D Z Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Some of you may know me from my Nuvo 8 or my new Cad 34G Mini build. For those of you that do not, my name is Randy and I am officially addicted to reef keeping. Blah blah blah, on to the cool stuff. I was out shopping with my wife last weekend and ran across this awesome jar at TJMax. $10! 20140823_113831 by cchsoracle, on Flickr I just could not pass it up! Then I started contemplating what direction to go with it. I plan to keep this at work so I need it to be simple. The thought of doing a sealed biotope was very intriguing, but to me it is just not quite interesting enough. I really want something that allows me to bring a piece of my reef to work, so I started investigating my options. I started looking around at work and found this awesome, old-school desk lamp and knew it would be perfect(FREE): 20140825_162115 by cchsoracle, on Flickr Then, I started looking into a par bulb for it. I found this on Amazon and figured it was worth a shot($10): Jarquarium Par bulb by cchsoracle, on Flickr With the light figured out, I shifted my focus to water movement. I really wanted to have a sealed, simple design, but didn't want the water becoming stagnant. I do not plan on housing any coral that requires a lot of flow. I really just needed something to agitate the water surface and not allow the water to get stagnant, which I figure a Tom's aqualifter($15) would be perfect for! Toms Aqualifter by cchsoracle, on Flickr The plan is to drill 3 holes in the wood lid, 2 for air line tubing and 1 to allow a bit of air to enter/exit the jar. The 2 airlines will be connected to the aqualifter to push/pull water from the jar and the third hole will allow proper gas exchange, while hopefully keeping evaporation to a minimum. Other than that, that's it! Simple but effective! As for stocking plans, I have a couple frags in my Nuvo that I was thinking that I didn't really want to move into my CAD tank, so they will be going into the jarquarium. These include a bowerbanki that has had a had time with macroalgae growing on its skeleton, some unknown zoas, and some mushroom polyps. To this I plan to add some pulsing xenia and some kind of macroalgae, along with a couple snails for clean up. Let me know what you think! Link to comment
kimberbee Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Sweet jar! I really want to try one of these jarquariums... I'll be following your progress Link to comment
D Z Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Sweet jar! I really want to try one of these jarquariums... I'll be following your progress Thanks! I have some leftover rock and sand from the 34G and had been thinking about starting a jar for work and just knew I had to buy it when I saw it. My wife just kinda rolled her eyes and said you better be bringing that to work....lol! I don't think I have ever seen a reef-jar with a curved jar like this. I think it will work out great because I will be able to position it under the desk lamp perfectly! I forgot to mention in the original post, the Par bulb I ordered must be coming from China as the delivery is 3 - 6 weeks, so it may be a little while before I get this going and make any updates. Let hope its closer to 3 weeks. Link to comment
kimberbee Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thanks! I have some leftover rock and sand from the 34G and had been thinking about starting a jar for work and just knew I had to buy it when I saw it. My wife just kinda rolled her eyes and said you better be bringing that to work....lol! I don't think I have ever seen a reef-jar with a curved jar like this. I think it will work out great because I will be able to position it under the desk lamp perfectly! I forgot to mention in the original post, the Par bulb I ordered must be coming from China as the delivery is 3 - 6 weeks, so it may be a little while before I get this going and make any updates. Let hope its closer to 3 weeks. How big is the jar? Have you tested how much water it holds? Link to comment
D Z Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 How big is the jar? Have you tested how much water it holds? I have not tested it yet, but my guess is it is close to 1 gallon. You can see how big it is here next to the Nuvo 8. https://flic.kr/p/oELuFx'>https://flic.kr/p/oELuFx'>20140824_152415 by https://www.flickr.com/people/89326890@N03/'>cchsoracle, on Flickr Link to comment
Mariaface Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I'm looking forward to seeing how this works out! You're probably going to have an interesting time with distortion in the tank, as far as taking photos goes. But it's a really cool shape. Link to comment
kimberbee Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 NOOB QUESTION ALERT: What is an Aqualifter? Does it just suck some liquid in one tube and spit it out the other? Do you need to put anything at the end of the suck-y tube to make sure it doesn't get clogged? Link to comment
D Z Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 NOOB QUESTION ALERT: What is an Aqualifter? Does it just suck some liquid in one tube and spit it out the other? Do you need to put anything at the end of the suck-y tube to make sure it doesn't get clogged? Yes. Most people use it as a cheap doser or pump for ATO. You make a good point about putting something on the intake to keep it from getting clogged. I will have to consider that.... Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 More reeffffff!,!!!!! Link to comment
ChickenoftheC Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 thats 1 cool looking jar Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 So are you keeping the nuvo going for a little while ? Is a relationship in the way of multiple tanks or money??? If not keep zemmmmm Link to comment
D Z Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 More reeffffff!,!!!!! So are you keeping the nuvo going for a little while ? Is a relationship in the way of multiple tanks or money??? If not keep zemmmmm Thanks Cam...The Nuvo will eventually be taken down and sold as a package, for multiple reasons. I honestly do not want the hastle of 2 tanks at home. I can handle 1 and 1 jar at work. It also somewhat has to do with the finances. I borrowed some money from myself to pay for the upgrade, need to replenish it by selling off the Nuvo, eventually. We will also be having our second child in November so I really will not have time for 2 tanks, whether I wanted to or not! thats 1 cool looking jar Thanks, I cannot wait to fill it up! Link to comment
