EricB.'s BC29 Build

[EricB.]

I am down-sizing from a 200DD to the BC29 I've been using as a QT. I love my 200DD, but what's more is that I love a lot of other things and quite frankly I've come to resent my current reef for the amount of time that I've had to invest in it over the past year. Additionally, I rent my apartment and when I think about trying to find another place that will accommodate a large tank like this (let alone moving it while dealing with all the other stuff that goes along with moving) I can't help but wince. Bigger is not always better.

The first order of business will be to break down the 200DD and clean the equipment which I will work on over the next week. I've been doing some research on BC29 mods. I already have an MP10wES with battery backup on the QT as well as the Tunze Nano ATO. Not sure if I want to keep the Nano ATO or use the Osmolator I have on the 200DD. I like the failsafes of the regular Osmolator. I'd like to upgrade the lighting and to maintain the AIO of the system, so I was considering Steves LED's w/ Blue Fish controller. I'd also like to get the media rack and Tunze skimmer.

That's about it. My current reef has all the bells and whistles but there's so much maintenance that goes into maintaining those things. The BC will be SPS dominant with a lot of stuff coming from my 200, so should I consider a 2-part doser? I've read that a lot of people are successful with regular water changes. (Oh how I'm looking forward to smaller water changes).

Anyways, I'd like to keep this as an AIO but with good equipment so I'd appreciate some recommendations as far as that is concerned. Thanks in advance.

It's the Coralife BC29, in case anyone is wondering.

[EricB.]

Today I got the 200DD pretty much completely broken down. I still have some stuff to do but I made a lot of progress. I got all the corals moved to the BC. I will be ordering StevesLED's sometime next week when I get back from meeting my GF's parents out of state .

 

 

 

Obviously this is not aquascaped or anything. I will have to move the BC to another room next week when the 200DD gets picked up, so until then the BC will pretty much look like this.

 

I'm going to break up a bunch of my larger pieces of LR and try to come up with an interesting 'scape, but again, it will have to wait for next week.

[EricB.]

I have a bunch of Prime Cuts from Marcorocks and I think I'm going to use one of them to create a partial rock wall on the back of the tank. I'm going to try and epoxy the rocks together so the pressure isn't solely on the false-wall.

[Newstead]

Looking forward to seeing your rockwork - don't like my aquascape in my 29 so always looking for ideas.

[EricB.]

Looking forward to seeing your rockwork - don't like my aquascape in my 29 so always looking for ideas.

 

This is my first nano and I'm a bit intimidated with the task of aquascaping. I've been looking at a lot of nano aquascapes over the past week and there are some really good ones but a lot of 'meh' ones. My experience has always been with large tanks and I initially thought that I would be able to get away with the same kind of scapes, but with nano-sized rocks. I'm learning that it's probably not going to be that easy, and that extra consideration will have to go into coral placement. I have some ideas in mind and hopefully next week I'll be able to come up with something that I will like long-term.

 

I ordered Steve's LEDs last night with JMB spectrum configuration, and Bluefish controller. I ordered the 99% completed system so it's going to take a little extra time in getting it. I'll need to go out and grab some sand and more epoxy at some point.

[itstonyyy]

get live sand from existing tank if you can.

[Newstead]

Those LEDs aee on my Christmas list so will really look forward to seeing them in yours! I had a huge branched coral scape in my bio14, then brought in aiptasia which was a nightmare with all the branched pieces. After using all the suggested remedies and watching it kill most of my corals I ended up taking out the rock one by one. So I started the 29 with a very minimalist scape but now am running out of places for corals ... and meh definitely describes it! I have a quarantine tank now (and already caught an aiptasia hiding in a mushroom) so I need to go bolder with the 29.

[EricB.]

get live sand from existing tank if you can.

 

I already tossed all the old sand. It was Special Grade and I wasn't too happy with the grain size. I'll be using my existing LR, so while there will be a spike with new sand, I expect it will be minimal. Plus, since I'm keeping my water storage equipment the same as it was for my 200 gallon, I will be able to have plenty of water on hand for water changes.

 

Those LEDs aee on my Christmas list so will really look forward to seeing them in yours! I had a huge branched coral scape in my bio14, then brought in aiptasia which was a nightmare with all the branched pieces. After using all the suggested remedies and watching it kill most of my corals I ended up taking out the rock one by one. So I started the 29 with a very minimalist scape but now am running out of places for corals ... and meh definitely describes it! I have a quarantine tank now (and already caught an aiptasia hiding in a mushroom) so I need to go bolder with the 29.

 

Thanks for tagging along! I am very much looking forward to these lights. I had good results with LED's on the big tank, so I have high hopes for these. Hoping they will arrive by Thursday, since it's my next day off.

