15 gallons column tank (saltwater)

[Sameer]

Hi All,

I am a beginner to a salt water aquarium but able to set up a 15 gallon column tank....after my cycle (after arnd 3-4 weeks) i have added a few soft and LPS corals in my tank....but they don't seem to be very happy....i tried to move them around but no luck...below is some of the info about my tank -

~Salinity - 1.025
~PH - 8.2
~Ammonia - 0
~Nitrite - 0
~Nitrate - less than 10 ppm
~temp - 79-80 degrees
~Aqua clear 50 gallons hang on filter
~Live rock
~crushed coral
~Hydor 240 gph power head

Fishes -
~ 1 ocellarius clown
~ 2 clarki clowns
~ 1 fire goby
~ 1 green clown goby
~ 1 red pistol shrimp
~ clean up crews ( hermit crabs and emerald crab)

Corals -
~ 3-4 zoa frags
~ 1 duncan
~ 1 goniopora frag
~ 1 star polyp frag
~ 2 mushrooms
~ 2 feather dusters

Lights -
~ 1 coralife T5 (white)
~ LED strip's (white and blue) - not that great quality, to be honest
~ Schedule - 1pm to 11pm
I am planning to buy LED combo strips (2 white and 1 blue and 1 purple LED strip).....so please advise if it is a good light to grow corals since i would be keeping only soft and LPS corals.

Water -
I was using tap water all this while, but then i started using RO water from yesterday (changed 5 gallons)

So above is the detailed list i have given for your reference....not sure why my corals still not open, some of the zoa's have closed (they are not dead as they haven't melted).....so i am not sure what mistake i am doing or is it just my bad luck got
I dont have any protein skimmer or any refugium...(just for information)

Regards

Sam

 

[tonysreef]

Well for a 15 gallon I would think that's a lot livestock for such a small tank...how old r your test kits?Have u checked for silicates, phosphates.. Are you dosing trace elements?? How is your feeding schedule?

 

[Sameer]

hi...well the test results are as of yest (sunday afternoon)....i dont have the reef test kit to check phosphates, silicates or carbon...i am not dosing trace elements as such....but i do put half a cap of 'FUEL' twice a week for the corals.......for the livestock -i feed either flakes or mysis shrimp in very small quantity once a day.

 

[empire]

hey i think you should invest in better lights and more flow. look into the kessil a150w

 

[tonysreef]

My advice...get a sample of your water and get it tested at your lfs. I still think you over stocked for a 15. What kind of media are u running on your hang on filter.... Usually those filters are made for mechanical filtration not biological ( how much LR do you have), and corals are real sensitive

 

[Sameer]

Yes...i will move some live stock and get the water checked too....i have around 12-13 lbs live rock which helps in biological filtration...i have a aqua clear hang on filter which is for 50 gallons...

 

[empire]

You are moving way too fast man. I wouldn't get that combo strip. Look into the kessil and you definitely need more flow. I wouldn't feed with fuel anymore it's too early. Look into the refugium mod for the aqua clear.

 

[Sameer]

ok ...when you say increase the flow...do u think i should put a hydor 425gph in the column tank....? wont that blow away the corals?? To be honest kessil is very expensive to invest in a 15 gallon tank....
When should i use fuel for corals?

 

[empire]

Let your tank stable itself out the corals don't need it right now. I'm sure you can find a used one here. That light can be a great investment for your current tank and future tanks to come. Yeah keep your current powerhead and add another of some sort. Don't worry corals won't go anywhere.

 

[thirty6]

Check on marketplace here for upgrade light

 

[Sameer]

ok thanks for your advise.....i will probably ask in the forum if anything wants to sell their kessil or any other better light......or if you know any1, let me know.....and will add a 425gph hydor as well....and lets see how the coral progress
i am an optimist so wouldnt give up so easily....

 

[thirty6]

Ai nano fs with controller for good price. I just saw it

 

[Jenna X]

Hey there, It seems like you have a lot of fishes for a small tank. A picture would help. How many lbs of live rock and how much flow do you have?

 

[Sameer]

Hi,....just uploaded the pic....yes, planning to move some livestock....currently have arnd 12-14 lbs of live rock....have a hydor 240gph....have recently got some diatoms in the tank...

 

[Sameer]

Hi...some new pics posted after diatoms vanished and upgraded to full spectrum 120W LED and changed the aquascape to place corals in a proper way...

 

[Rocketreef]

Good luck!

Nice set up! Keep us posted and welcome to the pico world!

 

[ravi197699]

You mentioned that you were using tap water before and where your tank stand in terms of phosphate ?

 

[Sameer]

Thanks Rocketreef.................Ravi - i know changed all water to RO, so now i see all good changes, i haven't tested phosphate - still waiting for my reef test kit, shipment got screwed so waiting for another one......but all my other levels - PH, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are in control and in required parameters....