DNA's 7g UNS 30A

[dnadrifter]

May 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Brand new to the saltwater hobby, although I have almost started 2 or 3 times.   Seems like every 1.5 yrs, I get the itch.   I kinda got tired of thinking about it, so I just decided to start and see if I like it.

 

• Ultum Nature Systems (UNS) All in One, 7 gallon
• Lomini Pixie 30 Marine Light
• Eheim Jäger Heater - 50W
• Cobalt Mini MJ 606 return pump
• Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 Powerhead
• Caribsea Special Grade Sand
• Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
• Seachem Carbon
• Marinepure Gems

 

I was surprised to see that the 4g and 7g Waterbox tanks are not longer available.   I considered the Lifegard, but wanted something a little bigger than 4g and didn’t need a peninsula.  The most reputable LFS close to me had UNS AIOs that I had never heard of, but seemed to be a quality tank.   They had them for a good price relative to online, so I took the plunge.

 

Got the tank wet for the first time today.  Below are the first couple of shots.   I took quite a few shots along the way, including making the rock work, so I may update as time allows.

 

I am a little disappointed in the rock work though.  I went back and forth between more or less rock and decided to go more minimal, but did a poor job estimating the height I believe as I was surprised at how short the structure is relative to the height.

 

So now I need to decide if I want to 1) leave it, 2) add a rock on top, 3) start completely over which I don’t want to do because I spent time gluing, drilling, putting a rod in, etc.  Just the first in a long list of mistakes I am sure.

 

 

March 30, 2020; 4:30pm

 

March 30, 2020; 8pm

 

April 7, 2020

 

May 14, 2020

 

 

May 16, 2020

 

 

May 30, 2020

 

[William]

I think your rock work will

be fine. If you add coral such as SPS, Photosynthetic gorgonians, euphillia, or even leather coral, you will be able to add height. 

[William]

You may want to upgrade the stock return pump or add a power head to the display as I doubt that stock pump is sufficient.

[dnadrifter]

On 3/30/2020 at 7:53 PM, William said:

You may want to upgrade the stock return pump or add a power head to the display as I doubt that stock pump is sufficient.

Thanks.   Here is little better picture.   I think it could work but I have quite a bit of extra rock....might try to see what I can do and still utilize the rock work I already did.

 

Regarding the pump, yeah that is an understatement.   I couldn't believe how poor the pump was, haha.

[billygoat]

Hey there and welcome! UNS makes a very fine aquarium, so I think you've made a good choice with that one.

 

If you're in the market for a pump upgrade, I recommend the Cobalt Mini MJ606. It's a very quiet and extremely space efficient pump. It fits in the rear chambers of my 4g Waterbox no problem. I used it as the return on my 18g tank for nearly a year with no issues, so it should be plenty powerful for a system like this. 👍

[dnadrifter]

Ended up getting the Cobalt 606 per billygoat's recommendation.   I also have one on my used to be "freshwater" tank at work, but wasn't sure about longevity.  Its working well, way more flow, and fairly quiet as well.

 

I also changed the rock scape as I just thought it didn't go high enough in the tank and wasn't happy with the way it turned out.   Not sure I like what I ended up with though as now I think it may be too much. Not sure I like the overhang thing coming out at the viewer either.  May try again, but I've spend quite a bit of time, and not sure I really want to tear the current piece apart.   (its all one piece now)

 

Front View

 

From Front-Left angle

 

From the Front-Right angle

 

Front

 

Right Side

 

Left Side

 

Overhead

[dnadrifter]

Trying to figure out possible solutions for the return pump nozzle.  The tank came with random size plastic fittings.  It would be nice be able to use Loc-line and associated fittings and random flow nozzles if possible.   I may have found a solution, we will see if it works.  I think I am going to order of the VCA random flow nozzles and see.

 

The outside diameter of the plastic tube/fitting coming through the glass is 0.5".   The smallest internal diameter of Loc-line fillings is also 0.5", so I cut one with a hack saw blade to make an adapter to see if it fits.... and it does.   It isn't super tight, but neither is the one that came with the tank.   Little worried with more resistant force from a nozzle it could come off, but guess we will see.  The velocity of the flow does seem to be greatly decreased with Loc-line segments on, guessing due to the larger ID the flow is going through.

[dnadrifter]

 

[dnadrifter]

Re-Aquascaped.  Last time.

