JK's 25 Gallon - Torn Down 11-14-09

[JKUNZ]

I've delayed this long enough. As always, this is a constant work in progress, and I am open to opinions and ideas, good and ugly.

 

My Nano is a 25 Gallon acryllic Hex Front, with a 15 gallon sump, lit by SunPod Pro 150w HQI, updated to a outer orbit 150 HQI w/ T5 VHO in January.

 

Sump houses:

Aqua C Urchin Skimmer

Phosban Reactor 150

Submariner UV Sterilizer

 

Misc:

ATO

Prime 1/15HP Chiller (added 10-28-08)

 

Fish:

4 True Percs

1 One eyed purple Fire Fish *MIA* (as of 10-7-2008)

Blue Spot Jawfish *Jumped* RIP 1-30-08

Randall's Goby w/ Pistol Shrimp

Sixline Wrasse

Yellow Clown Goby

 

Inverts:

Fromia Star

4 Peppermint Shrimp

Tuxedo Urchin

Fighting Conch

Red Foot Conch

CUC

*Nassarius Snails

 

Coral (updated 11-5-08):

Frogspawn

Yellow Sea Fan (white polyps)

Red Sea Fan (white polyps) (10-28-08)

SPS:

Purple Godzilla Acro

Sunset Monti

Superman Monti

Green Polyp True Undata

Idaho Grape Monti Cap

Blue Acro Millipora

"GARF" Bonsai

Chip's Acro

LPS:

9 species of Acans

1 species of Micro

3 color variations of Ricordia's

4 species of Blastos

Neon Orange Plate Coral

Tear Drop Maxima Clam

2 Crocea Clams

2 Squamosa Clams

15 species of Zoas/Palys

Dendros

GSP

Sunflower Polyps

Green Clove Polyps

Pineapple Tree Coral

Deresa Clam

Tyree Montipora Undata

Orange Digi

Purple Digi

ORA Pink and Lavander Acro

 

 

FTS (Old picture)

 

Another FTS

>

 

Blue Spot Jaw behind Flower Pot(closed up)

 

Red/Green Trach

[JKUNZ]

Some more pics:

 

The Pair of Maroons in thier GBTA (quality is rather over-exposed, sorry)

 

Here's a narrow view of the sump through the door on the stand. You can see return plumbing, as well as the Urchin Skimmer and the Phosban reactor.

[gimme09]

With your maroon clowns... did you have any problem with having the other fish in there? Im attempting to find a good fish to complete my tank with a pair of maroon clowns.

[JKUNZ]

With your maroon clowns... did you have any problem with having the other fish in there? Im attempting to find a good fish to complete my tank with a pair of maroon clowns.

 

 

No, I had no problem at all with the maroons. The female (larger) just won't let the wrasse by the male clown, but other than that they're docile. They primarily live about two inches above the Blue Spots den, and have never shown aggression.

[JKUNZ]

New pictures..........

 

The Randall and the Hammer

 

Full FTS

[Rehype]

Very nice setup!

[JKUNZ]

While feeding not too long ago I noticed that the ever so hungry Blue Spot Jawfish was not to be seen, which has never occured before. I quickly found him under a chair near the tank, meaning that he jumped through a crack only wide enough for the auto-feeder to drop flakes in (1.5 inch by 5inch).

 

As you can imagine, this sucks! He was a beautiful specimen, and irreplaceable.

 

After brief investigation (and questioning of all parties involved), I've concluded that he was spooked by the Randall and pistol shrimp, who've moved dens, and most likely crossed paths with the jawfish on their way.

 

It's a d*mn shame.

[JKUNZ]

Since February 2008 I've been changing things around in my tank, inspired by a move. Since then I've added an ATO, and also changed up my livestock, along with upgrading my sump.

 

Enjoy the pics, (I also just acquired a new camera, so these are my best photos yet!) and I will update further asap in terms of a list of corals and inhabitants.

