Newbie Reefer for my 5yo - Lakewood/Cerritos

[Inkuruptibles]

Hi everyone, just joined SoCaliReefs to be a part of a Reefing community locally. Located in the Lakewood/Cerritos area.

I used to have a Nano Cube back in 2004 had it for about a year. Left to College and got rid of it.

Fast forward to today, my son (5yo) has gotten into Ocean Fish, Sharks, Reefs, and anything Ocean related. A perfect opportunity to have my son have his VERY OWN "ocean" in his bedroom (with my help). Also, it was a good reason for me to live vicariously through him now that I'm an adult.

I cycled the tank with Live Sand/Rock and the tank has been doing well for the past 4 weeks. He was finally able to get a Clownfish which had him over the moon!!! We added some small coral frags and he loves it.

Its been a while and looking for advice that would make my kiddo happy. Any local Fish Stores that you recommend? Any help is appreciated. Any Coral Recommendations? Or Fish Recommendations? Would love to add more coral and frags. Do you recommend just looking through the marketplace here for frags?

Equipment:
CoraLife BioCube LED 14 Gallon
No Heater Yet
*Ordered a Sicce Syntra 1.0 Pump and a Y-Nozzle from VCA.

FISH:
1 Clownfish
1 Watchman Goby
1 Blue Hermit Crab
2 Nassarius Snails
2 Trochus Snails
1 Asterina Starfish (hitchhiker from our LFS in one of the corals)

CORAL:
1 Hammer
1 Yellow Mushroom
1 GSP
1 Zoanthid
1 Candy Cane

Thanks guys!

 

[Inkuruptibles]

My temp is ranging from 77-81 - I'm going to add a heater but I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the tank cool. Right now I have the feeding lid open.


Also, not sure what to do with the 3 chambers in the back. I have the pump in One, the Filter in the other, but not sure what to do with the middle chamber.

 

[scaramanga]

Welcome back and love that your son is interested in having a tank.

Middle chamber can be used for a few different things. I use mine to add in extra rock rubble in a media bag. Most people use it for a heater or skimmer.

I like that you have the GSP on its own rock island. It will look awesome when grown out.

I would recommend 2 things.
- Inkbird heater controller and heater.
- An autotop off.

Local Fish Stores close to you that I like
- Carson Tropical (Lakewood)
- Ellis aquatics (Compton)

You have a good solid start going for you. The Live Rock and Sand helps a ton.

 

[Inkuruptibles]

Perfect! Which Autotop off would you recommend?

 

[joseserrano]

That looks great. I’m sure you boy is really happy with how things turned out

 

[Inkuruptibles]

Any Coral recommendations?

 

[scaramanga]

Perfect! Which Autotop off would you recommend?

I use Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano. It's quiet and I've had to nearly 2 years. There are other good ones out there, but Tunze has never lead me wrong and the warranty/service is unmatched.

*If you use a Green Killing Machine UV sterilizer you will need a ground connection to the tank. It's a cheap $6 cable.

 

[ScottLikesFish]

CK Fish World, which is the old Strictly Fish, (Carson and LCD) seems to have a pretty good selection as well. I finally went in the other day after the ownership changed hands.

 

[scaramanga]

Any Coral recommendations?

Most of the corals you have in there now are pretty mistake friendly! As for recomendations that depends a lot on your flow, lighting, and tank stability/testing. I really like this guys content. I will usually pop one of his videos on in my commute.

Also, I should have mentioned if you don't want to spend the $130 for that ATO there is a low tech way which is a gravity ATO. Something like this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JFH9DJ4?ref=clp_hp_h_pc

 

[drexel]

I just added a small dc fan to a friend's nano, but I forget the brand. It comes with a mount so you can attach to the back glass and it keeps the tank nice and cool. I think it's the Hygger chiller fan? Also, any Tunze ATO is the way to go. I would probably just leave the middle/second chamber clear for now. You can use some filter floss or mechanical filtration in the overflow section, but having a maintenance routine is key to nano success. Keep it simple and don't try to add too much coral, which is a problem for all of us.

 

[Jimbo327]

First, I would get rid of the asterina star, they can become a pest.

Since you have sand and a yellow watchman goby, I would add a red banded snapping shrimp...and try to pair it up with your yellow watchman goby. They form a symbiotic relationship. One of the coolest things in this hobby, IMHO. I had one in my previous nano, and it was fun to watch...I'm sure your kiddo would be fascinated by the pair.