dormreefer Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Really unique and cool idea, will be following along! Link to comment
Disher Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Yes. Most people use it as a cheap doser or pump for ATO. You make a good point about putting something on the intake to keep it from getting clogged. I will have to consider that.... This is a great point to consider. I have tried an aqualifter on an even smaller pico jar and it was constantly getting plugged up with debris. I didn't really take the time to figure out a solution but will be following along to see what you come up with! I wonder if this would work: cut a mesh media bag and attach it to the intake line. Good luck! Link to comment
AJ69 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 really like the curved jar,keep us updated Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 You can buy a little filter capsule and it just takes floss and it goes on the inflow of water... I'd love to do one of these and let it grow until its a full block of calcium skeleton. Link to comment
D Z Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Really unique and cool idea, will be following along! Thank you! This is a great point to consider. I have tried an aqualifter on an even smaller pico jar and it was constantly getting plugged up with debris. I didn't really take the time to figure out a solution but will be following along to see what you come up with! I wonder if this would work: cut a mesh media bag and attach it to the intake line. Good luck! Thanks for the input, I will definitely post pics of whatever solution I come up with. really like the curved jar,keep us updated Thanks, will do! You can buy a little filter capsule and it just takes floss and it goes on the inflow of water... I'd love to do one of these and let it grow until its a full block of calcium skeleton. Can you elaborate more on the filter capsule, maybe post a link to it. Not sure I am aware of what you are talking about. So it was time to order my CUC for my 34G project, and decided to add a small set of barnacles and a penny macro algae to the order from reefcleaners. I'm thinking they will both work out well in the Jarquarium, we shall see.... Link to comment
Mirya Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 The barnacles will be awesome in this project. Good choice! Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aquatics_Aqua_Lifter_Suction_Pre_Filter_Accessories_for_Aquarium_Overflow_Boxes-Tom_Aquatics-OE1140-FIOFOA-vi.html Just a predicted traps anything big before it entered the pump Link to comment
D Z Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 The barnacles will be awesome in this project. Good choice! Thanks. I knew I had to do barnacles in the jar. Very fitting. http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aquatics_Aqua_Lifter_Suction_Pre_Filter_Accessories_for_Aquarium_Overflow_Boxes-Tom_Aquatics-OE1140-FIOFOA-vi.html Just a predicted traps anything big before it entered the pump OK, yeah I have seen these. I may add one in the future if I feel the need. I was more worried about the narrow air line tubing getting blacked at the intake. What I ended up doing is cutting a small square of the blue sponge that came with my big tank, and shoved the air line tubing into that. Basically, filtering things out before it can get to the tubing itself. I set up the jar about a week and a half ago with sand, water from my Nuvo 8, dry rock, the barnacles, and some penny macro algae. I finally got my cheapo Par bulb on Friday and figured that everything was probably cycled and ready to go so last night I transferred over some frags from my Nuvo and brought the tank into work this morning. The tank has a small zoa colony, 2 small spotted mushrooms, an acan bowerbanki, and a favia. These were all frags that I had either gotten very cheap or free and were ones that I really didn't want to transfer over to my new 34, so I figured they would be perfect for the Jar. https://flic.kr/p/oWP61g'>https://flic.kr/p/oWP61g'>20140915_083536 by https://www.flickr.com/people/89326890@N03/'>cchsoracle, on Flickr https://flic.kr/p/peoEe4'>https://flic.kr/p/peoEe4'>20140915_101658 by https://www.flickr.com/people/89326890@N03/'>cchsoracle, on Flickr Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Love the jar, how big is it? And I hope this goes well for you Link to comment
D Z Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 It is somewhere around 1 gallon, I think. Right now, unfortunately, things are not looking so hot. I am starting to really wish I had started this with cured live rock, and not the extra dry rock I had laying around. I'm starting to wonder if this may not actually have been fully cycled. I did about a 1/3 gallon water change on it this morning and just removed the bowerbanki. The bowerbanki has never looked good. It was a freebie frag I got when it was half dead and I tried to rescue it, but it just never really did well, even in my Nuvo. I think there is a chance that it was causing the water chemistry to go to crap, as it looked like it was starting to melt today. I am really hoping this is the culprit and not that the jar is still cycling. The zoas and xenia are all closed up and have been for the past 2 days and both the mushrooms have completely let go of their foothold. The reefing gods are just not in my favor right now as I am also having issues with my new 34G system....fingers crossed for things to turn around. Link to comment
GHill762 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 well that's cool.. neat jar.. Link to comment
ClaireRenee Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Good luck, I love the idea. Link to comment
D Z Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 well that's cool.. neat jar.. Thanks GHill. Good luck, I love the idea. Thanks for the kind words. The jar is still just kinda surviving. I am happy to say that everything survived me being gone from the office for 4 days over the weekend. It doesn't seem like I am getting much evaporation at all. Everything is just not as open as I would like it to be, unfortunately. If this doesn't get any better in the next week or so, or if things get worse, I may pull everything out and start over with some good quality, cured LR...... Link to comment
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