Since I know of a few recent (and some not so recent) Finnex 30g owners, I thought it would be fitting to start a thread on and about them to share and discuss things we've done with ours, and how we all each have them set up. I have the glass model, and i'm sure most others with this tank have the glass one as well, in fact I'm not sure if there's a non-glass 30g model...

My first question for owners is how do you have your main pump return set up? Mine just came with the plumbing tube poking about "1/4 out of the false wall, but nothing connected to it on the display side. Luckily the nozzel fitting from the MJ900 I had in my Aquapod fit the piping perfectly! I'd like to get a Locline Y fitting with spray bars on the end. What size is the piping, my guess is "1/2 inch??

Also how do any of you work the moonlight situation that they turn on when the actinics are turned off? My issue with this is I can't have them on a timer since the "hight" cycle would cut the power completely to the actinic circuit, thus the moonlights won't come on. Finnex said the only fix is for me to wire up my own P/S to the moonlights for independant control. I'm disapointed in that design and their lack to fix it. =/

And then I found out last night why the intake grate into the skimmer chamber should be kept clean and clear. Mine had flow through it, but when I cleaned it out last night the flow doubled and the rear area filled up more and faster.

How do any of you owners have the fuge return line adjusted? I adjust mine every other day between medium flow then to no flow at all. of course more water has to be kept in the skimmer/pump chambers when flow is directed to the fuge area as the skimmer/pump chambers water level lowers as I discovered.

With the skimmer, maybe it's my lack of knowledge of them (most likely) but are you other owners getting a foamy froath in the cup, or a more nasty liquidy soupy skimmate? Mine is the liquid variety with a pinch of foam on the top of it... The skimmer is working good though it seems for me.

Now the back area, how does everyone have their's set up? I have 2 heaters in the fuge chamber (100w Theo and a 50w Theo with the 50w plugged into my night cycle on my timer so it's off in the daytime). Then I also have about 2lbs. of L/R rubble, a sack of Purigen and a sack of PhosGuard also in the fuge area. No chaeto in there yet, but that should change after this weekend. I also keep a couple small cubes of Sea-Lab #28 in the pump chamber since it has the most flow in it. Also I keep only the front glass cover on over the tank since the rear cover is over my clam and blocks out some of the light spectrum to the clam.

Let's hear all other Finnex 30g's observations and set ups of their tanks!

Mine is on the way next week, so please everybody who has one chime in! There is nothing like learning from the hands-on experience of others.

Bill

Couldn't agree more! Mine is only 2 weeks old, but treating me good so far!! You can read up on mine personally in the link to it in my signatuer below.

I have lockline fitting to the main pump with a splitter so I get two outlets. I also have two mini pumps in the display area each rated at about 120 gph. I also have a mj1200 in the first chamber with lockline going into the display area with a hydor on it. I cant remember what size lockline I used...

I keep the lights on timers so at night they just turn off. I dont really like to spotlight look of the moonlights.

I replaced the skimmer with a used tunze 9002 that skims A LOT better, and there are no more microbubbles. I have the extra flow of the mj1200 in the back which made my bubble problem really bad.

I keep around 2 lbs of lr and some sand in the fuge with chaeto and some red algae of some sort. I keep carbon, purigen, phosgaurd, and chemipure. I keep most of the chemicals under the skimmer and a few more in the space underneath the fuge. I also keep #28, but I put them into the skimmer chamber as they dissolve really fast if they are in the pump chamber.

Me, being an idiot, broke my front glass cover and then cracked the back glass cover. The back still works, but it has a hairline fracture.

I really like this tank...it has a lot of space to work with and has a pretty clean look that I apprecaite. It also looks less like a toy than most of the all-in-ones do.

What lights did everyone get? I got the t-5's and then slid my viper 150 under the lip of the light to get an extra 150 watts.

Nice setup Hoobahans. I love the look of this tank verses others as well. I too have the 4x24w T5HO fixture. 96w is just fine for me and my needs thus far.

The Y-split locline on your main pump return line, did it come with your tank or did you add it on yourself?? I'm kinda wondering why mine (or any of the tanks) didn't come with some sort of end fitting to the return line...

Also , Finnex told me directly that they will soon be releasing and sending out an upgrade fix for the skimmer kit to anyone that purchased the tank from an online retailer such as Nanotuners or PremiumAquatics. It should eliminate they micro-bubble issue they say.

