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niQo's ADA 60F - Oct. 2016 Update!


niQo

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History

After almost 6 years of wanting a reef it is finally getting close to become reality! From ages 9-ish to 19-ish I had a freshwater aquarium. The last little while I had a South American Biotope with wild caught Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi, it was pretty nice (I was unsuccessful finding pictures). Once I got the idea of having a reef, I was hooked. The last 6 years I've been on and off researching, my plans have changed many, many times. I went from Red Sea Max 130, to 40 breeder with 20L sump (I actually bought these at a petco dollar per gallon sale, then ended up selling them right before moving), to Mr. Aqua 17, then I found a cheap-ish Red Sea Max 130 on a classifieds add about a year ago and bought it. A couple months later I moved again and sold it as I really did want a sump. I was going to by a Do!Aqua 60F, but then was so lucky to find a ADA 60F used decently nearby...
Equipment:
Display: ADA 60F - drilled for Herbie
Sump: Custom cube-ish with three chambers
Stand: DIY with Quartz top
Lighting: NanoBox Duo
ATO: Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152
Flow: MP10 Blue Box

Skimmer: CadLights PLS-50

Control: Apex Lite

Rock: Pukani
Sand: CaribSea Ocean Direct

Livestock:
- Clownfish
- Blue/Green Chromis

- Yellow Watchman Goby

 

- Cleaner Shrimp

 

- Variety of snails

- 3 Scarlet Hermits

Coral:
- Acro

- Birdsnest

- Montipora

- Zoas

- Acan

- Ricordea

- Hammer

FTS Oct 4th 2016

30008484302_39015d88cb_c.jpgFTS by Nico B., on Flickr

 

FTS Feb 1st 2016
24624341952_413e0d6f43_c.jpgJan 31 2016 by Nico B., on Flickr

FTS - Oct. 5th 2014
15451407575_03869e0806_z.jpgIMG_7009 by -niQo-, on Flickr
15148217966_ea93df5ecc_z.jpgIMG_6941 by -niQo-, on Flickr

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  • Like 8
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Threads without pictures suck, so I will try, but life is so busy now I'm not sure how often I'll be able to take time for that.

 

About two week ago I gave some of my pukani rock an acid bath, but it still is quite dirty and I think if I had left it for longer I would have not had a lot of rock left! I really wish I would have gone with the reef saver. I'll probably battle some algae for a while. I'm just not that impressed with the pukani.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Scary moment today: it's been raining nonstop in Southern Alberta and we had some water in the basement. My 60F was sitting on a piece of MDF on a cardboard box, all the water made the box crumble and the tank slid to the floor, but no cracks!

Also may have damaged my Kessil a150, but I'll let it sit for a few days before plugging it in.

 

Other than that not a whole lot of news. Hoping to order some equipment soon.

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Where in Southern Alberta?

 

Oh man waiting that long, I know the feelz. I researched and researched for so long before starting my tank as well! great choices on equipment thus far. What are you going to choose for flow?

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I live in Lethbridge. This morning the sun is shining, so that's good!

 

For flow I'm thinking wp10 (or rw4 if it comes out) or riptide, but don't know if I can wait that long or if it's even suitable for 8 gallons!

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  • 1 month later...

Finally:

 

14789218209_9d7f26e44d_z.jpgIMG_1545 by -niQo-, on Flickr

 

ADA 60F on a Walmart yogamat...

 

14975554992_c3f8f6d3dc_z.jpgIMG_1544 by -niQo-, on Flickr

 

Cube-ish sump. I'm thinking of replacing the tubing with something more flexible. I'm worried its putting to much strain on the bulkheads and the glass.

 

14972807991_699df0aab9_z.jpgIMG_1543 by -niQo-, on Flickr

 

It even has water in it right now, unfortunately not SW yet! First need to paint the living room then I'll set it up for real.

Still need to get some sand and a good powerhead.

 

Thanks for checking in!

  • Like 5
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That looks so clean! Did you make that overlfow box? Is it silver? Looks awesome.

Thanks! It's just white acrylic, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

448.jpg

 

i want more pics

Do you have a specific request?

  • Like 2
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Thanks! It's just white acrylic, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Very nice, I like it, it's different! What left do you have to do before you get the tank wet?

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Very nice, I like it, it's different! What left do you have to do before you get the tank wet?

Just a quick leak test to make sure the baffles aren't leaking anymore. However, first the living room needs to be painted (hopefully this weekend), CGFI outlet needs to be put in and I still have to order sand and wait for it to come in.

  • Like 1
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Thanks! It's just white acrylic, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

 

Do you have a specific request?

back of the overflow to see how it plumbed and the sump thanks!!!

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14981111415_1c59833fd3_z.jpgimage by -niQo-, on Flickr

 

Bulkhead on the bottom of the tank has a gate valve attached to it.

 

The bulkheads are quite a bit bigger then necessary, but I bought supplies to set up a 40 breeder, about 2,5 years back, so I'm trying to use those supplies where I can.

 

14794436019_936545f924_z.jpgimage by -niQo-, on Flickr

 

Flow direction: Top right, to bottom right, to top left

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Another leak test...

 

https://flic.kr/p/oB9kAP'>14837553087_bb7324ef2c_z.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/oB9kAP'>Water! by https://www.flickr.com/people/127132658@N08/'>-niQo-, on Flickr

 

One bulkhead needs some more teflon tape...

Also not super happy about my sump design. My inexperience caused me to have too little difference between the height of baffles and different sections of the sump. I thought it wouldn't be a problem as I figured there wouldn't be a ton of flow going through. Unfortunately water is flowing over and under one of the baffles… I hope this will not be a huge problem

 

https://flic.kr/p/oB8Q69'>14837453810_af79e5b062_z.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/oB8Q69'>Water! by https://www.flickr.com/people/127132658@N08/'>-niQo-, on Flickr

 

Herbie seems to be doing its job! Its quite silent.

 

https://flic.kr/p/oB9kKX'>14837553617_1e09894d76_z.jpghttps://flic.kr/p/oB9kKX'>Untitled by https://www.flickr.com/people/127132658@N08/'>-niQo-, on Flickr

 

(Scape not final ;))

 

Also started mixing 4 gallons of SW. I put my rocks in there and hope to get the cycle started.

 

Thanks for reading!

  • Like 1
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Follow you with interest. The Ada 60f an aquarium is very charming.Except here in Italy it is not imported.

Thats too bad. It's a beautiful and well made aquarium!

 

Looks good man!

Thanks!

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so ####ing jealous right now

No need! You've got an awesome tank that's actually running, it will probably take me many more weeks (or months) before it's all cycled.

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