Steve's nano - lots of pics, coz thats what we love

My diatoms are not going away, although it has only been 5 days? I have since done a 30% change with RODI water, and am thinking of slowly changing out water over time till im convinced theres no tap water left. What you guys think? Or should I let it go as there is no rush for livestock and maybe get a CUC in there to clean up the diatoms?

Apart from a phosphate reading of 2 -3 ppm all the tests are reading excellent. Oh there is a slightly higher calcium reading but im not concerned about that at the moment.

 

diatoms

on my last set up, they started about week 4 and where gone by week 9

no attention required, honestly its just a matter of time before they clear up and depart

Steve

 

Let it roll brother! You should be fine.

 

After 30% water change yesturday the phosphate is reading a more acceptable 0.2ppm. The diatoms are all but gone, and have been replaced with what looks like green film algae?

Some signs on coraline growth (I think), cyano is slowly leaving aswell. All in all the cycling progress is going well, and im on the lookout for a cleaner shrimp to buy in the next couplea weeks.

 

looking good

 

Im going shopping for my first coral today!!! I'll be on the lookout for a small mushroom, or a nice healthy little zoo colony.
I've decided to do this as I feel my tank is mature enough to handle the bio load. Before you all ask where the CUC is, or fish, etc. I'm of the school of "natural nanos", by understocking the tank, and replenishing elements through small regular water changes, a 10G nano tank can deal with incremental loads on the tank alot easier than an aggressively filtered tank.
I'll only be buying something if im completely happy with the situation in the store, and wont be easily talked into anything (made that mistake before).
Will let you know how I go!

 

So i bought a couple of polyps :O
OMG im so excited, they are lil mushrooms. Not too much fancy colour on them, but I think the size is right and they looked really healthy.
Floating them now!!

 

I have corals and I'm terrified!!!!



and a lil bigger



They have shrivelled up, but I think I was a bit rough of them :O
I hope they attach to this nice beach pebble soon!!

 

congrats on the first coral

 

they look as scared as I am