39 replies to this topic

[Reefhead]

Equipment List:

Tank: Advanced acrylics 24x24x12 AIO made out of 1/2" cell cast acrylic
Light : Aqua Illumination sol super blue with controller
Flow: vortech mp10 es wireless
Filtration: stevieT intank media basket
Skimmer: Tunze 9002 with stevieT collection cup
Return pump: hydor pico 300gph

Pics to come as the tank gets wet this weekend.

[Reefhead]

DIY AI SOL Hanging kit. Iphone does not play well with the leds, but you get the idea.

Front rock is live rock and planning on removing it i think once tank has seeded

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•  zoomtank.jpg   143.06K   2 downloads

[Reefhead]

Couple more pics. Cant wait to start filling this up and get some better pictures.

Trying to decide whether or not to keep the tunze skimmer since my goal was to keep it as clean as possible. Didnt know it would have to sit up so high making the collection visible.

Pics were taken in the middle of the day, controller should be here soon. The leds are at 100% in the pics. I really like the color it gives in person, id say around 15k.

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•  ftstank.jpg   66.48K   2 downloads
•  top down.jpg   132.38K   2 downloads

[orlando809]

your setup is very nice the skimmer doesnt look that bad,i like cubes

[sdebord]

Very clean look so far. How many gallons is it?

[Reefhead]

Very clean look so far. How many gallons is it?

Thank you, do you think the skimmer takes away from it? The tank including the rear filter chambers is around 30gallons. 24.5gallons of useable space.

[pwoller]

Who built that fine looking tank? DO you have a sump to put the skimmer in?

[noodlenugs]

I really like it! I am a big fan of the cubes as well.

[Reefhead]

Who built that fine looking tank? DO you have a sump to put the skimmer in?

John at Advanced Acrylics. I found him through eBay and he was willing to build it to my specs. Took about 3 weeks from idea, to build, to at my doorstep.

No sump, it has three chambers in the rear similar to a bio cube behind a black false wall to hold/hide my media, skimmer, heater, etc

If you don't mind, i would like to stop by sometime and pick up some frags. The ones i have bought in the past have done very well.

I really like it! I am a big fan of the cubes as well.

Thank you, it has been a long process but def worth it. I need to attend an INDMAS meeting!!!

[sdebord]

Thank you, do you think the skimmer takes away from it? The tank including the rear filter chambers is around 30gallons. 24.5gallons of useable space.

Definitely a good size - very cool! There are two sides of the skimmer coin in your setup, IMO. First, from a hobbyist perspective, I would hate to run a reef tank without one, and it wouldn't visually bother me as I know the utility and function. Alternatively, the funk these collect will likely not be received so well by non-hobbyists.

If cleaned daily the skimmer may be no biggie as far as looks. Alot depends upon stocking levels and feeding habits. But on the other hand, if you want to go without the skimmer, frequent significant water changes and frequently changed GAC and GFO may overcome the lack of a skimmer. Something like 20 percent water change one week, and full change of fresh GAC and GFO in the off week between water changes. Also if you don't have a skimmer, I would make sure the tank has decent surface agitation for good O2 levels. JMTC & GL!

[larry]

Skimmers are a great way to go, but there are several of us running reefs without them. I had an ATS in my last tank and had great luck with that.

[Reefhead]

Here is a brief minor update. lots of more pics to get. I have gotten the LE zoa and paly bug and been collecting like crazy. Next, its on the chalices.














LEDS just make them really pop. Very happy with that purchase so far. My sps have finally started to take off and have been growing great under them with improving coloration. Very excited!!!

[sdebord]

Pics are a little grainy. I'm horrible with the camera, so not a good person to give advice on how to fix the pics, sorry. I can still see that you have very nice looking Zooanthids though!

Did you make your light hanger? Looks nice too! If so, did you use wiring conduit to make it? I'm thinking of making one (two really) for my new 40B frag tank to hang a 250W MH pendant. What diameter conduit did you use? Do you have a tubing bender?

[Reefhead]

Pics are a little grainy. I'm horrible with the camera, so not a good person to give advice on how to fix the pics, sorry. I can still see that you have very nice looking Zooanthids though!

Did you make your light hanger? Looks nice too! If so, did you use wiring conduit to make it? I'm thinking of making one (two really) for my new 40B frag tank to hang a 250W MH pendant. What diameter conduit did you use? Do you have a tubing bender?

Yeah, i think i need to resize the pictures. On my phone they look much better but when they are blown up the pixels starts to show in a bad way. I am only using a 8mp digital camera. Trying to justify upgrading to a DSLR like an canon eos. Thank you for the compliments on the zoas.

Yes, i did make the light hanger. I used 3/4" conduit from lowes. I think it cost about $1.50. I did not want to buy the conduit bender ($70) so i asked an employee if i could bend one pipe(end up being 3) and put it back. They had no problems with me doing that and said people buy it to bend one pipe then come right back and return it lol. I had my blueprints and measurements ready. It is kinda tricky because a 90 degree curve uses 7 inches of pipe. I did not originally take that into account. It took me three tries to get it just right. I then drilled two holes. Spray painted it with white enamel. Added an end cap. Attached my ai sol via two screws through pipe into heatsink. Mounted to rear of tank using 4 brackets. It is very sturdy and not going anywhere but when i walk by and drop a 5 gallon water chug it does vibrate slightly. Nothing to worry about it but i am picky. I am debating attaching it to the wall for better integrity. I am also going to drill a small hole to run the a/c adapter and controller cords through the pipe. Right now they are zip tied to the interior of the pipe. i think running them through the pipe will achieve a cleaner look. It cost me about $10 in the end which is pretty good. I have seen some online retailers charge upwards of $140+

I like the dims of the 40 breeder. What type of tank will it be? I saw someone on nano-reef with a tek 36" 6 bulb t5 light for sale $199. Dont know if you need a light or anything but just thought i would pass it along

[Reefhead]

[sdebord]

The smaller pics really do look a lot better, IMO.

I'm just doing a frag tank, with a big ol' eggcrate frag rack. And, I've already got the MH pendant and ballast, just need to get it hung above the tank. It won't be anything nice to look at really, more functional for growing out frags a bit. I think I will go with the self-serve bending, in-house prior to purchase at lowes like you did. I was considering doing the use once and return on the bender, but your way seems even better. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Reefhead]

utter chaos


sunny d

[Reefhead]

king midas fresh frag with crabs cleaning nice work


rastas


wobbegong blurry tank down shot




blue agave maybe my fav crazy skirt, patterns, and bright green mouth


armagedons i like these a lot, amazingly bright

[Reefhead]

flasher wrasse



rasta


pwollers green acro...thanks for the frag, looking great under leds


Wild chalice colony...distributor pic, should be here wednesday. picture was taken 5 mins after fragging and stored in a raceway w/o ideal lighting. cherry coral sells this as CC Conflict


sdsanctuary photo from same mother colony, takes about 2 months to color up fully. pic taken under actinic lighting


my mini english bulldog...bowser, christmas wore him out

[Reefhead]

new coral pics
3G mummy eye & Jason Fox My Miami


my clemetines

maxi mini

black ice clowns

crazy ladies

no name chalice


tyree space monster

side of tank

too many frags