I have been reading your posts, as well as any others on the subject. It helped me reach my decision. BTW I went with the 150 MH lighting. I want to try some high-light stuff this time. Finally, I can keep a clam and not feel guilty (or more accuratley, be made to feel guilty)! I will keep my nanocubes as softie only tanks.

Man this hobby gets addicting. I just set up a 12 gallon nanocube two months ago, but it wasn't big enough. My 24 gallon (which was a reef tank before I moved from California) currently has some freshwater fish in it, but they may be looking for a new home soon. I'm thinking of using the 24 as a laid-back softy tank, and the 12 as a quarentine. Or maybe vice versa. You never know, ya know?

Phixion, how's the weather in Pasadena? I can't believe it snowed In Valencia, my old home town, before it did here in my part of NY!

Bill

I added the lockline myself. It didnt fit too well so I used various fittings I had lying around to hook it up. I heard about the fit the day after I got the tunze, but this one is easier to use and I think it skims better anyway. I heard the finnex is discontinuing the 30, is that true?

They are discontinuing them, but still have a few. They said the problem was the time and expense in preparing them for shipment. They can only ship out about 5 a week, which isn't cost effective.

Bill

Hey Bill, weather here is good now, almost back to normal. i think we hit the upper high 20's a couple nights. I was disapointed Malibu and West Hollywood got snow and we didn't here in Pasadena along the San Gabriels. Maybe next year or something, lol! The 5 was shut down for almost 24 hours that same day though, but that's almost a given if the lower levels are getting snow too.

My tank is scheduled to arive on Tuesday. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it is in one piece. The lights won't come until next week, but I can start with the leak-testing and water-mixing in he meantime.

Bill

Well, the tank arrived today on schedule. Thank goodness for double boxing. There were several holes kicked through the outer box. The inner box looks OK. I have opened the box and looked at the tank, but have not removed it yet. This is one heavy tank fo its size, and I will wait for my teenaged son to get home and help me lift it out of the box. There don't seem to be any instructions. Am I missing something? I saw a thread over on RC that details how to assemble it. I will check that out.

Anything I should be looking out for?

Bill

The instructions are inside of the tank, mine were in the back cmaber wrapped around the skimmer.

On a side note, I have been getting really bad slime algae on the left hand side of my tank. I havnt been able ot figure out what I am getting it. I dont get it anywere other than the right hand side. Last night, when I turned off the main lights on the tank, I realized that the light that was leaking from the fuge light perfectly illuminated the slime algae growth and nothing else. Turns out that, because I turn on the fuge light at night, the righ hand side of my tank was getting 24 hour light, half of which was 6500, perfect for algae. I think I will be using a day-time cycle for all the lights from now on.

Good looking out on that. I haven't gotten any red slime in this tank like i had in my previous tank. BUT my phosphates are 0.1 right now, which would explain why GHA is begnning to grow on the display side of the false wall. it's not significant yet, but it will be soon unless I figure out how to remove it without it spreading around... I DO need more flow in the tank, that's for sure.

Bill, my instructions were at the bottom of the display area under the main light fixture. The instructions are rather crude and don't explain very much. My main pump came bubble wrapped and the skimmer pump came in a box in the skimmer chamber on the left side. The fuge light, main light legs and something else i don't remember came in the fuge chamber. The main pump came also in the skimmer chamber sitting atop the skimmer pump. Did anyone's tank come with a return nozzle or locline or anything like that, or was everyone's like mine with just the end of a pipe coming out through the false wall? I wish there was a Hydor that was rated over 310gph for better water movement...

My return line came with an elbow that stuck on the display side of the return, but nothing more.

My tank was delivered 2 weeks ago and I am hoping to get the lights ordered next week. I went with 150 W upgrade! Ken at Finnex said he hopes for the shipment to be in late this week and will send them out first thing next week. So, I will keep my fingers crossed. I have leak tested the tank and everything went fine. Once, I get the room painted that it is going in, I will get it set up, hopefully before the lights arrive. Look forward to reading this thread for any tips that you guys will have.

I am in the same boat. The lights are supposed to get here end of the week or early next week.

