Justin's 34g Solana- A new start for an old reefer.

[Justin MD]

I have been in and out of the reef hobby for about 20 years now. I started with a FOWLR back when it was new and weird in the 90's. I was in college and was the perfect mood maker, if you know what I mean.

 

I'm not going to bore you all with a lengthy diatribe about my past life. But now that my career is steady the kids are old enough to know better I have been itching to start a low maintenance tank.

 

So I have a few items I picked up and some that I need to dust off in the garage. Obviously I bought a nice smaller (compared to the 240g I had back in the day) 34g cube with low iron glass.

 

I bought a light and a skimmer too but I'll detail those when I un-box them.

 

Since I have a slight OCD complex I needed to figure out a couple of things. First was near silence. I want to see my tank and not hear it. I also hate my tanks when they start to look like a science project. Even when the doors are closed. I also don't want to see a bunch of un-natural looking pumps and nozzles in my display.

 

So I have plans in my mind and I have actually spent some money. That was the easy part.

 

Here is a list of project I have coming down the pipe over the next few months.

1. Cut an overflow into the tank and build the rear overflow box and plumb it for the Bean Animal drains.

2. Build a stand.

3. Build a power distribution center. (I hate cords and power strips)

4. Build an adjustable height light over hang. (Use this to hide the light power cord)

5. Build a ATS using LED and the overflow as the feed. (I think this will be my Achilles Heel)

6. Build a rock-scape around the central (and only) return pipe that will be drilled through the floor of the tank.

 

I will do my best to document the process with loads of pictures since everyone loves pictures.

 

Cheers,

Justin

[Justin MD]

I just ordered 35lbs of dry rock from Marcorocks. I have about 25 pounds of dry Fugi, Largo, and Tonga to use as well. Getting stoked to get the ball rolling. A slow roll but movement has started.

[Justin MD]

First shipment arrived to day. A couple of the larger expense items I bought on Cyber Monday. The tank should be here Tuesday or so next week and the rock will be here probably the following week if I had to guess. As soon as I get the tank I can take it down to the glass shop for a trim and have the pieces I need cut and drilled for the overflow and lid.

 

I'm thinking I might just make a lid that will fit over the top of the tank instead of a drop in piece. I have never had a lid on a tank covering the light. Should I get the low iron glass for the lid?

 

20" 120w Maxspect Razor

 

I had good luck with my previous Eshopp skimmer so I will try a newer cone skimmer.

 

 

 

Quick drawing of the stand skeleton. I will buy some steel next week and start welding. I plan to use some casters on the bottom, some kind of tile or marble tiles for the top. I'm not much of a woodworker but I have been trying to decide if I want to build a sump or not and how I am going to compartmentalize the wood work of the stand. Add a drawer in for quick access to tools and test kits? it would be really cool to build my own custom sump, media baskets, ATS or what ever. I'm also really considering a controller for temp, pH, dosing among other things.

 

 

 

[Justin MD]

Playing with the 'scape. The goal is to cover as much of the return and nozzles as possible.

 

I'm not sold on it yet.

 

 

 

 

[DriftingNemo]

Looks like an interesting build. I really like the aqua scape, but the long white Tonga branch needs to go.

[CausticGuy]

How are you handling loss of power and water running back into the sump with the return to low in the tank? Your probably looking at 10 gallons the way it sit. And I personally like the large Tonga branch in there.

[reefernanoman]

Welcome back to the addiction of reefing!

[Justin MD]

Looks like an interesting build. I really like the aqua scape, but the long white Tonga branch needs to go.

I plan on using about 1"-1.5" deep sand bed. I'm not digging the whole branch so maybe I will cut it down and try some where else. I also have another piece of tonga I really like but I'm not sure I can see a place for it.

How are you handling loss of power and water running back into the sump with the return to low in the tank? Your probably looking at 10 gallons the way it sit. And I personally like the large Tonga branch in there.

I have decided to use a 40 Breeder as a sump. I'm going to place the skimmer a little high in the skimmer section. Run a fuge area with the remaining rock I have and hopefully enough water volume to catch all the water from up top. I have a check valve the will go inline between the tank and return pump on order.

Welcome back to the addiction of reefing!

Thanks!

[Justin MD]

I have not had much time to mess around with my cube but I did take some time and think about my sump. I have really been thinking of getting a mantis shrimp. I have always thought they are really cool creatures. So I have decided to run a Sump DT in the 40 breeder for a mantis shrimp. It's living area should be about 32"x9"x12"D. So about 17g worth of space. I will also have a 5g ATO reservoir and a media basket chamber for floss, carbon, and anything else. Once I have the exact dimensions from measuring the inside of the tank I will buy some glass and start cutting.