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TJ's Reef - The death of the...


TJ_Burton

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The ball is officially rolling. I purchased an Aqueon (All-Glass) 30 Breeder which is 36"x18"x13" and actually closer to 36 gallons in volume. I opted for this aquarium instead of the Perfecto 30 Breeder because the Perfecto is tempered on the bottom, and it also has a center brace which I don't want.

 

I still think I am going to remove at least the top trim and euro brace the ends to have that rimless look. I want it to look like a clean "top down" style spot reef with a good amount of open sand bed for plates and clams.

 

Still figuring out how I am going to plumb it, but as soon as I have some diagrams etc. I will post them for peer review! :)

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Well here is a quick diagram of what I was thinking. I would use a return pump around 1200gph to make sure the returns are kicking out some good flow. I could always supplement with a MP10 if I had to, but I would rather not since that end of the tank is where I wanted to showcase some clams.

 

This is a pretty simple first draft so feel free to criticize!

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Are you going to partition off the flow in the sump so you don't have 1200gph ripping through the skimmer and fuge section? Sounds like a lot of flow through the sump. What about a closed loop?

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Baffles make all the difference!

 

I had roughly the same flow going through my 40br sump. I have considered a closed loop as well, and If I do go with one I am going to be using a couple SCWDs again to create random currents

 

If I do the closed loop thing I will probably run a Quiet One 4000HH (980gph I believe) as a return pump and a Quiet One 4000 (1017gph) closed loop like I did on my 40br. If I decide to dump a little more coin in I will go with an Eheim 1260 (635gph) return pump and 1262 (900gph) closed loop.

 

I have always had great results with excessive flow, so I am going to continue the trend. I do this because I hate using power heads in my systems. I don't think I have had any power heads in any of my personal display tanks since my original 20g reef (excluding the Solana).

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Take a look at the Maxijet Utility pumps if you want to live dangerously and try something different. I have an NJ5500 on my closed loop. Small, low power, and dead nuts quiet (5W less than the 1262, and 500gph more).

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Actually I will consider those as an option if you are telling me they are good! The 4500 & 3000 models seem very comparable to the Eheims. Thanks for that tip!

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I am currently debating using a different overflow method that requires less in-tank components. I still want to use the Herbie method, but I will settle for a Stockman / Durso if I can't figure out a slim alternative for the Herbie.

 

If anyone has any interesting ideas feel free to post'em up!

When I come up with something worth showing you folks I will get some pics up.

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So it turns out my renovations are going to cost more than I had planned (as if that never happens) which has understandably affected my budget on the tank. Rather than not starting the tank, and just having it sit empty for an unacceptable period of time, I am going to set it up as a saltwater planted/macro tank with the use of a Tom PS4 (the newer grey version without the luft pump). Not sure what will happen with the lighting as I have someone coming to see the Solaris tomorrow. I luckily had some live rock and sand donated to me as well, so that really helps out with the cost of things.

 

Also, it will give me the chance to keep some interesting and attractive marine life that is not reef safe. Some neat crabs, reef lobster, fish that would probably mess up corals and clams. Should be fun!

 

I will post pics of the renovated room on Monday with the tank in place! I am sure I will have the tank up and running within the next few weeks.

 

Sorry about all the flip-flopping hahaha; I seem to change my story with this tank on a weekly basis...

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make up you're damn mind Burton; I'm tired of getting excited for you only to have yours plans change. Also, I don't like you on a personal nor professional level. Also, you have sub standard personal hygeine habits.

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make up you're damn mind Burton; I'm tired of getting excited for you only to have yours plans change. Also, I don't like you on a personal nor professional level. Also, you have sub standard personal hygeine habits.

 

Oh Chris, you are as cuddly as a porcupine sometimes, you know that? Remind me to hoof you in the nuts next time I see you :slap:

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HA. Now you can't have my liverock.

 

Fine, you can't have my respect... Just kidding! I need that rock so... here: :flower:

 

Stop polluting my thread with your nonesense! Ah hahaha :P

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Ok, so I finally have some pics of the build!!!

 

Basement is 70% completed. Just need to finish taping, do the inside of the closet, build the closet door, and room door jam, prime, paint, baseboard, and then that is that.

 

Aquarium stand frame is officially built. I am going to throw some vapor barrier over the frame and then use drywall on the stand's exterior as well. The stand is free from the wall so that if I move I can just repaint the outside of the stand to match the new room and it will fit right in. It is going to look like it is attached or part of the wall.

 

I never ended up selling the Solaris, so this is going to be one cracked out macro tank lol...

