Biorb Flow 8 *newbie build*

[nschmitz06]

I'll start off with some info about myself. My name is Nick, I am 24 years old, and I have had aquariums for eight years now as well as Poison Dart Frogs for two years. I have been interested in saltwater tanks since I was.... alive. The colors and color combinations are just amazing to look at and what better way to enjoy it then in my own room! I have been looking around and researching different forums for about a year and a half and finally decided to take the plunge. For my first tank I would like to stay small but amplify my water size to help with my newbie skills as well as allow easier maintenance for water changes/filter cleaning. I finally landed on a sweet 8 gallon tank that I find aesthetically pleasing as well as not breaking the bank!

 

1. Biorb Flow Black 30 (8 gallon) tank only bought from everythingbiorb.com

I decided to buy the tank only because I am going to mod a few aspects of the tank to allow for my own LED lighting as well as adding in a sump.

2. PAR 38 14K bulb from coralcompulsion (ebay store)

I am really looking forward to this light for use with some easy soft corals

3. 10 Gallon sump custom build with acrylic

4. Custom two 3/4" internal overflow with loc-line return

5. Eheim 2000 + compact pump for returning water

6. 30 lbs of dry rock from BulkReefSupply.com as well as 10 lbs rubble

I wanted enough rock that I would have good pieces to fit thru the top of my tank and also have rubble to make it look more natural and for the sump refugium.

 

Finally--- I leave you with some pictures! I have a lot of work already done with the tank so it should make some of the readers happy that they don't have to wait for two months of odd hour updates

 

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Picture of the tank empty. ( notice old filter hole on bottom )

 

Bubble hole after removing old tank filter

 

Picture of the original LED lid

 

New Clear Lid for the PAR bulb to rest on /comparison shot

 

 

Picture of new top on the tank

 

PAR 38 bulb

 

 

This stuff works great-- I applied to the inside of all my seams and never had an issue. (also it evaporates fast if you spill a little on the ground)

 

The internal overflow box

 

Back side of the overflow ( I haven't bought the second bulkhead yet nor drilled the hole)

 

Some of my plumbing

 

Inside of the tank with plumbing

 

 

Filling up the tank for the initial water test

 

The overflow in action

 

Front view with the lights out and PAR LED on

 

ISO view of the tank during the water test

 

Side view of the tank during the water test

 

Thanks everyone for reading-- Any suggestions as of now or feedback would be great, and of course updates soon....

[seabass]

to Nano-Reef.com!

 

I like that you lit it with a PAR38 bulb. Good luck with your new tank!

[Angel<3Nanos]

Looks great! I will be following.

[Lalani]

Nice! Love modded biorbs.

[nschmitz06]

So I've come back after lots of work on my sump/tank. Right now I'm going out to pick up a heater at my LFS.

So I bought CaribSea Fiji Pink after reading numerous blogs/forums on what people really like in their own tanks (smaller particle size since I will be getting a goby). Right now I have tested all my plumbing and am waiting for some extra parts to setup my dual/emergency overflow with a half durso overflow. I had to make some modifications to the sump baffles to allow for more flow since my eheim compact 2000+ is just rocking the GPH. (I went with a more powerful pump since I didn't want to deal with power heads which would ruin the esthetic properties of this tank. Here are some updated pictures of the tank today!

 

The finished sump

 

Easy rigged LED light (eventually this will hang off the wall so I can adjust height)

 

This is the placement of the Tank/Sump which is connected to my computer desk

 

Just filled up with new sand

 

Here is a picture of the refractometer I purchased. I am very pleased with it thus far

 

I should have rock in it by next weekend and then cycling begins!

Again any concerns or comments are appreciated!

[Rollermonkey]

Very neat. Those Biorb tanks look so nice, but you're showing that you can mod the heck out of one and make it better.

[nschmitz06]

Small Update--

 

I have placed floss filters in various areas in the sump to help tackle the dusting issue from adding sand. Also I decided that since my regular LF seems to not be as porous as the "fiji rubble" I also bought, I turned a column before the return section into a "high flow premium LF chamber"<-- pending copyrights haha. I feel that this column will get much better steady and complete flow then in my refugium area where I feel most of the water movement is at the surface. Also I popped a hydor koralia nano in the refugium section to direct water downward into the LF. Here are some more pictures to help give you all a better idea of the design of my sump.

