This spring I was running out of space in my BC14, wanted to increase the lighting and saw a member of my club selling a BC29. It was like the perfect storm. When the seller accepted my offer the first piece fell into place, then about the same time soundwave posted his DIY guide on RC for the LED build, piece number two.
I decided to take my time and get everything together for the new tank and complete the lighting build before transferring. I completed two LEDs builds a smaller 12 LED one first for my pico then the 24 LED for the BC29, you can see my post here. I am really happy with how both turned out.
Prior to transferring the BC14 to the BC29 I had a few questions I posted in this thread, unfortunately many of the posts were lost with the corruption.

Start Date July 7, 2009 (transfered from BC14)

Hardware/Mods

• BioCube 29
• Custom LED Hood
• BioCube Stand
• Custom LED Fuge Light
• Korilia 1
• Starboard Bottom
• Rio1100 (return)
• ReefKeeper Lite3
• AquaticLife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115
• Heater
• Upgraded return bulkhead
  
  
• Removed tab between chamber 1-2
• Removed black from rear center compartment
• Made a critter guard to keep critters from going over false wall
• Installed set of cooling fans on feeding hatch.

Fish/Inverts

• Clown Fish Pair
• Yellow Clown Goby
• Maroon Stripe Clown Goby
• Wheelers Watchman Goby
  
  
  
• Assorted Snails
• Blue Leg Hermits(small)
• Brittle Star
• 3 Sexy Shrimp
• Cleaner Shrimp
  
• Pigmy Angel Fish(started picking on clam, traded to club member with 180g, happy with new found space!)
• Sunburst Anthills (Deceased)

Other

• Live Rock - not sure how many pounds but I guess around 20, its really porous and light very nice stuff I have had some of it since my first tank, 8 years ago.
• halimeda algae

Coral

• Would like to make a comprehensive list and even have updated key photo, to come later...
• LPS
  Orange Plate
  Pink Plate
  Acan x3
  
• Zoos
• Softies
• SPS
  Montipora orange with purple rim

FTS 9/20/09
See Full Size Image HERE

So you're the one who got the other orange ST plate. I see. I see. Glad you got more room to work with. The old one was looking cramped.

The angel is so cute.

The Set-up

I decided to put board under the rocks for a few reasons: initially i was going to use rods to raise up and connect the rocks and did not want the point force on the glass but that proved to be too much of a pain so I did not use the rods, one day when I move from my apartment I will have to move the tank and I would feel better if there was something under the rock, I am more protected from a rock slide, if I decide to go bare bottom I am ready.
I ordered the 3/8 HDPE from amazon and cut it so one piece filled the back and then the one for the front arch area then cut spacers so it would not slide around or encroach on the silicon bead.


To eliminate the restriction created by the stock bulkhead I removed it and replaced with a 3/4 inch loc-line MPT adaptor. I traced the outline of the MPT around the stock hold and cut out using a dremel, I erred on the small side so that the MPT actually just threads into the hole, I picked up a gasket at Ace to use on the tank side to ensure a nice seal. It threaded well enough that I can just stick the tubing into it but I will use a 3/4 slip/FPT elbow threaded onto it to hold in place and to make a nice connection.

Not sure which loc-line I will settle on for the tank side but I am leaning toward a 3/4 Y without nozzles, just a few links and maybe with the notches on the side to increase velocity, as seen here.


Removed the black stuff from the rear center compartment, was not sure where the fuge basket would end up so I removed it from the whole section as it would be impossible to remove any once the tank was full and against the wall. I built a custom LED fuge light that I will setup once my RKL is up.


My chiller, I had a similar but more ghetto fan setup on my BC14 so I wanted to make this one more classy the fans are mounted on the inside of the feeding lid and I will install filter covers to clean it up shortly. They will be attached to RKL to come on as needed.


A quick peek of where the magic happens, the LED system I built.


A final salute to the BC14 a few days prior to transfer, as you can see things were getting a little cramped.


Shortly after transfer, as you can see the water is a little cloudy but not bad at all, I pre-washed the sand and then put a sheet of plastic wrap down on the main front area with a saucer on top of it, this really helps to keep the 'dust' down and from stirring it up when adding the water in.


This shot was after maybe 48 hours, corals still on the sand waiting to be relocated to rock work. I tried to maintain a very similar arrangement of the rock as in the BC14 because I was really happy with the way it was. It was a little difficult to get the positioning right in the bigger tank but I think I did a good job. I knew from the start I would need a little more rock to fill it out, in this photos I was thinking of adding a piece to the top left or right or maybe even something down front.
My frags were out of hand so I took some down to my favorite LFS and traded them for store credit/cash? NO! for other different corals, obviously!


