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Have_A_Beer's 29 gallon mixed reef build


Have_A_Beer

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Hi everyone! I'm excited to finally post my new tank build on this thread. I've been a long time lurker of the forum but now finally have a chance to post some awesome content.

 

A bit of background:

 

I started in the reef hobby around 2 years ago, when I decided to build a 10 gallon reef tank. Everyone warns you that a small tank is the hardest to start with... and they're right. The smaller the tank, the wider parameter swings you get and the harder it is to maintain overall. But I figured that if I could succeed at the small scale, I would be prepared for when I eventually would upgrade. I believe that I was right, I definitely have learned a lot over the last 2 years (with the help of countless forum posts). But the small tank caused me many headaches and wasted some of my money.

 

Here's a full tank shot of my current tank:

post-88449-0-15186400-1439865000_thumb.jpg

 

I'm not super proud of it right now, there are times where it has looked better. I've basically just been stalling with it for a while because I knew I was going to upgrade soon.

 

Stock List:

- Ocellaris Clownfish

- Blue/Green Chromis

- About 5 or 6 hermit crabs

- 2 peppermint shrimp

- Various snails

Corals:

- Frogspawn

- Christmas favia

- Hammer (x2)

- Zoanthids (x2)

- Acans

- Trumpet

- Acropora i think?

- Stylophora or maybe birdsnest? not sure

 

So anyway, enough about the old tank. I debated for a long time about my new tank and finally just decided to save some money and buy a 29 gallon tank off Craigslist. Mostly because I'm not sure exactly how long I will be living in my current location, and didn't want to get too invested in a large or expensive tank. Found a great deal on a tank & stand combo and now I'm rolling with it.

 

I'm starting this tank right away, so join along with this post for the journey!

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Nice, I started with a 10g too waaay back in 06'. They are good learning tanks so long as you can keep up with the curve. Looks like you did good for yourself tho.

 

:welcome: to the board.

 

Excited to see the new system go up.

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Thanks for the welcome! Ok, let's get this thread started.

 

Starting off right away with some pictures, because everyone loves pictures.

 

Here's the first thing I bought for the new tank:

2QoPXf8.jpg

 

Need to begin the new tank with quality water. I bought the SpectraPure 90GPD refurbished RO/DI unit, taking the advice of multiple forums. My first impression of the unit is that it is way slower than I expected! Probably can attribute some of that to the relatively low pressure I'm pushing through it.. right now it runs at about 30 psi. A booster pump may be in my future. Not exactly sure what my in/out TDS is yet, but I have a meter on the way so I should know soon.

 

 

Here's the new tank:

KFuBFM3.jpg

 

It's a standard 29 gallon long. Like I mentioned in the first post, I got a good deal on craigslist for the tank & stand combo and I am very pleased with it. The tank even came with the back already painted (hooray!). I have already visually checked the silicone and filled it with water, and everything looks good.

 

I've already got some rocks on order from ReefCleaners, and will be picking some sand up soon as well.

It will be wet real soon... Are you as excited as I am?? :happydance:

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Things are moving quickly! My dry rock from ReefCleaners arrived in the mail, and I've already begun to mess around with the aquascape. I'm going to try very hard to get the aquascape right this time around, as I never was quite able to succeed with it in my 10 gallon tank. Armed with the knowledge from articles like this one http://fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main/on-the-rocks-how-to-build-a-saltwater-reefscape

 

and this one http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2217633

 

I have created a few different ideas:

 

EAt0jbX.jpg

 

DBtu950.jpg

 

iK3uikP.jpg

 

 

In general, I like the look of a big rock/stack on one side, small(er) rock on the other side, and some space in the middle. I also like the idea of "rock bleachers" like the 'On the Rocks' article talks about.

 

My favorite arrangement from what I've tried so far turned out this way:

G09nawz.jpg

 

Let me know what you think! I am totally open to suggestions & rearranging it to look better.

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Please consider this constructive criticism: I like the placement of the left rock island. The right side could use a little more character... kinda looks like just a pile of rocks. Maybe play around with the pieces so that they are locked into each other a little more?

 

Dunno if that helps or just infuriates you. Just my .02 :)

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Definitely helps. Like i said, suggestions welcome. You mean eliminate the gaps in the right side, right? So that it looks more like one solid piece?

