CichlidVT's 12G AquaPod

[cichlidvt]

In anticipation of a transfer out of state, I recently downgraded my 90 gallon oceanic to a 12G AquaPod.

You can see my 90 gallon thread here:
Fish Tank Coral Reef Tank - Reef Buzz Member Tanks - VR's 90G Oceanic & 60G DIY Frag Tank (http://www.reefbuzz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=41)

Anyways, I thought I would share some pictures of the new setup. Been up about a month now.

I first took live sand and water out of the 90 to circumvent the whole cycling phase.
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/newnano.jpg

Next I took frags of some of the corals that I wanted to keep in the AquaPod. Some of the nuisance corals that would overgrow the tank I left behind.
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/newnano2.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/newnano3.jpg

Fragging some of the corals I have collected for years was pretty sad :(
Fragged this guy:
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/monti.jpg

I played musical live rock for awhile in the 90 to pick out the pieces of LR that I wanted for the new nano. Came together pretty good. It's quite packed though.

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/vermontreef/1.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/vermontreef/3.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/vermontreef/4.jpg

I've done two 50% water changes since I first set the tank up. The corals look much more happy in the little tank. Probably because the water is so much cleaner. A water change that would take 2 hours to change 30 gallons in the 90 takes only 15 minutes to change 50% out on the nano.

Some top down shots. I could never take close ups of my SPS in the 90. Much easier in the nano. My SPS never really opened up like it does now in the 12g. Again, probably because of the better water quality.

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/1.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/2.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/3.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/4.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/5.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/6.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/7.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/8.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/9.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/10.jpg

[clown-lover]

Are those Purple People Eaters in the second to the last pic way on the right?? If so I'm soooo jealous..

[ooja3k]

Beautiful tank....

What did you do with all the other stuff from the 90?

[daayda3]

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/8.jpg


...splash...*oops, dropped the camera*
:D (i ALLMOST did that...OMG that would have been awful) lol


awesome tank though... no fair :( hehe
why didint you keep your 90? i would love to have a reef that big...lol

[cichlidvt]

I put it up for sale locally.
http://www.reefbuzz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=344

Not many people in Vermont with reef tanks. Still have a ton of LR and large coral colonies.

daayda3- lol the lens cover actually fell in.

[Grins]

I can see why you kept the things you did. The purple cap and the blue rics are making me a bit green.

[Nick540]

Wow amazing colours. Correct me if i am worong but isn't downgrading to a smaller tank harder to take care of then keeping a larger one? Or is it for moving purposes? Either way the tank looks amazing!

[Almondsaz]

Your tank looks beautiful, great aquascape and colors!

[cichlidvt]

Grins- I wish you lived close by, I would give you a big piece of the purple cap. I've been trying to sell a 10lb rock with a huge cap on it for $50 and don't have any takers. Not many reefers in VT.

Nick540 - I downgraded because I may be transferring out of state. When I get the final word that a transfer is approved, I will have to go on short notice. It will be easier for my to move a 12gallon when/if it happens.

A few more close up pics of a few of the corals.

Blue Kiss Zoanthids
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep23/blue_kiss.jpg

Carribean Blue zoos
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep23/blue_zoo.jpg

Radioactive dragon eyes
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep23/green_zoo.jpg

Blue/Green Ric
http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep23/rics.jpg

[Nick540]

great colours, simply amazing!

[Reefscape]

Thats a stunning looking tank you have there...very impressed indeed...

Niko

[Subliminal]

Wow amazing colours. Correct me if i am worong but isn't downgrading to a smaller tank harder to take care of then keeping a larger one? Or is it for moving purposes? Either way the tank looks amazing!

Nick,

When they say a smaller tank is harder to take care of, generally they're talking to the beginner.

When you start this hobby, there's a big learning curve. You don't really know how to keep parameters in check, or even how to properly mix your water.

So, with the bigger tank, and mistakes or neglect can be less destructive because of the large amount of water.

But after you figure out what you're doing, it's really not a hard hobby, and the small tank can actually be easier, for reasons mentioned in this thread.

Actually, the only upside to the larger tanks that I can see if the ability to keep bigger fish. Can't have a tang in a nano, for example.

;)

[Catpicklesdog]

Stunning tank. Love the Zoas:)

[cichlidvt]

I think with a smaller tank there are a few more things you need to be more concerned with. For instance, I think cleaning your hands well before putting them in the tank is very important. Also watching out for aerosal sprays in the same room as the tank. During water changes, its more critical that the change out water matches the tank water more closely than when I changed out water on the 90. Especially temperature. I do a 50% water change every week and I test salinity(ofcourse), temperature, PH, Gen Hardness, and calcium level of the new water before putting it in the tank.

The new additions, a feather duster and a yellow goby.

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep26/duster.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep26/macro_duster.jpg

http://www.reefbuzz.com/images/nano/sep26/goby.jpg

[Sploke]

If you'd be willing to meet me halfway or something, I might be interesting in picking up a few frags. I'm in eastern CT. I'm looking for pretty much anything that will go in a 55 with about 260w of PC lighting, so mostly softies and some LPS, I have some blasto right now that is doing pretty well.

[cichlidvt]

I don't have any frags available right now. But I may be moving down to RI/CT so maybe in the future we can trade up.

[mudskippers]

Beautiful. You kept a great selection from your 90gal. Love all the differnt types of corals and such, great job. Sorry to hear that you had to downgrade though....

[got2envy]

MUST..HAVE...PURPLE... MONTI....

lemme know when ya frag that baby..

tank looks awesome!

Maria

[shrimpin]

just curious.... Do you run a protien skimmer????

[Mgamer20o0]

wonderful tank.... great job

[cichlidvt]

Thanks for the great comments. I'll update with some new pics here shortly.