my tank with dry rock but live sand. Gifted a colony of rbta 1 month after I 'completed' my cycle without much problems. Finally getting out of the ugly stage 8 months in
I added many anemones in the beginning in my tanks as I was impatient and eventually they just melted away. It's not just the ammonia, they just simply don't like chemical balance changes in your water. A new tank has a lot of parameter swings. But even in mature tanks, an alkalinity, salinity etc. swing can cause them to die off. They are very sensitive. You can add anemone on day 1 in theory if you control and keep all your parameters stable but that takes a lot of experience, labour and sometimes a lot of money (equipment, dosing substances, etc.)
Great content. I find looking into my reef tank is very relaxing as well. I sit in a chair just like you and look into my reef tank ever morning for at least 20 minutes. Very soothing.
Thank you! It’s amazing how relaxing it can be, right? Taking time to enjoy the tank each day is the best part of the hobby. Glad to know you’re finding it soothing too!
You're doing quite well so far but I would wait before you add anything else. At 3 months old your tank is not completely stable chemistry wise. I'd wait another month or even two before adding new creatures so the tank can adjust gradually. You'll love getting a larger tank though. I'd recommend a sump as well. You could use your 65 liter tank as a sump for a larger tank. I'm glad to see you're learning new things. I have quite a bit of time in the hobby and I'm still learning!
I am very happy to see a comment from someone much more experienced in this amazing hobby of ours. Take a look at the latest videos; I’ve really learned a lot and made some progress, and I’ll continue sharing all the progress of the reef here.
Thank you so much for leaving your advice. It’s very important to me as I’m still learning.
Just a few tips. Change floss twice a week so it doesn't go too biological. Add more rock. It's a main filter. If your filter has a biological section ,only clean with old tank water. Make a lid to reduce evaporation to keep salinity stable and to keep fish in the tank. And maybe a six-line wrasse for coral pest control. They are jumpers and need more live rock. And be sure to smell new rock to see if it has decay or by dry rock. Good Luck and keep watching videos.
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely change the floss more often and think about adding more rock. The lid idea and wrasse suggestion are great too-really appreciate the advice!
So underrated
Found plenty of reef tank video but not as good as this one
Wow, thank you so much! That means a lot to me. I’m really glad you’re enjoying the content-there’s so much more I can’t wait to share. Your support makes it all worth it!
Love that you are learning and showing all the hiccups!
Thank you! I think sharing the hiccups is just as important as the highlights-it’s all part of the learning process, right? Glad you’re enjoying the journey with me!
Off to a great start man! I would say it’s successful so far! It’s a never ending learning experience! What are you doing for top off water? It looks like the water level is constantly low. Might want to invest in an automatic top off system. It makes life so much easier! If you don’t have the funds, I could probably find one in my pile of reef stuff. May not be the best/nicest but it works..
Thank you my friend! I'm really at the beginning and I've learned a lot from the people in the comments.
I recently set up a new nano Reef with the best equipment I could find, I'll post it this week or next here on the channel
@ looking forward to it!
Great video! Keep after it! Tank is looking great and will only get better with time!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ll keep working to improve even more. Your support means a lot. And with time, the tank will definitely get even better!
In the age of the internet and social media, there is no excuse, really, for not doing research and being prepared before you put water into a glass box.
Keep it up bro
I want to see upgrade
One day to own reef tank is my dream
But reef is so expensive
Thanks, bro! I’ll keep sharing every upgrade with you. Owning a reef tank is an amazing dream, and I’m sure you’ll make it happen one day! Start small, and you’ll get there-it’s all worth it!
Invest into an Automatic Topoff system. This will dramatically help your stability. Thank me later and Happy Reefing
Thanks for the suggestion! An ATO system sounds like a great idea for stability. I’ll definitely look into it. Happy reefing to you too!
❤❤❤ 👍👍👍✌️✌️
Thank you for the comment!
✌️✌️
Get rid of the dancing shrimp. They eat coral
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ll keep an eye on the shrimp and make adjustments if needed. Protecting the corals is my top priority, so I really appreciate the advice!