 

I think the guy who was supposed to pick up the big tank flaked out on me so I will have to find another buyer for it. In the meantime, while I wait to be able to move the BC into its final place, I will putz around with the aquascape and epoxy it together. I want to be able to move the tank while it's empty, but if the rock is epoxied then I can remove it and replace it pretty easily. All I will have to do after moving the tank is add sand and glue frags (I hate frag plugs). I think I will go ahead and order the media rack soon, too.

 

Next on the list is deciding b/w a fuge or a skimmer. I don't mind doing small weekly water changes and I've always had a fuge, lit on an opposite lighting schedule, to help minimize pH swings in the tank. I've also always had a skimmer and I think that it would be good to at least add an airline to oxygenate the water. I think having both would be too much of a hassle and would crowd the back of the tank too much. Opinions appreciated!

[EricB.]

I got a shipping notice in my inbox yesterday and the lights are on their way! I also picked up 20# of Fiji Pink sand the other day. Tomorrow I am going to put some time into the aquascape and frag placement. I have a bunch of super glue gel but I might go out and grab some of EcoTech's coral glue. That stuff is amazing.

 

The next 10 days are going to be crazy-busy for me. On the 12th I'm driving to VA to pick up a Suzuki Burgman 650 and in the meantime I need to get my motorcycle permit and a helmet. I'm really hoping that the lights arrive tomorrow since it's my day off and I will have time to devote to the BC. (So grateful that I don't have to be worried about maintenance on the large tank anymore).

 

Still looking for opinions on fuge vs. skimmer. Any experience from seasoned nano-reefers would be very much appreciated.

[EricB.]

Did a little work on the tank today. Put some eggcrate down to protect the glass and hold frags upright until I can move the tank to it's final destination. I might keep the eggcrate to help secure the sand from the flow of the MP10. I also put together an aquascape with 3 rocks and two pieces of rubble. I didn't epoxy them together yet, since it was so easy to put together, but once I move the tank I will secure the rocks. Until then, I laid the one rock (on the right) on its side so it doesn't fall over. It's not too much, but will allow for plenty of coral placement and also swimming room. Plus I will be able to put an Aussie Wellso and clam on the sandbed without it looking too crowded.

 

 

 

 

I tried to stay away from a too-intricate aquascape that would make coral placement and maintenance difficult and that would get lost once the corals grow out.

[EricB.]

Got the lights in the mail but I'm having a little difficulty with the install. Hopefully will finish with them tomorrow.

[EricB.]

So far my experience with Steve's LED's leaves a lot to be desired, especially with their customer service. The instructions do not explain how to connect the Bluefish controller to the lights and the wires included with the controller do not offer up any hints. I called and spoke with customer service and not only was the kid on the other line rude, the only assistance he could give me was to tell me I should get an e-mail at some point today.

[EricB.]

Finally got in touch with Jeff at StevesLED's via their chat. He was extremely helpful and tolerant of my limited understanding of DIY. The breakout had fallen into one of the folds of the boxes and since I didn't know it was there, I hadn't realized I was missing something. If I'd have seen it yesterday then I could have figured it out on my own. Nevertheless, the instructions were a little confusing and I needed to run out to get a Dremmel (man oh man, these things are cool).

 

Anyways, I haven't had too much time to play with the lights because I have to get to work. I might have someone picking up the big tank tomorrow morning before work. If it pans out, I will have the BC moved and set up on Monday.

[EricB.]

I've had a chance to play around with the Bluefish app yesterday. It's a nice little app and I'm pretty happy with the lights. I'm going to try and attach a pic of my light schedule...I'm on my phone so I don't know how it will work out.

 

I have someone picking up the 200 gallon tomorrow at 10a so I'm hoping to get the BC moved, the rocks epoxied, sand rinsed, and frags glued.

[EricB.]

Gave away the 200DD yesterday and moved the BC into place. Still have a lot to do with it: organize electrical, place frags, add to aquascape (maybe). I'd also like to get a fish and some inverts over the next few weeks as well as order the media basket (with back-up media, just to have around) and skimmer.

 

I'm going to stick with the frags I have now and monitor their growth for a while...see how this system handles, so to speak. Once the fall/ winter frag swaps come around I will add a few higher-end frags and leave it at that. I do not want to crowd this tank with frags and not allow for any growth. I already have a lot by ways of frags so some of them may have to go.

 

I'm thinking a flame angel, some pom pom crabs, and a cleaner shrimp will do me fine for this tank: one "showpiece" fish and some interesting inverts. I have a CUC, various snails and a brittle star, that I think will be sufficient. The rest of this week is going to be very busy, but I think next week I'll be able to get a lot done. Anyway, here are some quick (read: bad) pics I snapped this morning...

 

 

 

 

[EricB.]

That mag float is being used to secure the rock on the right while the epoxy hardens. I'm wondering if the nano mag float is sufficient for these tanks?

