I spend 4 hrs on average a week with maintenance on my 26gal. I drag it out on time because I enjoy it. The satisfaction from a clean tank with healthy fish and corals is cool. The best stress reliever.
This is brilliant. All of these "its easy to do a nano saltwater tank" videos just got shutdown by this video of adding this and adding that and with products that are named with words that aren't even part of the english language.
I am in the “learning” stage of working toward jumping in the salt water aquarium hobby. I thoroughly enjoy of videos. Thinking of a nano tank to start. Again, thanks for your informative and entertaining videos. From Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
Thank you for this video I’ve been watching your video for last month because I really want to start a saltwater tank I’m buying this exact tank so you made my life so much easier! Thanks!
I started my evo 13 about 2 years ago and I have never needed to add kalk for some reason. My alk is always high as he’ll and I don’t want to burn any corals. I’m at the point now where I do bi weekly 15% water changed and it everything has been great.
Haha I wish !! My 125 gallon reef requires atleast 12 hours weekly on maintenance granted I enjoy it so I don’t rush what I’m doing but it deff gets more time consuming the larger you go also requires way more filtration
On my 2000 litre I only have to do monthly water changes and weekly maintenance is checking the filter roll cleaning the skimmer if it needs it and the general stuff but I probably spend about 4 hours a month on maintenance where I don’t need to test as I have a trident so it’s testing every 4 hours for me so takes a lot of maintenance time away
Gearing up to get back into the hobby with a red sea max nano! Will probably do it opposite and add corals first like reef builders did. Will be a euphyilla dominated tank so not difficult anyway
For my 90l, all I do is pump 25l of water out the window, refull wtih 25l of NSW (which is delivered to my house monthly) and then clean the glass and prefilter on my oase biomaster. Takes all of 15m.
If I did that every time, I'd be removing saltwater which my ATO would replace with freshwater, and I don't want it to drip. Don't think it really matters waste wise.
@@ReefDork top up with 20ml (or whatever) of salt? Just to say this is meant with best wishes I will be setting my current freshwater up as a salt sometime as a result of these vids so thanks
Do you have a video on how to make your own water for salt water tanks? i know it might be a simply task but I'm a new fish owner that wants to learn more!
I had planted tanks for close to 7 years now and have been thinking about setting up a salt water one. I got a 45cm cube that could be used for that, but the only filters I have for it are a small hangon or a 1.000 l/h canister, and no place to get a protein skimmer in the loop unless I buy one of those that you keep inside the tank, which for me is kinda of a deal breaker because it will be in the way of the hardscape. What would be your recommendation to start a tank with those resources? (45cm cube display, hangon or canister, no blue light). I also have NO easy access to RO water or already salted ones.
I have no experience with hang on or canisters, but i'd probably go HOB as you're more likely to maintain it. Water changes will do well for your nutrients though, although that assumes you have 0 TDS ro/di water...
When. You had salinity problems on your main tank when you where mixing up new salt water did you heat your salt water to 25c when mixing or did you mix it up at room temperature because temperature has an affect on salinity I noticed this when I bought water from shop at room temp it was 1.024 then when I warmed it up it was 1.023
Hey, your videos are really informative, I am in the 'almost purchasing' phase!! If I was to buy the Fluval Evo 13.5 kit and just have fish only, no corals etc, would this minimise the time spent maintaining it? Of course monitoring etc but changing the sponge and the Nyos media etc? Thanks :)
With saltwater aquariums, you get out what you put in so you should always be prepared to do regular maintenence even if it's just weekly water changes. But that setup would be fairly low maintenance yes
@@ReefDork thank you for your reply! Sorry I have only just seen it 😊 another question, sorry! How many times a day would you suggest feeding and what do you recommend feeding? I will only have a couple of clowns and a goby 🙂 do you feed a mix and rotate? Was thinking a mix of pellets some frozen brine shrimp and some cut up defrosted seafood (scallops, shrimp etc)
@@amyrichards3469 feeding is about striking the right balance - enough to keep the fish happy without soiling your water. Twice a day is good but keep up water changes and testing your nitrate and phosphate - it's easy to overfeed that tank
It's not fluctuating, it's just the normal process - the phosphate was going up because I wasn't using phosphate media and the alkalinity was going down as the corals consumed it because I wasn't dosing.
No, you're only changing a small percentage so it will only increase alkalinity by a tiny amount each time and not enough to keep up with the amount your stony corals use
hello from miami which heater did you used? my apex shows my temperature shows 78.9 with light and 77.3 without. i m trying to keep a little be more stable temperature.
5:52 in the video salinity reading 35ppt at 18.1c . I hope that you are not taking this as your final reading as salinity will decrease with temperature raise and I assume you are not keeping your reef tank temperature 18.1C.
Good day mate! Love to see the nano content. I added fritz turbo start to my nano reef about 5 days ago. With the addition of some live rock, would it be safe to add fish now?
so there is no benefit from reusing the sponge? in freshwater sponges are usually just rinsed in tankwater as the idea is that the sponges have colonies of beneficial biology
I spend 4 hrs on average a week with maintenance on my 26gal. I drag it out on time because I enjoy it. The satisfaction from a clean tank with healthy fish and corals is cool. The best stress reliever.
