asting's 20L Peninsula

[asting]

Time for a new setup.

 

As I mentioned in my Aqueon Evolve 8, I'm moving in the next month and with a bigger place I'm starting up a few tanks. The show tank will be a 20 long peninsula, without a sump.

 

 

Equipment

 

 

Tank: Standard 20 long

 

Flow: Jebao WP-25

 

Heater: Tetra 100w.

 

Top off: Autotopoff.com single switch with upper and lower pvc guard. We shall see how the wave maker impacts it. Have a fountain pump with a 1.5m HMax that will fit in the reservoir.

 

Filter: AC70. I'll be modding it to hold some filter floss and chaeto.

 

Light: 5x11 3w "165w" model. Supposedly they run closer to 120w, but I think it'll still be absurdly overkill on the tank this size. Using a homemade bent conduit hanger attached to a metal 20gal stand.

 

RODI: eBay 6 stage 100gpd.

 

Livestock

 

 

Nikki Sixxline Wrasse

Maximus the grand champion purple firefish

MIA Yasha goby last seen with

Tiger Pistol shrimp

various hermits, turbos, other snails.

 

Frogspawn

Hammer Coral

Toadstool

Zoas galore

a few acan varieties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testing the light stand out:

 

 

 

 

 

I may need to lower it some, but it's hard to tell how the light is when it is empty. I'll be adding a couple elbows to connect the two pieces, and will then be painting it black.

 

The AC70 is on the side as is the ATO bracket. I'll be painting that far end all the equipment mounts to.

[asting]

Light stand is done, and the "back" is painted.

 

 

It's actually impressive to me that the shutter speed with flash on is low enough to cause camera shake blur.

 

 

 

 

 

Now just waiting for the move.

[DAP]

Looking good.

I have the same stand. Only problem I have had is that the bolts and washers rust.

[teenyreef]

Looks like a great start! I think the 20L size and shape is one of my favorites.

Looking good.
I have the same stand. Only problem I have had is that the bolts and washers rust.

Can you get some stainless steel bolts/washers/nuts and use those instead?

[ajmckay]

Looking good.

I have the same stand. Only problem I have had is that the bolts and washers rust.

Put some clear nail polish on the bolts - that should keep them from rusting and it's cheaper than stainless.

[asting]

Looks like a great start! I think the 20L size and shape is one of my favorites.

Can you get some stainless steel bolts/washers/nuts and use those instead?

 

Thanks.

 

Put some clear nail polish on the bolts - that should keep them from rusting and it's cheaper than stainless.

I actually used stainless for everything but the conduit hangers (and conduit).

[asting]

So I've found my new place, and this was among the first items in the apartment.
My thought process was "no need to box this stuff up; it's already packed up in the basement waiting to move over"

 

a few hours of RODI, a trip to the not so local fishstore, and here we are:

 

 

 

Still quite cloudy.

 

 

I seeded with some coraline encrusted liverock. Here's to hoping it will last the cycle. I also used Arag alive "live" sand and rinsed the Reefcleaners rock. I'll start testing in a few days.

 

It's also hard to tell without livestock, but the WP-25 seems like it is too much. I orderded a WP-10. I'm hoping I still get good length out of it, and can keep it on the A70 end.

[asting]

Water cleared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bare white base rock makes for interesting dynamic range limitations.

 

Also ran ammonia, trites, trates. All 0. I'm curious how much anything will even spike, given I used fully cured LR that was out of the water for a few hours to seed rinsed dry rock.

 

[asting]

Changed out the WP-25 to a WP-10

Funny, the WP-25 at lowest power seemed way more than the WP-10 at full blast.

 

 

Don't mind the reflections. They're not real.

 

 

I do love how much smaller it is. Blends into the equipment wall so well.

I also moved the heater into the AC70. I ghost fed and dropped in a plant leaf yesterday (okay, I didn't have much to throw in to decay), and ammonia seems to be at .25ppm. Looks like I will cycle after all.

[asting]

Params looking really good. Driving to the IL today, and going past a saltwater store I've never visited. Very tempted to pick up a zoa frag or a YWG and some chaeto. Someone talk me out of it.

 

Thinking that the precured LR really did damn near eliminate my cycle. I did ghost feed, which caused a slight blip, but levels are back to nil.

 

Also have slight diatoms on my rocks. I prefer that over the bleached white look anyway. Hope it gets covered with Coraline soon. Threw a few extra pieces of reefcleaners base rock in to seed for the evolve 8.

[asting]

Okay.
Built a top. Ordered some filter floss and will use the media tray once I get it (and then add some chaeto).

 

 

Put the top on for this guy:

 

 

Added yesterday - haven't seen him since this morning, but I know he's in the rocks. Here's to hoping a pistol shrimp and another fish or two will coax him out.

