20g Hexagon

[Primeval]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As stated in my other thread (Biocube 14 Upgrades) I am also upgrading my 20 hex. I was going to do these one at a time but I am a little ADD when it comes to special projects so I am going to do them together for the most part. Also, I can combine shipping on the products that I need to order soon.

 

 

 

 

THE TANK

 

The aquarium is a simple AGA (now aqueon) 20 gallon hexagon tank with oak trim. I bought this tank years ago because it was on sale for dirt cheap. I knew I wanted it to be saltwater one day so I opted not to purchase the hood and stand (the stand looked pressboard and probably unable to support the weight that I wanted).

 

EQUIPMENT

 

This tank has had several inhabitants over the years so the equipment has varied. At one point I had a CPR Bak-Pak 2 Protein Skimmer that served as both a skimmer and chemical filtration. I kept a carbon bag (used in Aquaclear HOB filters) just under the output on the left side of the tank. I soon got tired of cleaning the algae out of it and it started looking more like a refugium. After I moved and removed the coral, I never used it again and its sitting in my basement.

 

 

At the moment the only thing on the tank is a Penguin Mini without the biowheel or filter. I have a large bag of Chemipure inside right now for chemical filtration.

 

 

 

I have recently added an acrylic top that sits on the inside rim to reduce condensation on my light fixture and because I plan on getting a purple firefish at some point. The last inhabitant (a maroon clown of 3 years) jumped out one weekend. I still need to sand the edges down for aesthetic purposes and so it fits more smoothly. The heat of the light currently force the thin piece to bow and I flip it over every few days. I've read that this stuff eventually tempers and stops doing that so hopefully that day will come soon.

 

 

 

 

I have a few maxijets around the house and this tank has typically housed 2 for plenty of flow. In fact, I had to point one of them down into my live rock to keep my sand from blowing around. I had these hanging on the back and with the new acrylic top, I have not added them back in - I don't like the suction cup attachment. So basically, there is really no water movement outside of what the small filter provides. Luckily, there's not much going on right now inside.

 

 

 

 

It wasn't long into owning the tank that I found a deal on a Coralife 96w Quad fixture to rest on the top of the tank. When I first got the tank, I used a piece of glass to protect the fixture from salt and condensation and the heat formed by the light actually melted and warped the plastic covering on the fixture (see below). I went open top for a while and then - for fear of condensation damage inside the light - made an acrylic top and put some rubber cushions on the light to raise it up above the acrylic top for a little venting. So far so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIVESTOCK

 

This poor tank is mostly just live rock. The water inside the tank and the liverock has been established for about 6-7 years. There is probably about 30 pounds of boulder-like fiji and one random Marshall Island piece front and center (very porous for a smaller goby). There are no fish, a few blue legs, one turbo that I've had for years and years and about 6 sand sifter snails.

 

The tank also has a quasi-healthy combo rock that I have had for a while. It did contain purple mushrooms, red button polyps and green star polyps. I killed the GSP because it spreads like crazy and was killing off the rest of the rock. The purple mushrooms have fallen off and are floating around the bottom of the tank due to being without light for about 4 weeks when the bulb went out. About the only thing on the rock now are red button polyps.

 

As you can see, I need to get in there with a razor and take out the coraline. The tank is so established I have to razor the front sides every couple of weeks. I've since given up on trying to tackle it all and have only been cleaning the front 3 sides and left the back 3 covered with coraline (good problem to have I suppose). Its been about 2-3 weeks since my last cleaning and you can see it is covering my front pane pretty well now. Again, nothing really to look at inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUESTIONS:

 

What would you suggest for filtration? I was thinking of either turning the penguin into a small refugium and putting some chaeto inside with a submersible light (already getting one for my biocube from mediabaskets.com) OR just keeping the chemipure for chemical filtration. Right now my ammonia levels are good but my nitrates are high (around 40ppm and a very red test) so I have been doing 20% water changes every 2 weeks (done this twice now). I haven't tested it again. I got really behind on my water changes because, well, there's not much in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never liked the look of the 2 powerheads in this tank. The back wall is tall and slim and looks cluttered very easily. Since I can no longer hang the maxijets on the side of the tank I want to use a Hydor Koralia since it fits with a magnet on the glass. However, I also want to use the Hydor deflector to increase tank movement for future coral and to increase surface agitation but they don't fit on Koralia powerheads. I currently have a film on the top of my tank and my evaporation is VERY low since there is only a small opening in the top where the filter spills into the tank.

