Hig789's 15g Zoa Dominated Reef

[Hig789]

I've been away from the hobby for a few years and decided to come back but in a much smaller way. I had a 90g mixed reef running for about 3 years before I tore it down because I was just working too much to take care of it the way it needed. Prior to that I had a 29g and a 55g.

 

A few weeks ago the wife mentioned that I should get another aquarium because I always talked about getting a all in one system as long as I got a clown for our 2 year old to look at, so I willingly agreed.

 

I started looking at the different all in one models and decided I'd drop by our LFS and see what they had by way of used tanks. Well I found a 15g acrylic custom all in one with hood and stand that they took in on trade on a larger tank. The display is 15" x 11.5" x 16" which come out to about 12g if I remember correctly. It came with a custom made skimmer which separates the compartments for the media shelves and the return chamber.

 

It was pretty scratched up so I got it for $125. I knew the scratches could be removed and after some research I bought a mothers powerball and got to wet sanding. Well after about a week of working on it off and on and sanding it completely two times I decided to live with the scratches that were left in it. I watched quit a few videos of people that sanded up to 2500 grit and then polished with Novus and said they got it crystal clear and it looked new. Didn't work like that for me there were scratches left in it from sanding but the polish softened the edges of the scratches enough that you wouldn't see them with water in the tank. Rinsed it out with vinegar water and then salt water a few times and called it good enough.

 

The hood didn't have any lights mounted in it and I really wanted to keep it since I thought it looked pretty slick. I started researching retrofit LED kits and it came down between a small NanoBox retro and a small StevesLEDS kit. I ended up going with the NanoBox kit with the moonlight upgrade and a bluefish mini controller. Now I had to figure out how to mount it. After a hour or so searching Hobby Lobby I found some acrylic stamping blocks that I could cut up and weld to the hood to give me something to mount the light to. Also they carried a acrylic weld called Plast-I-Weld that contains the same ingredients as Weld-On. I ended up getting a 4x6 block and two 3x3 blocks. The 4x6 was cut up, stacked on top of each other and welded to leave some room for ventilation for the heat sink. Then I took some .25" acrylic and made a shelf coming off it to mount to the heat sink to hold the light. I also cut some small squares and welded them to the hood to mount the drivers on. The 3x3 blocks are going to get stood on their sides and have a sheet of the .25" screwed to them to make a splash guard for the drivers and light. I'll probably just pretty much enclose the whole underside of the hood and put a vent fan on one side eventually. I am very happy with the NanoBox retro although my mounting brackets aren't the prettiest they serve the purpose. I'll get some pics of the brackets up when I get a chance.

 

I finally got the tank setup about a week ago using about 10lbs of live rock, 20lbs of live sand and filter floss under the overflow. I left the skimmer out because it needs a little tweaking to rid it of the micro bubbles it produces and no matter how high I ran the water it would push the cup up and run out the top of the skimmer. I might not even use it for now, debated on making a removable media basket with a place for some cheato.

 

The return pump is getting upgraded to a Tunze Silence 1073.008 and I added a Tunze 6040 also. I have the 6040 turned down to about 25% right now. Pretty good flow in there right now but the turnover will be much better with the 1073.008. The heater is a 100w Cobalt Aquatics Accu-Therm. Probably a little overkill but I'd rather have a heater that's too big vs just big enough. The thermometer is just a cheapo Mercury one for now. More reliable than most of the cheaper digital ones out there IMO.

 

Also decided to mix my own water vs trusting the sketchy dude at out LFS. I can get DI water at work that they use for our lab testing. Went with a bucket of good old Instant Ocean.

 

Here are some pics from the beginning to where I am now. Planning on adding some more live rock eventually to raise the aquascaping up a bit but I'm pretty happy with the looks so far though.

 

Planning on having some zoas, LPS and possibly some SPS in the future with a clown probably being the only fish.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

Back.

 

Micro bubbles issue with skimmer.

 

Post sanding and in place.

 

Lights installed and running. Sorry these pics aren't very good I took the in a hurry.

 

[Hig789]

The back compartment is the same size as the biocube 29 so some of the accessories will work for it will work for this one.

[Hig789]

Well this week I realized why I was getting very low nitrates and no ammonia. All the live rock I bought was from a established tank and had plenty good bacteria on it to handle any ammonia. I'm not going to add any fish anytime soon though, I did pick up a few zoa frags the other day though and some more of the same live rock. Just going to feed them a little to give the bacteria something to eat so so it can build up even more before I add my only fish. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? I have 20 lbs of live rock in there now so hopefully that should be plenty.

 

Also got my Tunze Silence return pump today and wow. You can't even tell it's running, produces a nice amount of flow also. Also got a good standing wave going now with the 6040. I'm loving this 6040, such a versitale pump for the money, and a huge amount of flow. I'm only running it at 25% right now.