 

 

 

 

Also added a hammer & frogspawn. Frogspawn is pissed off here because I just cut a mushroom off a bit of the base. Didn't even see the mushroom in the store, but once I had it out noticed it. Frogspawn was stinging the crap out of it I think, because it didn't expand much. Figured cutting it off could possibly kill it, but getting stung by a frogspawn would be more likely to be fatal.

Not pictured: Xenia (for evolve 8) with some polyps on the base, and golfball sized toadstool with some palys hanging off of it.

[asting]

Okay, so I picked up a few things today - Anthelia which has been blowing all over (it's high flow), A rock anemone, and a bag o' sand to add additional diverisity.

 

 

Photo dump.

Side tank shot with Yasha goby hanging out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm also seeing all sorts of bristleworms and several stars.

[asting]

Look at this silly face. You can also see the thousands of copepods coating everything.

 

 

 

He is way more outgoing than he was previously. spends about 90% of his time out of the rocks now along the bottom. He was out in the open at the store, and they had apparently had him for a few months. He only hides when you move quickly towards the tank, or walk by (hardwood floor causes tank to shake a bit).

 

In other news, I've dumped a few hundred into zoas... Never drink and shop. They'll be here next week. Also got my CuC today. Snails are mostly still hanging out in place, but they always act that way for the first day or two. Can't figure out this Rock Nem. he has travelled all over, and is currently wedged in the rockwork. Guess he thinks the LEDs at 30% are bright.

[asting]

Hammer is extending much more than it was even in the store. Looks like it is partway through a spit too (examining it a bit better)

 

Also just dropped way too much money on 35 zoa frags and 1 gsp frag. Will be here mid next week. Also ordered some acrylic frag racks. Here's to hoping I can trade for most of my other coral.

[Reef Queso]

20L club!!!!!!

[asting]

20L club!!!!!!

 

I love 20L I have wanted one for so long. My first SW tank was a 29, and it just seemed so much less sleek. I'm loving the peninsula setup too. I've been planning this thing in my head for 5 years.

 

 

 

 

Here's a few quick shots from today:

 

Rock Nem on the move, again... Hate that it is moving so much. Wanted to pick one or two more up, but I'm thinking the movement is too much.

 

 

 

Egg crate was used to make a filter floss insert for the filter. Also holds the mangrove up top. split the chaeto for the evolve 8. Filling it now.

 

 

Longer power cables came in, and finally some cable management was added.

EDIT: Just noticed the background. That's not even my laptop you perverts.

[Cencalfishguy56]

 

I love 20L I have wanted one for so long. My first SW tank was a 29, and it just seemed so much less sleek. I'm loving the peninsula setup too. I've been planning this thing in my head for 5 years.

 

 

 

 

Here's a few quick shots from today:

 

Rock Nem on the move, again... Hate that it is moving so much. Wanted to pick one or two more up, but I'm thinking the movement is too much.

 

 

 

Egg crate was used to make a filter floss insert for the filter. Also holds the mangrove up top. split the chaeto for the evolve 8. Filling it now.

 

 

Longer power cables came in, and finally some cable management was added.

EDIT: Just noticed the background. That's not even my laptop you perverts.

sweet love the little fuge! Maybe we should start a 20 Long club if there isn't one already?

20L club!!!!!!

[asting]

sweet love the little fuge! Maybe we should start a 20 Long club if there isn't one already?

Thanks. I'm trying one in the back chamber of my evolve 8, but I fear it is too mini.

 

Surely there has to be one haha.

[debbeach13]

I missed this thread. Great start. Good luck with your new tank.

[Reef Queso]

I see that Ohio coaster on the coffee table? Is that a souvenir or are you a resident?

[asting]

I see that Ohio coaster on the coffee table? Is that a souvenir or are you a resident?

Resident. I'm in cleveland.

[Reef Queso]

Word!!!

[asting]

Holy fragmoly. The 36 frags I ordered seem to have shown up today, along with 14 freebies. I added 3 frag racks and they are overflowing. Had to stuff some in the rocks.

Also have had fantastic green coralline algae growth. Torch is looking big, and the hammer is huge.

[asting]

Hammer looking poofy

 

 

Palys that are going to get chopped in the next few weeks. Don't want them spreading.

 

 

Rock Anemone finally settled in a new location (again). I'll be posting a video shortly of the craziest behavior that it did on saturday.

 

 

 

Xenia looking like a dirty weed. It has sprouted 10 or so new pulsing parts at the base. Growing well and it will go over to the small tank soon too.

 

 

 

About half of the frags on 2 of the three racks. A good # are opening, but many are still adjusting. Check out that crazy coralline growth. More photos to come.

[Reef Queso]

very awesome! so is that 50 frags total?