Beam me up, the way I currently have the moonlights arranged this is the illumination I get when its really dark, is there anything I can do to get a more diffuse pattern or improve the looks of this MIB abduction scene?


Updated Photos
These shots were taken on Monday 7/20/09
You will notice I added a piece of rock on the top right, I picked it up from a local reefer who is taking down her tank. Not quite as porous as the stuff I have but it still fits in.


Different view looking up toward the top right and the new piece of rock.


A guy about forty minutes from me was going to set up a little retail shop in his basement so he has 18 tanks set up and was stocking up but plans changed and he needs to liquidate, I made a trip there on Sunday and picked up some nice pieces include the below pagoda, I figure if I bought elsewhere it would have cost at least 1.4-1.6X more depending on the piece.

A pretty good macro shot, considering I am using a casio point and shoot!


I picked this guy up for literally a few dollars last winter from the LRS, it had fallen or been attacked by another coral and there was only about one or two centers alive, over time it has made a great recovery and is encrusting well.


From the guy closing out his basement shop.


The sexy shrimp, they have migrated from the kenya tree up to this spot now.


Goby and Anthills, the Acan skeleton the goby is resting on is the only real casualty from the transfer, not sure what happened.


Angel fish, Duncan, and more...


Kenya tree looked unhappy for 24-48 hours and even dropped off a piece or two that I attached to some rubble, not sure why but it was looking happy today.


Some Zoos, I have subsequently set up a little zoo garden in the front right but I think these guys are still up on the rocks.


A different night shot.


I need to take even more updated photos now, since taking these I have moved the new corals I picked up on Sunday up to spots on the rock work and move a few other things around.

Way to post between my posts, and yes I picked up that nice orange plate and the pagoda!
Did you get one?
Those LT plates were weird, too long for me.
The angel has been a good citizen so far only picking at the rock for algae and not bothering corals. I had one in a tank before and really enjoy their swimming habits, in and out of the rock work. I have a lot of arches, caves and holes so its interesting to watch.

Jerome

Everything looks great! I might go ahead and try the BC29 led hood conversion!

Thanks!
The LED build was not too bad, go for it.

Nice tank. Can't wait to get my LED build finished up.

Just picked up a bunch of LPS from a local club member!
Set up my RKL and cleaned up some other stuff, updated pics to come soon...

Tank looks awesome, Jerome!! Very detailed setup of all that's going on with it. Your mag-rack, is it something you made, or something you bought??

What kinda temps are you seeing? You have to use a heater/chiller?

My summer temperature is pretty much controlled by the weather here, I prefer not to run the AC except when its really hot/humid. Yesterday it was pretty warm, high 80s, so my temps were around 80.2 I think, I have the fans (as you can see above) and now that my RKL is set up I have them set to come on at a temp and 4 alarms that sequentially shut down the system as the temp goes up. I picked items to shut off in order of wattage skimmer, koralia, white lights, blue lights.
With the RKL and the accurate thermometer I will be able to get a better idea now of the temps between night and day and the difference if any when the LEDs are on/off
I will be posting a chart of my Reef keeper lite program shortly.

Jerome

Your tank looks really awesome jerome.

Thanks!

I missed the one post above, I made the mag racks, now I just have the top thin one in the tank with my little frag farm. I used some Nimble Supers and egg crate, I actually have to make a new one, I just organized a group buy locally for the black egg crate!

Jerome

Cool, thanks! Was just curious about it. I have an eggcrate piece I got during a local trade show that's sold by... I can't remember off the top of my head now, but it's thicker than typical Home Depot eggcrate, so that plugs won't fall over out of it. Anyways I have it holding up in place using a Nimble Super I have. it's working out so far (I'll have to get you pics of it) but now I think I'll have to order another for normal glass cleaning duties, lol! Do you make any type of specific magnet rounds using the super magenets, for mag-racks??

Anyways, I love how clean you made your hood look with all the mods to it. Any ideas on how much light the LEDs are putting out compared to say an equivallent MH setup? Looks like everything is thriving well under it thus far.

Please see below for the Reef Keeper lite program I set up. What temp do you run your reef at? As I said above I dont have a chiller so I want to run it a little warm during the summer so there is not as big a swing. What do you think of the lighting period, too long? Do you think the alarms I have set will help at all in minimizing heat being added to the water from the associated components?