 

Been trying to figure out what I am going to do under the overflow. The tank has built in shelves using egg crate but since I removed the skimmer that came with it there is no wall to make it flow down and through any media I put in there. I'd like to put a wall there but I don't want to make it anything permanent in case I want to remove it later on. I debated on just making a basket with slot cut the sides so I can slide it in from the side while using the shelves that are already there as guides.

 

If anyone has any opinions or advice I'd love to hear it.

 

Sorry. Don't know why it keeps uploading the picture sideways.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Well this week I realized why I was getting very low nitrates and no ammonia. All the live rock I bought was from a established tank and had plenty good bacteria on it to handle any ammonia. I'm not going to add any fish anytime soon though, I did pick up a few zoa frags the other day though and some more of the same live rock. Just going to feed them a little to give the bacteria something to eat so so it can build up even more before I add my only fish. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? I have 20 lbs of live rock in there now so hopefully that should be plenty.

 

Also got my Tunze Silence return pump today and wow. You can't even tell it's running, produces a nice amount of flow also. Also got a good standing wave going now with the 6040. I'm loving this 6040, such a versitale pump for the money, and a huge amount of flow. I'm only running it at 25% right now.

 

Been trying to figure out what I am going to do under the overflow. The tank has built in shelves using egg crate but since I removed the skimmer that came with it there is no wall to make it flow down and through any media I put in there. I'd like to put a wall there but I don't want to make it anything permanent in case I want to remove it later on. I debated on just making a basket with slot cut the sides so I can slide it in from the side while using the shelves that are already there as guides.

 

If anyone has any opinions or advice I'd love to hear it.

 

Sorry. Don't know why it keeps uploading the picture sideways.

Awesome start, and yea I would add coral first while debating on your first fish you would ideally want for the long term

[CrazyEyes]

I like it! AIO tanks are really starting to grow on me. If the skimmer keeps giving you issues you could checkout a tunze 9001, if you have the room. Those tunze silences are nice pumps, I have one on my solana, and just like you said, can't even hear it running. As for what I'd suggest in the media basket, I'd start with just filter floss, carbon and maybe purigen. Interested to see how you mounted the light. Keep the pics coming because its looking sweet.

[Hig789]

Awesome start, and yea I would add coral first while debating on your first fish you would ideally want for the long term

Thank you. Im pretty set on getting a clown but we are going on vacation at the end of the month for 5 days and I don't want to have to worry about having someone else coming and feeding it.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Thank you. Im pretty set on getting a clown but we are going on vacation at the end of the month for 5 days and I don't want to have to worry about having someone else coming and feeding it.

Clowns are forgiving fish, you may be fine but otherwise smart idea, I had clowns but in my new tank I don't plan on them unless a designer clown haha but no problem

[Hig789]

I like it! AIO tanks are really starting to grow on me. If the skimmer keeps giving you issues you could checkout a tunze 9001, if you have the room. Those tunze silences are nice pumps, I have one on my solana, and just like you said, can't even hear it running. As for what I'd suggest in the media basket, I'd start with just filter floss, carbon and maybe purigen. Interested to see how you mounted the light. Keep the pics coming because its looking sweet.

Whoops sorry I forgot the pics of the light mount. It's not pretty at all but it works very well. Still working on the cover for it and waiting for a fan to arrive before I remove the lid on the tank.

 

I have the room for a 9001 if I can figure out a way to mount it because I don't think I have the room to DIY a magnet on the side of it to mount it to the back wall. I'll have to measure it out but I might have room to mount it right over the return pump.

 

As far as the media that's what I planned on running in it, I'd love to just make one my self and make a extra chamber on the side of it for some cheato, but I don't believe I'd have room for that.

Clowns are forgiving fish, you may be fine but otherwise smart idea, I had clowns but in my new tank I don't plan on them unless a designer clown haha but no problem

I'm a big fan of the maroons, I had one in my 90 that wasn't a bully at all, but I have seen one in a 180 that picked on every fish in there. Just I case I want to add another down the line I doubt I'll get another maroon. One of our LFS has a misbar maroon that's awesome. I just don't want to take the chance on it being mean.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Whoops sorry I forgot the pics of the light mount. It's not pretty at all but it works very well. Still working on the cover for it and waiting for a fan to arrive before I remove the lid on the tank.

 

I have the room for a 9001 if I can figure out a way to mount it because I don't think I have the room to DIY a magnet on the side of it to mount it to the back wall. I'll have to measure it out but I might have room to mount it right over the return pump.

 

As far as the media that's what I planned on running in it, I'd love to just make one my self and make a extra chamber on the side of it for some cheato, but I don't believe I'd have room for that.

 

I'm a big fan of the maroons, I had one in my 90 that wasn't a bully at all, but I have seen one in a 180 that picked on every fish in there. Just I case I want to add another down the line I doubt I'll get another maroon. One of our LFS has a misbar maroon that's awesome. I just don't want to take the chance on it being mean.

So am I, but unfortunately I don't feel like taking the risk of only having a clownfish, maybe I'll dedicate a separate tank to one haha

[Hig789]

Here's the light mount. I still need to enclose the rear of the hood to keep the light from spilling out and mount my fan in it for air movement. As I said, it's not pretty but it works. Haha.