 

Ok, here are some pics!

 

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More when the stand is finished!

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Love how the tank is the main focus of the basement. Really going to look great once it's finished and the tank is up and rolling.

 

So what sort of macro are you planning on keeping in there? Any ideas on livestock?

 

-Adam

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Love how the tank is the main focus of the basement. Really going to look great once it's finished and the tank is up and rolling.

 

So what sort of macro are you planning on keeping in there? Any ideas on livestock?

 

-Adam

 

Macro wise I will probably just use whatever I can find. I don't particularly want to use caulerpa; would rather stick to nice looking red macros, halmedia, sargassum etc. For livestock I haven't really put too much though. I know I want to add some neat crabs, reef lobster etc. that I would normally avoid in a reef. Also was considering some sort of dwarf angel, chalk basslet, etc.

 

If I think of anything I really must have, I will post it.

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Here is a quick mock up of the layout of the room the aquarium is dividing.

 

edit: I also added some alternative and more realistic labeling for the room. ;)

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Just a thought... Get some sargassum... and a sargassum angler! It might distract from the second rendering of your room, as they are ugly as all h3ll, but they're pretty freaking awesome! Won't jump either... And don't do the caulerpa. Never caulerpa.

 

Also... I may have laughed at your diagrams. Awesome man.

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Just a thought... Get some sargassum... and a sargassum angler! It might distract from the second rendering of your room, as they are ugly as all h3ll, but they're pretty freaking awesome! Won't jump either... And don't do the caulerpa. Never caulerpa.

 

Also... I may have laughed at your diagrams. Awesome man.

 

I was really considering a Histrio histrio, but they have big mouths and big appitites. I wouldn't be able to keep much with it without it being eaten... too bad though cause I think they are cool as hell!

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I was really considering a Histrio histrio, but they have big mouths and big appitites. I wouldn't be able to keep much with it without it being eaten... too bad though cause I think they are cool as hell!

It's true, but so do reef lobsters and oddball crabs. Maybe a smaller angler? Really can't tell you how neat they are! They all will have big mouths and appetites, but at least you can get some neat snails. They really won't bother them much. I'll always remember having a hand trained angler that would eat silversides straight out of my hand. Just don't do what I did and feed it too much.

Or I bet an aggressive tank with lots of macros would be really neat. Most people don't do the whole damsel / pseudochromis thing. And both could more than hold their own against an arrow crab or something like that. Plus, if you have a pseudochromis you have very little to worry about from most pests.

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It's true, but so do reef lobsters and oddball crabs. Maybe a smaller angler? Really can't tell you how neat they are! They all will have big mouths and appetites, but at least you can get some neat snails. They really won't bother them much. I'll always remember having a hand trained angler that would eat silversides straight out of my hand. Just don't do what I did and feed it too much.

Or I bet an aggressive tank with lots of macros would be really neat. Most people don't do the whole damsel / pseudochromis thing. And both could more than hold their own against an arrow crab or something like that. Plus, if you have a pseudochromis you have very little to worry about from most pests.

 

Good suggestions, will certainly consider it. I want a few fish in there and some cool inverts, so the pseudochromis could work for sure. I had an Orchid Dottyback in my 40br, it can definitely hold its own! Might go with a neon dottyback this time around if I decide to get one.

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NorthCoralNewB

Finarry TJ Miyagi has come back like a phoenix from the ashes!

 

Your Tank Dishonord my famiry... So jearous...

 

Keep gurd work and post more picture!

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Finarry TJ Miyagi has come back like a phoenix from the ashes!

 

Your Tank Dishonord my famiry... So jearous...

 

Keep gurd work and post more picture!

 

Hahaha thanks!

 

 

I am actually going to be working on finishing the stand up tonight so I may have some more pictures very soon. The longer it sits on that naked stand, the more anxious I become to finish it!

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Decided to do one of my infamous MS Paint mock ups of the stand so I can see if I like how my idea is going to turn out. Turns out that I do like it lol. I am going to use the same casing for the baseboards around the bottom and top of the aquarium stand to tie it into the room. The room is being painted a desaturated navy blue color, almost boardering slate. It is going have a really nice nautical feel to it. The accents of the room (cases, door & window frames, etc.) are going to be a slightly warm off-white color. I have tried to simulate that best I could with the colors on MS Paint. The brown ledges around the tank, and on the top of the plumbing cover are going to be stained the same color (or as close as I can get) as the hardwood floor. The ceiling cap is going to match the stand.

 

It should work out nicely.

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