The Yasha Shrimp Goby: A Hardy, Peaceful, Somewhat Rare Nano Reef Candidate | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Certain marine fish pack a lot of visual and behavioral interest into a very small package. Such is the case with the yasha shrimp goby (Stonogobiops yasha), also sold under the common names whiteray…

reefbuilders.com

If you are in the north OC area, I can hook you up with some free starter corals. Branching GSP, WWC forest fire shrooms, rasta zoas, and others. Please note I do have some aiptasia issues at the moment, so most will be loose frags (not on a plug) to avoid transfer. And please dip any corals you get from anyone...for cheap dip, go with a mix of potassium chloride and melafix...that's my go to dip that is gentle, cheap, and very effective.

 

[Inkuruptibles]

I appreciate that! Since I'm new to all this I'll wait a bit since I'm not advanced enough on doing the dipping and all. I would be afraid to do it wrong. I would take some frags from you in a heartbeat if otherwise.

 

[thresher]

Hey there. Welcome! Keep up the updates and ?'s. We all like to blabber on about how much we know or dont.

 

[pledosophy]

Welcome!

I am in Long Beach near Eldorado Park. I usually have some green sinularia extras if you are ever looking. Very easy beginner coral.

IME kids also seem to really like pulsing xenia, which is also a beginner coral but grows fast enough some consider it invasive. Fun movement though.

 

[Inkuruptibles]

So close by! @pledosophy I appreciate that! The xenias are really cool to look at but alot of negative posts have me shying away from them. I appreciate the offer for the Green Sinularias but don't know too much about them. Are they compatible with my tank?

 

[Inkuruptibles]

Quick tank update with photos:

All tests have come back good so its going well. I was able to stop by and grab a few coral.
Here's my current list with "newest added" marked.

Equipment:
CoraLife BioCube LED 14 Gallon
*ADDED - 100 watt Heater
*ADDED - Inkbird ITC 308
*ADDED - Sicce Syntra 1.0 Pump
*ADDED - VCA Y-Nozzle Random Flow Generator
Still keeping an eye on the temp rising to about 81-82. My heater is set to 79. Looking into a mod to add a fan to the hood but still looking.

FISH:
1 Clownfish
1 Watchman Goby
1 Blue Hermit Crab
2 Nassarius Snails
3 Trochus Snails
1 Asterina Starfish (hitchhiker from our LFS in one of the corals)
*ADDED - Cleaner Shrimp

CORAL:
1 Hammer
1 Yellow Mushroom
1 GSP
1 Zoanthid
1 Candy Cane
*Added - Duncan
*Added - Orange Mushroom
*Added - Orange Zoas

Questions:
Do you think I can add another fish? If so, what?
Any recommendations of other corals? Toad Stool? Frogspawn? More hammers that are brighter?

Any info is appreciated.

 

[Jimbo327]

I had xenia in my 1st tank, and it was awesome. I have people come over, and the first thing they always comment on is the pulsing of the xenia. I prefer the shorter stalk ones.

 

[JohnBRZ]

Quick tank update with photos:

All tests have come back good so its going well. I was able to stop by and grab a few coral.
Here's my current list with "newest added" marked.

Equipment:
CoraLife BioCube LED 14 Gallon
*ADDED - 100 watt Heater
*ADDED - Inkbird ITC 308
*ADDED - Sicce Syntra 1.0 Pump
*ADDED - VCA Y-Nozzle Random Flow Generator
Still keeping an eye on the temp rising to about 81-82. My heater is set to 79. Looking into a mod to add a fan to the hood but still looking.

FISH:
1 Clownfish
1 Watchman Goby
1 Blue Hermit Crab
2 Nassarius Snails
3 Trochus Snails
1 Asterina Starfish (hitchhiker from our LFS in one of the corals)
*ADDED - Cleaner Shrimp

CORAL:
1 Hammer
1 Yellow Mushroom
1 GSP
1 Zoanthid
1 Candy Cane
*Added - Duncan
*Added - Orange Mushroom
*Added - Orange Zoas

Questions:
Do you think I can add another fish? If so, what?
Any recommendations of other corals? Toad Stool? Frogspawn? More hammers that are brighter?

Any info is appreciated.

I would add a yellow clown goby it's easy to care for, not shy, and very peaceful. mine hang out with my clownfish and come up to the glass to eat small pellets. a ruby red dragonet but only if you can find a fat healthy one that eat prepared food. it took me a few weeks training mine to eat pellets. toadstool are easy to care for but you might have to frag it in a year or so. I let my pulsing xenia grow up the glass so it's super easy to remove with a razor blade and my clown host them too. here's my desktop 15g

 

[Inkuruptibles]

@JohnBRZ your tank looks awesome!

What do you think about me adding weeping willow toad stool like yours?

 

[Inkuruptibles]

I had xenia in my 1st tank, and it was awesome. I have people come over, and the first thing they always comment on is the pulsing of the xenia. I prefer the shorter stalk ones.

Is it true that it can spread outside of the island you put them on? Do they travel around your tank or is it like GSP where it doesn’t travel.