Same but with my freshwater tanks ❤
You inspired me to finally start my own nano reef tank. Currently cycling now just anxiously waiting to start adding some corals and fish!
This is brilliant. All of these "its easy to do a nano saltwater tank" videos just got shutdown by this video of adding this and adding that and with products that are named with words that aren't even part of the english language.
I am in the “learning” stage of working toward jumping in the salt water aquarium hobby. I thoroughly enjoy of videos. Thinking of a nano tank to start. Again, thanks for your informative and entertaining videos. From Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
I would love to see a video about the 40 gallon tank!
Great to see the nano getting some coverage
Nice, I have a FluvalFlex 15 which I adapted for a reef , keep it up we need more nano tank content.
Thank you for this video I’ve been watching your video for last month because I really want to start a saltwater tank I’m buying this exact tank so you made my life so much easier! Thanks!
Would love a video on you waterbox 😍
I started my evo 13 about 2 years ago and I have never needed to add kalk for some reason.
My alk is always high as he’ll and I don’t want to burn any corals. I’m at the point now where I do bi weekly 15% water changed and it everything has been great.
Haha I wish !! My 125 gallon reef requires atleast 12 hours weekly on maintenance granted I enjoy it so I don’t rush what I’m doing but it deff gets more time consuming the larger you go also requires way more filtration
On my 2000 litre I only have to do monthly water changes and weekly maintenance is checking the filter roll cleaning the skimmer if it needs it and the general stuff but I probably spend about 4 hours a month on maintenance where I don’t need to test as I have a trident so it’s testing every 4 hours for me so takes a lot of maintenance time away
Man I need the stl for the 3 in 1 Hanna checker holder thing!
Gearing up to get back into the hobby with a red sea max nano! Will probably do it opposite and add corals first like reef builders did. Will be a euphyilla dominated tank so not difficult anyway
Great video! I wish my corals looks as good! The only thing that opens in my tank is torches and xenia, 😢
into day 3 of my fluval 13.5
For my 90l, all I do is pump 25l of water out the window, refull wtih 25l of NSW (which is delivered to my house monthly) and then clean the glass and prefilter on my oase biomaster. Takes all of 15m.
Awsome color spectrum would you mind sharing
I've made a video on the Reef Dork Xtra channel
What do you do about maintenance when you go on holidays for some time??
Just leave it
Really informative video! What unit have you got the fish tank sitting on? Looks like it sits on really nicely.
I can't find it now but it was sold as a 60cm aquarium stand
Where did you get the holders for your hanna checkers? 😁
1:05 Why squeeze the sponge out into the filter before disposing? Surely better to take the whole thing out and remove more waste?
If I did that every time, I'd be removing saltwater which my ATO would replace with freshwater, and I don't want it to drip. Don't think it really matters waste wise.
@@ReefDork top up with 20ml (or whatever) of salt? Just to say this is meant with best wishes I will be setting my current freshwater up as a salt sometime as a result of these vids so thanks
@@Joe-lb8qn yeah, you could do that - just not sure it's worth the effort
Do you have a video on how to make your own water for salt water tanks? i know it might be a simply task but I'm a new fish owner that wants to learn more!
Not yet but I will do at some point
Great video! I have the same tank and similar maintenance but only do water changes once a month. Where did you get your tank stand? I love it!!
It's this one amzn.to/3JbL5Qa
What type of hood is that? That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.
It's a custom cover from a UK company called Reef Tops
Thanks love the channel has helped me a-lot.
Great video 👍 what dosing pump and container do you use for kalk?
Reef Factory single doser and just a 500ml glass bottle I got from eBay
I had planted tanks for close to 7 years now and have been thinking about setting up a salt water one.
I got a 45cm cube that could be used for that, but the only filters I have for it are a small hangon or a 1.000 l/h canister, and no place to get a protein skimmer in the loop unless I buy one of those that you keep inside the tank, which for me is kinda of a deal breaker because it will be in the way of the hardscape.
What would be your recommendation to start a tank with those resources? (45cm cube display, hangon or canister, no blue light). I also have NO easy access to RO water or already salted ones.
I have no experience with hang on or canisters, but i'd probably go HOB as you're more likely to maintain it. Water changes will do well for your nutrients though, although that assumes you have 0 TDS ro/di water...
@@ReefDork I'm sorry, HOB?
And thank you for answering.
Your test kit holder!!! where can i get one /
Hey RD! I love your 3D printed Hanna checker stand at 2:51, do you by any chance have the STL file for it? Thanks NR 😊
I'm likely to sell it at some point so no stl file available I'm afraid 🙁
@@ReefDork more than happy to pay, sounds like a good idea!! 👍🏻
Great video, where do you get those filter floss pads from please?
From my LFS but it's this stuff amzn.to/3JunsCI
When. You had salinity problems on your main tank when you where mixing up new salt water did you heat your salt water to 25c when mixing or did you mix it up at room temperature because temperature has an affect on salinity I noticed this when I bought water from shop at room temp it was 1.024 then when I warmed it up it was 1.023
Depending on what testing device you're using, it should compensate for temperature so the temperature shouldn't affect the reading.
