Cali Kid Corals

Looking for pictures (or videos) of successfully run tanks up to 50 gallon

Alexander1312

Alexander1312

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I am doing a little side project and would be very interested in getting pictures or videos or links on Instagram etc to smaller sized tanks up to 50 gallons.

Ideally, pictures or videos of this tank (I know this tank is larger than 50 gallons due to its sump):

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What type of systematic you gearing toward? I ran a 50 gal SPS dominated one before and found it to be a pain keeping the parameters steady. The low water volume might drive you crazy. Water changes are a breeze, but swings can be dangerous. I eventually lost it to...wait for it....

KALK overdose after a power outtage..lol

BUT, there are alot that have had success with smaller systems.

There's a gang of them on here:

@dangalang has a nicer tank next to his washer and dryer than my DT

@DaddyHook keeps multiple small tanks looking good in his pirates quarters

@Darkxerox has had a successful truvu for years

@RandyC just set up a smaller system, although i think it may be plugged inline with his main one.

@SupraSaltyReefer honestly, I don't know if he still has smaller tanks, but he got so many, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a bad @ss one as well.

Those would be the systems I'd try to emulate if I went smaller. Their journals would have way better info than you can find on IG.
 
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40 gallon sps
Not implying it's anything special but my sps tank. I also have 32 gallon nem tank.
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All my lps and leathers shrooms, zoas etc are in my 50 gallon frag tank. Kinda running it lagoon style.

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I use to run a full out mix reef in 32 gallon but found it very hard to keep everything happy.

Still not sure what my plan is for the 210. I keep bouncing between mix reef. Sps, lps, or even fowler tank. My brain has been all over the place so will just have to see what it eventually turns into.


Presently the sps tank gets the most attention. Testing etc. Yet I love them all equally each being totally different.

I also have a Fluval 13.5 budget build recently aquired tho not really special yet. As I haven't done anything to it but add a few leathers.
 
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Invictus said:
Here’s my 170 from top down. What exactly are you looking to make a decision on? Dimensions? Rockscape?

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Thank you, and no, I am not planning (yet) to set up a third tank (although I would consider replacing the nano with the IM 50 eventually). I am only looking for nice pictures and videos of successful 50g and smaller tanks, ideally mixed reefs with fish.
 
Alexander1312 said:
Thank you, and no, I am not planning (yet) to set up a third tank (although I would consider replacing the nano with the IM 50 eventually). I am only looking for nice pictures and videos of successful 50g and smaller tanks, ideally mixed reefs with fish.
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With smaller tanks time and aged rock is what's most important. Otherwise things don't start looking better till closer to 2 year mark. All my tanks shown above were started with old rock. @tribbitt has a small tank but probably best I've seen as far as variety and coral density. If nothing else his tank shows it's possible to keep everything in one tank.
 
The one pet peeve i have with tanks on IG is that they only post when things are looking good and going great. It doesn't give a true sense of the struggle they face with the limited water volume.

Not that I hope to see anyone struggle with their system, I just find i tend to learn the most from how they overcome things.

Ive come across some guys page where he kept a nano chucked full of SPS on his kitchen counter top with AI Sol lights. Beautiful tank..filled to the brim with coral..but, alas, no signs of struggle throughoutthe whole page..If I can find it I'll tag it on here for you to check out tho
 
FinalPhaze987 said:
@SupraSaltyReefer honestly, I don't know if he still has smaller tanks, but he got so many, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a bad @ss one as well.
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You know me too well lol….I actually do have a brand new IM EXT50 with White APS stand for sale. No plumbing. No sump, since I’m not a fan of the RFS sump design.

I do have a IM 40L AIO running for my wrasses, leathers and shrooms, but it’s been neglected lately since I’m about to swap them over to a 65g tank. I wouldn’t call it a successful mixed reef tank tho.

@Alexander1312 let’s get this new project started! lol

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SupraSaltyReefer said:
You know me too well lol….I actually do have a brand new IM EXT50 with White APS stand for sale. No plumbing. No sump, since I’m not a fan of the RFS sump design.

I do have a IM 40L AIO running for my wrasses, leathers and shrooms, but it’s been neglected lately since I’m about to swap them over to a 65g tank. I wouldn’t call it a successful mixed reef tank tho.