 

I did however update my first post with an up to date livestock list.

 

All of these photos are as of 9-9-2008:

 

FTS

 

Mother Perc, teardrop maxima, and red acan:

 

Again:

 

 

Teardrop Maxima:

 

The percs and some of the Ricordias they host (they also host all three clams):

 

My new favorite, my yellow sea fan, he polyps out all day and night:

 

My girlfriends favorite coral, the daisy polyps:

 

Daisy's, yellow polyps, and clown again:

[JKUNZ]

Here are some more photos. One more day shot, and the rest "sunset" shots of corals, with only the T5's on.

 

Hope you enjoy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And even more:

 

 

 

 

 

Rare Neon Green Paulua Nephlea:

 

Red and blue ric"s:

 

Red and Green Blasto Wellsi:

 

[JKUNZ]

Here are more photos, sorry, I'm on a photo kick right now....

 

Some acans and mirco:

 

 

 

 

 

Blastos:

 

 

 

 

A close up of the yellow sea fan:

 

Some of the fish:

 

 

The one eyed purple firefish...this is his good side:

 

The fromia starfish doing what he does best...

[JKUNZ]

Here are more photos...I just added a few new corals, such as blood red mushroom, white and gold squamosa clam, neon orange plate coral, and zoo's and paly's.

 

Enjoy!

 

To start here's a FTS, with the daylights on (150w HQI Pheonix 14k, with four T5 VHO)

 

Here's another FTS, except taken later in the evening, with only the T5's on simulating the sunset....

 

Now the clams;

 

Here's all five clams, from left to right, a 4inch teardrop maxima, 4inch crocea, 2.5inch white squamosa, 2x 2.5inch croceas:

 

Just the two big guys, a teardrop maxima to the left, and a green crocea to the right:

 

The new squamosa:

 

The new blood red ricordia mushroom (day time):

 

and again during the sunset:

 

The new neon orange plate coral (day time):

 

And again during the "sunset."

 

And once again, except only lit by 6 led blue "moonlights."

 

More pictures of the yellow sea fan:

 

 

 

And a few shots of the rarely seen orange striped prawn goby (Randall's shrimp Goby):

 

[angelacbishop]

I'm suprised you don't have more comments. Beautiful tank and nice photography here too!

[Lalani]

That's a lot of pics! Great looking tank.

[JKUNZ]

Thank you to both of you...in terms of comments I look at it as it's not so much the quantity but the quality that counts. Atleast that's what I tell myself so I can sleep better at night!

[dplantz]

Im not a good reader lol so I had just a few questions. I have a setup in the works similair to this and had some questions for you (hope its not too much).

 

Has your Urchin handled the sps, clam bioload ok?

How many inches above the tank is your fixture?

Do you have a chiller?

What dosing method do you use?

 

Thanks, Im very cheap so I can't afford mess ups lol (15 and no job) and your system looks like it could give me some cost effective answers.

[JKUNZ]

Im not a good reader lol so I had just a few questions. I have a setup in the works similair to this and had some questions for you (hope its not too much).

 

Has your Urchin handled the sps, clam bioload ok?

How many inches above the tank is your fixture?

Do you have a chiller?

What dosing method do you use?

 

Thanks, Im very cheap so I can't afford mess ups lol (15 and no job) and your system looks like it could give me some cost effective answers.

 

I don't mind the questions one bit:

Is this your first sw tank??

 

To answer your questions;

1) My urchin has done great. He's actually my longest running inhabitant, considering I had him in two seperate tanks prior, and have had him for close to two years. He's still motoring around the tank, as good as always, even with the heavy clam bioload.

 

2) My fixture is about 11 inches above the tank, I'll remeasure and edit this if I'm wrong. It's definately not a cost effective fixture however.

 

3) I don't have a chiller. Instead I have an open top tank, with a fan mounted pointing directly down the overflow. The fan turns on with a timer when my lights come on. To monitor temp I have an electronic temp gauge; the daytime temp holds at 74 degrees, with my high during the summer months reaching 76 degrees.