I will look for the instructions where you guys indicated. I still haven't taken it out of the box.

Bill

Nope, no instructions. Maybe they will be in with the lights? I will refer to the thread over on RC for instructions, but I am sure I will be bugging you guys for details. It is probably easier than it looks (he says hopefully). The glass covers in particuular look funky!

Bill

I have had this tank set up for about 3 weeks, and I still get micro bubbles from the skimmer. I guess the tank can't be perfect.

I still have bubbles from mine after a week of using it, but the bubbles are very minimal. Have you tried readjusting the valve on the skimmer?

Bill, once the tank is set up, the glass covers will make more sense. The smaller one is for the front, the odd shapped is for a rear and curved to fit around the skimmer.

this sounds like a good tank. Can I purchase just the tank only b/c i have an extra light lying around?

this sounds like a good tank. Can I purchase just the tank only b/c i have an extra light lying around?

No, the tank comes with some sort of lighting standard. Also the tank is now discontinued, but the factory still has some left that you can buy from Premium Aquatics online.

Unlike some people, my pumps, pipes, elbows etc. came loose and seperately packaged. I have lots of stuff I'm trying to figure out. I'll keep looking at the photos. Where does the sponge with the piece of pipe go?

The only skimmer I have any experience with was the Fission Nano, and that was different than the one on this tank.

Bill

I didnt get any sponges...

I got a black sponge reminiscent of a Nanocube sponge, but with a section of black plastic pipe going partially through it.

Bill

Sounds like it might connect to the skimmer pump or the main pump. See if it fits to the intake of either pumps. I guess that there is also a possibility that it goes on outlet of the skimmer to help reduce the microbubbles.

On the skimmer, that's a thought. I've got everything else together (I think), but the skimmer will remain a mystery until I can test it out.

I also got what looks like a hang on shelf with a thin white sponge on it. Any idea what that is for? I don't see it in anyone else's pictures. I can't post photos right now. I have to get a photobucket account.

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I got no instructions and everything was packed seperately.

Bill

I bet that the foam shelf hangs in the middle pump chamber to strain and remove the micro bubbles out of the water that is pouring over from the skimmer chamber. I know that I put sponges in there to mute the noise, strain, and remove bubbles. That's my guess.

I wish I had all that stuff...

That might work. I'll look at it.

Bill


Yep, the shelf fits there perfectly. It has a small sponge on top and the bottom has multiple holes to let water flow through. It is perfect for keeping bubbles out of the return chamber.

Thanks for figuring that out!

Bill

Dang, Phix, your tank came with nothing like that. You should call them up!

I know!! Maybe the skimmer fix kit they told me about will include that stuff... =/ Mine didn't come with any sponge stuff, hmm...

Does anyone have any idea how to go about wiring the moonlights to an independent control??? I think I may email Ken about doing this... I am also going to ask him about the shelf w/ sponge...I wish mine had included that.

Hey, we could be wrong about what this stuff is really for! Without instructions, it's all guess work. But it looks like it's for the skimmer. Ken said they would send the instructions along with the lights. Maybe we will be illuminated (cough) at that time.

It's kind of neat that they are still committed to fixing any problems with a tank they have discontinued.

Bill

You guys figured it out exectly. Ken sent me a pdf of the way everything is supposed to be set up, and the sponges go on the skimmer in just the way predicted.

Bill

Anyway you could send me that PDF? I sent Ken an email asking if he would send the skimmer fix kit with my light and a pump cap that was cracked when the tank arrived. He said yes, so hopefully that will be next week.

I asked them about the moonlights, and they said I could wire them myself, but didn't explain how. I'd imagine from a liability standpoint, they won't tell you how to but it shouldn't be that difficult...

What skimmer fix kit??? please explain this more, we just got it like 3-4 weeks ago and I have no sponge.

Ken's response to my email about the moonlights:

"It is not so difficult. However, you need to have an additional power supply cord and a power switch."

I am going to see if he will elaborate for me... My guess is that he won't based on what you said about liability. I am very tempted to try this even with no electrical knowledge. It would make the lighting system much better... I'll see what I can find out...




Apparently Finnex came out with a skimmer modification kit to help reduce microbubbles back into the display tank??? I asked Ken about this and he said they will sending them out to everyone who has purchased the tank. He also said that if you purchased the tank from one of the online retailers, i.e. nanotuners.com or premiumaquatics.com they have your name and address already on file and will be sending them out soon.