@Alexander1312 let’s get this new project started! lol

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I'm tellin you Alex..Tu's like the reefing genie....ask and you shall recieve..lol
 
SupraSaltyReefer said:
You know me too well lol….I actually do have a brand new IM EXT50 with White APS stand for sale. No plumbing. No sump, since I’m not a fan of the RFS sump design.

I do have a IM 40L AIO running for my wrasses, leathers and shrooms, but it’s been neglected lately since I’m about to swap them over to a 65g tank. I wouldn’t call it a successful mixed reef tank tho.

@Alexander1312 let’s get this new project started! lol

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Hoarder.....there's a TV show you should be on.

www.aetv.com

Watch Hoarders Full Episodes, Video & More | A&E

www.aetv.com www.aetv.com
 
MichaelB said:
With smaller tanks time and aged rock is what's most important. Otherwise things don't start looking better till closer to 2 year mark. All my tanks shown above were started with old rock. @tribbitt has a small tank but probably best I've seen as far as variety and coral density. If nothing else his tank shows it's possible to keep everything in one tank.
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Two years?!?!? Are you aging some fancy expensive cheese in there?
 
RandyC said:
Two years?!?!? Are you aging some fancy expensive cheese in there?
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Just what I notice when using all dry rock marco like stuff. On smaller tanks I've had. They just didn't look ok until close to two years. Always had some type of issues. My tanks that were stated day one using older rock just came along faster from my observations.
 
SupraSaltyReefer said:
You know me too well lol….I actually do have a brand new IM EXT50 with White APS stand for sale. No plumbing. No sump, since I’m not a fan of the RFS sump design.

I do have a IM 40L AIO running for my wrasses, leathers and shrooms, but it’s been neglected lately since I’m about to swap them over to a 65g tank. I wouldn’t call it a successful mixed reef tank tho.

@Alexander1312 let’s get this new project started! lol

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I knew you had that tank, and I blocked you since I saw this haha. Also, I am glad it did not come with the pre-cut plumbing and the sump (I am well aware of the flaws of the RFS) as otherwise I would have probably bought it right away.

Again, I am not planning to setup another tank - I am very exhausted with the two I already have. I am just looking for nice pictures and videos.
 
MichaelB said:
Just what I notice when using all dry rock marco like stuff. On smaller tanks I've had. They just didn't look ok until close to two years. Always had some type of issues. My tanks that were stated day one using older rock just came along faster from my observations.
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Of course using cured, seeded and cycled rock will allow you to set up a tank faster. Have enough of it and you can have a fully loaded tank from day one. But two years even from dry rock seems far too long. I've had way too many tanks from 5 to 150 gallons. If I took two years to get a tank stable and growing out, I don't think I'd still be in the hobby. Two years is brutal.
 
I have a 170 that I think is doing good. Biggest issue I’ve had was keeping nutrients up as my corals grew since I kept a low fish count, so I had Dino’s twice. UV took care of Dino’s. Adding more fish as corals grow and over feed accordingly is what I learned. Though ammonium dosing might be cheaper than fish and frozen food.
 
Things to be aware

challenges:

- With high coral cover, keeping up with uptake of nutrients and minerals is hard - stability is different when a single coral having a good/bad day can change your alk
- Flow is a challenge. I have acros getting blasted and torches gently waving within 2 inch of each other
- Stingers eat up real estate: flow needs to blow from sticks -> flowy things, otherwise sticks will get decimated
- Coral can grow slower, since there are fewer "prime spots" - whereas in a larger tank, ratio prime:meh spots is much larger
- Small fish only, so it looks like your tank has no fish half the time
- If one big colony dies, a big chunk of your scape is now dead
- You have no room
- Frag racks are even more ugly and intrusive than normal

benefits:
- Everything is close to glass or surface, so all your pics are from a few inches away making them look nice even with a phone camera
- Fills up really fast visually
- You actually get to see small critters, shrimp and crabs and other things hanging out, rather than them disappearing in a bigger tank

I do not recommend getting a 20 gallon and going SPS dominated unless you have too much time and not enough stress
 
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