 

4) I use no dosing, besides lugols iodine (1drop a week). Instead I use Tropic Marin, with weekly 15% water changes, and make my own RO/DI water, which also fills my 5 gallon ATO system. I've been using salt out of the same 5 gallon TM bucket I bought over a year and a half ago, and luckily with this bucket my calcium is always 450ppm, and alkalinity steady. I've heard, recently actually, that TM usually only has a calcium level of 320ppm, but I guess I truly lucked out.

 

Hope this helps!

 

-J

[dplantz]

I have been into saltwater since I was 10 (corals since 12), and lost and learned alot (not proud of the losses). This is my first Sps and clam tank, but I have had some lower end montis and lots of Lps and softies in the past and present(under pc's and recently T-5s). My current tank (once its plumbed together) is a Finnex 30g and 20g long frag tank/sump. I have a 250w Mh however, so I might splurge on a chiller if the temps aren't stable at 12". I am amazed by your tank and no dosing! Gratz! I am clam addicted so your tank specs are helping plenty too.

 

What brand of ATO do you use?

[JKUNZ]

I have been into saltwater since I was 10 (corals since 12), and lost and learned alot (not proud of the losses). This is my first Sps and clam tank, but I have had some lower end montis and lots of Lps and softies in the past and present(under pc's and recently T-5s). My current tank (once its plumbed together) is a Finnex 30g and 20g long frag tank/sump. I have a 250w Mh however, so I might splurge on a chiller if the temps aren't stable at 12". I am amazed by your tank and no dosing! Gratz! I am clam addicted so your tank specs are helping plenty too.

 

What brand of ATO do you use?

 

I use the Auto Top Off Controller by JBJ (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13959) It's $84.99 on Dr.FosterSmith right now. Works great as far as I'm concerned. I'll update a pic of my fan, because that's really what's keeping my temp down. By aiming it at the overflow not only is it cooling the thin sheet of water that overflows towards the sump but also diflects a lot of breeze directly across the surface of the tank not allowing the heat of the HQI to ever raise the water temp. It was my quick fix to a forseen heat issue.

 

I know I've been lucky not having to dose, although I have weighed out the idea of usisng B-Ionic. I'm not sure about it yet though, and until I see levels in my tank decline I'm not sure I will make the move.

[dplantz]

Ok thanks! Love your tank

[JKUNZ]

Ok thanks! Love your tank

 

 

Thank you!!!

[drog]

Holy cow, that is a NICE tank! I love the rockwork..scratch that..I love everything!

[JKUNZ]

Holy cow, that is a NICE tank! I love the rockwork..scratch that..I love everything!

 

 

Thanks drog!! I have a long way to go until I'll be content, but it's gonna need time for everything to colonize properly. Thank you for the compliments!

[JKUNZ]

Quick update, Just got a sweet three polyp "fruit loop" acan from Acro76 on CherryCorals. I'll update pics asap.

 

I also just ordered a few corals from vividaquarium, including two polyp Dendro, sunflower clove polyps, blue ice zoo's, and Sonic Blast Aussie Lord. That shipment won't be here until Tuesday, but in the meantime I'll add some pics of the fruit loop.

 

Here's the pic posted on Cherrycorals.com, under their blues (T5's I believe). And yes, they do glow like this during my "sunset" ....

(This picture was taken from Cherrycorals.com, through whom I bought my frag from):

 

I will wait until my sunset this evening to attempt and catch the same looking shot. Shouldn't be tough with these beauties!!!!

[got2envy]

Holy crap! I can't believe I have not read this thread

 

I just wanna say that this is a outstanding tank! I love the school of clowns and LPS is my favorite..great work dude! awesome new acans too

[Captainj42]

Reminds me of me friend cris, he goes camera happy too

 

Love the tank you have a very beautiful selection