Well, I don't think the stand will win any awards for ease of assembly or beauty, but I guess it will do. The instructions are really pretty bad, even for self-assemble furniture. And one of the wing supports which come up the side of the main stand and support the overhanging tank platform was too long. I had to sand it down level with the bottom of the platform or the tank would not have been level.

Be advised that I used to be the stand assembler at a TV/Stereo store, so I know of what I speak! Total assembly time including sanding - approx 1 hour and 10 minutes. Make sure you have a rubber mallet or are a soft touch with a hammer.

Bill

OK, it took about 26 gallons of water to fill, no rocks or sand in it yet of course. The skimmer isn't turned on, so that might suck up a gallon or two. How does this compare to everyone else's experience?

Bill

Edit: After a recount, it was only 25 gallons.

I'd say that about right.... Mine was pretty full after 26lbs of rock, "2.5 of sandbed and 20g of water... It took about 25-26g total I'd say.

I was told the same thing about the skimmer fix kit, anyone that bought it online should receive it soon and those from LFS are kinda SOL on it... =/ I got mine from PA, so I should be fine.

And I agree Bill, the stand was a PITA to assumble, but it seems sturdy enough, it supports the 350lbs.+ weight of the tank at least.

Do you use any filter floss? If so, where have you found is the best place to put it?

Also, what have you put on the outflow pipe? Is there anything like a Hydor Flo that will work on it?

Thanks,
Bill

No filter floss here... As for a Hydor-Flo, unfortunately short of a Tunze Turbelle or the similar one that someone recently posted about (ac actual orbital rotating power-head) the Hydor only works for up to 310gph flow rate... =/

Although the hydorflow only works up to 310, I highly doubt that the stock pump puts that through the outlet. After diverting to the fuge and then going through all those turns, I think it is far below the reported 500. I have felt mine, and I would place it under 300, but maybe that is just mine...
Also, I attached lockline to my outlet and added a y, so I have two outlets at the moment. If you do that you can for sure add a hydor to one of the outlets.

This is true! At the moment my flow is high since I have the fuge flow off right now. But another member who got the tank before I got mine, had a Hydor flow on his and wondered why it worked fine on another tank, and didn't work on his Finnex 30g...

Sure is loud as the water cascades back from the skimmer chamber into the return chamber. Or is that because of the "shelf" feature of the new anti-bubble kit?

And I agree that a Hydor Flo would probably stick to the outlet pipe once the outlet into the refugium chamber is factored in.

Bill

Well, after several hours things are improving. For some reason the water level in the middle chamber was too low, and that was what was causing the unit to run so loud. I have no idea why this happened. Now it is higher and the waterfall is much quieter. Any idea how this is regulated?

I also think the shelf in the center chamber with the sponge is more for cleaning the water then cleansing bubbles. The overflow pours right through it. I think the smallest penguin filter would fit over the tray.

Bill

You regulate it by adjusting the refugium knob. Depending on how much flow goes through the refugium determines how high the center chamber is.

Also I am using a JBJ pump, and I love the amount of flow I'm getting.
JBJ Dual Output, it was $11 Bucks I get 290gph and it hits off the front glass panel and the back one at the same time creating a great flow pattern. Combine that with the pump in the rear and I think the flow is outstanding, It's nice becasue I have a low flow area right at the center bottom for corals that don't like high flow or bright light.



Great I bought mine from Premium, so I guess I just have to sit back and wait for the post man.

I have been able to get the water level up a bit in the center section. That results in very little flow through the fuge though.

I tried out the skimmer for the first time, and that really droped the center water section again . I need to play with all the settings. Is there supposed to be water in the collection cup, or only dirty bubbles? Mine filled right up with water. Is there a photo somewhere of what the collection cup is supposed to look like when operating correctly?

Any help is as always appreciated.

Bill

Where are you guys keeping the water level for the center chamber? The diagram shows to keep it below the refugium, which is what I did when I leak tested mine. That makes it seem like there is a good amount of flow in the refugium and keeps the water out of the gap between the exterior glass and refugium. I had read some other threads where people were having problems with algae growing in the gap and you couldn't see the refugium from the back.