bvck Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Just getting back into the hobby after about a 5 year break. Always been super stoked on small reef tanks and had a budget 3g picotope back in the day. This time around I wanted to do things slightly different. Main goal is a clean, minimalistic tank, dominantly stocked with softies. Equipment UNS 45A - 9 gallon AI Prime 16HD reef Sicce 0.5 Return Pump XP Aqua Duetto ATO Eheim Jager 50W MP10 Livestock Black & white ocellaris clown Azure Damsel Scarlet Hermit Sexy Shrimp Clove Polyps Green Star Polyps Ultra Green Hammer Rock Flower Nem Zoa and Palys: Nirvana Utter Chaos Rasta White Zombie Speckled Krak Pink Diamond Rainbow Rhino Chiquita Atomic Blast Salted Agave 2 Quote Link to comment
dnadrifter Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Will be following along. I just purchased a UNS 30A. Doesn't seem there are many out there. In the process of aquascaping right now....will probably get it wet this weekend. 1 Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted March 27, 2020 Author Share Posted March 27, 2020 Love the UNS tank. Couple drawbacks are the stock return pump it came with is super weak, and the back wall to the filtration is slightly see through. Back wall really isn’t the biggest deal just have to be aware of how my filtration media/heater/whatever looks back there. As of now the water level in the back is the same as in the display. Those are my only complaints, other than that I love the tank. Very well built! Just purchased a sicce .5 return pump (185gph) to hopefully fix the water level in the back and a random flow generator from VCA to help with flow in display. Should be here early next week. Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 Just picked up the tanks more permanent home last night. Cabinet for ATO reservoir and storage. Quote Link to comment
This guy is extra salty Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 sweet little tank what do you plan on stocking it with? Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 @This guy is extra salty Thank you! I am happy with the decision. It took me a couple weeks of contemplating what set up to go with. But I am planning on doing zoas, carpet nems, mushrooms. Then maybe a torch or anemone! Idk been loving the higher end collector zoas/palys a lot so that's my main goal. 1 Quote Link to comment
This guy is extra salty Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 that's pretty sweet cant wait to see what you end up with Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Question. The drilled hole for return plumbing on my tank is smaller than I had expected. I ordered Loc-Line - NPT CONNECTOR FOR 1/2” MODULAR HOSE & Bulk Reef Supply - 1/2” SCHEDULE 80 90° ELBOW BARB X FEMALE THREAD. These do not work for my tank since the hole for the return plumbing is 1/2 inch in diameter. I am confused as to what size I need to order if the 1/2 inch is too big... I also ordered a - Vivid Creative Aquatics - 1/2" LOC-LINE RANDOM FLOW GENERATOR. I understand that the connectors need to be 1/2 inch but the threaded part is my confusion. Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Ended up returning everything but the return pump. Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 New additions - scarlet hermit crab and a small black ocellaris clown. Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Does anyone have any recommendations for a thermometer? Quote Link to comment
dnadrifter Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 4 hours ago, bvck said: Ended up returning everything but the return pump. Thats a bummer. I was hoping that random flow generator would work. It looked like a slick solution. Please post if you go with something different as my return hole and plumbing is likely the same as yours. Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 1 hour ago, dnadrifter said: Thats a bummer. I was hoping that random flow generator would work. It looked like a slick solution. Please post if you go with something different as my return hole and plumbing is likely the same as yours. I was really hoping it would work. I could not come up with a solution by only looking online. The sicce 0.5 return pump is sufficient though, I like it. Quote Link to comment
dnadrifter Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 My Cobalt 606 return pump came today. I have one on my fresh water tank at work (or what used to be a "fresh"water tank 3 weeks ago), and it has done well. Another forum member said he had good luck with it also, so I am going to try that. What are you currently doing for media? Did you keep that sponge and the ceramic bio-donuts? Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 14 hours ago, dnadrifter said: My Cobalt 606 return pump came today. I have one on my fresh water tank at work (or what used to be a "fresh"water tank 3 weeks ago), and it has done well. Another forum member said he had good luck with it also, so I am going to try that. What are you currently doing for media? Did you keep that sponge and the ceramic bio-donuts? That’s actually at the top of my list today to figure out. Multiple points of research today, nano skimmer, nano media reactor, or just some classic chemi pure elite and maybe the eshopps bio lux combo. Any input, experience from anyone is appreciated. Quote Link to comment
William Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 8 minutes ago, bvck said: That’s actually at the top of my list today to figure out. Multiple points of research today, nano skimmer, nano media reactor, or just some classic chemi pure elite and maybe the eshopps bio lux combo. Any input, experience from anyone is appreciated. I just ordered a Reefglass skimmer for the Nano im about to set up 1 Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 Trying to figure out scape, this allows for more rock coverage with corals. It sits on the back of the glass slightly tho which I am not super stoked on. This is how I have it set up right now but please refer to top pictures for the two options. 1 Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Is the MP10 really worth the money? Quote Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Heyyy. Just curious how you are liking the Sicce 0.5 on this? Does it fit easily in the return chamber? I'm using the Aqamai KPS for my UNS 45A. Way cheaper than the MP10, smaller, and does the job. App is terrible though, but once you get it to work, won't need to fiddle with it again. 1 Quote Link to comment
bvck Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 @Tigahboy I like the Sicce 0.5 it fit perfectly in the back. Could maybe even squeeze the 1.0 in there, but the 0.5 has proven to be plenty of return. Thanks for your input on the Aqamai but I already bought the mp10. Should be here by Monday I am stoked. 1 Quote Link to comment
CD_Scapes Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 I just ordered mu UNS 45a and I am super excited for it; I'm planning to use KP Aqautic rock, Pixie 30 LEDS and an Aqamai KPS like Tigahboy uses 2 Quote Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Looks like we got a little UNS 45A club going on here. 1 Quote Link to comment
CD_Scapes Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Just now, Tigahboy said: Looks like we got a little UNS 45A club going on here. Time to make a "UNS 45A Owners" thread 😂 1 1 Quote Link to comment
dnadrifter Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 How about a UNS XXA Owners thread. 😁 @bvck, got a recent FTS? 2 1 Quote Link to comment
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