 

Do the hydor deflectors work best on maxijets? Would one 1200 do the trick? Would you suggest a 1200 with deflector or a Koralia 1 instead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUTURE INHABITANTS:

 

I have thought about it for a while and have been watching my LFS and decided that I want a juvenile Black and White clownfish and a purple firefish. I was also considering adding a rainfordi (court jester) goby to help keep the sand clear on the bottom since it is so far away from the filter and powerhead(s). Would the purple firefish and court jester get along? If I DON'T get the court jester I was also considering getting a yellow watchman goby instead. I am 50/50 on both. And naturally I will be getting a zebra turbo to help out with the glass and rocks and a few more blue legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FrostyNYC]

That's an incredible amount of coralline. Hex's are tough to scape, though. I'm not the biggest fan of them.

 

Since you have so much algae and it grows so profusely, you could potentially get something interesting, like an urchin, that would eat the coralline algae, since it grows so quickly anyway.

 

I imagine that the goby and firefish would get along okay... From what I've read, they're only very aggressive with conspecies or similar fish.

 

Hurry up and clean that glass off so we can get a better look at the tank

[Primeval]

That's an incredible amount of coralline. Hex's are tough to scape, though. I'm not the biggest fan of them.

 

Since you have so much algae and it grows so profusely, you could potentially get something interesting, like an urchin, that would eat the coralline algae, since it grows so quickly anyway.

 

I imagine that the goby and firefish would get along okay... From what I've read, they're only very aggressive with conspecies or similar fish.

 

Hurry up and clean that glass off so we can get a better look at the tank

 

 

I keep saying I'm going to do it and keep putting it off. The coraline is very thick and its a nice little project. I usually go through an entire razor with one cleaning since I only do it every few weeks. Plus, the glass also grows these barnacle-like things that slice my fingers up.

 

I'll see about getting it clear this afternoon.

[Primeval]

I cleaned the glass and moved the polyp rock over to the right a bit. I still need to get in there with the razor a bit more but at least you can see in now. I think I am going to keep my back three sides covered.

 

More pictures:

 

 

From the right

 

 

From the left

 

 

Top of the tank. I added the Maxijet 1200 back in for now.

 

 

Right side

 

 

Left side

 

 

Full tank shot.

 

 

Live rock

 

 

Live rock

[Markushka]

Very nice hex! Welcome to the club! Post a write up on the hex thread. I can't wait to see this tank develop, its had quite a cycle by now lol

[Primeval]

Very nice hex! Welcome to the club! Post a write up on the hex thread. I can't wait to see this tank develop, its had quite a cycle by now lol

 

 

Indeed. The water and LR are pretty established now. Just looking for some help in a few areas before I dive back in.

[violinist]

Get the skimmer going that's probably all you need. Can't believe the thing is 6+ years old, that's really cool.

[Primeval]

Get the skimmer going that's probably all you need. Can't believe the thing is 6+ years old, that's really cool.

 

 

The skimmer was rather obtrusive. The output is large and the maxijet 1200 needed a venturi attached as well. It just seemed like it cluttered the inside of my tank.

It also splattered gunk all over my wall that is behind the tank.

 

I'll do my best to avoid using it.

[violinist]

Check out the aquac remora. With the overflow attachment it will just be a black box hanging in the back. You'll lose 2 inches of real estate for half the height of the pane, if that. Certainly it won't come down to where that rock pile ends.

 

I'd stick a skimmer on my hex because chaeto doesn't export enough nutrients on its own and chemipure is a recurring cost. Were I planning on keeping it running at any rate.

[Primeval]

Check out the aquac remora. With the overflow attachment it will just be a black box hanging in the back. You'll lose 2 inches of real estate for half the height of the pane, if that. Certainly it won't come down to where that rock pile ends.

 

I'd stick a skimmer on my hex because chaeto doesn't export enough nutrients on its own and chemipure is a recurring cost. Were I planning on keeping it running at any rate.

 

 

$180 investment. Hmm...

 

Do you have a shot of the top of your tank?

 

 

EDIT:

 

I just did a quick search and found there is a surface skimmer attachment for the CPR Bak-pak that I already own. This might work...

 

 

 

 

 

Now if I can find a great deal on one that would be sweet.

 

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Bak_Pak_2_C...-FIPSAC-vi.html

[Markushka]

you could always go the overflow box & sump route. I find the added space in the sump below the tank is awesome. I use it for chaeto, and I plan on putting a skimmer down there. the overflow box I have skims the surface very nicely. but then again I'm biased, because I have one.