Still looking for some feedback on my question above.
I updated the spreadsheet so I removed the old one and have uploaded a new one below.
Click the thumbnail and then click the image again for a really big one.

Mini-update
I picked up my first clam this past friday in a online group buy. Check it out below!
I will post some updated full tank shots in a few days. Have added several pieces and done some re organizing.

Blue with gold and blue speckles

Nice.

Very nice clam!

Thanks! Its pretty 'big' too, I think at least 3 inches which is a nice change of pace because I bought it from the 2-3 inch group and usually with stuff like that is like 2.1 inches.

You have a very nice tank. Your LED mod looks so clean, and functional. This is the first aio LED thread I've looked at, that has decent tank pics with all the lights on. I'm quite impressed.


That's a very pretty clam too.

Update:
I have added several pieces since the tank was set up and moved some stuff around. One of the most notable additions is the clam. I also picked up an acan and a favia (both in powered blue/purple color) from a local reefer last evening so they are not in the photos.

My previous tank was lit with 72w of PC since the tank was transfered the fist week in July I have been looking forward to seeing the brighter colors of many of the corals(LPS & SPS) under the increase PAR. At this point I cant say that I have seen that, I though it could take a few weeks but now it has been over two months. I think that most of the soft corals and polyps are brighter than ever, however I cant say the same for the LPS & SPS. I would like to get to the bottom of the coloration issue and get it rectified. I had a local reefer over and he suggested maybe the light is not strong enough, but I am leaning more toward it being too strong. I am thinking in this direction because the plates and stuff on the sand are of fairly good coloration but not great flesh extension again maybe too much? (No one local has a par meter so thats out of the box for measuring.)
Has anyone else with LEDs experienced something similar or the contrary, fantastic coloration?
Please share any insights you might have.

With the new clam I will need to increase and maintain my calcium levels. In consideration of this as well as the coloration issues I have reviewed above I am going to switch salts. I have been using Instant Ocean since my first nano almost 8 years ago because its a standard, was easily available, and there were less choices then. I am just coming to the last few cups of a 160 gallon bucket and am ready for a change. I will begin the transition to SeaChem Reef Salt with my next water change.

The AquaticLife Protein Skimmer 115 has really started to pull some nice skimmate. It took a while for it break in and for me to get it adjusted to the right hight and flow. I think it is in a good place now and the skimmate that it is producing is not too wet so I do not need to empty the cup frequently. There are however still microbubbles coming out with the return water. This is frustrating and I need to find a solution. Not positive if its all due to the skimmer or not, could the pump be adding them in somehow? I guess I need to run a test with the skimmer off for a few hours to see how the return water looks? Any other ideas?

My parents visited this weekend and I had my father bring along his DSLR and was able to snap these shots.
Full Tank Shot See Full Size HQ Image HERE


Under Blue LED during 'sunrise'


The plate has these cool lighter areas visible under both day light and blue only.


Zoo garden and favia


Day light


Cleaner


Clam next to zoos


Loooog Polyp Leather


Clown Goby


The other Clown Goby


One of my new favorite pieces, the green looks so metallic in real life, its like there is glitter in there.


Two top down shots
Wide


Close Up on the clam, notice the huge difference in coloration from the front tank photo a few above to this one top down with pumps off. See Full Size HQ Photo HERE

Has your angel bothered your clam at all?

I can't quiet tell but it looks like you cut the circuit board that integrated the stock fan control? Can you tell me if/how/why?

So far I have not had an issue with the pigmy angel nipping the clam or corals. I had one a few years ago in another tank and did not have any problems. I really like their swimming habits and coloration so when I upgraded to the larger tank I had to get another one. I keep the fish well fed I am not sure if this helps or if its a sort of hit or miss with individuals.

I did cut the circuit board during the modification process so I could easily hook the moon lights back up. If you look at the board there are like two sides. One for the moon lights and one that deals with the fans. The moon light side is just like a power strip. You plug the DC power into one and then the LEDs into the others. I think I just used a little hack saw to cut it between the two sections. I did not need the fan one but did need the space so I trimmed it off. I assume you are asking because you already saw the photo in my build thread, if not check it out. Let me know if that clears up your questions.

Jerome

Don't know if you've seen this topic, but this gives some great info on salt mixes. Also, since you mentioned Seachem's salt, this thread was all the rage awhile back.

Good links, I did review the long post comparing all the salts prior to making my purchase as well as a few similar posts on other sites including on in the UK that had even more info on levels, will have to look up the link. I did not see the other post but like most other things there are people with different experiences.