 

My temporary electrical setup

 

 

Here is the design/plan of the sump

 

Here is the rubble column

 

Top view of the rubble column (lots of floss to keep the sand dust out)

 

Return from the tank ( more filter floss to help clean the tank

 

View of the entire sump setup. Notice the purigen in the baffle section

 

This is the new return baffle that was added to allow room for filter floss media

Underneath is the hydor powerhead to provide some more flow to the Rock and later cheato or other macros

 

Thanks again-- I'll post the next update after doing the rockscape inside the tank. Comments/suggestions are appreciated! Happy reefing--

 

Nick

[nschmitz06]

Another Update--

I mixed my saltwater to1.023 right now but I will be aiming for 1.025 after the next few days. I have my new plumbing in and made a "false" durso dual return from the tank to sump. Also pipe taped all my connections which took care of a few minor drip spots. Here are some pics of the current rock layout.

 

Here is my false durso-- I only call it false because it still gargled when I had a hole on top. Since then I have completely covered it and allow just a minimal amount of water thru my second return to the sump.

By doing this it allowed me to crank my Eheim 2000+ to max flow (estimated about 350)

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again-- Next updates will be after my tank cycles and I go pick up a fish!

[nschmitz06]

Another small update. I decided to do a DIY CFL 14 watt flood lights for my refugium. Here is a picture of them running out of their porcelain sockets. They are directly screwed into the base that holds up my tank.

 

[Mstefa1]

Hello, welcome, and good luck! Looks like you know what your doing. My only comment is... 40 lbs of rock in a total volume of 18g? Am I missing something? I have ~20lbs in my tank now because last time 25-30 lbs was way too much.

[nschmitz06]

My only comment is... 40 lbs of rock in a total volume of 18g? Am I missing something? I have ~20lbs in my tank now because last time 25-30 lbs was way too much.

 

I should of stated how much actually went into the tank after it was put together. Firstly the rock was all dry when I recieved it so that should take some water weight out of it, secondly I actually didnt have room for all of it (too much in the main display i've heard was bad). I bought as much as I did because i figured the more the better options for shapes i had but will probably just use the extra in a quarentine tank. I ended up with about 13 lbs in the main tank and then maybe 16 lbs in the sump/refugium. I tried to put alot of it in the refugium part since I would like to have pods growing in there in hopes of seeding my tank continually. Does this sound a little better? Or should i put less in the sump area. I thought that at least for the sump it would provide ample space for nitifying bacteria and such. Thanks!!

[seabass]

You can't have too much rock, except that it can take up too much space; however, you can have too little. The trend is to not fill the display as full of rock as people used to, so having some in the sump makes sense. Plus, as you pointed out, it can be a good refuge for pods. You tend to need about a pound of rock per gallon of water (so ten ponds of rock roughly supports a typical bioload of a ten gallon tank).

 

One nice thing about having extra rock in your sump, is that you can use some for a makeshift quarantine (not hospital) tank, or just to seed some base rock for another tank.

[Mstefa1]

I should of stated how much actually went into the tank after it was put together. Firstly the rock was all dry when I recieved it so that should take some water weight out of it, secondly I actually didnt have room for all of it (too much in the main display i've heard was bad). I bought as much as I did because i figured the more the better options for shapes i had but will probably just use the extra in a quarentine tank. I ended up with about 13 lbs in the main tank and then maybe 16 lbs in the sump/refugium. I tried to put alot of it in the refugium part since I would like to have pods growing in there in hopes of seeding my tank continually. Does this sound a little better? Or should i put less in the sump area. I thought that at least for the sump it would provide ample space for nitifying bacteria and such. Thanks!!

That makes a lot more sense. I shoot for as much rock as possible in my display while trying to maintain an interesting scape having plently of shelves for coral. I also make certain that I can an algae scraper on the glass. I'm assuming yours is acrylic... Becareful you don't scratch it.

 

How are you going to seed your dry rock with pods? The best way (IMO) would be to put a piece of live rock in your display and a piece of live rock in your sump. Much better then purchasing pods.

[nschmitz06]

You tend to need about a pound of rock per gallon of water (so ten ponds of rock roughly supports a typical bioload of a ten gallon tank).

 

I should have that covered then I have 25-30 lbs of rock for a combined 18 gallons of water. However as you can see from my pics I left ample room for my wildlife in the display tank.

 

How are you going to seed your dry rock with pods? The best way (IMO) would be to put a piece of live rock in your display and a piece of live rock in your sump. Much better then purchasing pods.

 

I just purchased some chaeto from StanD as I was referred to him while searching on NR.com. His chaeto supposedly comes with some pods which I will be happy for. If not then I will likely buy some from my LFS or a reputable online dealer. I will definitely update you when they arrive-- Thanks!!

[Mstefa1]

I should have that covered then I have 25-30 lbs of rock for a combined 18 gallons of water. However as you can see from my pics I left ample room for my wildlife in the display tank.