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Love the left island- looks very unusual yet natural. Maybe send the left island back and bring the right island forward a bit for some contrast? Looks great :)

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Thank you! I appreciate the advice and have taken it to heart:

 

0ipvLqG.jpg

 

Top-down shot:

ao7AVXR.jpg

 

I'm liking this arrangement a lot. Might be going forward with it.

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Stopped by the LFS today and picked up some sand. Decided to go with dry argonite and just seed it with some of the sand from my 10 gallon tank.

 

Here's what I picked up:

iDHTGUg.gif

 

After rinsing it out a few times... into the tank it goes!

njK4GNY.jpg

 

 

I realy like the grain size of this sand. Its bigger than the stuff in my old tank, and I'm thinking that will make it easier to clean.

 

Up next.... water!

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New goodies from Amazon! Here's what I got:

 

TDS Meter

4KxFbmt.jpg

 

 

Jebao RW-4 Wavemaker

8Iho0v5.jpg

OxIIuyM.jpg

 

 

Eheim Jager Heater

E95LhT7.jpg

 

 

Hoping all of this quality equipment will contribute to a quality system!

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Just installed my TDS meter onto the RO/Di unit. It is reading as follows:

 

In: 146

Out: 0

 

 

 

olD6yFq.gif

 

According to that graph, my water is on the low side of average. Glad I was able to confirm that the RO/DI unit was working and that I am getting a solid 0 as the output.

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Let there be water!

 

Filled a couple 5 gallon buckets with RO/DI water and into the tank it goes:

 

xKXtVcw.jpg

kjnq9IC.jpg

 

 

Thankfully the water stayed pretty clear thanks to washing out the sand beforehand. I also used a plate to catch the water, hoping to stir up the sand as little as possible.

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I've also finalized my rock scape:

 

oK5I13H.jpg

 

Turned out a little different than the original plan, but this is just how it worked out and I actually really like it! Now I am just waiting for the epoxy to dry, then they will be added to the tank.

 

 

Thoughts so far on the project? Criticisms? Recommendations?

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I've also finalized my rock scape:

 

oK5I13H.jpg

 

Turned out a little different than the original plan, but this is just how it worked out and I actually really like it! Now I am just waiting for the epoxy to dry, then they will be added to the tank.

 

 

Thoughts so far on the project? Criticisms? Recommendations?

I like it and thanks to your user name I am now drinking a beer :lol:

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FSIb3ok.jpg

 

Ta-da! Sand, water, rocks, powerhead and heater are all in. Don't mind the light on top, it is only a temporary one.

 

And now the waiting game begins.

 

 

 

A couple of questions though:

1. How much sand do I need from my old tank to seed the new sand?

2. Should I put a piece of live rock from my old tank into the new tank to speed up the cycle? (I don't want any bad hitchhikers to come along with it.)

3. Is this enough to start the cycle? Or should I add some food / mysis to kick it off?

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Some food to kick it off. If you're LR is clean and pest free sure, but you could also cycle with dry rock and sand. Might take longer though!

 

I feel like you lost some of the depth (front/ back) when you put the rocks in- both islands are in the middle?

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I agree. Although I think a bit of that can be attributed to the camera.

 

Here's a top-down view after some SLIGHT adjustments:

aG1bAIS.jpg

 

Wanted to make sure that I left enough room between the rock & glass for cleaning purposes.

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  • 8 months later...
Have_A_Beer

Reviving this thread for a sec to provide some updates. I've started a new tank so I figured I would provide some closure with this tank before starting a new thread.

 

 

Here's the tank about 2 weeks into the cycle:

eBbCM9F.jpg

 

I ended up adding a piece of live rock from my old tank to hopefully speed up the cycle and to add coralline algae faster.

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Have_A_Beer

One month later...

 

FQXBMVA.jpg

 

Once the tank had cycled, I transferred all of my livestock from my old 10 gallon tank to the 29 gallon. Also added the HOB skimmer from the old tank and set up the new light.

 

The light is a Radion XR30w Pro. Found one for a crazy good price on ebay, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bought such an expensive light. But this thing is incredible. Fully controllable and amazing color. If you are debating getting one, go for it, it won't disappoint.

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Have_A_Beer

Once the old 10g had been cleared out, I decided to use it as a sump. Got some glass cut at Lowes and siliconed 3 baffles in place.

 

jkF6NJM.jpg

 

PVrbyCu.jpg

 

0GNYTTn.jpg

 

The water test went well, and the baffles stayed in place and didn't leak.

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