I chose the salt because of the elevated levels and hopefully reduced dosing needs. I will switch to a fresh bucket for mixing the new salt because my old one dose have a bunch of calcification and stuff on the bottom and clean the pump and heater. I used to just fill the bucket then dump the salt in half cup at a time, I will have to try the fill and let the water heat some before adding the salt.

what size fans do you reccoment for your cooling mod? i am having hest issues with the leds, and saw the mod an i am curious about it. also what did you use to get the clean holes cut for the fans? what fan guards did/will you use?

You could go 60 or 80mm, and use computer fanguards/filters like These. I left the two start review because the ones they send do not match the exact photo but have a spider web pattern. They would work but did not match one that I had. If you want it to look that that photo you can order from Mouser. Be careful with the placement because if they are too far back it will interfere with opening the feeding hatch door so if you use this a lot I would go with the 60mm fans mounted toward the front. Make sure to use nylon nuts/bolts from the hardware store to hold everything together. I used a dremel to cut out the holes and a cordless drill to put the four holes in the corners.

Jerome

alright. no another note befoe i go doing this i am looking for ICA nanochiller, are they still avalible or are they defunct? no link to purchase off of nanocustoms, but the page is still there.

I snapped a few photos of my stand setup and skimmer this morning. I am still looking for some input on my questions in post #22 just above the tank photos.

The stand in the BC29 is great, I have room for just about all my tank stuff except my water change buckets. I added the extra top shelf for the electronics. The next shelf down has two baskets, one with food and the other with tests, additives, and media. The bottom shelf has one big basket with odds and ends like my fragging supplies, measuring stuff, gloves and more.


I added that shelf and made up the piece to surface mount the RKL.


The goods behind the scenes. The power supplies are in the center and the power strips are mounted on the sides, everything is labeled up nicely and as organized as possible. I have two fans, one right there in front for circulation over the power supplies and then another in the back, I cut a hole in the stand for it to exhaust air out.


The bubbles come out of the vent holes in the skimmer lid even when its not full, a little weird but I am happy its working well.


Cup prior to emptying it. I find it too difficult to remove the cup for emptying because then you end up jarring the skimmer and where it is set, so I empty it using the turkey baster.


Skimmate looks like pretty good quality.

Check out the review I posted about this Aquarium Log App for the iPhone or iPod touch HERE It a nice app with lots of potential.

Also still looking for feedback on above questions.

Did you screw the RKL modules to the sides, or just use double sided tape?

I attached with stainless steel screws and I had to use a black nylon washer too because the hardware store did not have screws short enough.
Did you see my post above regarding the coloration, how is your tank doing?

Jerome

I agree with you on the coloration issue, Jerome. I have my LEDs turned way down because anything over 50%, to my eyes, was too much light. The corals, especially my hammer colony, just reflect the light, so that particular coral looks completely white with the LEDs turned up.

I feel like I'm missing a lot of the rich tones that I had with PC Bulbs. In fact, I'm sitting here in my office next to my BC8 with stock lighting, and I feel it has much richer tones than my LEDs do.

My Plate Coral, which is an Orange Plate, is pretty faded, and it's in the sand bed. I rarely see tentacle extension during the day, but at night it extends nicely. Some of my Ricordea Florida are 50% smaller than before, and I attribute this to the increase of light. The more light, the less surface area it appears they need.

So I'm torn. I love the longevity of LEDs and the fact that they run my tank cooler than the PCs, but I'm not sold on the colors.

Is the heat sink from heatsinkusa too heavy for that hood? Is there a way of making it less heavy or bracing it properly so that the Heat sink doesn't exert too much force on the hood? Also did you keep the stock plastic cover over the LEDs?

I have the BC29 and the heatsink is not too heavy. I kept the plastic over the LED's and its just fine. It would be interesting to see if anyone replaced that.

Not too heavy, just make aluminum brackets like C Jerome outlines, and screw those into the stock screw posts on the BC29, then screw the brackets into the heatsink. I mean, it's heavy, don't get me wrong, but not too heavy. And the stock Splash Guard works just fine.

update?

I will try to get some photos of the tank to post. I am still wondering whats up with the coloration, maybe its just too much light?
The big news is that I removed my pigmy angel so I could keep my clam, more to come soon...