 

I have the MP10wES running on Reefcrest at a little less than 50%. Still have to play around with it to see what the flow is like in this little tank.

 

This is what I'm working with as far as water storage. These are 20 gallon bins. The top is fresh water with an auto shutoff float valve for the 150GPD RODI, the bottom bin is saltwater mixed to 1.025 with reef crystals. I should almost always have 20 gallons of salt mixed and ready to go:

 

 

[EricB.]

It's been a while since I've updated this thread. I've gotten some stuff done with the tank in that period. I ordered a media rack, Tunze 9001 and some other small stuff. I got the media rack in, but need to remove the tab in order to fit the skimmer in chamber 2. I'm doing a water change tomorrow and in the process will remove the tab, get the skimmer in operation, and place the remaining frags. I tested the water today:

 

Temp 78*

1.024 (which I will try to get to 1.025 with the w/c)

Ammonia: 0

Nitrate: 0

Nitrate: 5.0

pH: 8.2

dKh: 9

Calcium: 400-420

Phosphate: 0

 

I added a tailspot blenny yesterday and plan on making a fish order next week for: yellow watchman goby, blue assessor, and flame angel. That will be it as far as fish go. I'm pretty stocked on frags. I want to leave room for them to grow into small colonies. I have space for 3-4 more and I'm thinking: red planet, tricolor acro, blue echinada, and pink millie. Then I will do my best to patiently let stuff grow for a while without adding anything else.

I still need to take time and work on taking decent pictures, but here are a few quick shots I just snapped with my phone:

 

FTS:

 

Left side:

Random frag pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to spend some time to figure out the best light settings to take pictures with. I do not have a DSLR, nor do I really want to get one.

[EricB.]

I made quick work of modding the second chamber with a Dremmel tool so I could fit the media basket and skimmer in there:

 

 

I also placed two new frags and two old ones on the aquascape. I have a red digi that might not recover from the stuff that it went through in my old 200DD, but everything else is doing so good that I don't really care. If I have to remove it, that's where I'll put the tricolor acro.

First impression of the skimmer is that it's kind of flimsy. I'm used to equipment for large tanks, and Tunze is a quality company, so I can only assume that that's pretty normal for nano gear. It's only been running for 20 minutes or so, but no micro bubbles yet. Fingers crossed!

[Rduboid1117]

How is the heat in your biocube? Any overheating issues?

[Langer6]

Following along. I like your fish room/closet.

[EricB.]

How is the heat in your biocube? Any overheating issues?

i had overheating issues when I was using the BC as a QT with stock lighting. Once I switched to LED's I didn't have that issue anymore. I did, however, see a +/- 2* temp swing until I switched to the neotherm heater. I haven't had it in operation but for a few days, however in that time I haven't noticed any temp swing, so I'd guess if there is one it's less than 1*.

[EricB.]

Following along. I like your fish room/closet.

Thanks! I probably wouldn't have gone that far for a nano, but I had it set up when I had the 200DD so I kept everything. It has come in handy. I never really have to worry about not having water ready for a water change or ATO reservoir top-off. I'm glad I have it and if/when I move I will try to keep a similar setup.

[CoolGuy77]

I like the tank, nice job.

 

 

On a side note it was really weird seeing EricB.'s BC29 build, my name is Eric and my last name initial is B. I guess I need to get a 29

[EricB.]

I added a flame angel, cleaner shrimp, pom pom crab, and a single bumble bee snail last night. I'm going to chill for a while and see how the system runs and keep an eye on the water parameters.

[reefernanoman]

It's been a while since I've updated this thread. I've gotten some stuff done with the tank in that period. I ordered a media rack, Tunze 9001 and some other small stuff. I got the media rack in, but need to remove the tab in order to fit the skimmer in chamber 2. I'm doing a water change tomorrow and in the process will remove the tab, get the skimmer in operation, and place the remaining frags. I tested the water today:

 

Temp 78*

1.024 (which I will try to get to 1.025 with the w/c)

Ammonia: 0

Nitrate: 0

Nitrate: 5.0

pH: 8.2

dKh: 9

Calcium: 400-420

Phosphate: 0

 

I added a tailspot blenny yesterday and plan on making a fish order next week for: yellow watchman goby, blue assessor, and flame angel. That will be it as far as fish go. I'm pretty stocked on frags. I want to leave room for them to grow into small colonies. I have space for 3-4 more and I'm thinking: red planet, tricolor acro, blue echinada, and pink millie. Then I will do my best to patiently let stuff grow for a while without adding anything else.

I still need to take time and work on taking decent pictures, but here are a few quick shots I just snapped with my phone:

 

FTS:

 

Left side:

Random frag pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to spend some time to figure out the best light settings to take pictures with. I do not have a DSLR, nor do I really want to get one.

 

Nice update. Just keep tinkering with your DSLR. I can take great pictures with mine after playing with it many many times and many pictures later.