 

 

 

I just purchased some chaeto from StanD as I was referred to him while searching on NR.com. His chaeto supposedly comes with some pods which I will be happy for. If not then I will likely buy some from my LFS or a reputable online dealer. I will definitely update you when they arrive-- Thanks!!

 

Chaeto FTW! But I still think that live rock has advantages over dry / dead rock. Not that you need all live rock - just a little to sead. You could always get a coral piece that comes on a nice sized rock. My coral frags are always full of goodies when I get them. But I watch them die when I dip them in Revive!

[nschmitz06]

Chaeto FTW! But I still think that live rock has advantages over dry / dead rock. Not that you need all live rock - just a little to sead. You could always get a coral piece that comes on a nice sized rock. My coral frags are always full of goodies when I get them. But I watch them die when I dip them in Revive!

 

Hmmm then it looks like I will be in need of some seeding rocks! I like your idea about the coral-- Maybe I will go that route and get a nice chunk of zoas or some softies to fill in the DT and bring all those other goodies! Thanks again

[Mstefa1]

Hmmm then it looks like I will be in need of some seeding rocks! I like your idea about the coral-- Maybe I will go that route and get a nice chunk of zoas or some softies to fill in the DT and bring all those other goodies! Thanks again

 

My LFS has many of his frags on a small piece of rock. Usually I remove that piece of rock and toss it in my fuge. Now I got rubble in my fuge! But I dip it all which kills the pods in addition to the bad critters.

[nschmitz06]

But I dip it all which kills the pods in addition to the bad critters.

 

What kind of dip? Peroxide? Is that to prevent algae from getting into your tank?

[Mstefa1]

What kind of dip? Peroxide? Is that to prevent algae from getting into your tank?

 

No, that would kill the coral! A specially made coral dip. Coral Rx is popular. I've been using Revive. Now you got some research for the next hour. lol

[nschmitz06]

No, that would kill the coral! A specially made coral dip. Coral Rx is popular. I've been using Revive. Now you got some research for the next hour. lol

 

I should be working.... but yes research sounds good-- Thanks again!

[Fnard]

The tank is looking great. As far as seeding the rock, it is not necessary. It just depends how long you want to wait until your tank can sustain a bioload ie stocking. A couple suggestions about the sump, make sure you clean that floss regularly, I'd say weekly. Floss catches all the detritus and nasties in your tank then will lead to high nitrate levels. The same can be said about your rock. I would suggest blowing down the rock with a turkey baster a day before you change floss. This way and sediment on the rocks will be caught by the floss then removed. Great start and good luck with it.

[nschmitz06]

The tank is looking great. As far as seeding the rock, it is not necessary. It just depends how long you want to wait until your tank can sustain a bioload ie stocking. A couple suggestions about the sump, make sure you clean that floss regularly, I'd say weekly. Floss catches all the detritus and nasties in your tank then will lead to high nitrate levels. The same can be said about your rock. I would suggest blowing down the rock with a turkey baster a day before you change floss. This way and sediment on the rocks will be caught by the floss then removed. Great start and good luck with it.

 

Thanks that will be very helpful-- I plan on changing out the filter floss weekly since it is very easy to get to. Do you think I should remove the soon to be added chaeto when I clean the rocks?

[Mstefa1]

Thanks that will be very helpful-- I plan on changing out the filter floss weekly since it is very easy to get to. Do you think I should remove the soon to be added chaeto when I clean the rocks?

 

I change my floss / filter pad daily /or every other day... At most 3 days. Its behing my overflow and picks up a lot. Since you have a sump, why not a filter sock?

 

I re-read your previous post. You want consistent flow in your refugium. You do NOT want high flow. It's a science... You will have to dial it in.

[nschmitz06]

I change my floss / filter pad daily /or every other day... At most 3 days. Its behing my overflow and picks up a lot. Since you have a sump, why not a filter sock?

 

I re-read your previous post. You want consistent flow in your refugium. You do NOT want high flow. It's a science... You will have to dial it in.

 

Do you think that ~350 gph is too high for the refugium? I notice in a few spots that the water doesn't move much and I thought that would be a problem. I guess I can remove the powerhead I installed. -- Maybe I'll post a video later so you can see how much water goes thru it and you can determine if its better for me to slow it down.

[nschmitz06]

Also to your question why I don't have a filter sock. I looked around and I cant really find any filter socks that are small enough for my 10 gallon sump (the best being a 4 inch circular by 11 inches deep). I didn't want to deal with making my own custom sock so I've been using floss. So far it works great and has collected all my dust that settled from setting up the sand/rock.