 

I do completely agree with V on the skimmer though, i've been running my hex without one, but my other tank that is skimmed is showing great results. and as soon as I have the time to finish my DIY skimmer build, the hex will have a skimmer too.

[Primeval]

you could always go the overflow box & sump route. I find the added space in the sump below the tank is awesome. I use it for chaeto, and I plan on putting a skimmer down there. the overflow box I have skims the surface very nicely. but then again I'm biased, because I have one.

 

I do completely agree with V on the skimmer though, i've been running my hex without one, but my other tank that is skimmed is showing great results. and as soon as I have the time to finish my DIY skimmer build, the hex will have a skimmer too.

 

 

The hex is sitting on a very old sewing-machine table. With a cat in the house I won't be able to safely put a sump under the table.

 

I have decided to put the bak-pak back on my tank and I found the combo box pre-skimmer mentioned above for $33 shipped on ebay. I'm adding it as soon as it gets here.

 

Has anyone attempted to do a combo skimmer/fuge? If so I still might consider putting chaeto and a underwater light in the empty chamber.

[Markushka]

I think billdemart did that in his tank, you can check his thread here

[Primeval]

I think billdemart did that in his tank, you can check his thread here

 

 

It looks like he is actually using the bak-pak as a fuge with a skimmer sitting inside of it. I see lots of light in the cpr bak-pak but no collection cup on the far right.

 

 

 

 

I'll do some more research on this.

 

So far this tank is looking like less purchases than those needed for my biocube since I have some existing equipment.

 

 

Future adds:

 

- CPR Bak-pak Skimmer (have this somewhere)

 

- Bak-pak Combo Box Pre-skimmer (ordered)

 

- Maxijet 1200 to power skimmer (have this somewhere)

 

- Submersible heater (have one somewhere. May upgrade to 75w stealth from StevieT's site)

 

- Hydor Flo Deflector for Maxijet 1200 (orderd from ebay - $15 shipped)

 

- Livestock mentioned in first thread: B/W clown, purple firefish and another goby (on hold...I don't want to rush anything)

[Primeval]

After reading a bit I found a post on another board located here regarding putting chaeto in the output chamber.

 

The light to power the chaeto causes unwanted growth in the rest of the skimmer since the whole thing is clear acrylic.

 

It appears as if the chaeto can grow pretty thick and trap sediment and other tank nastiness, which reduces flow.

 

More importantly, this can eventually block the output if not kept in check which would ultimately lead in the bak-pak overflowing.

 

In short: its a good idea but not worth the risk and maintenance

[Primeval]

Recent purchases:

 

- 1 Stealth 75w Submersible Heater (ordered)

 

- 1 NanoMag Cleaner (ordered)

 

This should complete my purchases for this tank outside of livestock.

 

Hopefully the skimmer and more water changes knock out my nitrates so I can get something swimming around in this thing soon.

[Markushka]

you could always do the soapdish-o-chaeto that is ever so popular on NR nowadays.. just hide it in back behind some rockwork.

[Crackerballer]

This tank is begging for a 250w pendent.

[Arkayology]

That is a lot of coralline algae you got there. Nice tank though. It is good that you are taking your livestock adding slowly.

[Primeval]

That is a lot of coralline algae you got there. Nice tank though. It is good that you are taking your livestock adding slowly.

 

Thanks.

 

I don't plan on losing any livestock after adding them until they die of old age or I trade them away. The best way to accomplish that is adding them last and slowly

[nanoreef-R]

Bak pak skimmer huh? You should be regretting this in a couple of months!

 

I would really recommend trying to get a Tunze 9002.

[Primeval]

Bak pak skimmer huh? You should be regretting this in a couple of months!

 

I would really recommend trying to get a Tunze 9002.

 

 

I bought the Bak-pak 6 years ago. Just using what I have for now as best I can since I've already made several purchases.

[Primeval]

My CPR Bak-pak Combo Box arrived yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So of course I have to play with my new toy. I went downstairs and pulled my Skimmer out of storage.

 

 

 

 

It appears I put the skimmer away in a hurry and didn't clean it well. So the bak-pak is currently sitting in my tub with some oxiclean. Updates to come after I put it together.

 

I will definitely have to get the dremmel back out and do some changes on my acrylic tank cover. Right now it is only big enough for my filter.

 

 

[Primeval]

This tank is begging for a 250w pendent.

 

 

Perhaps after I win the lottery.

[louphoenix]

Nice tank! welcome to the Hex club... lots of coralline, that's great, keep up the good work!