Hey, your videos are really informative, I am in the 'almost purchasing' phase!! If I was to buy the Fluval Evo 13.5 kit and just have fish only, no corals etc, would this minimise the time spent maintaining it? Of course monitoring etc but changing the sponge and the Nyos media etc? Thanks :)
With saltwater aquariums, you get out what you put in so you should always be prepared to do regular maintenence even if it's just weekly water changes. But that setup would be fairly low maintenance yes
@@ReefDork thank you for your reply! Sorry I have only just seen it 😊 another question, sorry! How many times a day would you suggest feeding and what do you recommend feeding? I will only have a couple of clowns and a goby 🙂 do you feed a mix and rotate? Was thinking a mix of pellets some frozen brine shrimp and some cut up defrosted seafood (scallops, shrimp etc)
@@amyrichards3469 feeding is about striking the right balance - enough to keep the fish happy without soiling your water. Twice a day is good but keep up water changes and testing your nitrate and phosphate - it's easy to overfeed that tank
do the hanna checkers have to be calibrated before every single use?
No, you can't calibrate them. You can get a reference solution to tell you whether or not it's accurate, but you can't actually calibrate the checkers
Any more updates with this tank mate? Setting mine up next week
Yep, I've made a few other videos on this channel and on the Reef Dork Xtra channel
@@ReefDork I saw one before Thankyou my man!!!
Great video Alex, the dosing is a little bit intimidating for sure and the phosphate monitoring, whats causing the fluctuation in that?
It's not fluctuating, it's just the normal process - the phosphate was going up because I wasn't using phosphate media and the alkalinity was going down as the corals consumed it because I wasn't dosing.
@@ReefDork Ahhh ok, what raises phosphate levels then? Do all corals consume alkalinity and require dosing?
@@TomoBishBosh Food increased the phosphate. Yes, although i've never had a softy only tank but i'd expect them to use less.
water changes with new salt water will not refresh the alkalinity? or rather, keep it stable?
No, you're only changing a small percentage so it will only increase alkalinity by a tiny amount each time and not enough to keep up with the amount your stony corals use
Random question but what material did you use to print the filter media basket?
PETG
@ReefDork Thankyou! Been waiting on Innovative Marine to restock for over a month now. How's the basket holding up?
Hi. Great informative video. For the Phosi Ex, do you get the bag with the product or would that be a separate purchase? Cheers
I bought that bag separately - it's a red Sea media bag 🙂
How do you keep the floss at the top?
Can you share your light schedule please
th-cam.com/video/_RSxla7IUws/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gVty0qFm0rqp2JRE
What filter media and ato do you use in this tank?
Tunze Osmolator nano and nyos phosi-ex
How do you find the hanna salinity checker Alex? Do you re-calibrate every month?
It's great but you definitely need to calibrate it regularly. Couldn't tell you how often I do but fairly often
hello from miami
which heater did you used? my apex shows my temperature shows 78.9 with light and 77.3 without. i m trying to keep a little be more stable temperature.
Couldn't tell you the brand, it was just whatever was in my LFS
What gravel substrate is used in this tank? Looks thicker grain size than sand. Is that the same as in your main tank?
Can't remember but I think it was TMC stuff - I did a setup video on this tank so it'll probably be on that 🙂
I do 25 litres saltwater every week and 225 litres once a month from my 6 foot tank
5:52 in the video salinity reading 35ppt at 18.1c . I hope that you are not taking this as your final reading as salinity will decrease with temperature raise and I assume you are not keeping your reef tank temperature 18.1C.
In truth it should be titled all week maintenance 🤣
I kept thinking my AirPods batteries were going halfway through this.
Great video. Although it has now successfully put me off!
Where are the hanna checker holders from please
I made it myself with a 3D printer
@@ReefDork amazing thanks you
I'm surprised by how much flow you have. I've got an AI Nero 3 on a 60 litre tank and it's at 20% max, so often running lower.
They're both on very low - I just prefer having more sources of flow...
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Good day mate! Love to see the nano content. I added fritz turbo start to my nano reef about 5 days ago. With the addition of some live rock, would it be safe to add fish now?
If you have no ammonia, crack on and monitor ammonia every day
😀👍
How many grams of gfo did you use
No idea, I just eyeballed it
Im sorry if I missed you say it, but how old is that tank?
About 8 months now
Which salt do you use ?
Tropic Marin Pro
👏🏻👌🏻🙌🏼
Hiya mate. How much would it effect maintenance if there were no corals, just fish only?
Thanks
My phos is 0.5-0.25
so there is no benefit from reusing the sponge? in freshwater sponges are usually just rinsed in tankwater as the idea is that the sponges have colonies of beneficial biology
Plenty of bacteria in the sand and rock
I think u need a shave!👍
"Excellent Hanna Salinity Pen" this did not age well.
😂
What salt brand do you use? @reefdork
Tropic Marin Pro