niQo Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 HistoryAfter 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 HerbieSump: Custom cube-ish with three chambersStand: DIY with Quartz topLighting: NanoBox DuoATO: Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152Flow: MP10 Blue Box Skimmer: CadLights PLS-50 Control: Apex LiteRock: PukaniSand: CaribSea Ocean DirectLivestock:- Clownfish- Blue/Green Chromis - Yellow Watchman Goby - Cleaner Shrimp - Variety of snails - 3 Scarlet HermitsCoral:- Acro - Birdsnest - Montipora - Zoas - Acan - Ricordea - Hammer FTS Oct 4th 2016 FTS by Nico B., on Flickr FTS Feb 1st 2016Jan 31 2016 by Nico B., on FlickrFTS - Oct. 5th 2014IMG_7009 by -niQo-, on FlickrIMG_6941 by -niQo-, on Flickr SaveSave 8 Quote Link to comment
defender.TX Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Pics or it didn't happen. Quote Link to comment
JR! Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Really excited to see what you've got! Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Looking forward to this! I'm excited to see how that lights gonna work out for ya as well.... Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
Hexadron Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 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? Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 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! Quote Link to comment
JR! Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 really wanna see some pics!!! Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Finally: IMG_1545 by -niQo-, on Flickr ADA 60F on a Walmart yogamat... IMG_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. IMG_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! 5 Quote Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 That looks so clean! Did you make that overlfow box? Is it silver? Looks awesome. Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 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. i want more pics Do you have a specific request? 2 Quote Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 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? Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 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. 1 Quote Link to comment
JR! Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 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!!! Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 image 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. image by -niQo-, on Flickr Flow direction: Top right, to bottom right, to top left Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Another leak test... https://flic.kr/p/oB9kAP'>https://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'>https://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'>https://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! 1 Quote Link to comment
Pesciolino69 Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Follow you with interest. The Ada 60f an aquarium is very charming. Except here in Italy it is not imported. 1 Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 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! Quote Link to comment
JR! Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 so ####ing jealous right now Quote Link to comment
niQo Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
JR! Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 trade me tanks, you can have my running tank Quote Link to comment
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