Jerome

Yes, a photo update. I was feeding the tank last evening and thought this looks cool, maybe I could snap a few good shots, some how I was able to. I only have a nice point and shoot camera so getting closeups and nice focus is difficult. Last night it just worked out.
Since my last post a few things have changed. I am now using almost completely SeaChem Reef salt in my weekly(~or so) 5 gallon water changes. I have started to dose BRS 2 part solution, though I do not have the schedule/amounts worked out yet. I also was laid off from my job the second to last week of October so I have had a little more time to play with the tank so my feeding schedule is a little better/consistent, and it is starting to show.
I am still struggling with micro bubbles. I can not seem to track down what the issue is. I know when I run my skimmer there are going to be bubbles but the past few days it was making a sucking noise louder then normal so I turned it off until I can get a chance to clean it, one would think then there would be NO bubbles, but there still are even with the skimmer off. Any tips on where they could be coming from and or how to stop them? The only thing I can think of is that possibly 90 degree fitting that screws into the bulkhead since that is the only thing above the water surface. Any other ideas, really would like to stop them, as its distracting and taking away from the tank.
I have re arranged a few of the acans to lower in the tank (I think the LED is too bright for them), moved some zoos off the rocks into a garden arrangement on the sand and added a little rock work down in front extending off my existing aquascape.
I added a few things, a encrusting green favia I picked up at a LFS for $12 for some reason it was in this damaged frags basket but it looked good to me and its almost the size of my palm. I also added some zoo frags from local club members, a blue/gray hairy mushroom, and a hydnophora. I think thats it but there could be more.
I have also been doing a lot of zoo fragging(per usual) and have a whole shelf of frags ready to roll, just waiting for people to come and buy or trade them! The way I do it just about any time I move pieces around or have my hand in the tank I will grab a rock with zoos and invariable there is a polyp or two growing off the rock or that can be easily scraped off. I then glue the single polyp down to a tiny rock, and the tiny rock onto the frag plug with two or three other tiny rocks on the same one. I let them multiply until there are a few polyps then I will glue the tiny rock onto a bigger one that will fit by its self or with one other on a plug. I keep all the aforementioned plugs on one small egg crate rack that is 2 squares wide by about 10 or 12 inches long on the top right wall of the tank, its pretty non invasive. When I think a frags is big enough to trade or be sold for $8 to $15 I glue the frag onto its own plug, if I have a bunch ready I will put a second temporary shelf into the tank to hold all the individual frags that are ready to go.
With out further ado, here are the photos from last evening, a updated full tank shot will come soon, there was too much in the water to get a good one last evening. Look forward to your comments...
Jerome


After feeding a piece of silverside. This is one of my favorite pieces, the color, texture and shape are all so fine. Can someone remind me as to the name of it?





The white stripes on the plate are so cool

Both mouths full, the orange plate seems to be more fleshy then the pink, I am trying to feed the pink more in hopes of it puffing up more with the lights on.



Baby dendros. This guy is recovering from an incident I had with it in the pico, starting to come out more with feedings.

I thought I got lucky with this photo, the colors and shadow came out just right and with out any retouching

Clown goby lounging aroun

Zoo garden

More zoos and LPS, I just got those green ones on the left from a club member

Zoos looking from the right wall of the tank, the pinks are looking nice

Clown goby lounging again on the fluffy hairy mushroom, the blue gray one is new

Pallys, I have several different types, I have been keeping them for a long time since before they were in vogue, 'back in the day' people could not give them away

Frag rack, with some LPS on the end.

Lookin good! Any more input on the color bleaching issues you were seeing?

Wow, awesome tank!

As for the bleaching, I have not had anything get worse it really more that things are not collring up to the colors I expected. Example the monit shoudl be orange with purple rim, you can see the purple rim but I would not call it orange, much rather brown. It is growing a lot faster now I can tell you that, getting bigger and putting out new branches/plates/rings what ever you call them. I have played with the dials a bit to turn them down some so we will see what happens.

Thanks Travis, I am happy with how it is coming along!

Jerome

Awesome tank and fantastic photos.

Thanks! My strategy with the photos is to take a ton and then delete all but the 10 okay ones then post the 5 good ones, it makes me look beter then I am.

Jerome

any updates? how is the coral growth and color doing?

Any updates?

How is the aquaticlife skimmer doing?

Great tank Jerome! I have a question for your regarding the AquaLife mini skimmer 115. I just bought one for my BC 29 and I have squished it in the 1st chamber, but I am worried that there isn't enough water getting into the 2nd column and the water level in the 3rd chamber is lower than normal.

Where do you have your skimmer?? Do you have any pics of how you put it in (which way does the water outlet point and collection cup)?

Any insight you can give would be greatly appreciated.