 

Front View

 

Left View

 

Right View

[William]

22 minutes ago, dnadrifter said:

Re-Aquascaped.  Last time.

 

Front View

 

Left View

 

Right View

I like it 

[dnadrifter]

Waiting for this cycle is killing me, and it hasn't even been that long....

 

Added a smaller nozzle to the loc line to increase flow speed a bit.  Happy with the MJ606 so far....very small pump.   Purchased a Hanna alk meter.  Waiting to order a CUC.   Plan to get a cleaner shrimp and an easier coral or two to start.  Got my Eheim heater almost dialed in.  Sicce small power head coming.  Need to get an ATO....water evaporates fast.

[dnadrifter]

How bad of an idea would it be for my first corals to be some little duncan heads, small GSP frag, and a 3 frag beginner SPS pack, (1 stylo, 2 pocillopora)?   No fish for a little bit.  Planning to get a cleaner shrimp because I think they look cool.

 

....still waiting on the cycle....

[DNR88]

Sounds like a good plan for the corals. And stick to this scape, it's really nice. 😊 

[debbeach13]

I also like the last scape and the rock. I think it will be good for coral placement. Did you make that coral order?

[dnadrifter]

Added a powerhead about a week ago....still waiting on nitrites.   If you look real close at the rock you can barely make out some nitrosomonas....unfortunately not many nitrobacter yet that I can find.   (joke)

 

 

 

[dnadrifter]

14 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

I also like the last scape and the rock. I think it will be good for coral placement. Did you make that coral order?

Thanks....appreciate it.   Didn't make the coral order yet....figured I should have everything cycled first.

[debbeach13]

Of course cycle then coral. I absolutely am not suggesting you rush things. That never works out

[dnadrifter]

.....Grrr....still waiting on nitrites.   Didn't think it would take this long.   Ordered some Fritz turbo start and some marine pure "gems" to see if they will help....should be here by Friday.

 

Maybe I should have just paid the $100+ for live rock from FL.  It just seemed like so much for a small tank 7g tank.

[DNR88]

Patience is the best characteristic to have in this hobby. 😊

[bvck]

What type of powerhead is that? It looks nice.

[Reefkid88]

I want to say its a Sicce Voyager Nano just don't know which model lol @bvck

[bvck]

@Reefkid88 cool, thanks! Liking the design of it.

[dnadrifter]

On 4/22/2020 at 12:54 PM, bvck said:

What type of powerhead is that? It looks nice.

Thanks....Yep, its the Sicce.   The nano 1000.   270 g/hr

[dnadrifter]

So I got my marine pure "gems" in, my Fritz turbo start, and some media bags.  I am actually really happy with the media bags.   Not a common size at 3x8 but they fit perfect in my second chamber which is quite narrow.  They were also really well made compared to other cheap bags I have purchased.  The whole thing of marine pure gems fit perfectly in the bag and then in the chamber.

 

I added about half the small bottle of the Fritz by pipette trying to put it directly on the marine pure and the rock.  I let this sit for about 30 min without water flow.   I then turned the pumps on without the sponge media or floss so any bacteria would be more likely to stay on the permanent rock and media.   Not sure if any of that matters, but I figure it probably couldn't hurt.

 

Bonus pic of the micro ATO sensor.   Can you tell I'm bored waiting?  I thought about starting a WTC photo thread.  (waiting to cycle photo thread)  😀

 

       

 

      

 

 

[dnadrifter]

Filtration and Cycle Update:

 

Cycle is completed:  Some corals coming on Friday

 

Filtration Changes:   I did some DIY filtration modifications since there are no media racks available for this tank.

 

Overflow Chamber:  I cut the super long sponge that came with the tank and am using it more as base.  I cut some black egg crate to to be used as different floors or levels.  I then cut some small oxo plastic containers we had to put media in.  I cut them to fit so they squeeze / collapse on opposing sides to fit the chamber, and then drilled holes for water flow.   The bottom media basket is currently empty, while the top just has carbon.   On top of that is a filter pad for mech filtration.

 

Middle Chamber:   I am using the previous media bag cylinder with the marine pure gems on the left and a second media bag cylinder with about half of the ceramic bio donuts the tank came with on the right.  On top of them I have two even smaller oxo plastic containers that I modded and put some reef rock rubble in it.