[Hig789]

Update.

 

The other night I bought a used Tunze 9001 and a Osmolator for future use. I'll probably use the ATO first off but I'm not really in a hurry to hook the skimmer up, just bought it because it was a good deal and I'd have it if I wanted to put it on. I am going to have a 2 gallon acrylic ATO tank made so it will fit inside my small stand.

 

Don't really want to use the skimmer right now because all I have is some zoa frags in the tank right now and I don't want to strip all the nutrients out of the water. And I want to see how well the live rock and sand will work as a filter. We are going on vacation at the end of the week to Destin FL and I hope to bring some frags back as well as a fancy clownfish of some sort. I've fed some marine snow about once a week, figured it might give the snails, crabs and zoas something to eat and add a little nutrients to the water.

 

Got Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro kit yesterday as well as a API PH kit. I've done weekly 10+% water changes so I figured the numbers were fairly good since I don't have many corals yet.

 

I only tested the Ca, Alk, and PH. I'll test the Mg today.

 

Ca- 380

Alk- 8.5(?)

PH- 8.2

Salinity - 1.025

Temp- 79.3*

 

The Red Sea Alk test is pretty hard to read right, I tried it twice

and was never really positive at the reading. Might get a Hanna meter for the Alk test in the future.

 

I've added a few nice zoa frags since my last update also.

 

Radio Active Dragon Eyes - 50 polyp colony for $29.99, don't mind if I do. These things sure POP under blue LEDs.

 

Oxides - $10 for 7-8 polyps. Probably my favorites.

 

Unknown - Unknown - 8 polyps. Pulled these off of a larger colony of ugly ones. They aren't the prettiest but I like em.

[Hig789]

Bought a Tunze 9001 and a Nano Osmolator the other day. Will wait till I get home from vacation to hook them up. Also have a MP10wes in the mail that I want to compare to the 6040.

 

Updated FTS.

[Hig789]

Well I just ordered a killer zoa/paly pack and got a free green slimer frag with it too. These aren't my pics they belong to Defugium on R2R

 

Omegas

Velvets

Galaxy's

Rainbow Cosmos

Rastas

Spider-Man

[Reef_Suds]

Great looking nano!

[Hig789]

Other stuff I added a few weeks ago.

 

Metallic Hammer

Frogspawn - it was a single head when I bought it. It's already splitting and has a baby on the bottom.

Blasto

Fire and Ice

Red People Eaters

Pink Palys

Eye of Rah Zoas

Gorilla Nipples and something else

Unknown

Supernatural Montipora

 

Great looking nano!

Thank you very much.

[Hig789]

New FTS what all the news frags. They are in the sand still right now. I've been on nights all week and haven't had a chance to mess with anything. Need to scrape the front and sides of the tank down by the sand so I can get some good pics of the frags.

[Marc.The.Shark]

That's coming along nicely, I lika the Zoa's too! Lol, you have some nice ones!

[Hig789]

That's coming along nicely, I lika the Zoa's too! Lol, you have some nice ones!

Well I probably need to slow down on the zoas. I'm not going to have room for anything else. My plans are at the top flat piece to have a few SPS on it. I love the supernatural monti, just not sure where to put it so it won't share anything else once it grows a little. I'd also like to get another bright colored SPS that's not green to go with the slimer and the monti.

[Marc.The.Shark]

Well I probably need to slow down on the zoas. I'm not going to have room for anything else. My plans are at the top flat piece to have a few SPS on it. I love the supernatural monti, just not sure where to put it so it won't share anything else once it grows a little. I'd also like to get another bright colored SPS that's not green to go with the slimer and the monti.

Too bad you not close, I busted off a piece of my Setosa, that's the brightest thing in my tank (pink/red)! I never know how it's gonna grow, they make cool shapes & grow quick & awesome color. Check em out, they contrast well with greens & such, come in reds/oranges

[Hig789]

Couldn't sleep last night so I finally added my nano Osmolator to the tank. I hope the wife doesn't look for her Tupperware pitcher for a little while. I'm waiting on Melev to make my acrylic 2g ATO container.

[Hig789]

Went one a little shopping trip to Louisville today. Man I wish we had stores like that here.

 

Picked up a pair of SA fancy clowns, a few zoas, and a few SPS.

 

Whammin Watermelon colony.

Not sure. Kinda look similar to my radio active dragon eyes.

ORA Green Birdsnest

GARF purple bonsai acro. Sorry for the crap pic. These guys are hard to photograph.

[BRN]

awesome tank man!

[Hig789]

Been a long time since I posted a updated tank shot. Added my second mp10 to randomize the flow some more. It was just sitting there waiting for my 40 breeder to get built so I thought what the hell. Dealing with a a little byprosis atm, trying to head it off at the pass. Also this little guy showed up one day and has been cruising the tank ever since. He's only about 3/4" long right now.