My Little 40 Gallons Reef Journey

[reeflover]

Hello everyone, I decided to post here my journey of a 40 gallon little setup.
I will try to add my aquarium parameters to my signature if that is possible, so people with more expertise can see it in real time and tell me if I am doing something wrong...
Right now I am wondering what type of corals to add to my system (giving the things that are going to happen this Sat...)
I have the feeling my system is a low nutrient one... am I right or that is how it should be?
Here are all the details: http://www.aquaticlog.com/showcase/dashboard?aquariumId=8056

 

[Kman]

As the tank seems to be newer I would stick with the easy to keep corals and stay away from most hardcorals. You can always get more corals later.
Stuff like soft corals, zoanthids and mushrooms are easy to keep and give you needed experience and practice. They are a good addition to add movement into the tank and a splash of color.

 

[EricTMah]

I would check your magnesium levels as well.
Also try and bump the calcium up a bit to about 420-440
If you're running a ULNS I'd advise to lower your dkh to below 8.5-9. With a ULNS higher alkalinity will cause burning on any sps you add.

Obviously like @Kman said. Soft corals, mushrooms, pally's and zoas are more forgiving.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeflover]

As the tank seems to be newer I would stick with the easy to keep corals and stay away from most hardcorals. You can always get more corals later.
Stuff like soft corals, zoanthids and mushrooms are easy to keep and give you needed experience and practice. They are a good addition to add movement into the tank and a splash of color.

Thanks, I love softies and I also think LPS are the most colorful corals that add life and joy to a newbie's aquarium.

I would check your magnesium levels as well.
Also try and bump the calcium up a bit to about 420-440
If you're running a ULNS I'd advise to lower your dkh to below 8.5-9. With a ULNS higher alkalinity will cause burning on any sps you add.

Obviously like @Kman said. Soft corals, mushrooms, pally's and zoas are more forgiving.

Sony Xperia Z3

Thank you Eric, I was thinking about the same thing regarding Mg. I hope the Ca is OK now, last night after I got those readings I dosed 25 ml of B-ionic Nr.2 but I din't re-tested, I will do it later and update readings...
I don't want to run an ULNS since lately everyone is reporting better results with all the corals when they stopped using ULNS. I will just keep an eye on my water's parameters... and add more fish?

 

[Kman]

Frog spawn, torch and hammers are pretty easy to keep if you don't have hair algae. I love when they get big.

 

[reeflover]

Frog spawn, torch and hammers are pretty easy to keep if you don't have hair algae. I love when they get big.

That is exactly what I was thinking plus a kryptonite candy cane and some nice zoas.

 

[reeflover]

I finally had the hoodie installed... took me 3 days to make it because I tend to get sidetracked

I love this shot of my hermit... I think it's the only good picture I managed to take so far...

And yesterday we added a new Ocellaris Clown and one of my favorites Utter Chaos zoa...
I know it's pathetic to only have 3 corals in the tank but I think it's better to take it slow and get used to them and learn before adding more sophisticated stuff...

The acans are doing great judging by the fac they gave me 2 new heads in 4 weeks...but I was spot feeding them brine shrimps... I am only feeding them once a week now. This acans are a really bright red but I have no idea how to capture that with the camera so a lot of learning there too...

This is my first zoa colony, I think they are Ultra Metallic Emerald?

And here a shot of my Chaos. I believe this are ones of the most beautiful:

And my favorite invert so far is the Oraange Linkia. I managed to spot feed her and she accepts a wide variety of food as long s it's a mix of algae and shrimp and fish... I get a feeding response from it every single time after 11:30pm. As you can see in this picture it has the stomach everted and eats really well...

This re all my updates for now, I also got a Mg test kit and it shows I have a pretty good value... it's just the Ca that's going down fast and I also noticed an increased rate of evaporation lately... I have to top up about 1200 ml of fresh RODI water every day and I thought that's a lot for a small 40 gallon tank but I guess it is what it is... water evaporates fast...
I'm hoping to turn this aquarium into a nice colorful reef garden...

 

[Jewel]

If you're gonna feed your Corals I'd steer away from the Brine, It tends to be Fatty and would switch to Mysis, Corals will take it readily,

 

[MrHermit85]

Your tank looks great so far! I think those zoa's are radio active dragon eyes...